Should a Christian get tattoos

[NiteShift]

To me, if the law involved slaughtering animals, circumcision, or washing, it was ceremonial...If it involved peculiar things like not mixing fabrics or not cutting one's body or keeping blue tassels on one's clothes or keeping a certain hairstyle - for the sake of making the Israelites a separate and distinct people - not identifiable with any other nation on earth - that is civil.

Yes, but those are the easy ones.

Am I bullheaded about it? One might say so. :laugh:

Oh I would never

 

[paul wassona]

Maybe you can explain for us which laws were merely civil codes and which were actually commandments. I'm not really being argumentative here, after all, to the Jews the Law was the Law period.

But even Paul and Peter had disagreements about keeping kosher, and he scolded others for insisting on circumcision. At the same time Paul strongly opposed sexual sin in the church, based on Mosaic law. If the New Testament saints weren't quite sure what applied to them, maybe you can forgive modern day Christians if they can't agree with you on all particulars.

Civil is moral

 

[NiteShift]

Civil is moral

True. Civil laws are ultimately based on right vs wrong.

 

[annsni]

But by far the Christian tattooers favorite excuse for disobeying Leviticus 19:28 is the "that means nor print any marks upon you – for the DEAD". It’s ok, as long it’s not for the dead". See the "for the dead!!! . .for the dead!!!!".

Is it ok to practice satanic bloodletting, self mutilation or cutting of the flesh as long as it’s not for the dead? It’s in the same verse. . . Hmmm. . .?

Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:28

Notice also, the phrase "for the dead" is ONLY referencing the "cuttings in your flesh". The condemnation of "nor print ANY marks upon you" is not qualified by the phrase "for the dead". Also, if you’ll notice the verse clearly says "ANY marks" period.

Merrill F. Unger's, very popular and authoritative, Unger's Bible Dictionary under the definition for "Mark" includes the following reference for Leviticus 19:28:

"In Lev. 19:28 we find two prohibitions of an unnatural disfigurement of the body: 'Ye shall not make any cutting in your flesh for the dead, nor any print any marks upon you.' The latter (Heb. qa aqa, incision) refers to tattooing, and has no reference to idolatrous usages, but was intended to inculcate upon the Israelietes a proper reverence for God's creation."
(Merrill F. Unger, Unger's Bible Dictionary, 1974 ed., p. 696)

Notice that Unger teaches that tattoos were forbidden without any reference to pagan, heathen, or idolatrous usages. In other words, the tattoo itself, regardless the reason, was forbidden. Amen. Brother Unger.

Wycliffe’s Bible Encyclopedia under the definition for TATTOOING distinctly says:

"While ‘cuttings in the flesh’ have reference here to mourning customs [for the dead], the tattooing does not appear to pertain to such practice."
(Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, 1975 ed., p. 1664)

The New American Commentary on Leviticus 19:28 writes the condemnation was for, "cutting the body either for the dead or with tattoo marks." (Mark F. Rooker, The New American Commentary on Leviticus, 2000 ed., p. 262) Explicitly recognizing the tattoo was not "for the dead."

Do you see how dishonest and disobedient this "it doesn’t apply to my New-Testament-Christian-marked-for-Jesus-tattoo" is? Find what you don’t like in the Word of God, cut it out (doesn’t apply to New Testament Christians) or misapply (it’s just for the DEAD, when it’s clearly NOT). Same tactics used by the satanic cults and heretics for years. You can prove anything and everything with such deceitful methods.

To read the entire article go to ....
http://www.biblebelievers.com/watkins_tattoos/bible.html

I have numerous cuttings that were on purpose. I have my 4 c-section scars, my carpal tunnel release surgery scar and of course my 3 holes in my ears.

 

[annsni]

You done went and got into my area of expertise. Just what does happen when you blend cotton and wool? I'll tell you what. You get a nice fabric for making dresses and suits. Follow the link:

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/catalog_items.aspx?TypId=639

Cotton and linen? Follow the link:

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/search/search.aspx?source=searchbox&keywords=cotton/linen+blend

We are NOT under the Law when it comes to such issues. New Testament Christians have two commandments to hold to when it comes to making these decisions. Love your God and love your neighbor.

