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What is the Bible?
The Bible is also called the Holy Bible, the Scriptures, the Sacred Scriptures, the Word of God, and the Sacred Writings. The Bible is made up of sixty-six books, thirty-nine in the Old Testament, also called the Old Covenant, and twenty-seven in the New Testament, also called the New Covenant.
Christians believe the Bible is inspired by God. It does not contain errors, being written by holy men who were guided by the Holy Spirit so that they wrote without error. What they wrote is reliable and accurate in every way.
The Bible is the Christian’s guide for belief and practice, and contains the truth of God. It tells the story of how God revealed salvation to man, and how Jesus Christ provided salvation for all through His sacrificial death on the cross. One needs only to believe in Jesus Christ to be saved.
What does the word inspiration mean?
Inspiration comes from the Greek theopneustos, which means “God breathed out.” The Bible says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16). This means God breathed or put His Spirit into/on the words of Scripture.
Is body piercing wrong?
The body of a Christian is a sanctuary, where the presence of God dwells. First Corinthians 3:16 says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” God’s purpose for your body is to glorify Him. Notice what God says about those who do not glorify Him: “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Cor. 3:17).
In the Old Testament, body piercing and cuttings were associated with heathen worship. “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD” (Lev. 19:28). This is technically called markings for the dead. It was to honor the dead, worship the dead, or for salvation of the dead. As an example, when the priests of Baal were praying for their heathen god to send fire from heaven, “They cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them” (1 Kings 18:28). Body markings were a part of their worship to Baal, perhaps the most “sanctified” part of Baal worship, because the priests were pleading for Baal to hear their requests.
Today, it is very popular for many people to participate in body piercings, i.e., earrings on boys, nose piercing, tongue piercing, navel piercing, etc. While this social pressure may force young people to follow the example of body piercing, they must answer the question, why? The dominant practice of body piercing was introduced by rock groups and was identified with those who were rebellious against God.
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