Hillsong NYC isn't your everyday Pentecostal church. Meeting in a night club, disco ball overhead, thousands flock weekly to the concert-like services led by Joel Houston and "hipster" celebrity pastor Carl Lentz.
Maybe, then, it isn't so surprising that Lentz's stance on homosexuality is less than clean-cut.
"We have a stance on love, and on everything else we have conversations."
Though it may seem like Lentz avoids the question, the tattooed and pierced pastor maintains that he always answers the questions thrown at him. "You just don't like my answers," he elaborated in an interview with HuffPost Live.
"Some churches want us to give blanket answers on huge issues. Well, my Bible says, be attentive to individual needs. So I'm not gonna make polarizing political statements about certain things in our Christian community right now. No matter who says what, we won't be pressured into giving blanket statements to individual needs. Never," Lentz proclaimed from the pulpit of Hillsong NYC.
Like Joel Osteen, "Apostle of Cool" Lentz refuses to create division by letting the "gotcha" questions of journalists pin him to one side or the other.
But in doing so, has he already picked his side?
The issue strikes at the heart of a contentious debate within church ministry over what come call "the attractional model."
"This is typical of the cult of celebrity megachurch pastor because to grow their little kingdoms they cannot risk offending anyone," commented Pastor Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries in a recent article.
The key question is: should church be about retaining big crowds of nonbelievers with tame, apolitical preaching, or should church be the gathering of believers who then spread out and make disciples in their communities?
Scripture does indeed require pastoral leaders have good reputations in the community as much as it is possible (1 Timothy 3:7), but that principle alone isn't the sole judge of how Christians should approach divisive issues like homosexuality.
In Luke 9:26, Jesus is quoted as saying, "Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels" (NIV).
Lentz, however, sees himself as in agreement with the style of Christ's ministry.
"Very rarely did Jesus ever talk about morality or social issues," Lentz claimed in an interview with Katie Couric in December 2013.
While Lentz's affection for individuals is clear, his priority on biblical teaching is anything but.
"As Christians we must love precious LGBT souls, for whom Christ died, enough to tell them the truth. Pastor Carl, it is not unloving to tell someone the truth; however, it is actually hateful to withhold it from them," Silva wrote.
Watch Lentz's interview with The Huffington Post's Ahmed Shihab-Eldin below:
SINGAPORE: Five members of City Harvest Church (CHC), including its founder Pastor Kong Hee, have been arrested for alleged criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts of the church.
The other four members are Tan Ye Peng, Lam Leng Hung, Chew Eng Han and Sharon Tan.
The five were questioned by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) on Tuesday. Kong Hee was seen leaving the Police Cantonment Complex at 4pm. The five will be charged in court on Wednesday.
CAD said it commenced an investigation on 31 May 2010 into certain financial transactions of CHC after receiving information of misuse of church funds.
The Commissioner of Charities (COC) began its inquiry into the charity on the same day under the Charities Act over alleged misconduct and mismanagement of the building fund which had been raised and earmarked for specific purposes.
The COC said financial irregularities of at least S$23 million from the charity's funds had been discovered. These funds were used with the purported intention to finance the music career of Ho Yeow Sun, who is Pastor Kong's wife and co-founder of the church.
The COC found that there was a concerted effort to conceal this movement of funds from the charity's stakeholders, saying it is concerned about the misconduct and mismanagement in the administration of the charity.
With the consent of the Attorney General, the COC has suspended eight persons, including the five arrested on Tuesday, from the exercise of their office or employment as governing board members. The other three are Ho Yeow Sun, Kelvin Teo Meng How and Tan Su Pheng Jacqueline.
All eight have been suspended from their executive memberships in the charity with immediate effect.
The COC said it will also consider taking further courses of action against these individuals in order to protect the charity. This may include the removal of these persons from their office as trustee, governing board members, officers, agents or employees of the charity.
With the suspension, the eight persons will be prohibited from taking part or being involved in managing or representing the charity on any matters, or attending any of the charity's Annual General Meetings, Extraordinary General Meetings and Board Meetings.
Associate Professor Mak Yuen Teen from the National University of Singapore Business School said the misconduct is partly due to poor corporate governance in the organisation.
He said: "If you look at this organisation, you can see that the board was dominated by people who were essentially employees of the church. So, the question therefore is where is the check and balances in place.
"The board was not really independent of the management of the organisation. This case is also complex because you do have a number of individuals who are implicated in this case. So, if you have a number of individuals involved, it can make it a bit more difficult to detect and the risk becomes much higher in terms of governance."
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean has stressed that the charges filed by CAD are against the five individuals from the City Harvest Church regarding the use of church funds.
He said the charges are not filed against CHC itself and the church is free to continue its church services and activities.
Mr Teo added that CAD carries out investigations when it receives information that a criminal offence may have been committed.
CAD had previously investigated the National Kidney Foundation and Ren Ci.
As the matter is now before the courts, Mr Teo said the law should be allowed to take its course and the public should avoid speculation or making pre-judgements that may unnecessarily stir up emotions.
Religious charitable organisations Channel NewsAsia spoke with said they hope the public will not abandon the spirit of giving, despite the arrest of some City Harvest Church leaders.
Religious groups said it is important to have integrity and to exercise caution when managing donations or helping people.
Tan Thiam Lye, chairman of the Singapore Taoist Federation, said: "As a religious group, we have to define our roles clearly. For example, in areas like finance and administration - to divide tasks clearly. If you have one person to do all tasks, people will think we are not transparent."
Low Swee Seh, CEO of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation, said that proper procedures are in place before an assessment is made on where donations go to.
In recent years, I have noticed an increasing tendency for people to admit to mistakes rather than sins. It happens at every level, whether someone is caught cheating on their spouse, filing false insurance claims, or shoplifting from a clothing store.
After the National Enquirer broke the news about Senator John Edwards’ affair, he said,
“Two years ago I made a very serious mistake, a mistake that I am responsible for and no one else. In 2006, I told Elizabeth about the mistake, asked her for her forgiveness, asked God for his forgiveness. And we have kept this within our family since that time.”
On the surface, this admission seems humble and contrite. What more could you want?
But when people refer to this kind of behavior as a mistake rather than a sin, they are either consciously or unconsciously evading responsibility.
Why? Because of the fundamental difference between the two. Many people assume they are synonymous. They are not.
The term “mistake” implies an error in judgment—something done unintentionally. For example, a legitimate mistake might be:
Turning onto a one-way street, going the wrong way.
Pouring salt into your coffee, thinking it was sugar.
Mis-typing a web address and ending up on a porn site.
These could all be legitimate mistakes. They happen because we get distracted or careless. But a sin is more than a mistake. It is a deliberate choice to do something you know is wrong.
The word “transgression” is even stronger. It implies deliberately stepping over a boundary. The word “trespass” is similar. It implies entering onto another person’s property without permission.
Unlike a mistake, we choose to sin. Therefore, we must accept responsibility for it—and the consequences that follow. This is the measure of maturity and marks the transition from adolescence into adulthood. It is the foundation of a civilized society.
What can we do to make sure we preserve this distinction between sins and mistakes? I suggest five actions:
Choose your words carefully. Don’t minimize your sin by calling it a mistake. The meaning of the Greek word homologeō—translated confession in 1 John 1:9—is “to speak the same word.” In other words, agree with God. Say the same thing about your sin that He says about it. You can’t be cured of the disease if you continue to deny it.
Take responsibility for your behavior. If you have sinned, own it. (In fact, if you have made a mistake, own that too.) Take the hit. Even if someone provoked you, own your response. If they were 90% responsible, accept 100% responsibility for your 10%. When it comes to sin, there is never a legitimate excuse. None.
Acknowledge your guilt. It is normal to feel guilty when you sin. Guilt is God’s gift, designed to motivate you to initiate reconciliation. The sooner you acknowledge your responsibility, the sooner you can resolve the problem. And never follow your confession with the word “but.” This is the preface to an excuse. It negates everything you have said before.
Change your behavior. Words are cheap. Some people are very adept at saying they are sorry—but then … nothing changes. Repentance is not only a change of mind; it is a change of direction. Unless you change your behavior, you haven’t really repented, no matter how many tears you may have shed.
Ask for forgiveness. You can’t demand it. You are not entitled to it. You can only ask and hope that the person you have sinned against will extend grace. Sometimes, they will wait until you have manifested the fruit of repentance, and that is fine (see Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:19–20).
Yes, we all make mistakes. But more importantly, we all sin. We need to understand the difference between the two and be willing to call it what it is. Until we do, we can’t really repair what has been broken.
Question: How did you feel the last time someone sinned against you and called it a mistake?
Many Christians today can’t distinguish between the sweat of the flesh and the dew of heaven.
