What does this mean? We should not have tattoos and cut our hair?

The ONLY perfect man is Christ. We all fall short.

As far as Orthodox Jews being the only ones getting

it right........well, by not accepting Jesus, they got the

main part wrong.

You make it sound like they aren't any good if they have these things. I personally don't like the spiked hair and body full of tattoos but piercings are fine in my book. And they can be taken out when you are older. Not all guys that have piercings look bad or are bad. My friend Julian has angelbites and is gauging his ears. I believe he is at 3/4 or just was previously. He has a second ear piercing on the left ear that is normal. He plays flute with me in band and he also plays piccolo, bassoon, and bass guitar. Yes, he does want to do something in his life that has to do with music. I think that is wonderful because he is really good at it. So I think it is bad to judge people that you don't really know. And not everybody wants to sit in an office for the rest of their life.

It is a commandment given by God that is followed by ultra Orthodox Jews around the world. It doesn't mean not cutting your hair. It means that mean cannot cut their sideburns or shave. Highly Orthodox men use a dipilatory on their face, or just grow a beard. Surely you must have seen some of the Orthodox men from NYC with the long curls on the side of their ears? They are following this commandment. Yes, defacing the body is also forbidden, as in tattoos and cutting oneself on purpose.

We are not bound by the law of the old testament, since Jesus gave us a new covenant and a new law.

However, in examing the laws of the old testament, I have found that there is a lot of practical sense and reasoning behind what God commanded. For example, did you know that pork contains enzymes that attack your brain? It would make sense not to eat it, as commanded in the Old Testament.

As far as not having tattoos - I would say the practical reasoning behind it is:

1) The risk of infection

2) Once it's there it'll never come off, and who knows if you're gonna change your mind!?

3) Tattoos tend to categorize people (like it or not)

As far as not cutting our hair - I think that OT command was directed toward a specific group of men who were "set aside

" to serve God. I think we as women are to respect our femininity and not try to live "manly" lives. That being said, I have seen some very feminine looking women with short hair!

All that to say that God is more interested in the motivation of your heart that drives your outward actions. Don't be bound by legalism, but don't be caught up in rebellion.

These things still stand, AND FOR EVERYONE! Tattoos are bad because your body is a temple of GOD. Therefore, by tattooing you mar his temple. And to cut your hair and shave your beard in such a manner gives you that look of Satan. Also, cutting yourself and pouring out drink offering for the dead is also mentioned.

It means that orthodox jews are doing what god wanted and everyone else isn't. Note that this includes not only tattoos but also pierced ears. However it could be argued that it applies only to men.

Curiously, it does not include circumcision. That particular gashing of flesh is required in the OT and specifically no longer required in the NT. Also, the NT condemns long hair on men (in contrast to the traditional pictures of Jesus).

Go figure.

It probably means no funky hairdos, body piercings and tatoos. But put the scripture in the context of the prophet who wrote it.

If you look at the context of Biblical times, things look different.

I am no expert on biblical era cultures. If you are quoting from Leviticus, it simply means the the people of Israel can not mark themselves up like the Canaanites or the Egpytians. They should look like Isrealites.

... God set rules up to distinguish the Israelites from the other tribes.

Also, body markings can fall under "the golden calf" meaning worship of another God before him, but truely, that is all how we interpret these things.

Live your life and relax and enjoy the gifts we have.

It means that when the Israelites were coming out of pagan Egypt and into a land inhabited by other pagans that God gave them specific rules that would set them apart as His people from the other people in their area.

I am glad Father K knows what he is talking about because I have tattoos and short hair. Peace be with you

These are Old Testament rules of The Mosaic Law. They apply only to Jewish people from the time B.C.(Before Christ).