I would have to agree that this is off the subject of a Christian
evidences web site, but since you ask, let me give at least some sort of
answer.

I am extremely uncomfortable making some sort of blanket statement of
condemnation about a particular choice of lifestyle which is not
specifically mentioned in the Bible. Clearly, this is in the area of
opinion. Really important to the question is the definition of the term
Goth. Is it sinful to wear black clothes? Of course not! Is it sinful
to have certain parts of the body pierced? I certainly do not find a
passage speaking directly to this question in the New Testament, so we
should tread lightly making pronouncements on the subject lest we become
like the Pharisees who loved to create rules outside the Bible to help
define what it meant to obey God.

If you were to ask my opinion whether it is a good idea for a follower of
Jesus, as a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor 5) to have a piercing in the
lip or tongue or the eyebrow, I would have to say that I think this would
not be a good idea. I could even show you biblical principles to back up
that idea. But one must hesitate to turn such concepts as “The body is
the temple of the Holy Spirit” into a hard-and-fast rule about piercings.
Why is it not sinful for a woman to pierce her ear but it is sinful for
her to pierce her eyebrow? To be honest, I would say that there is a
difference which could be spoken to using biblical principle, but I just
do not believe that an extra-biblical rule will help the situation. Paul
speaks to this kind of issue in Colossians 2:16-23 that it is not helpful
to righteousness to add human-defined rules to the Bible. “Do not taste,
do not touch, do not pierce.” As Paul says, these rules are “destined to
perish with use, because they are based on human commands and
teachings….they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” Let
us not become Pharisees. Let us not be like many denominations which have
created non-biblical prohibitions against drinking of alcohol, even in
small quantities, or against playing cards or dancing. Such rules do not
help bring about the righteousness of Jesus.
Having said that, I certainly would advise anyone who would listen, on an
individual basis that such an attention-grabbing lifestyle is
counterproductive to Christian living, but I would give the advice and do
my best not to judge the one who does not see it that way.

On the other hand, it depends on your definition of a Goth. Is a Goth, by
definition, an angry, rebellious, defiant person who spits in the face of
all in authority? I do not know if this is the definition of a Goth. It
certainly is a stereotype of the Goth culture. If this is the definition
of a Goth, then being a Goth is sinful. One cannot bring glory to God by
being a cynical, angry, rebellious person. I just am not sure that such
labels as “Goth” are useful to determine whether a person is in sin. Many
nice preppie dressers are in sin. I am sure some who dress “Goth” really
have good hearts, so you will not hear me say point blank that being Goth
is sinful.

John Oakes

P.S. I have three teen kids. Please do not share with them the fact that
I just said that being Goth is not necessarily sinful! No one in my house
will be getting a pierced tongue, but as head of my house, I have every
right to set standards of conduct for my own family which is not
necessarily a pronouncement of judgment on all those who do not follow
those standards.