If having a tatoo means to YOU that you aren't loving God, then by all means refrain. "For unto him that believes it sin, to him it is a sin."

But don't expect the entire body of Christ to agree with you. We all live in different places and are called to and from different lives.

Don't forget the wonderful fabric that was used a lot in the 19th century - linsey-woolsey!

 

[annsni]

I don't have any, don't want any and see no need for any. We had a man in church one time sitting right in front of me in shorts and a short sleeved shirt who was so covered with tattoos that I had all I could do not to stare at them. His arms and legs were covered with them. I usually sit in the third row from the front, and so he was in the second row from the front--apparently to be sure that he was noticed.

An obscure atattoo that no one can see when you're fully dressed is one thing, but being covered head to toe with them is ridiculous.

Why do you say "apparently to be sure that he was noticed"? Do you know what he thought? Did he tell you that is why he sat in front? One of our pastors has many tattoos. During the summer, we see them because he'll wear a short-sleeved shirt. He doesn't sit up front because he wants to be sure he was noticed but because he likes sitting up front.

 

[Theopolis]

I have numerous cuttings that were on purpose. I have my 4 c-section scars, my carpal tunnel release surgery scar and of course my 3 holes in my ears.

Were talking tattoos here, not scars from necessary surgical procedures.

 

[Robert Snow]

Tattoqs are a form of body worship.

Exactly where does the bible say this, or is this your personal preference substituted for scripture?

 

[menageriekeeper]

So much to say and so little time! I'll get to what I can get to and then come back later on.

New Testament Christians have the "two" given by Jesus which encompass all the other together.

The part about loving God covers all the commandments about man towards God. The other one about loving man covers all the ones about man towards man.


Is it your thinking that some one doesn't know this already so they might think the O.T. moral laws don't apply?

I'm totally confused as to what you are talking about. My post on fabrics was in response to Blackbird post immediately above it. What do you mean by Christians have "two"? Two what?

Well, that is all I can get too! They are calling me to go to dinner! I'll be back later.

 

[Amy.G]

I do not like tattoos even though my own father had one which he got while drunk during his time in the navy. It didn't make him a pagan.

But I defend the Christian's right or liberty to get one.

When will we stop picking at each other about silly stuff and get down to the business of doing God's work?

 

[dh1948]

Isaiah 49:16 ...I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands...

Maybe someone has already pointed out this scripture. I didn't read all nine pages of this thread.

Food for thought...God has a tattoo!

(Please take this as a tongue-in-cheek comment!)

 

[Alive in Christ]

Theopolis...

You said to Annsni...

"Were talking tattoos here, not scars from necessary surgical procedures."

Ummm...she was kidding! You know...making a "funny".

Thats why she had one of these...... at the end.

 

[Marcia]

Liberty in Christ is not license to disobey Scripture

If OT Leviticus 19 makes no application to today---then it stands to reason that whats written in Exodus 20 makes no application to today

If I go out and rob a bank---I'm not going to be able to tell the judge--"Well, sir----my liberty in Christ allowed me to do that!! I'm no longer under OT law that says Thou shalt not steal!!"

Blackbird, doesn't Lev 19 refer to those who are doing this for the dead? It was a pagan ritual/practice. I think the cuts refer to the tattoos and they were done for the same reason; also possibly done for false gods. This was a religious thing, not tattoos for decoration.

These prohibitions seem to relate to pagan religious customs which should be avoided, including pagan mourning rites (vv. 27-28) Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983–c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary: An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
​

The practice of making deep gashes on the face and arms and legs, in time of bereavement, was universal among the heathen, and it was deemed a becoming mark of respect for the dead, as well as a sort of propitiatory offering to the deities who presided over death and the grave. The Jews learned this custom in Egypt, and though weaned from it, relapsed in a later and degenerate age into this old superstition (Is 15:2; Je 16:6; 41:5). “nor print any marks upon you” (v:28 )—by tattooing, imprinting figures of flowers, leaves, stars, and other fanciful devices on various parts of their person. The impression was made sometimes by means of a hot iron, sometimes by ink or paint, as is done by the Arab females of the present day and the different castes of the Hindus. It it probable that a strong propensity to adopt such marks in honor of some idol gave occasion to the prohibition in this verse; and they were wisely forbidden. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. On spine: Critical and explanatory commentary. (Le 19:28). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
​

“Make any cuttings in your flesh” (v:28): the reference here is to the practice of making deep gashes in the skin while mourning the death of a relative. This was done to provide life blood for the spirit of the dead person rather than to express sorrow. On account of the dead: as indicated above, this describes the purpose of all the actions in verse 27 as well as verse 28. Péter-Contesse, R., & Ellington. (1992). A handbook on Leviticus. UBS handbooks; Helps for translating (Page 296). New York: United Bible Societies.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Tattoqs are a form of body worship.

