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Hillsong New York City Pastor Carl Lentz recently addressed the criticism he often receives from Christians about his tattoos. While speaking with World Religion News in a recent interview, the popular pastor responded to a question about “conflicting or potentially conflicting Biblical passages” and how he interprets them, specifically with regard to tattoos. “Biblical interpretation is huge right. So with tattoos not being allowed you mean Leviticus. We play both sides of the coin I think that is healthy.
Like this paradox of scripture, interpretation is actually is part of our faith, the tension of it. So, on one hand, we say that is the Old Testament scripture, there is no New Testament verification of that. That law that had to do with slaves, that identified you as part of a tribe we don’t believe that came through the cross,” Lentz said. The scripture the minister was referring to is found in Leviticus 19:28: “Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. READ MORE
One of the ways that a person can determine weather or not something in the old testament is not required for the church is to see if there is any scripture supporting or dissolving the rule in the old testament. In the case of tattoos, we have Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. (KJV). There are however not only no scriptures showing a continuation of this in the new testament, but none dissolving it either, this means that it is a continual statute. If a person wants to go a bit further they can realize that the practice of making markings in the flesh (i.e. tattoos) was a pagan practice and we as Christians are to stay away from such things, 2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (KJV). Getting tattoos after salvation is a problem because you have defiled your body which is the temple of The Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ¶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. You can make the bible say whatever you want it to say by not taking things in context and by not rightly dividing the word of truth as the Christian is commanded to do in 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, (KJV). I believe that not only is Carl Lentz a novice playing with the word of God, but he is also a lost man and minister of Satan 2 Corinthians 11:14-15. How can any true Christian be fooled by this charlatan? Trust in God’s word and not in those of men.
novice
23 ‘When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten. 24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the Lord. 25 And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am the Lord your God.
26 ‘You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying. 27 You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard. 28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.
29 ‘Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry, and the land become full of wickedness.
30 ‘You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord.
Where do you see anything to do with slaves in this passage of Scripture?
And, we wonder why God’s people practice “lawlessness” and think it’s no problem to annul and to make of no effect our heavenly Father’s commandments which is a “fatal” error. But many hold onto the law concerning tithes and offerings. No wonder God’s people do not keep our heavenly Father’s holy convocations that are EVERLASTING ordinances–they are in the Book of Leviticus that Old Testament many say no longer matters. Wrong! Jesus nailed the law, which He did not abolish that He came up with in the first place as the Word on the cross? Study Matthew 5:17-18. Has heaven and earth passed away yet?