Gideon is one of my favorite Bible he ground and called him to deliver Israel. Gideon’s classic “Who, me?” response reminds me of conversations I’ve had with the Lord. None of us feels qualified to do God’s work, but we know from Gideon’s example that reluctant wimps can be transformed into valiant warriors.
I’ve heard people criticize Gideon because he laid out a fleece of wool on the ground and asked the Lord—not once but twice—to confirm His promise (see Judges 6:36-40). But the Bible doesn’t say God was mad at Gideon for wanting assurance. In fact, God answered Gideon both times with moisture from heaven. The dew was a sign of God’s favor and blessing.
“I love it when the Holy Spirit does miracles. But when people fake the supernatural in order to get an audience response (or a big offering), I run for the door.”
You know how the story ends. Gideon’s impressive army of 22,000 is downsized to a ragtag band of 300, and they carry only trumpets, clay pots and torches into battle. Through their supernatural victory over Midian, God made it clear that His anointing has nothing to do with human ability.
How many of us have learned Gideon’s lesson? Do you trust the Holy Spirit to work in you, or do you lean on the flesh? Do you have the precious dew of His miraculous anointing on your life, or have you manufactured a cheap form of human moisture to do the job?
Many Christians today can’t distinguish between the sweat of the flesh and the dew of heaven, but there is a big difference. As I have prayed for more anointing in my life, I’ve realized that we often mistake fake anointing for the real thing. Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
The anointing isn’t in numbers. We place so much importance on church size today, yet God doesn’t seem impressed by crowds. I have nothing against megachurches as long as they preach the gospel—and many of them do a better job of it than small churches. But we’re headed for disaster if we think seating capacity alone reflects God’s approval.
The anointing isn’t in eloquence. Some people have an uncanny way with words (including non-Christian motivational speakers), but persuasive skill isn’t the same as spiritual anointing. The dew of heaven is holy. It brings conviction and repentance—not self-awareness and an ego boost. And true preaching does not exalt the preacher—it crucifies him and focuses all attention on the Son of God.
The anointing isn’t in looks. In today’s cool evangelical scene, rock star pastors are expected to be sexy, and everyone in the praise team needs trendy clothes. There’s nothing wrong with dressing to reach your audience, but I hope we don’t think the Holy Spirit is impressed with hipness. The dowdy grandmother wearing orthopedic shoes might have a word from the Lord for the congregation—but will we allow her on the stage?
The anointing isn’t in technology. I love to use digital graphics when preaching. But some of the most anointed meetings I’ve been in were in Third World countries where we didn’t even have reliable electricity, much less computers and projectors. When genuine anointing falls on a preacher, he or she can talk for two hours without having to entertain.
The anointing isn’t in emotionalism. In many churches today, lack of anointing creates a vacuum that is filled by screaming, swooning and other forms of religious theater. It doesn’t matter what is preached—it is “anointed” as long as the preacher punctuates it with enough volume and the people shout back. (One preacher I know had everyone holl\ering while she quoted lines from a Beyoncé song!) Remember: Backslidden Israel shouted so loud that the earth quaked, but by the end of the day the Philistines had plundered them (see 1 Sam. 4:5-11).
The anointing isn’t in contrived manifestations. I love it when the Holy Spirit does miracles. But when people fake the supernatural in order to get an audience response (or a big offering), I run for the door. If we had the fear of God we would never pretend to have the anointing by jerking, slurring words, stretching the facts in a testimony or sprinkling glitter on ourselves.
Charles Spurgeon referred to the Holy Spirit’s anointing as “unction,” and he said of it: “Unction is a thing which you cannot manufacture, and its counterfeits are worse than worthless.” Let’s turn away from every false anointing and ask the God who answered Gideon to soak us with His heavenly power.
J. Lee Grady is contributing editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. His most recent book is 10 Lies Men Believe (Charisma House).
We have decided to turn SOL, a 3-week school into just a 14-day school to train WATCHMEN AND INTERCESSORS for the nations. We have heard God’s mandate to raise upwatchmen and intercessors and to bring the church back into the consciousness of priesthood – which is, in fact our first calling.
“... let yourselves be built, as living stones, into a spiritual temple; become a holypriesthood.”1 Peter 2:5
Priesthood (waiting, watching in God’s presence with prayers and intercessions) is indeed one of the most lamentable lack in modern day Christianity – this is why the powers of darkness have prevailed and gone unchallenged as they destroyed nations after nations and cities after cities. Indeed, mankind languish for the lack of priests – for today, we can hardly find them in our churches, families, societies and our nations. Today, there seems to be a concentrated conspiracy in contemporary Christianityto drive the consciousness of priesthood far from the church
We cannot patrol our nation or bring God’s presence to where we are by our fleshly church programs, carnal activities of multimedia displays, sensual concerts, sound and noise – we have to discipline ourselves into priesthood. We must learn to prayand touch God. Manyareaware that the economy have collapsed butmany do not knowthatthe economy is only one of the 6 devastatingelementsthat make up this comingdevastating global storm.Look at the six deadly components now.
Collapsingeconomy
Wide spread wars
Violent politics
Sudden geophysical attacks
Dark religion (deception)
Rise of incurable sicknesses and diseases
The worse on this list is dark religion which actually means deception or polluted Christianity.( fables, doctrines of devils, heresies, unsound doctrines of men) Our Lord warned His disciples that deception is the first sign of the end times andthat they should beware of it.. (Matt. 24) These words have fallen onto deaf ears– this is why heresies, fables, unsound doctrines and the spirit of harlotry have entered into our churches today, causing theprecious ‘gold to become dim’ and turning God’s precious stones of the temple ‘to be poured out onto the streets’ as cheap and commonstones with no value.
Yes, the mark of distinction in the church today is indeed dim. She had indeed been cheapen and is no longer uncommon or distinct as God wanted her to be because she had lost her valuable royal priesthood. When we cease to exist as priests before God, we ceased in value, in meaning, in fulfillment – in everything.
Under such dark circumstances of wide spread wars, violent politics, collapsing economy, rise of geophysical attacks and sicknesses, we know many people will want to seek God. Hardened hearts may soften a little. But when they do walk into our churches will they truly find God? Or will they find dark religion or the polluted gospel of prosperity and merchandising?Will there be true worship or just pagan music, fanciful programs and fleshly activities led by semi-clad worshippers?Will they find the preaching of God’s word in our churches or will they find some hollow-out, motivational and feel-good messages? Will they find man of God, true priests behind the pulpit or just charlatan-preachers with body piercing, tattoos and gaudy printed tee shirts with skulls and dragons?
In America, David Wilkerson had just unleashed a powerful prophetic word that there will be an earth shattering calamity soon. It is so horrible that even the godliest of men would tremble. What is it?The work of terrorists. Yes, God is going to use the bombs and fires of terrorists ‘as a rod ‘to deal with His church, just like He used the Babylonians to deal with the nation ofIsrael when they lost their distinction and broke all the landmarks He had set for them.Wilkerson prophesied that this will start in America but it will spreadinto other part of theworld. Who can have peace and safety in days like these? Those who pray and those who had not forsaken their God-appointed priesthood.
Ezekiel 9 thrusts us into a scene in heaven where God ordered five death angels to slaughter everyone in the city of Jerusalem. Even babies were not spared. (Had the tsunamis, earthquakes, diseases etc. spared babies?)Before unleashingthis horrificjudgment, the merciless slaughter of young and old, God orderedthe marking or the sealing ofallthe faithful watchmen, intercessors or priestsin the land – those who had‘sigh and cry’ over the sins of the land. These men or women with ‘marked foreheads’ were spared the blow from the death angels.
Five death angels were send out to destroy lives and only one were send out to mark the foreheads of those worthy to be spared. The death angels took a long time to do their work while the angel of life did a quick work – meaning there were many heads to kill but not very many heads to mark for protection.
We want to do God’s mandate – to help our churches return to the consciousness of priesthood in this nation. We want to patrol our nation – we can only do this as we serve as watchmen and intercessors and minister to God.If you too, have this desire, then come and pray, watch and wait alongwith us in this 8 days. Be brave enough to change the system of busyness, of noise, sound, of being driven, of running, hyping, performing. Instead come away from it for awhile, settle into God’s love and let your deep cry be as the Shulamite bride in the Song of Songs, “Draw me away! We will run after You! (not after success) We will be glad and rejoice in You.”
SCHOOL CALENDER:
Watchman (English Session):
March 1sttoMarch 14th
July 1sttoJuly 14th
November 15thtoNovember 29th
Above: Matt Sawdon covers Erica Armendariz's tattoo with plastic after working on her religious iconography at Sunday's 10:30 a.m. service at the Gold Creek Community Church in Mill Creek. Below left: Armendariz started her tattoo with religious images a year ago.
