“The first time I saw people with pierced lips and other body parts, I thought, 'Wow! It's something special. Lisa
LISA is not alone. More and more young people are wearing rings and earrings on various parts of their body including eyebrows, tongues, lips and navel. It's a practice called piercing.
16-year-old Heather can't wait to join the movement. She is convinced that an umbilical piercing will be "absolutely incredible". However, nineteen-year-old Joe already has a gold bar on his tongue. And another young woman had her eyebrows pierced because she wanted something "very visible" that "terrified people".
The idea of putting jewelry on the body is not new. In biblical times, a divine woman named Rebekah wore a nose ring. (Genesis 24:22, 47) When the Israelites left Egypt, they wore earrings. (Exodus 32: 2) However, it is not known whether these jewels were placed by piercing the ears and nose. However, as a sign of loyalty to their masters, loyal slaves had their ears pierced. (Exodus 21: 6) Piercing was important in other ancient cultures as well. The Aztecs and Mayans pierced their tongues for spiritual reasons. Lip piercing is still common in Africa and among the South American Indians. Introducing decorative items through the nose is common among Melanesians and natives in India and Pakistan.
Until a few years ago, piercing in the western world was generally limited to women's earlobes. But now, teenagers and young adults of both sexes wear jewelry on almost any part of their body that they can be attached to.
Why are they drilled?
A lot of people do piercings because they think it's fashionable, the best that can be done. Others think it will improve their looks. It is true that fashion was driven by the use of body jewelry by models, sports stars, and popular musicians. And for some young people, piercing also seems to be an expression of independence, a search for individuality, a way of saying that they are not like others. Columnist John Leo notes, "The desire to irritate parents and shock the middle class seems to be the main reason for repeated beating." Dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction, challenge, and rebellion seem to fuel this need for self-expression.
There are even those that are drilled to meet deep psychological or emotional needs. For example, some young people think that their self-esteem will increase. Some child abuse victims saw it as a way to regain control of their bodies.
Health risks
But are all of these piercings safe? Many doctors say some aren't. Do-it-yourself piercings are certainly dangerous. And going to a supposedly professional piercer can be risky. Many do not have extensive training because they learned their craft from friends, magazines or videos. As a result, they may not use hygiene techniques or even understand the risks of piercing. In addition, many piercers do not understand anatomy. This is not a minor issue as drilling a hole in the wrong place can lead to excessive bleeding. Hitting a nerve can cause permanent damage.
Another serious risk is infection. Non-sterile devices can transmit deadly diseases such as hepatitis, AIDS, tuberculosis, and tetanus. Even when using sterile techniques, post-operative care is still essential. For example, an umbilical piercing can cause irritation as it is constantly rubbed off clothing. Therefore, healing can take up to nine months.
Doctors say piercing the cartilage in the nose or ears is more dangerous than piercing the earlobe. A bulletin from the American Academy of Plastic and Facial Reconstructive Surgery states, "The various holes in the earrings at the top of the ear are of particular concern: Serious infections can result in the loss of the entire upper curve of the ear." Nose clips are also dangerous: infection in this area can affect nearby blood vessels and spread to the brain. The Bulletin concludes: "Ideally [the piercing] should be limited to the earlobe area.
Other dangers include ugly scars and allergic reactions to pierced jewelry. If rings are attached or pulled through clothing in very sensitive areas such as the chest, the piercings can break easily. The scar tissue that forms on a girl's breast can block the milk ducts. If you don't seek treatment, you may find it difficult or impossible to breastfeed a baby in the future.
The American Dental Association recently recognized oral piercing as a public health hazard. Additional risks of perforation of the mouth area include choking after swallowing jewelry, numbness and loss of taste in the tongue, persistent bleeding, chipped or broken teeth, increased salivation, uncontrolled salivation, gum damage, difficulty speaking, and difficulty breathing and chewing and swallowing. When a young woman named Kendra's tongue was pierced, she exploded "like a balloon". To make matters worse, the piercer used a screw on his chin, cut Kendra's tongue, and tore open the fabric underneath. He almost lost the ability to speak.
God taught his people, the Israelites, to respect their bodies and avoid self-harm. (Leviticus 19:28; 21: 5; Deuteronomy 14: 1) And although Christians today are not subject to the Mosaic Law, they are nonetheless encouraged to treat the body with respect. (Romans 12: 1) So doesn't it make sense to avoid unnecessary health risks? However, besides health, there are other factors to consider.
What message does it convey?
The Bible does not give a specific instruction to pierce. But he encourages us to adorn ourselves with "humility and common sense." (1 Timothy 2: 9) Although something can be considered modest in one part of the world, the real problem is what it is like where you live. For example, pierced earlobes may be considered acceptable in women in one part of the world. But in another country or culture, some may feel offended by them.
Despite its popularity with celebrities, piercings and earrings for men are not yet widely available in the West. One reason could be that they were a trademark of prisoners, motorcycle gangs, punk rockers and members of the gay sadomasochistic subculture. For many, piercing is the connotation of deviation and rebellion. Some see it as awful, disgusting. One Christian named Ashley said, “That boy in my class just got his nose pierced. He thinks it's cool. I think it's disgusting! ""
So it's no wonder that in a well-known US store, the rule applies that employees who have direct contact with customers are limited to one earring per ear and all other visible piercings are prohibited. "You can't predict how people will react," said a company spokesman. Career counselors also advise male students applying for jobs not to "wear earrings or other body jewelry; women should ... not wear nose rings".
Young Christians in particular should take care to make a good impression on others, even if they are evangelistic. They do not want to "give reason to trip so that their service is not criticized". (2 Corinthians 6: 3, 4) Regardless of your personal opinion about the piercing, its appearance inevitably reveals your attitudes and lifestyle. What statement would you like to make?
Ultimately, you, and of course your parents, need to decide what to do about it. "Don't let the world around you conform to your own shape" is good advice from the Bible. (Romans 12: 2, Phillips) After all, you are the one who has to live with the results.
Interesting article