What makes you think that all who have a tatoo are worshipping their bodies?

The mixing of fabrics was not the intertwining of fibers like many fabrics are made of today.

The technology by which the fibers were mixed is not the same, but the Bible doesn't say "you can only mix fibers once your technology has reached a certain point". This point is moot, because the Bible is clear that Jews under the Law were not to make fabrics of two different fibers, nor repair one peice of fabric with fibers of another source.

Civil is moral

LOL, not always. We have lots of laws on our books here in America that are not based on morals. The ordinances that govern how the electric wires are to be run in your house even when YOU are the one running them are not based in morality. God doesn't care if you are a bad electrician! He also doesn't care if businesses build in areas where houses are built. Tax laws, no basis in morality.

We have even have had laws that were based in immorality. Jim Crow laws for instance were simply immoral on their face. Laws that allowed a man to rape his wife, immoral. Tax laws, those are considered theft by multitudes of Americans.

Not all that is civil is moral.

 

[Theopolis]

I do not like tattoos even though my own father had one which he got while drunk during his time in the navy. It didn't make him a pagan.

I bet he got the tattoo before he became saved. Before I got saved I did quite a few things that I regretted later in life.

 

[pinoybaptist]

I bet he got the tattoo before he became saved. Before I got saved I did quite a few things that I regretted later in life.

True.
Had a fellow church worker a long time ago who couldn't come swimming with us, because he was an ex-con, and thought he would never get out of prison, so he had an A-shirt tattoed on himself.
Blacked out his entire front torso.

Then I met another guy in another church who always had to be wearing longsleeves even in 100 degree heat when we're doing house-to-house "soul winning" (yes, been there, done that) because he had tattoos all over his forearms.

Me, there was a time when I didn't want to wear shorts higher than the knee because they'd see my Sputnik tattoo, which was basically a prison gang.
I was also worried other gangs will see it and get offended.

But, hey, over here in America, they think it's cool, my tattoos.

 

[Joy2U]

I am not sure where I heard this but tattoos are portals for demonic activity.
I just think it is risky any way you look at it.
It just isn't a good testimony at all. "Avoid all appearance of evil" that is scriptural.
My humble opinion.

Joy2U

 

[Revmitchell]

I have a tat. Got it out in front of Lackland Airforce Base. The old man tried to talk me out of it. I spent 15 bucks on it in the 80's and it would be about 100 now. I wish I never got it. I don't get in a hurry to show it off. They are not a good idea.

USMC

Some folks think they are making a statement or expressing themselves. Tats are the result of being self involved. We should be more concerned with expressing Christ than our own selves. That doesn't make one a pagan but it is sure acting like one.

Be clean, neat, and don't look to stand out by your appearance. We are not here for us.

 

[Theopolis]

I have a tat. Got it out in front of Lackland Airforce Base. The old man tried to talk me out of it. I spent 15 bucks on it in the 80's and it would be about 100 now. I wish I never got it. I don't get in a hurry to show it off. They are not a good idea.

USMC

Some folks think they are making a statement or expressing themselves. Tats are the result of being self involved. We should be more concerned with expressing Christ than our own selves. That doesn't make one a pagan but it is sure acting like one.

Be clean, neat, and don't look to stand out by your appearance. We are not here for us.

Great post

 

[sag38]

"portals for demonic activity"

A tattoo is perhaps poor choice, perhaps a bad witness, and IMO, plain stupid. But, being a portal for demonic activity...come on. Try pornography, drug addiction, etc. Now we can possibly discuss demonic activity.

Personally, as a pastor I have a lot worse things to focus on in trying to reach people and help them grow in Christ. And, even though I personally can't stand tattoos they are at the bottom of my concern list.