Erica Armendariz, 24, a hairdresser and member of the church, started her tattoo with religious images about a year ago. She wants to share what she believes in- faith and family- through art. On one arm, there is a guardian angel, a sacred heart, a cross and a ribbon with the words.
The sight of a woman being tattooed live on the altar accompanied by the sound of a buzzing ink gun provided a startling backdrop to Sunday's evangelical sermon.
Your parent's church service this was not. In the drive to stay relevant, the Gold Creek Community Church has been hosting a series called "Permanent Ink" that featured Sunday's live-tattoo finale.
The Mill Creek church is not exactly staid — booming 20-minute rock sets launch regular sermons — yet the pastors acknowledge this series was pushing societal norms.
"We've said from the start that we are not advocating tattoos — nor discouraging them," said pastor Larry Ehoff.
"We think of it as amoral. It's neither immoral nor moral, it's just the choice of a person."
Ehoff said the church is telling the same story of Jesus as always, it's just finding different ways to tell it.
Sharon Snell was one of several congregants who volunteered to be tattooed Sunday. At the noon service, she got on stage and faced away from about 150 parishioners while tattoo artist Matt Sawdon worked on the image of a police shield on her lower back.
It was Snell's third tattoo and represents her husband's work as an Everett police officer. Snell said last month's shooting death of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton forced her to confront the fragility of life and the dangers inherent in her husband's job.
"Anything can happen at any time," Snell said. "Him being an officer is a big part of my life and of who I am."
As Snell's tattoo took shape, pastor Dan Kellogg told the congregation that permanent markings, both good and evil, are mentioned in the Bible. The most famous symbol, he said, is "666," the sign of the devil. But there's also mention in the Bible of markings on Jesus, saying he is the king of kings and lord of lords, Kellogg said.
Another congregant who volunteered was Erica Armendariz, who was getting work done on an arm tattoo she calls her "faith sleeve." "Surprisingly, I was not nervous to get up on stage," she said, adding that the tattoo process, which in her case stretched through two sermons, was getting painful toward the end.
Tattoo artist Matt Sawdon said he'd never tattooed anyone at church before. Aside from the limited time he had during each sermon, he said, it wasn't much different from a normal day's work. Last week, as part of the Permanent Ink series, a member of the church had a tattoo of Texas removed. Because the equipment was too cumbersome to transport, parishioners watched a video of the process.
The man now lives in Washington, and he doesn't see much need for the Lone Star State anymore.
Tattooing, carvings, cuttings, piercings, etc. Throughout history has been seen as pagan practises. God wanted Israel to separate from these practises.
Strict instructions to not mark your body in ANY WAY
Leviticus 19:28 “You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.”
Your body is the temple of God
1 Corinthians 3:16 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
You do not follow after the World, you abandon the things of this World
Deuteronomy 18:9 9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.
Sin is a stumbling blog for others - sends message that sin is OK.
1 Corinthians 8:9 9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
Associated with rebellion. Rebellion is sin, Stubbornness is iniquity. Satan rebelled against God.
1 Samuel 15:23 23 “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
Wimpy! Ed Young is calling for a 7 Day Sex Challenge. But, earlier this year Relevant Church had a 30 Day Sex Challenge. Either Ed Young and his followers in Texas don't have as much stamina as those folks in Florida OR maybe the length of the Sex Challenge doesn't matter.
30 Day Sex Challenge?
Relevant Church in Tampa, Florida is 'bravely' confronting one of the most pernicious problems of our day. They are going to solve the problem of "people NOT having enough sex". (This is not satire). They've launched a 30 day sex challenge and here is what their website says:
People are not having enough sex. An epidemic of breakups prove the needs that lead to a great sex life are being overlooked. Dirty dishes, frumpy clothes, and a lack of authentic connections are killing the romance. A great sex life is a challenge and takes focus, determination, and planning. Some say it’s an unrealistic goal, but we disagree. We believe you can have a great sex life, in fact we believe God wants you to have a great sex life.Relevant Church is proposing a challenge encouraging married couples to purposely engage insexual activity for 30 days and singles to intentionally forgo sexual activity for 30 days.
Below is the graphic that is posted on their site for this 'sex challenge' and their YouTube promo video.
Is this why Jesus came to earth, sweat drops of blood, was scourged, nailed to a cross, hung naked and bleeding with a crown of thorns on His head and died?
1Cor. 2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Back before fundamentalism caused much of American Christianity to go off the moral deep end and get caught in up in a fevered attempt to demonize a whole series of behaviors that are morally neutral, pipe smoking was seen as a very decent and proper thing for a theologian (and anyone else) to do. In many Christian communities which successfully fought off the tendency to condemn everything, pipe smoking has always and continues to be appreciated for the benefits it brings to moments of relaxation, conversation, and mental clarity.
In this post I will not attempt to systematize the benefits of pipe smoking. That has been done elsewhere (see below), nor will I systematically attempt to justify or defend the moderate use of tobacco against any who may criticize it either with (and wouldn’t this be cute) a biblical argument, or a health argument. I will say at this juncture that most of the research done on the negative side affects of tobacco concern cigarettes and chewing tobacco. The handful of studies which have been done on pipes and cigars suggest that moderate use (defined in one study as 10 bowls a day) increases your chance of lung cancer less than 3% (mouth cancer may be a different story, however).
Nonetheless, the primary purposes of these posts are: a) to examine the intersection between that nearly mystical ritual of lighting a bowl of good tobacco, and practicing (in my case practicing amateurly) the discipline of Christian theology; and, b) to provide the gentle reader with a few resources which may help to integrate theology and pipe smoking.
The present post will include, besides this introduction, a brief, inconclusive, and hardly researched historical sketch of Christianity’s relationship with pipe smoking (and smoking in general to some degree), and also modest list of (relatively) famous Christian pipe smokers. My second post will attempt to “pair” pipes and especially tobacco blends to the contemplation of certain theological ideas, and the reading of certain theological books, together with some other tobacco infused theological shenanigans. And my final post will list resources, both on-line and off, for the pipe smoking follower of Jesus.
It needs to be said that these posts owe much to the seminal work on the subject: Toward a Theology of Pipe Smoking by Arthur D. Yunker (see my upcoming third post [or just google it]), and I personally owe much to the man who introduced me to the quaint, curious and comforting world of pipes—a man who has travelled and is travelling that familiar path from idealistic young fundamentalist, to disgruntled bible college student, to rebellious pipe-smoker, to well-adjusted and moderate pipe-smoker, to well-adjusted and sincere Christian that many of us recognize as our own spiritual journey.
A Brief Historical Sketch
J. R. R. Tolkien
Pipe smoking and Christianity (if not Christian theology) go way back. A little over a century after Europe was introduced to that glorious weed, tobacco, one of the church’s most brilliant liturgists, and one of the world’s most brilliant musicians began to smoke enthusiastically. I am of course talking about Johann Sebastian Bach. Besides such masterpieces as “Chaconne,” and “The ‘Little’ Fugue,” Bach is responsible for what is probably the first written artifact describing the intersection of Christian faith and practice with pipe smoking—a poem in which Bach meditates on how certain aspects of smoking a pipe remind him of the transitory nature of human life, and of the sorrow of an eternity spent in hell. From a literary standpoint the poem or at least the English translation of the poem is no Paradise Lost (I’m sure the original German was better), but, like meerschaum which hasn’t been smoked too fast or too slow, it ends well because the last two lines of the poem are easily the best quote concerning Christianity and pipe smoking I’ve ever come across: On sea, on land, at home, abroad/ I smoke my pipe and worship God. What a classic (and rhythmically pleasing) statement of a truth today’s church needs badly: Our entire lives should be lived as worship to God, and anything we do, whether it be attending the Cathedral, riding our bike, drinking a beer, or smoking our pipe—if done with a heart full of thanksgiving and humility—can be an act of worship.
After Bach, the history of pipe smoking and Christianity gets hazy (much like a room when too many people are smoking without proper ventilation). Since the Church thought nothing strange about smoking a pipe for most of its history, there was very little controversy, and thus very little record of the history in question.
Then in the late 19th and early 20th century we come to the rise of fundamentalism in response to developments in biblical criticism, the so-called social gospel, and other changes in Christendom. Fundamentalists felt that what was needed to combat the forces of liberalism was a “return” to holiness and piety. As a result, campaigns against popular entertainment (movies, cards, dominoes), drinking, and smoking were launched by many early fundamentalists, and of course, the banner has been picked up by several subsequent generations on into the present day. Though, not directly about pipe smoking, a story involving Billy Sunday one of the fathers of fundamentalism will do much to illustrate, the fact however, that even within the early evangelical/fundamentalist movement there was not total consensus.
