What kind of fruit does it produce? Jesus gave us a way to evaluate such matters—what we might call the “fruit test.” Whatever the topic, teaching, or activity, we can measure it by the fruit it produces. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them” (Matt. 7:16-20 NKJV). Now within the context this passage was dealing directly with false teachers, but the principles can still apply in activities of life. Two questions asked by brother Don Blackwell, in his book titled “The Truth About Moral Issues,” are as follows: (1) “When legalized gambling arrives in a new community, does it raise the moral standards of that community?” (2) “Does it help to lessen the hardship of families in the area?”[1] Studies show that casinos and gambling establishments erode a community’s ethical and moral fabric that often leads to higher crime rates, including theft, fraud, and money laundering. It can also cause social disruption, with widespread addiction breaking down families, relationships, and increasing divorce rates due to major financial losses and even bankruptcy. Additionally, casinos often target vulnerable, low-income individuals who may view gambling as a …

             The topic of gambling has been the subject of much debate among Christians seeking to determine whether it is right or wrong in the sight of God. Many understand it to be sinful but are uncertain how to prove this from scripture, while others use the absence of a direct command against gambling as a justification for it. The truth is, there is no verse that specifically says, “Thou shalt not play the slot machines, roulette, or blackjack.” That being the case, we must look at the principles taught throughout scripture to better understand why gambling is a sin.             To begin, let’s define gambling. The Oxford Dictionary describes it as “the activity of playing games of chance for money or betting on the outcome of future events, such as races or games.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “the practice or activity of betting: the practice of risking money or other stakes in a game or bet.” From these definitions, and the given fact that there are winners and losers involved we can conclude that gambling is: (1) the act of risking money or something of value on the outcome of an event or game, with the primary goal of winning more money or prizes; (2) it involves elements of chance, risk, and uncertainty, where participants place bets on unpredictable or random events; and (3) this results in a winner who gains financially at the direct expense of someone else. In simple terms, gambling is wagering on chance with the …

            At the close of last week’s article, we considered how tattoos are ultimately left in the realm of opinion – so long as one’s tattoos do not violate the principles of modesty or stewardship. Notice the so long in the last sentence. If one’s tattoos cause him or her to be immodest or violate stewardship principles, there may well be a need for repentance. If one’s tattoos harm his or her influence and ability to effectively share the gospel, there may well be a need for repentance. But what does repentance look like for something that we cannot just wipe off our bodies?             Obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ requires one to repent of His sins and to be baptized (Acts 2:38). In baptism, our sins are washed away (Acts 22:16; Rev. 1:5). While this is true, baptism does not wash away one’s tattoos.[1] Therefore, when an individual with tattoos displaying sinful images, offensive signs, or foul language obeys the gospel, he or she will exit the waters of baptism with their tattoos still on their person. This being the case, one has several options. It might be that based on where the inappropriate tattoos are, he or she can easily cover them up by wearing long sleeves or long pants. Perhaps it is a situation where one needs to cover a tattoo with a bandage to keep it hidden. It might even be the case that an unforeseen consequence of taking care of one’s past sinful decisions …

 Over the past two weeks, we have been considering whether or not it is okay for a Christian to have or to get a tattoo. Up to this point, we have considered how the Old Testament usage of Leviticus 19:18 does not apply to our present-day situation and how the New Testament principle of modesty ought to bear weight on our understanding of whether or not tattoos are okay. This week, we will be looking at a second principle to help us reach our conclusion – stewardship. The second New Testament principle to consider in the discussion of tattoos is that of stewardship. To be a steward is to be a manager of something entrusted to one’s care.[1] What we must come to realize is that we have been entrusted with our bodies by God, and we are to be the best stewards of our bodies as we can be. Genesis 1:26-27 teaches us that we have been created by God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 teaches us that our body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit” given to us by God and that we are to “glorify God in [our bodies] and in [our spirits], which are God’s.” Based on these verses, we can draw a connection based on the principles of modesty. If a tattoo is going to lead to more harm than good, perhaps it is not the wisest decision to make regarding the stewardship of our bodies given to us by God. As stewards, we must remember …

Last week, we posed the question – “Is it okay for a Christian to have a tattoo?” This question is perhaps more complicated than what we might realize. As we considered in the previous article, Leviticus 19:28, the go to verse from the Old Testament regarding tattoos, is not applicable for us today. Moreover, we as Christians are not bound to follow the Old Law (cf. Matt. 5:17; Rom. 7:4-6). This being the case, we must consider what the New Testament says regarding the subject of tattoos. Although the New Testament does not specifically speak of tattoos, it does teach us principles we can and should apply to the discussion. The first principle to consider might be modesty. Unfortunately, we almost always tend to align modesty with our dress and forget that modesty is more than the clothes we wear. To be modest is to be both respectable and appropriate.[1] How then does modesty apply to a discussion of tattoos? If a tattoo brings unnecessary attention to one’s person, or the tattoo itself is an image of that which is inappropriate, the tattoo may cause one to be immodest. Maintaining modesty as a Christian is linked directly to “professing godliness” (1 Tim. 2:9-10). Consider how there are some tattoos people receive today that actually harm one’s ability to profess godliness. Some receive tattoos of naked women, filthy language, or offensive and racist signs. If we are being honest with ourselves, the difficulty of sharing the love of God with someone …