MY TRIBUTE TO DR. PHIL GILBERT   Once in a while – perhaps once in a lifetime – you might meet a person who is unlike anyone else you’ve ever met; someone who you might refer to as “one in a million.”  The late Dr. Phil Gilbert was that person for me.  This is my tribute to him.   Most people knew him as “Doc,” but to me he was simply Phil.  I had my own special greeting for him, and when I saw him or heard him on the other line of a...

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT TATOOS? pt. 1  – The subject of tattoos has never been on my radar until recently.  Even as a non-believer I never gave tattoos much thought.  Therefore, I had never studied this subject or provided any teaching on it.  When someone close to me began getting tattooed, however, I found myself uncomfortable with it, but I didn’t necessarily have a strong Biblical basis for my feelings at the time. More recently...

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT TATOOS?  pt. 2   THE SOCIAL AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF TATOOS 1.  Tattooing is Addictive I cannot explain the psychological reasons why tattooing is often addictive, but the evidence is most certainly there.  Once a person gets a tattoo, it seems fairly common that it never stops with just one.  First, it’s a flower or something small on the upper arm, and before long the entire arm is covered in them.  And...

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT TATTOOS?  pt. 3   Set Apart from the World   It appears that the primary Biblical argument against tattoos I have seen so far is based upon Leviticus 19:28, which reads,   “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD.”   As some see this passage as antiquated because of what is seen as an outdated application (which I will address...

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT TATTOOS?  PT. 4   Glorify God with Your Body Some may counter that their tattoo is a great conversation starter and provides an opportunity to share the gospel.  But what if I told you it’s acceptable for a man to dress in drag because it provides an opportunity to share the gospel with transgender people?  Would it then be acceptable in God’s eyes?  No!  When God forbids something, we cannot attempt to...