William “Billy” Sunday was a famous baseball player in the 1880s until he was converted to Christianity. He heard the call to ministry and became an evangelist. He was a charismatic preacher, a fund raising genius, and reportedly told more individuals his version of what the gospel was than any other person up to that time. By the 1910s and 20s he was America’s most famous evangelical Christian. He was outspoken about social issues of the day, and was an especially voracious supporter of prohibition.
At some point just before the turn of the 20th century, Billy Sunday was invited to visit Charles Spurgeon’s church in London. During the course of his sermon, Billy began to preach against the “evils” of drinking and smoking, and how Christians could not do it, and expect admission into heaven. It is reported that though he was polite all the way through the sermon, Spurgeon went to the pulpit at the end, looked at Billy and said, “Be that as it may, sir. I will go home to tonight and smoke a cigar to the greater glory of God!”
An Annotated List of Christian Pipe Smokers (or A Fundamentalist’s Field Guide to Pipe Smoking Heretics, And Why They’re Going to Hell)
And Charles Spurgeon was only one of the many evangelical “traitors.” What proceeds is an annotated list of some theologians, pastors, evangelists, Christian authors, and other personalities in some way connected to Christendom who smoke or have smoked (both Pipe and Cigar smokers are included). One caveat is that inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement of an individual’s theology or teachings, as some of these guys are total whack jobs, while others are modern day Fathers (if you’ll indulge me to throw that term around). And, what an edifying and uplifting theophiliac endeavour it would be to expand this list for the benefit of posterity!
Bach, Johann Sebastian - the aforementioned genius.
Barth, Karl - Do you really think he couldn’t have written all 98 volumes (I approximate, of course) of Church Dogmatics without the help of Lady Tobacco?
Chesterton, G.K - One of my favorite Christian authors. Not only did he smoke pipes and cigars, but could also allegedly write one thing with his pen sitting at a desk, while simultaneously dictating an entirely different piece of writing to his secretary. I know Tony has mentioned his Orthodoxy in one of his posts.
Colson, Chuck - owns one of C.S. Lewis’ pipes.
Erskine, Ralph - Scottish Presbyterian, what else is there to say?
Frassati, The Blessed Pier Giorgio - Italian Catholic social justice advocate and anti-fascist. Called the Man of the Eight Beatitudes by JP II (who beatified him in 1990); don’t think he was a pipe smoker? Commenter Peter gives us definitive proof: proof
Hewitt, Hugh - conservative political commentator, claims to be Christian, I suppose we’ll take him on his word; wouldn’t want to be judgmental or anything, but can a Republican be a Christian?
Lewis, C. S - probably the guy on the list with the most evangelical clout (despite being Anglican); another great piece of ammunition to use against stuffy fundies is that Lewis’ Narnia books took shape in a pub o’er many a pint. More on C.S. Lewis’ pipe smoking later.
Moltmann, Jurgen - Don’t have too much evidence for this just some off hand comment I think he made one time, and a general sense gotten by looking at the man that a pipe seems natural and fitting on him.
Ogden, Schubert- Methodist minister. Author of “May a Christian smoke?” {The Log 9, no.14 (1959): 2}, and I believe his answer (and mine) was “yes.”
Scott, Gene - (www.genescott.com) – this dude is (was?) crazy. He charged admission into his church. He had a Bible study TV show, on which he was fond of smoking a cigar and drinking a glass of wine. Favorite Bible study passage: you guessed it, the Wedding Feast of Cana.
Spurgeon, Charles - the aforementioned Cigar aficionado—speaking of which, I once saw Chuck Norris (conspicuously missing from this list of Christians, most of whom are Christians and thinkers) on the cover of the magazine Cigar Aficionado, why not have Charles Spurgeon on there?
Tolkien, J.R.R - Catholic, as we all know.
Williams, Charles - probably the least known, and arguably the most talented (Lewis certainly thought so) of the “Inklings,” writer of speculative theological fiction; wonderful stuff, really. He was Anglican, and in fact wrote a fascinating church history called the Descent of the Dove. I did a research paper on it one time for Amos Yong’s theology class; totally B.S.ed it, but…if only I had been allowed to smoke my pipe (not that I didn’t anyway)…how much smarter I would have been!
"WHETHER, THEN, YOU EAT OR DRINK OR WHATEVER YOU DO,
DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD (First Corinthians 10:31"
Charles Spurgeon was a cigar smoker. That godly London pastor of a more than century past, who was as renown for his piety as he was for his pulpit ability, puffed on big black stogies for quite a number of years. And what is even more surprising, he claimed he did so for the glory of God. The year was 1874. During an evening service at the Metropolitan Tabernacle Spurgeon was preaching about prayer. He made the point that seemingly innocent habits may pose a serious threat to true fellowship with God. Upon concluding his sermon he suggested that a guest pastor from America, Dr. George Pentecost, speak to the same point. Pentecost—who probably did not know Spurgeon was a cigar smoker—related his own past enslavement to cigars and his subsequent deliverance, which he accredited solely to God. He felt smoking was a sinful habit requiring repentance. When the nicotine-free pastor from America had finished Spurgeon stood up and said, "Well, dear friends, you know that some men can do to the glory of God what to other men would be a sin. And, notwithstanding what Brother Pentecost has said, I intend to smoke a good cigar to the glory of God before I go to bed tonight." A good cigar to the glory of God! Did Spurgeon flinch, or was he dead on target?
Life Is A Bitch And Then You Die, so says the bumper sticker. This philosophy is so pervasive as to be axiomatic. Thus, in reaction, people waste days and nights, weeks and years in the relentless pursuit of pleasure rather than purpose. Such a manner of living is hollow and meaningless. Personal happiness has become the god of our age, whose countless minions here, there, and everywhere sacrifice their souls upon its altar. But Jesus said, "What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul (Matt. 16:26)?"
"Who am I, and why am I here?" are ancient questions with contemporary significance, nevertheless they now trouble the conscience of nearly no one. Pleasure rather than purpose so consumes the interest of most folks that they rarely give serious thought to the claims of their Creator. Many never consider the reality of hell until they feel the flames. They may have gained the whole world, or at least a small part of it, yet they have lost their souls. No profit, just eternal loss.
The choice, however, does not have exist between pleasure and purpose. A few thousand years ago a very wise king disclosed the secret to having both. King David declared, "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved (Ps. 16:8)." Purpose and pleasure meet in God because the chief end of man "is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever." Certainly King David never heard the words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism's first question and answer, but his steadfast focus upon God shows that he probably would have understood their meaning. In the same psalm, Psalm 16, he prays, "O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance (Ps. 16:5-6)." David knew what we can know. He understood our primary purpose is to glorify God; he knew, also, that our ultimate pleasure is to enjoy Him forever.
Our chief goal in life is to glorify God, but what does this really mean? The essence of glorifying God is captured in the response of Jesus to the Pharisees when they asked him, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law (Matt. 22:36)?" Christ answered by saying, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment (Matt. 22:37-38)." To glorify God is to make Him alone the preeminent object of our thoughts and our affections. It is to subject all of our motives and our methods to His revealed will. It is to maintain a clear conscience before Him at all times and in all things. To glorify God is to do what King David did: It is to set the Lord before us, always.
God categorizes human behavior as either obedience or disobedience to his revealed will. We live out our lives before an all-knowing God who sees everything we do and why we do it. Nothing escapes his knowledge. The Bible warns us that "there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Heb. 4:13)." We bow our intellect, emotion and will before the Sovereign over all or we rebel, but no matter what nobody goes unnoticed. Whole-hearted obeisance is the practical manifestation of glorifying our glorious God. First Corinthians 10:31 tells us to what extreme we are to take our submission: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
It is very important to note that I Corinthians 10:31 is contextually located in a passage dealing with Christian liberty, specifically 10:23-31. The question being asked at the time was, "Under what circumstances is it lawful for a follower of Christ to eat food that has been offered to idols without committing idolatry himself?" The Apostle Paul carefully addressed the issue by equating deliberate participation in any pagan religious feast as idolatry (1 Cor. 10:14-22). Eating the food that had been offered to idols in that specific situation would be unlawful for a Christian. However, in those days it was common practice for the leftovers to sold to a meat market, wherein the sacrificial food would be resold to the public. Under those circumstances the victuals lost their ritualistic character and were perfectly legitimate table fare for any Christian who wanted to score a bargain and eat the stuff. Paul tells the Corinthian believers to enjoy whatever they purchased and, for conscience’s sake, not to ask questions about where it originally came from (v. 25). He also tells them to chow down at a pagan's home, again asking no questions for conscience's sake (v. 27). Paul goes on to emphasize that if eating meat once offered to idols involves a risk of troubling the conscience of the host, then abstinence is absolutely required (v. 28). The general principle laid down by the Apostle is this: In matters of Christian liberty—those things which are not definitively forbidden by God—do not practice what will violate your conscience before God, or what will offend the conscience of another person while in his or her presence. For example, the Word of God does not forbid me the pleasure of a cold beer on a hot summer day. I am free to enjoy a bottle of Sam Adams provided in so doing I neither offend my own conscience before the Lord nor the conscience of anyone in my company. Because there is a definite danger of slipping from the use to the abuse in matters of Christian liberty and, thus, into sin, God governs the freedom of his people by limiting it to what can be done for his glory. Therefore, under the influence of divine inspiration, the Apostle Paul wrote, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
The apostolic exhortation to glorify God is not limited solely to the issue of Christian liberty. Paul enjoins the Corinthian believers to glorify their Lord in whatever they do. The whole spectrum of life is colored by this command. From the mundane to the monumental we must conduct ourselves in a manner consistent with God's redemptive purpose in Christ. Jesus came into the world to save his people from their sins. We exhibit the reality of that salvation by trusting Christ alone to save us from our sins and by seeking God's will instead of our own. Glorifying God in whatever we do means taking the lordship of Christ so seriously that our desires and decisions are controlled by the Cross. We consider the cost of redemption and we walk in grateful obedience to the Word of God, thankful that Christ died so we may live. Glorifying God in all things involves looking constantly to the resurrected Christ for the reasons why we must resist the world, the flesh and the devil. We see ourselves in our risen Savior, seated at God's right hand, and we realize our true citizenship really is in heaven. Because the present life is preparation for the next, consistency is essential to continuity.
