Christians and Tattoos
Picture from an E-Mail Friend
Introduction: I’m often asked, “Should a Christian get a tattoo?” Or, “is it wrong to wear a ‘Christian tattoo’? Or, “what does the Bible say about tattoos?”
Just a casual search of this topic on the Internet will produce a hosts of Websites; and just as many diverse answers to the questions above. The Websites and answers vary from very liberal to very conservative. From some you will hear that tattoos are good and from others you will hear that tattoos are evil. From still others you will hear answers between the good and evil categories.
Christians need answers from the Bible! But there is NO verse which clearly says, “Thou shalt not wear tattoos!” So, what does the Bible say about tattoos?
Before looking at the Bible for answers, let’s look at pro and con answers given by many and then compare and contrast them with the Bible answers.
Christians May Wear Tattoos: Here I will present positive answers from people who tell us that there is nothing wrong with Christians wearing tattoos.
Brandon D. Hill believes that a tattoo can be a very valid (and permanent) way of stating your beliefs. See his Website link {http://christianteens.about.com/mbiopage.htm}. He says, “I personally got my tattoo because it is something that I thought would look cool. I also wanted to have a tattoo that reminded me of my commitment to Christ as well as announcing that commitment to others.”
Christianity Today said, “Sociologists have noted the trend. ‘For a small but growing subculture within evangelical Christianity, religious tattooing is becoming an increasingly legitimate expression of individuality, identity, and faith,’" according to a paper presented by Lori Jensen and Donald Miller at a recent meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. {http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/1999/may24/9t617b.html}.
Fast Freddie Fahs says, "When I wake up, I still need to get a hold of Jesus' hand to start each day the right way," said Fahs, who has Jesus' face tattooed both on his back and on his chest. "That way, I see Jesus in the mirror with me every morning." See the following Web link:{http://www.freep.com/news/religion/qtattoo15.htm}
A Youth On The Rock Forum response says, “…piercings are okay along with tattoos. remember everything is permissable but not everything is beneficial. (alluding to I Corinthians 10:23) {http://www.youthontherock.com/viewtopic.php?p=15389&sid=36de0292f442dbf7fe540376c8c6de15}
A Forum response from {http://bigchurch.com/magazine/advice/250.htmlI}, “ think people that still live in the "Old Testament" Need to get with it. That was then, this is now and it is not up to you to judge others. There is nothing wrong with tattoos! Quit referring to Leviticus . . that does not apply anymore as well as many things in the Old Testament.
Christians May Not Wear Tattoos: Here I will present negative answers from people who tell us that it is evil for Christians to wear tattoos.
United4Truth cites this verse against tattoos: "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 KJV).
This type of marking of the body is a pagan, ungodly practice coming from heathen peoples. See Web link:
{http://www.sendrevival.com/tattoos/argument%20against%20Christian%20tattoos.htm}
United4Truth also says, “Tattoos are wrong for the Christian by reason of the principle of our bodies being temples of God (creations of God),” quoting I Corinthians 3:16-17: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are"
United4Truth also says, “Tattoos are wrong by reason of the principle of adornment. Scripture principle makes clear that the adornment of the body should be governed by modesty. To be modest is not to adorn one's body in a way that one calls attention to his/her body. One should not notice a Christian because of a tattoo, but because of the spirit and demeanor of the Christian. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works" (1 Timothy 2:9-10 KJV).
The following Web page Link, {http://www.kingshouse.org/tattoos.htm}, cites several reasons with Scripture passages against Christians wearing tattoos. Here is one passage from that source. “Adrienne Mayor classical folklorist says, "…New research indicates that Roman authorities punished early Christians with forehead tattoos that condemned them to the mines. In A.D. 330, the first Christian emperor, Constantine, banned the practice of tattooing the faces of convicts, gladiators, and soldiers. Because the human face reflected "the image of divine beauty," he said, "it should not be defiled." (Adrienne Mayor, People Illustrated, Volume 52 Number 2 March/April 1999).
Another source says, “Tattooing Has Witchcraft "Roots," citing the following Scriptures: 1 Kings 18:28: "And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them." Deuteronomy 14:1(Amplified): "Ye are the sons of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead."
When it speaks here about doing this in relation to the dead; this was a witchcraft rite done to mourn or remember their dead. Therefore tattooing, cutting one's body…in defiance have their origin in witchcraft practices. See the following:{http://www.bible.com/answers/atattoos.html}.
Pro & Con Answers and the Bible: Here the positive and negative answers are laid beside the Bible to discover God’s answers.
The following link is the source for some of the following: {http: //www.liontracks.org/roarlion/nlbody.htm}
Leviticus 19:28:
Some Christians, who believe that these practices are always wrong, hold up the verse...
Leviticus 19:28 "'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.’” NIV
... as saying that all cuts on your body (piercing) and tattoos are wrong. Simply put, that passage does not say that. It specifically warned the Israelites not to follow the common practice in the area of cutting your body or marring it (tattoos) in honor of the dead (see also Deuteronomy 14:1, 1 Kings 18:28, Jeremiah 16).
I Corinthians 10:31: 6:19-20
Instead of an absolute command on this whole issue, the Bible does give principles that can (and should) be applied. A few of them are...
1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
The bottom line in everything we do needs to be, does it glorify God? Needless to say, many messages on tattoos are obviously not to glorify God. Do we honor God with our bodies when tattoo messages are contrary to principles of God’s Word?
I Samuel 15:23:
If any of this is being done out of rebellion (against society, parents, etc.) it cannot be glorifying to God. All rebellion is an offense to God...
1 Samuel 15:23a For rebellion is like the sin of divination...
I Peter 3:3:
If it’s being done out of vanity, once again it will not be glorifying to God (and this includes earrings)...
1 Peter 3:3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.
This passage in 1 Peter is not saying that all nice hairdos, clothes, and jewelry are wrong, rather they become so if you have them out of pride and vanity. An overriding question always has to be, “what’s your motive?” God judges motives and actions...
Proverbs 16:2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
Romans 12: 1-2; I John 2:15-17:
I close with these verses. Christians are to present their bodies to God, not being conformed to the world but being transformed by the renewing of their minds. They are not to love the world or the things in the world.
If tattoos mean conformity to and love of the world, then Christians ought not wear them. They are to follow the perfect will of God!
