Body Modification and the Christian Body

The Bible teaches that the human body is the work of God and has become, for the believer, the temple of the Holy Spirit. This truth illuminates every question one may raise about body modifications: tattoos, piercings, marks, and other practices. Scripture does not draw up an exhaustive list of modern prohibitions, but it lays down solid principles from which the Christian can discern with wisdom. The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." The believer's body is therefore not a worthless possession to dispose of as he pleases; it belongs to the Lord who redeemed it, and it is to be treated with respect and holiness. In the Old Testament, Leviticus instructed Israel not to make cuttings or marks upon the body (Leviticus 19:28), often connected with pagan practices of mourning or idolatry. While this command belongs to a particular covenant, it nonetheless reminds us that the way we treat our body is never spiritually neutral. The guiding principle remains that of 1 Corinthians 10:31: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Romans 12:2 invites the believer not to be conformed to this present world, but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so as to discern the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Thus, rather than seeking a rigid rule, the Christian is called to prayer, wisdom, and discernment, asking whether a given choice honors God, edifies others, and reflects a consecrated heart.