Criticism is a loaded firearm, sometimes pointing right at our heads. After his remark on that fateful night in 1874, poor Spurgeon was looking down the barrel of an elephant gun. He was the most famous preacher in the world at the time. Everything he said and did pleased or displeased somebody. He could not escape the scrutiny of the public eye. Spurgeon had no choice but to defend his "scandalous" comment: "Together with hundreds of thousands of my fellow-Christians, I have smoked, and with them I am under the condemnation of living in habitual sin, if certain accusers are to be believed. As I would not knowingly live even in the smallest violation of the law of God, and sin is the transgression of the law, I will not own to sin when I am not conscious of it . . .When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and calm, refreshing sleep obtained by a cigar, I have felt grateful to God, and have blessed His name: that is what I meant."
Few of God's people would condone Spurgeon's cigar smoking, although none should condemn him for lighting up. Although we may not approve of his practice, we must certainly appreciate his heart attitude. No detail of his life was reserved for self indulgence.
Publicly, when he stood in the pulpit preaching a sermon, or privately, when he sat on the edge of his bed puffing on a cigar, Spurgeon tried to set the Lord before himself always. He clearly saw the trajectory of life was to glorify his King in the tiniest of details. Perhaps this is why he carefully emphasized before a huge congregation of saints and sinners alike that he intended to smoke a good cigar to the glory of God.
Two Anecdotes about Spurgeon's Cigars From William Williams, Charles Haddon Spurgeon: Personal Reminiscences (London: The Religious Tract Society, n.d.), 30-32.
All the world knows that Mr. Spurgeon now and again enjoyed a cigar. Not a few caricatures represented him smoking a pipe, but he never used a pipe all the years I knew him. His shrewd reply to the gentleman who "had heard he smoked, but could not believe it to be true," and asked Mr. Spurgeon to satisfy him, is choice: "I cultivate my flowers and burn my weeds."
"Enjoying your 'bacca again, sir!" said old George, Mr. Spurgeon's tried and trusted servant, one day when his master was lighting a cigar.
"I can do without my 'bacca' a good deal easier than you can, George," said the master.
"I don't believe you can, sir."
"Very well, George, don't smoke again until I do."
"Agreed, sir."
A week passed—a fortnight. Poor old George was dying for his pipe. One was asked to intercede with the master that George might be allowed to have it.
"No, no!" said Mr. Spurgeon. "He made a bargain; let him stick to it."
Eventually George was allowed to smoke, but Mr. Spurgeon did not have a cigar for months after that. . . .
While Mr. Spurgeon was living at Nightingale Lane, Clapham, an excursion was one day organised by one of the young men's classes at the Tabernacle. The brake with the excursionists was to call for the President on their way to mid-Surrey.
It was a beautiful early morning, and the men arrived in high spirits, pipes and cigars alight, and looking forward to a day of unrestrained enjoyment. Mr. Spurgeon was ready waiting at the gate. He jumped up to the box-seat reserved for him, and looking round with an expression of astonishment, exclaimed:
"What, gentlemen! Are you not ashamed to be smoking so early?"
Here was a damper! Dismay was on every face. Pipes and cigars one by one failed and dropped out of sight.
When all had disappeared, out came the President's cigar-case. He lit up and smoked away serenely. The men looked at him astonished. "I thought you said you objected to smoking, Mr. Spurgeon?" one ventured.
"Oh no, I did not say I objected. I asked if they were not ashamed, and it appears they were, for they have all put their pipes away."
Amid laughter the pipes reappeared, and with puffs of smoke the party went on merrily.
The Daily Telegraph Scandal Adapted from G. Holden Pike, The Life and Work of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 5 vols. (London: Cassel, n.d.), 5:138-40. Mr. Pike's full account of the incident is included here. We have embellished it by adding the complete text of Mr. Spurgeon's letter to the Daily Telegraph, the article from the Christian World, and W. M. Hutchings's reply to Spurgeon.
[In the autumn of 1874] a passage-at-arms on the subject of smoking occurred between Spurgeon and Dr. Pentecost. . . . The latter had been received as a brother preacher at the chapel and as a guest at Clapham. After visiting the Continent, the Tabernacle was revisited. "On this occasion Mr. Spurgeon invited him to divide the sermon, proposing that one should lay down the doctrine, and that the other should close by enforcing and illustrating the subject. With no thought beyond the illustration of the subject, Dr. Pentecost related his own struggle with the cigar. Mr. Spurgeon, as a smoker, made the application personal, and, when the brother sat down, immediately arose and combated what had been said."1 Perhaps the most graphic description of what took place within the Tabernacle, however, was given by a morning newspaper:—
The Rise of Pastoral Kingdoms - Vision or Ambition?
The people in Genesis 11 began to build a city that had a huge building that reached the sky as the centerpiece. That should sound familiar. Many churches don’t just have sanctuaries they have campuses. The goal of many churches is to build a huge sanctuary and a campus around it. Some pastors will label this as their “vision”. Nimrod and most kings in the bible would call this a kingdom.
Nimrod’s vision for building a campus or should I say kingdom got God’s attention. God said in Genesis 11:6 “Look! The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!”(NLT) Did you catch that? This whole thing was not God led or inspired. Under the leadership of Nimrod, these people were going to build a city and a huge building and nothing could stop them. I didn’t say it, God did. That is powerful. If any group of people is unified they can do what they decide to do.
I am not the only one who can use exegesis to break down this text. Some pastors, like Nimrod, understand the power of unity as well. Nimrod used his understanding of influence and unity to build his campus/kingdom just as some pastors use influence and unity to build their campus/kingdoms. Nimrod’s goal was to build a city with a large building as a monument to his personal greatness. Some pastors want to build a campus with a large sanctuary as a monument to their personal greatness. Notice the people in Genesis 11 did not say, “let’s make a name for ourselves by making sure the lame, children and the widows are healthy and eating”. How many pastors do you know are building housing, food distribution centers and care facilities for those in need at the same rate they are building sanctuaries and campuses. The key is the phrase at the same rate because philanthropy is viewed by some ministries as merely a form of PR.
The push to build large sanctuaries and campuses are given merit because they fall under the category of “vision”. Pastors are never accused of building kingdoms to rule, they are now called visionaries. Some of you may say that I have gone too far. Have I gone too far? Think about it, is that youth center really to help youth or is it in place to manipulate new subjects for the pastoral kingdom. Is creating a larger sanctuary to accommodate those needing to hear the gospel or is it to accommodate more people so they can be manipulated to give money and buy the church’s goods week after week. When did all of this fall under the category of “vision” as opposed to ambition?
I wondered why more people have not caught on to this form of manipulation. In many churches the “seeker sensitive” movement has flourished. In some churches scripture is taught and study is encouraged. The difference is in the parishioner. “Seeker sensitive” ministries target the non-Christians and the jeans-on-Sunday crowds. These two groups are more apt to follow inspirational messages rather than messages that focus on proper biblical context and proper exegesis of scripture. What can be done with the “seeker sensitive” crowds often is manipulation. Many pastors realize that they can’t go to serious bible students about the building fund because serious bible students will go to James 1:27 and ask for the correlation between building bigger buildings and helping widows and children. Serious bible students will not take what any pastor says at face value.
