What is Your Grace’s opinion concerning tattooing? Is it true that it is a sign of permanent enslavement (Exodus 21:5-6)? Why do we accept ear piercing?
His Grace Bishop Youssef:
The Holy Bible mentions that ear piercing is a sign of a slave who has devoted himself permanently to his master. The question is: who is your master? St. Paul says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor 6:19).
Our body is a temple inhabited by the Holy Spirit. Therefore it belongs to God and we have no right to damage it in any way through piercing, tattooing, smoking, drinking etc. Our duty is to keep it pure and holy as our Lord wants us to be. In Holy Book of Leviticus 21:5, we read, “
They shall not make tonsures upon their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.”
It is enough that you have your ears pierced which is more customary than biblical; you do not need to pierce other parts of your body because of fashion. What is the message you would be sending to those around you? As soon as this fashion disappears, you will not feel at ease having your nose pierced. I hope you keep the words of the Holy Spirit in your heart and be in the image of Christ a role model to those around you “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:2).
