Tattoo agrument

Im reading this book written by Dr. Tim Kimmel. So far it has been a good book. Then I came up to this particular argument. Directions regarding "why" kids want to get tattoos. Dr. Kimmel starts off by saying, "we dont use the Bible to put words in GOD's mouth that he didnt say." He starts off this discussion with Leviticus 19:28. (THE NEXT COUPLE OF PARAGRAGHS ARE DR. TIM KIMMEL'S WORDS. NOT MINE.)

Leviticus 19:28 - Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.

Thats pretty clear- that is, if we believe we can use a Bible verse without any regard for the context in which it appears. Many peope use verses out of context to win selfish arguments and justify what they selfishly want. Using GOD'S word out of context to win your argument is a variation of taking GOD's name in vain - something strictly forbidden in the Ten Commandments. Obviously, a person that respects GOD's word would desire to use it properly, especially when trying to direct a child throught the maze of childhood.

If we study Leviticus 19:28 in its context, we see that it isnt talking about tattoos in general, but tattoos that identify a person with a pagan deity or pagan practice. Two verses before, it forbids the eating of meat with blood in it. Does this mean you cant eat your steaks rare? Not at all. This is talking specifically about the meat that was being offered as a sacrifice for their sin, not an evening out at Morton's. The verse directly before the verse on tattoos condems men cutting their hair on the side or trimming their beards. Does that mean men cant get haircuts or go around clean-shaven? Of corse not. In that culture, men wore their hair long and their beards untrimmed. Pagans trimmed the sides of their heads and the edges of their beards in such a way that it identified them with a specific heathen god or a specific heathen practice. Thats not why men trim their hair or go clean-shaven today. When men get their hair cut, they dont light candles to some dark deity - at least not at my barbershop. They might light up a cigar, but there is nothing about that process that is n deference to a pagan deity.

Which brings us back to Leviticus 19:28. It says first that we are not to "cut our bodies for the dead." This refers to distinctive marks on the face that anyone could look at and know we are part of a pagan ritual. GOD didnt want them giving credence to the false beliefs that attributed power or influence to the dead. In the next breath, the verse says, "or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord." Folowing down the contextual line, Moses is referring to distinctive tattoos that identified a person as a follower of a particular pagan deity. Moses writes that they are to make sure they dont make permanent marks on their bodies (cutting or writting) that give credence to a pagan ritual or god in a specitic way.

*** Aaron nor I have a tattoo or are thinking about getting one, but this is a touchy subject. I, personally, dont see anything wrong with tattoos but a friend of mine told me, its not what I think. Its what GOD's words says. I would like to hear some thoughts on this.