Tattoos,Legalism

disclaimer: this is mostly a good slapping for myself, its been stewing in me for awhile …

I was listening to Voddie B. this week from the home school conference and noticed how he, without saying it, does not grant neutral ground to those who disagree with him on different issues. ….theres no biblical basis for that…., thats not in the word…. He uses this everywhere that he lays out the biblical case for something. This showed up in his question and answers and in his “the centrality of the home in evangelism.”

This method of Voddies denies the neutral ground that so much of the modern church tries to stand on, that God leaves it up to us, etc. This has allowed massive synchronizing with the culture. And it is rationalized as a way to be relative and to reach the culture.

Along the same vein Nancy and Doug Wilson had some very thought provoking posts with lots of comments from readers on the subject of tattoos, piercings, etc. (good stuff) What Nancy puts forward here ties in with Voddie.

From Nancy Wilson's blog on the tattoo subject....
"...here’s something to think about. My husband raised a great point in a recent talk he gave on pop culture. Christians should say, “Why should I get a tattoo?” but we always rush to ask instead, “Why can’t I get a tattoo?” The burden should be on why we should rather than why we should not. In other words, give me a good reason why a Christian should get a tattoo. But we always want reasons why we should not or cannot. We are usually leaning the wrong direction, which is with the world rather than against it."

This phrase is so true!!!! But we always want reasons why we should not or cannot. We do this because we believe in the myth of neutrality and we are addicted to being the standard. We are supposed to be His ambassadors , bond servants, for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, its not about our conscience not having a problem with something, but rather what does our Lord want? What sayeth the scriptures?

This would torpedo about 90% of the Christiany sounding, but non biblical presuppositions that are floating all over the place. If I had a nickel for all the times I have been given the “but what about” humanistic thinking masquerading as Christian nuance! My Bad because I kept giving, way to many people, a free ride.

North’s book” Westminster’s Confession” is one long request to the Dr’s and professors of Westminster ,these men who gave cover fire for most of the modern church to believe that Gods Law was non operative. By what standard? who says? If not Gods law then which God are we obeying? Who are we acknowledging as having authority? Deafening silence, If you cannot answer, ignore the questioner. That’s just those theonomy people…….with a dismissive wave of the hand, marginalize Gods word.

It is always theonomy. The only question is…. who or what is the theo of this system? For the Christian, there should be only one answer.

For some reason this is where we drag out the straw man concerns about legalism. But do you always expect the correct change back when you buy something? Legalist. Is it always wrong to abuse the widow and orphan? Legalist. Will you only sleep with your own wife? Legalist. Is the truth,always true? Stinking Pharisee.

Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say? Because I don’t want to be a legalist?!?

Botkin was dead on when he said the new educational systems were meant to keep us from being able to correctly think and articulate what’s happening around us.

God has shown a new generation of Christians how to cut through all the baloney and Christian myths!

The next person who says to me….“ we have to be careful not to fall into the legalistic ditch on the other side of the road” is gonna get it.
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Wilson also had a awesome follow up on the tattoo topic which also touched this aspect again of…. We are usually leaning the wrong direction, which is with the world rather than against it." .....”the Bible never urges women to strive for, as in "edgy." Or "provocative, but not too skanky for an evangelical."
I am having a great time laughing at this stuff! David