Are Christians allowed to have piercings?

I’m going to change the question a bit as I go, as sometimes we don't ask exactly the right question.

If I answer it in a short way, then the answer is “yes”, my wife for example among a number of other women who are christians have piercings, and I know men who have had piercings when they were Christians.

Having a piercing doesn’t stop you from being a christian.

But that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do, just because it doesn't stop you from being a christian.

Being a christian is about our faith in Christ, all the work that He has done, repentance to Him for our old life and then a turning away from that old life.

King David for example as a Christian committed adultery and murder, but He was still a Christian.

He knew chastisement for what he did, so it was wrong.

So not everything that we can do, we should do.

So I’m going to change the question a little.

Should christians have piercings?

So there are a number of references to piercings in the bible, and some principles that we can look at when considering whether we should get a piercing.

And for reference, as tattoos are closely linked to piercings, I think the bible is clear on tattoos:

Lev 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.

Again, I know believers who have tattoos, but they regret getting them, most of them they got before they were a christian.

But they can still be a christian with the tattoo, it's not our works that save us, it’s Christs obedience.

But that verse is very clear on tattoos, more modern versions of the bible like the new king james will even put our modern word tattoo in there.

But let’s get back to piercings.

Piercings and Jewellery were a symbol

Gen 24:47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

So here we have an example of a believer receiving a piercing.

It says earring, but it's more likely a nose ring.

Jewellery was given to Rebekah by Abraham's servant to signify that if she married Isaac, he would provide for her, share all he had with her, and treasure her.

We have a very similar picture in our culture today when we give an engagement ring, and wedding rings.

It's a symbol of what we are giving to the other.

Piercings and jewellery in general was used to signify something.

We see the same picture in:

Ezekiel 16:12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

Here again, the jewel on the forehead is better translated as a ring in your nose, followed by the earring in your ears.

The Lord talking to his people, and talking in symbolic language that they would have understood.

I treated you the same way a loving husband who provided for you and gave you so much and treasured you.

But they left Him despite all He gave to them.

So the picture of piercing, especially for wives was a good one.

The picture of a nose ring is still alive in some cultures today.

Whereas traditional British culture has the finger rings.

As an aside, I quite like the picture of the nose ring when it comes to marriage.

It leaves a permanent mark, and marriage is something that should be for our whole lives, not something we can just take off when we feel like it.

It's also very prominent, it's not something you can hide when you feel like it.

Marriage is something you should take seriously and keep yourself only to one person for the rest of your life.

One more example of the nose and ear ring:

Isaiah 3: 18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, 19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, 20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, 21 The rings, and nose jewels,

Here we have jewellery including earrings, and nose rings being depicted as brave.

The people had put their trust in their jewellery, or their riches.

The symbol wasn’t any more of love or sharing, now it was their trust.

The were trusting in their riches to keep them safe, and were living for them.

They were the people's bravery.

So while piercings and jewellery weren't bad in and of themselves, the reasons for having them can make them bad.

If the people had them for a bad reason, then it was a bad thing.

Notice as well that in all these pictures, the piercings were given to the wife.

Piercings in men in the bible

It's very rare in the bible that you see a piercing of a man.

Exodus 21:2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

Hebrew servants would go free every 7 years, but they could choose to remain in service to their master.

Sometimes they would have wives and children that they had got while being a servant, and these wouldn’t go free with them.

So if they wanted to stay as a servant, with their wives and children, they would have their ear pierced.

Again we don't have this culture today, but this is one example of a man having his ear pierced, to signify that he would be a servant for life, but there is no indication of any jewellery coming with it, it's just the flesh is pierced.

So piercings in and of themselves aren't bad, but I can't see any real example with jewellery for men.

Bible principles on piercings

But there are also principles in the bible that we should follow as believers.

Two are in 1 Cor 10:

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

….

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Just because something is ok to do, doesn’t mean you should do it.

So I come back to the tweaked version of the question.

Should Christians get piercings?

Is what you are about to do going to edify or build up.

Is it helpful or a hindrance.

Or is it something that can bring glory to God.

If it's jewellery that's showing love as a gift from husband to wife, or jewellery that shows that a wife is submitting to and keeping herself only for her husband, then it's ok.

I’ve bought my wife ear studs as a gift for example.

Whats going on in your heart?

But if we're putting a piercing in because we want to be different, fit into a subculture, or just rebel then it's not a good reason.

Often today, piercings among young men are to fit into the rap, hip hop, or drill culture.

To follow the fashions found in that culture.

Wanting to look good and have their beauty admired.

Which goes above and beyond being nicely presented.

It’s calling other to look at them.

It’s sending a message that I align myself with this culture, and the sin it represents, especially when it comes to piercings of pride and vanity.

Generally still today getting a piercing for a man is still seen as a sign of rebellion, and as it permanently changes the body goes further than dressing in a certain fashion.

If these are part of your reasons to want to get a piercing, then it goes against principles that christians are to live by, such as not being fleshly, not rebelling, and being humble.

God looks on our heart more than the outward, so the reasons why we do something are just as if not more important than what we do.

On the flip side too, giving money to the Lord is a good thing for example, but God condemned those who did it wanting to be noticed by others and have them think good of the.

What's going on in your heart is as important as the action.

One more principle:

The inward matters more than the outward

1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

The inner matters so much more than the outward.

Focus your thoughts and time there.

You spend time seeking and finding the Lord, and obeying Him, then it will be seen as worth a great price to God.

It's no good looking good on the outside while your heart is far from God.

You can't be blessed by God then.

One final thing on piercings:

The most important piercing in the bible

The most important piercing that is in the bible is:

Psalm 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

It’s a different kind of piercing, but Christ was pierced in his hands feet and side as he was crucified for our sins.

Focus more on Christ and what he did and the death that He died for you if you turn to Him.

This is the piercing that really matters.

Look to His work and trust in Him, rather than spend time thinking about how to adorn and beautify your outside.