God’s Word is historically accurate, scientifically and medically perfect, as well as totally dependable in all aspects of the human experience. Your majority-text King James Bible is the inerrant Word of a living God. It is your owner’s manual.

Governments and political agendas will change, fashions will change, technology will change, your feelings for others and their feelings for you will change, but God’s Word will never change. It is a sure foundation in an unreliable world.

Hebrews 13:8:

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

GOD SAID in Leviticus 19:28:

Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

There are numerous other passages that deal with these matters.

MAN SAID: There is nothing wrong with tattoos or body piercing. It is simply a harmless form of self-expression.

Now THE RECORD: Tattoos and body piercing are a global rage that is turning into a worldwide epidemic. In the March 2001 issue of the professional journal Medicine, a report concerning this subject was printed. Robert Haley, MD, chief of epidemiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas reported that people with tattoos are 900% more likely to be infected with hepatitis C. Hepatitis C, like HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is spread by infected blood which can be and is spread by infected needles. Dr. Haley said, "There’s a major epidemic of hepatitis C in this country, which most people do not realize." The doctor went on to say, "People can have the virus for 10 years and not know it. In another 10 to 20 years, they likely will be dead."

Unfortunately for the tattoo and body-piercing enthusiast, the shops he or she frequents to acquire this so-called body art are not, in many cases, regulated by the government and as such are not required to follow the same sterile operating procedures as doctors and hospitals. The result, of course, is not pretty.

Dr. Beth Potashkin, a Manhattan psychologist and child/adolescent specialist, weighed in with the following caution:

"It’s very stylish, but when there’s significant danger of health complication, then I think parents have to take it very seriously."

"Parents should really discuss with kids the medical risks and permanency issue."

Tattoos can be removed with laser surgery, "but kids need to know about the scarring that comes with that kind of plastic surgery," Potashkin says. "Most kids are put off by that. When they understand that this could be a long-term mutilation of a visible part of the body, that often is a very persuasive argument. I’ve seen the laser removals—they’re horrendous."

She suggests taking the child to the family doctor. Some in New York will perform piercing or tattooing, or will recommend a dermatologist. "Then you know that the instruments used will be sterile and the doctor will be able to tell the adolescent exactly what will happen down the line," she says.

"Dermatologists are doing it by default because there are too many kids getting infected with hepatitis C," says Potashkin. "It’s because of the unreliability of tattoo and piercing places in SoHo, East Village, even in shopping malls in New Jersey."

I’m certain that the problems caused by tattoos and body piercing are more far reaching physically and spiritually than the issues noted in this feature. Be assured that when God’s owner’s manual says "don’t do it," doing it will produce real lasting problems.

GOD SAID in Leviticus 19:28:

Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

MAN SAID: There is nothing wrong with tattoos or body piercing. It is simply a harmless form of self-expression.

Now you have THE RECORD.




References:

King James Bible

Haley, Robert, MD, Medicine, March 2001

Walton, Dr. D., "Tattoo Who?!" WebMD