One wonders how to teach the Bible to generations determined to do whatever they like in habits, styles, fads, cultures, attitudes; and, to those who seem short of patience with anyone challenging their conduct. Who will challenge youth in their uses of haircuts, jewelry, body piercing, binges, drugs, and outlandish ways? Some of these conducts they identify as their persons. The matter is serious. Who can persuade us to question the general grossness in such matters as tattooing and body piercing? It is reported that three percent of the population have tattoos, and fifty percent of those now wish they could have them removed so to have a clear body surface, beautiful in itself. Fads stall many lives, or steer them to odd culture corners. Currency becomes approval.
There are many ways of flagellating the body, some mild and some severe. In ferocity the most obvious is, of course, the use of harsh self-beatings that draw blood. In an extended review, by a television crew of National Geographic, a lengthy program was filmed in which men flagellated their bodies and faces, fell into trances, and admitted to being taken by spirits. One tribe risked death and various horrors in the practice of their voodoo religion. Men lost self- control, running amok and throwing themselves. Their visages were blood soaked. Onlookers appeared unmoved by the gory display. The event evidenced ignorance and misdirection, loss of dignity.
In more civilized societies the effort is milder, but the results continue as self-degenerating. Body piercing, tattooing, excesses of jewelry, odd uses of clothing, and the like can become, in their way, what flagellation is to the native taken by spirits. They all silently say to God, I am dissatisfied with the way you made me. I want to be something else. So radical changes are perceived as acceptable, some related to sexual surgeries. Natural uses of sex are passed by for distortions in sexual distractions and lifestyles. These may vary in legality, but they defy moral approval. That is the point to be made. Did God make mistakes in his creation? (Exodus 4:12)
This is an important distinction to make, the difference between morality and legality. One should not be denied human rights, no matter what his or her private voluntary practices may be. Morality, something that believers in biblical God must insist upon, if God is to be with us, is another matter. Conducts should ordinarily be adjudicated by morality before legality. What is the morally right thing to be and do? Whatever pleases God is morally right. Whatever displeases him is morally wrong. We affirm what is moral and immoral in the teachings of Scripture. One who disagrees with that simple response has the right to disagree, and, in point of fact, may walk away in good friendship with the person with whom he has disagreement about what is or is not morality. God is judge of morals – not me or my friendly opponent. Christians making their views known, leave the matter with God. His further concern is for prayer. He presents himself as he is, and God will determine the ultimate outcomes of lives. This is the way Christ managed similar situations. Who are we to change value procedure arbitrarily? Legal issues are met by society: moral issues with Christian witness, Scripture and prayer, leaving the ultimate resolution with God. Christians are called to have firm understanding of morality and to respond to the issues related to belief, but the adjudication is left to God. Persons following the life, culture and faith of Scripture, are firm about its value, and service to all persons. Adoption and practice are left to free persons. That freedom is not to be interpreted as approval. Morality becomes troublesome if left to mankind alone. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020