Some “Seeker Sensitive” ministries get it right and the parishioners in those churches grow spiritually. In the churches where the parishioners are taught the word of God properly it shows in the communities that are around them. Lives are changed and they are viewed as an asset to the community even by those who don’t agree with their beliefs.
On the other hand some pastors know that entertaining messages that focus less on helping the world and more on helping one’s self, gives them influence over the people they are leading. With that in mind, many pastors target demographics that are not versed in scripture. Those pastors also target those who choose comfort over substance so they can build their kingdom a.k.a. “vision”.
You may question why I say that some pastors are building their own kingdoms. Well, let’s define a kingdom. Look at its root words, king and dominion. A kingdom is where a king has dominion. A king is the main person in charge who has ultimate authority as it relates to decision-making. Unlike a founder or CEO, a king has authority that is a birthright. Most pastors operate under the presumed authority that is given to them by God at birth. As a side note, some pastors call themselves gifted to pastor. Look up the passage in Ephesians 4:11. No one has the gift of being a pastor. Pastors are gifts to us the church by God. Many pastors are pampered like kings. A lot of pastors weather good or bad are treated like celebrities weather they ask for it or not. In a lot of churches pastors have ultimate authority. Some pastors say that God mandates their decisions. A close look at scripture would indicate they are fulfilling their own aspirations. Parallel what your pastor is doing to what the apostles were doing and ask yourself if their houses and cars are a result of their faith, God’s mandate, or a result of capital they accrue from loyal subjects also known as parishioners.
Let’s recap. Kingdoms require taxes that are under the king’s authority. Many churches require tithes that are under the pastor’s authority. The concept of kingdoms resemble the concept of many church campuses. Kings are chosen by city vote or are rulers by birthright. Many pastors are voted in by a church or claim to be chosen by birth. Kings like many pastors are pampered like celebrities. Kings are the chief beneficiaries of the wealth of the kingdom. Pastors, do I even have to say it? These kingdoms are built to expand as well. Campuses grow. Kingdoms spread to other territories to build an empire. Many churches plant other churches in other areas that often already have churches in those areas. All of this is falls under the pastors “vision”.
Is it just me, or have you been hearing a lot of kingdom and vision talk lately at your church? I often hear some pastors talk about “kingdom business” or say “it’s all about the kingdom”. What these pastors are not saying is that they are building their own kingdoms and labeling it a God given vision. This is scary.
Before you help another man pursue his ambition to build a kingdom that he labels as a vision from God read:
Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (NLT)
I’ve been hearing something lately that has really gotten under my skin. Some pastors have been saying it a lot since my early years as a Christian until now. The word is vision. Some will say, “our pastor has great vision”. Others will say, “We are following our pastor’s vision”. A lot of modern pastors I’ve heard will quickly quote part of Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish….” (KJV) What I find interesting is that most of the pastors I’ve heard speak or write about this subject of vision leave off the second half of that verse where it says “…. But he that keepeth the law, happy is he”(KJV)
Some pastors use the skill of manipulation to influence people by distorting the first half of Proverbs 29:18. Often they use the scare tactic of “lack of vision” being parallel to death. “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. The result of distorting this passage is, parishioners following pastors and not God. I thought about this long and hard. I too drank the proverbial punch for part of my Christian life.
To get me in lock step with this unbiblical way of thinking, I was given buzz phrases over the years. Maybe some of you have heard this stuff. Try this one on for size, “buy-in”, and “you have to buy-in to the vision of this ministry”. How about this one, “There is one vision in this house”. Now there is a new one making the rounds in manipulation centers that call themselves churches, “you must have this ministry’s DNA”.
Influence through mind manipulation is not new. Is there a biblical example of this? Good question. Yes, and we can find it in Genesis 11:1-8. The parallels are astounding. This is the story of the Tower of Babel. At this point in human history, everyone on the earth was in one place and under the leadership of one man by the name of Nimrod. Verse 1 says “And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech” (KJV). This means that everyone was not only using the same language but every word they said meant the same thing. At this time there were no colloquial terms or slang. During this point in history, if someone were to say “that is a hot suit”, no one would think that it was either stolen or it was great looking, the understanding would be simply that the suit would burn you. Think about it, how many times you have heard pastors encourage their parishioners to be of one mind and saying the same thing. Some pastors will even use Genesis 11:1 as a reference.
After settling in the land of Shinar the people all made the decision to make a name for themselves. The funny thing is, at this point, no one asked the question, “why are we making a name for ourselves”. If you think about it, no one else was on the earth according to scripture.
“Making a name for themselves”, where did this thinking come from. At that time, the most influential person on the earth was Nimrod (Gen 10:8). When Nimrod decided to build his kingdom it was built (Gen 10:10). If we go back to Gen 11 we see that the people start building this kingdom and the purpose was to make a name for themselves. Have you ever seen the effect that the press has on some pastors and leaders? Some pastors or PASTARS are tickled by seeing not just their name, but their church’s name in magazines or newspapers or mentioned on television. The goal of many churches and pastors is to make a name for themselves. Why? Isn’t it about lifting up God and building His kingdom?
When I was a kid I loved hanging out with and watching Mr. Clifford, my next-door neighbor. His garage was filled with all kinds of tools and in my mind he seemed to be the kind of man who could fix or build anything. One of the reasons he fascinated me was that somehow he had cut off one of his fingers. I never had the nerve to ask him how it happened but it was probably due to some sort of woodworking accident. The other thing that fascinated me about him was that he had many tattoos that covered his forearms. They were the dark blue type that displayed all sorts of scenes that many veterans came home to the USA with after spending years in the Navy serving on the high seas. He never really wanted to talk about them and I always had the feeling he was somewhat embarrassed by them. Whenever I asked him about them he would make a succinct remark and then quickly change the subject, which really only increased my fascination.
In my youth, the only people who had tattoos were military veterans like my neighbor or those people who lived on the outer fringes of society. The words “tattoos” and “respectable” were not two words that would be in the same sentence unless someone said, “No respectable person ever gets a tattoo.” Times have changed and now it seems that people in all types of professions are getting tattoos. Today tattoos are no longer the domain of hardcore outlaw bikers, they are being prominently displayed on the appendages of musicians, actors, athletes, and other professionals. It seems virtually impossible to watch professional sports today and not see many men’s arms covered in ink, some even going so far as to be branded with hot irons, or having all types of piercings. Given the rise in popularity of people marking and modifying their bodies in all types of ways, it is only natural that Christians should pause and ask themselves, “What does the Bible (God) say about Christians getting tattoos?” And also, “Is it okay for a Christian to modify (tattoo) the body this way?”
The most common Scripture that people refer to regarding the use of tattoos is Leviticus 19:28, "'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.
Although this seems clear in the New International Version of the Bible, we will gain a better understanding of this verse by looking at the actual Hebrew from which it is translated. The Jewish Tanakh is a translation of the Scriptures according to the traditional Hebrew text. (Tanakh is an acronym formed from the first letters of the three divisions of the Hebrew Bible; Torah, Nevi’m, and Kethuvim.)
Leviticus 19:28 (Tanakh) You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.
The phrase “or incise any marks” comes from two Hebrew words. The Hebrew word translated “incise” is nathan, which means “to put or set, in the way a person would print on stone.” To do so a person would have to chisel or cut the words into the stone to make a mark or write. The word for mark is ka ka’, which the Torah Commentary published by the Jewish Publication Society admits “remains unexplained,” yet they acknowledge that the meaning seems clear from the context. As they state, “The Hebrew word “ketovet” incorporates the verb k-t-v, the root of the word “to write,” which is also used of incising on stone, so that could designate some form of tattoo.” [1]
Thus, although the Hebrew text does not actually say “tattoo,” many translations use the word “tattoo” because tattoos require a piercing or cutting of the skin. Then when ink is rubbed into the cut it causes a permanent mark. However, we must also recognize that there are other ways besides tattoos that a person can mark his skin, such as scarring from cuts and burns.
In ancient cultures people sometimes cut themselves to demonstrate their great devotion to their gods. By cutting themselves they showed that they were willing to sacrifice their own bodies and shed their blood for their gods. A typical example of the practice of people cutting themselves to honor their gods occurred when the prophet Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.
1 Kings 18:26-28, Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah began to taunt them….. So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed.
God clearly condemns the worship of any other gods, and He sets Himself, including His ways, apart from many practices incorporated in pagan worship. Worship of the dead was very common, so forbidding Israelites to cut themselves “for the dead” would have interrupted their tendencies to mimic the practices of the other peoples they encountered.
In addition to the worship of the dead, people would also cut themselves in mourning the death of a loved one to demonstrate their great grief and sadness. The physical pain they caused themselves on the outside was a reflection of the great emotional pain they felt inside.
The following are three other places where God talks about people cutting themselves due to mourning.
Jeremiah 16:6 "Both high and low will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, and no one will cut himself or shave his head for them.”
Jeremiah 41:4-5, “The day after Gedaliah's assassination, before anyone knew about it, eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria…”
Jeremiah 48:36-37, "So my heart laments for Moab like a flute; it laments like a flute for the men of Kir Hareseth. The wealth they acquired is gone. Every head is shaved and every beard cut off; every hand is slashed and every waist is covered with sackcloth.
God’s prohibition against people cutting themselves is an indication of His great love and care for His people. Until recent times pain relief was very limited and the lack of the sanitary conditions required for the proper care of injuries and wounds presented significant problems. Deep cuts have always been painful, but in ancient days they were also a serious and life-threatening matter. The lack of understanding of the causes of infection many times resulted in severe sickness, and even death, when wounds occurred.
The lack of modern pain relief meant that in many cultures, especially in connection to worship services, people used intoxicants and other mind altering substances to dull their minds in order to endure the pain from cutting themselves. These substances would often lead to a person being taken over by demons as they fell into trance-like states. God’s forbidding of the practice of incising themselves to honor the dead prevented the people from opening their minds to evil spirits. Thus, God’s desire to protect people from pain, illness, and spiritual problems are three fundamental reasons for forbidding His people from making “gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.”
God Tattoos His Palms
Despite God’s prohibitions against His people cutting and making marks on themselves, it is hard to get around the fact that God says that He has “engraved” His people’s names upon His own palms.
Isaiah 49:15-16, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I [God] have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.
Clearly, God marking His palms so that He remembers His people indicates that the prohibition in Leviticus is not a blanket condemnation against “marking your flesh.” Besides the fact that God has tattooed His own palms, there are a few other wonderful truths this verse reveals. First, of all the places that a person could mark his body, the palms are one of the most painful due the many nerve endings that make them extremely sensitive. God’s great love for us means that He has endured the pain to mark His own palms to better remember us. Like a mother who would never forget the child at her breast or the child she bore, God will never forget us and He is always reminded of us as He constantly sees our names tattooed upon His palms.
Our Freedom in Christ
One of the great gifts we receive upon accepting Christ as our Lord is freedom from many of the rules and regulations of the Levitical law.
Ephesians 2:13-15, But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace… by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations…
Romans 10:4, Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Clearly Christ did not end all “law.” The sacrifice of Christ brought to an end the rules and regulations regarding the daily Temple sacrifice. We have obtained great freedom in Christ but that does not mean that everything that was once forbidden under the Mosaic and Levitical laws are now permissible or beneficial. Under the Mosaic Law idolatry, murder, lying, and coveting were outlawed and these acts remain wrong. Under the Levitical law some foods were banned, and although they may be permissible to eat today, they remain unhealthy or unbeneficial to our bodies. Merely having the liberty in Christ to do something does not mean that it is best to do it.
1 Corinthians 10:23, "Everything is permissible"–but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"–but not everything is constructive.
Rather than external rules and regulations, God has always desired for people to perform their various acts of devotion and worship with a proper attitude of the heart. Christ’s accomplishment of fulfilling the law means that, rather than us having to focus on the Law and all its regulations, we can now focus on pursuing holiness with our hearts being in the right place, loving God and our neighbor.
Romans 13:8-10, Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Galatians 5:14, The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
It’s a Matter of the Heart
Having obtained freedom in Christ, we must be careful to never use our freedom to cause others to stumble. Attempting to live with our hearts in the right place is much more difficult than merely following rules and regulations. It takes much more maturity to think things through and separate right from wrong, and to determine the loving thing to do and then do it than it does to merely have rules to follow. Too often Christians have reduced walking with Christ to a matter of rules and regulations instead of living and doing from a heart of love. What we do will always be wrong if we do it with the wrong motive, and for Christians, love must always be the dominating motive of our hearts. It is never considered loving to put a stumbling block in the path of our brothers or sisters.
1 Corinthians 8:9, Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
As followers of Christ, everything we do must come from the right posture of heart.
Colossians 3:23, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
1 Timothy 1:5, The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
2 Timothy 2:22, Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Having a pure heart also means that what we do is coming from a place of love and faith. Even though I have the freedom in Christ to do something, if my heart tells me it is wrong and I do it, then I have sinned. We must always operate from a place of faith. The Apostle Paul wrote the following words in the context of food offered to idols, but we can also apply them to getting tattoos and many other things a Christian does.
Romans 14:22-23, Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
If we do something when our hearts tell us that it is wrong, even if we have the liberty in Christ to do it, then we have sinned. We have sinned because we are not walking with faith, and God is clear that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6). Before anyone ever gets a tattoo he should discern the motive of his heart, and only proceed if he can act with love and faith.
Wrong Motives
Our hearts are very complex, and many of the things we do are the result of having a mixture of motives. We may want a tattoo because we think it looks good, communicates to others a message about “who we are,” or shows our love for someone or something. Before anyone ever gets a tattoo he should always take time to closely examine his motives. The two main things that should never be motives for a tattoo are rebellion and rejection.
The Motive of Rebellion
Some people are unaware of the rebellion that lives in their hearts and that their tattoos reflect an antisocial or ungodly heart. It is a sobering thought to remember that God says that rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft (1 Sam. 15:23). Stories abound of people who got a tattoo when they were intoxicated, on drugs, or angry, all of which are states of rebelliousness. Rebellious tattoos often fall into the category of dark and sinister images such as death, skulls, demons, dragons, spiders, and other frightening, menacing, or evil objects. There are also tattoos that are occultic in nature or are pagan symbols such as “Thor’s Hammer,” Masonic emblems, nature worship, or the symbols of eastern religions. These types of images promote false gods and belief systems and are always wrong. Rebellious tattoos are never a godly blessing to others and they often reflect the hurt and pain that resides in the person’s heart by promoting beliefs and religions that are opposed to God’s truth. In other words, they promote evil.
The Motive of Rejection
Another motive that people are often unaware of is rejection. Many people have a great sense of unworthiness, being unlovable, or feeling “not good enough” because of the ungodly root of rejection that lives in their hearts. Rejection causes great emotional pain and is often the trigger behind people’s actions. Many times people act out with a “tough guy” (or girl) persona that is really masking the great hurt from the rejection in their hearts. Tattoos can be used to mask rejection by portraying an image that is not who the person really is on the inside. Sometimes people with rejection issues act in ways that cause others to reject them. There are some types of tattoos and some locations on the body that are never acceptable. Great care must be taken to discern the motive of the heart before anyone ever permanently alters his body with a tattoo.
Tattoos Will Not Change Who You “Really Are”
Getting a tattoo that says “courageous” does not impart courage any more than wearing a cowboy hat makes someone a cowboy. Tattoos will not “make you anything” other than the same person you were before, except now you have ink permanently embedded in your body. Examine your heart first, and if you recognize rebellion or rejection as your motive, and if you are not operating from a place of love and faith, do not get a tattoo.
What Should I do if I Have an Ungodly Tattoo?
When we spread the Gospel with love and the heart of Christ we will attract people from all types of backgrounds. Someone once said that our churches should look more like spiritual hospitals for sinners than museums for saints. This means that our meetings should be filled with all types of sinners, many of whom may be covered with all types of tattoos. We must remember that everyone comes to Christ with his or her own sinful bags packed full. Some people’s sins may be more visible (like tattoos) than others, but sin is still sin.
First, we must remember that we are not made holy by what we eat, or wear, or have tattooed on our skin. We are made holy by what Jesus did on our behalf. Jesus taught that a person is not made clean or unclean by what goes into the stomach but by what lives in his or her heart (Matt. 15:17, Mark 7:19). In the same way, people are not made unholy because of markings on their skin. Christ’s atoning sacrifice for everyone who accepts him as his or her Lord is complete. Spiritually we are completely cleansed by his blood, including any sin related to ungodly tattoos. The truth is that what Jesus Christ accomplished for us is bigger than any tattoo.
“Captured Flags of the Enemy”
What should a person do if they become a Christian and they have some dark or evil tattoos? Anyone with a tattoo in this situation has only three choices. First, you can just leave it alone provided that it is not a stumbling block or an offense to your conscience. In a war when an enemy is defeated their flag is captured. Similarly, when unbelievers have ungodly flags (tattoos) displayed on their bodies, they can be thought of as the “captured flags of the enemy” because of our complete victory in Christ. They reflect “who you once were,” a spiritual hostage of God’s archenemy, but now you are free and more than a conqueror in Christ, and nothing, including tattoos, can separate you from him.
Romans 8:37-39 (KJV), Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Cover-ups
Another option for ungodly tattoos is to have them covered up by placing new images over them. A “cover-up” tattoo is commonly done when a person wants to change an image. Generally the more experienced and artistically gifted tattooist can do this type of work; however it will always result in having an even bigger tattoo than the original piece being covered.
Removal
A last option regarding ungodly tattoos is that they can be removed. This is considered a medical procedure requiring the use of a laser. The type of laser used depends on the color of the ink in the tattoo. The laser actually causes the ink to be broken up in the lower layers of the skin and then it is absorbed and removed through the bloodstream. This is a very painful process, typically requiring multiple treatments and it can be very expensive, often costing ten to twenty times the cost of getting the tattoo in the first place.
Repentance and Forgiveness
We must recognize that dark, evil, and ungodly tattoos often allow demonic spirits to infiltrate a person’s life. Anyone who has a tattoo that is occultic in nature, or promotes paganism or false deities, must break the spiritual ties connected to it. Christians should always repent to God and ask His forgiveness for getting these types of images. Remember that He tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). And yes, His forgiveness even extends to ungodly tattoos.
Seven Things to Consider Before Getting a Tattoo
Why do I want a tattoo?
As we have discussed above, make sure your motives are right. Oftentimes people get tattoos for sentimental reasons or because they are caught up in the emotion of the moment. Norman Rockwell, the famous American artist, once did painting called the “Tattooist,” which depicts a sailor getting a girl’s name crossed out on his arm as the tattoo artist inks him with the name of his latest girlfriend. Getting a tattoo on an impulse of the moment rarely turns out to be good in the long run.
What is the tattoo image you want?
Your tattoo is always a reflection of your heart. Sometimes tattoos reveal idols that we hold. Frequently people get tattoos because of gang affiliations and other ungodly associations. There is nothing wrong with getting a tattoo for sentimental reasons, but care should always be taken to determine if this is really what you want permanently displayed on your body. As we discussed above, you should always use great care in the selection of the image you are getting. Some images are never acceptable for a Christian such as crude or vulgar subject matter, demonic graphics, etc. I am sure that many people would not get the tattoo if they stopped first and asked themselves, “Is this something I would like Jesus to see?”
Where am I going to place the tattoo?
The location you are getting the tattoo can be just as important as what you are getting. It is hard to argue that facial tattoos will cause offense in others. The same can also be said about having private parts tattooed, such as genitalia, etc. Women must also be aware that having tattoos on the small of the back can also limit, if not prevent, the insertion of a needle in that area to administer spinal blockers during the delivery of a baby. Any tattoos that cover the arms or other public areas will cause limitations. Although tattoos are generally more acceptable nowadays, there are certain white-collar professions in which tattoos will be a limitation. Remember too that styles change. Even though tattoos are more acceptable now than they were a decade ago, in another decade that trend may reverse. Before getting a tattoo on a publicly visible area of your body you should always consider what profession you will be in. Many people have gotten tattoos only to later have to undergo considerable pain and expense to have them removed because of the new profession they enter.
Who am I getting the tattoo from?
Take care to choose the right artist. The best way to do this is to visit several tattoo shops and scrutinize their work. Also, ask around and see which artists people with good tattoo work (an oxymoron for some) recommend. Tattooing carries a risk because it requires multiple punctures to the skin, therefore increasing the risk of infection and disease if not done properly under sanitary conditions. Even when proper procedures are followed, some people still get staph or other bacterial infections. Some people have even gotten Hepatitis and AIDS from unsterile shops or places where tattoo needles were reused. And never get a tattoo from your cousin or someone who just got their new mail order tattoo kit and will give you “free” tattoos so they can practice. Tattooing is an art and every reputable tattoo artist serves an apprenticeship under the watchful eye of a seasoned professional.
What health factors should you consider?
Never get a tattoo if you are sick or just getting over an infection. Tattoos stress the body by causing a wound (actually, thousands of them) and the injection of ink into the skin also means it gets into the bloodstream. Some people have flu like symptoms following a tattoo so never get one if you are sick or just recovering from sickness. Also, always make sure the tattoo shop is clean, that they use sterilized equipment and latex gloves, and that they never reuse the inkwell or needles between clients.
Are you ready to get a tattoo?
First, most state laws make it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to get a tattoo. There should never be any hurry or rush to get a tattoo. Tattoos should be thought of as permanent. Although they can be removed nowadays with lasers or other means, they can only be removed at great cost and with far more pain than they were to get in the first place. If you want a tattoo then stop and wait a minimum of six months or a year first. You can always get the tattoo but waiting will help you determine if this is really something you want to do. You can also stop and ask your mom’s permission first. Chances are she’ll say no, and that will give you time to think it over! Also, ask yourself, “Is this really something that I will want on my body twenty or thirty years from now?” There are lots of tattoos that looked good on a twenty year old and then look pretty ridiculous on a fifty year old with loose or baggy skin.
Is this really the wise use and stewardship of my money?
Some people would argue that using money to get a tattoo is never good stewardship. But it is your money and you can spend it on a tattoo if you have saved for it and have the means to do it. As with other luxury expenses, it is never right to spend money to get a tattoo if you really do not have any extra in the first place.
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Supplemental Appendix
Appendix A
In our article on Tattoos, we focused on the question of whether or not a Christian should get a tattoo. We did this by examining the general topic of tattoos, a person’s motives, the type of image to be displayed and location on the body, as well as reviewing some of the most common verses people cite against the practice of tattooing. We also noted a verse in Isaiah that spoke of God Himself tattooing His own palms, a seemingly sure indication that God does not provide a universal condemnation of tattooing.
In order to keep the article on tattoos from becoming too large, we elected to not review every Bible verse that seems to make a reference to the practice of tattooing. The purpose of this appendix is to provide a supplemental study by reviewing these additional verses.
Scriptures Verses to Consider
Isaiah 44:5, One will say, 'I belong to the LORD'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,' and will take the name Israel.
The word “write” in the above verse is translated from the Hebrew word kathab, which means to inscribe, engrave, or describe in writing. We must bear in mind that in days of old, in order for someone to write something he could not merely do so with a readily available pen and paper. Writing in most instances was a time consuming process requiring significant preparation of a scroll, usually made of leather or papyrus. It also necessitated the production of a writing implement, as well as a dye or ink. To “write on the hand” implies an inscribing or engraving as in tattooing. Yahweh provides a very beautiful prophetic picture by describing the great devotion of His followers one day going so far as to “write on his hand, ‘Yahweh’s’…”
In addition to God’s people writing His name on their hands, God also tells us that there will be a day in the future when some people will have His name “written” on their foreheads. In some verses this writing is referred to as the “seal of God.” We have no real understanding how this will be done, but the idea of a tattoo cannot be excluded.
Revelation 14:1, Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
Revelation 22:4, They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Speaking of the Day of Wrath, Revelation 9:4 indicates that there will be a day when only those who have the “seal of God on their foreheads” will be the ones who cannot be harmed.
Revelation 9:4, They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
The Mark of the Beast
In contrast to the “seal of God” written on the foreheads of His faithful, there will also be a time when people will be able to accept the mark of the beast. This is a mark placed on the hand or forehead. There is great speculation about what exactly this mark will be. Some have postulated that it could be an implanted device, a bar code, or other image, but whatever it is, the “mark” is a permanent image on the skin and a tattoo cannot be ruled out.
Revelation 14:9, A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand,
Revelation 16:2, The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.
Revelation 19:20, But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.
Revelation 20:4, I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
The Greek word translated “mark” in these verses is the charagma and it is used to designate a stamp or imprinted mark like a brand, in the same way someone would brand horses or cattle.
Is Jesus Tattooed?
A final verse that we need to review is Revelation 19:16, which seems to suggest that Jesus has writing on his thigh.
Revelation 19:16, On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
If in fact the phrase “KING OF KING AND LORD OF LORDS” is written on Jesus’ thigh, it would be right to assume that it is most likely a tattoo. All of the Greek texts do refer to Jesus’ thigh. However, there is evidence to suggest that this could be a wrong transmission of the original text. [1] The difference between the word “thigh” and “banner” in the Aramaic is only the result of a very slight difference in one letter. Due to the individual differences in handwritten texts, it would have been very easy for a scribe to write “banner” in Aramaic in such a way that when it was copied into Greek it was misunderstood to be the word “thigh.” [2] This is a common mistake that most have made at one time or another. For instance, if we hurriedly write the number seven (7), shortening the top bar before we make the vertical line, we could later easily confuse it with the number one (1).
Another point that we should consider, and which seems to reinforce the idea of this verse properly reading “his banner,” is that if this name was written on his thigh, there really wouldn’t be any point to it. Few, if any would ever see it due to it being covered by his robe. Whereas if it was his banner, it would be declaring, for the entire world to see, that he is the KING OF KING AND LORD OF LORDS!
