Should I Get a Tattoo?
That’s a good question. There are many Christians that believe tattoos are a sin, citing Leviticus 19:28 as a reason. They believe that tattoos are in direct violation of how to treat the body, which is considered the Temple of God. However, we now see so many of our favorite Christian artists with tattoos that glorify the Lord, and there are a lot of Christians that believe the dictate was an Old Testament issue that was superceded by the New Testament.
There really isn’t clear guidance on the issue of tattoos. While many teens are too young to get a tattoo without parental permission, that’s where you should go first. Examine your reasons for wanting a tattoo. Make sure that whatever you decide honors God. Remember, God knows your heart. While the world may pressure you to fit into worldly looks and expectations, God calls Christians to live for Him.
Click on the "Comments" link below and let me know what you think about tattoos.
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Comments
I find it interesting that on the same page you say about the ban on tattoos “and there are a lot of Christians that believe the dictate was an Old Testament issue that was superceded by the New Testament” while you say about homosexuality “Yet the Bible tells us all something different. Most Christians believe is [sic] clear that the Bible says homosexuality is wrong,. ”
How do you pick which one verse from Levitticus to follow and which one verse to discard? Maybe Jesus would have wanted us to obey the Old Testament ban on altering our God-given bodies but would have been fine with cancelling the Old Testament ban on following a natural inclination that is found in hundreds of the species God created.
Rachel:
I agree with your confusion. Sometimes it can be hard to know what to follow and what is “outdated” in the Old Testament. What I can offer you is that, when I make a decision about my beliefs I consult different Bible experts as well as the Bible itself. With homosexuality there are several verses that appear to support one another, which is why experts tend to lean toward homosexuality being sinful. On the other hand, the verse on tattooing is not quite as clear. Unfortunately for us English speakers, the subtleties get lost in the translation. I suggest reading more in the article on tattoos, as it explains this a little more clearly. I hope it helps. Please feel free to comment more or maybe start a discussion in the forums.
i think tatoos are wrong our body is our temple and we should not mark on it
I believe that you should have very good reason for wanting tattoo. I don’t believe that anyone should get one, but then again that is just my personal opinion. A tattoo characterises who you are, and it brings judgement on you, not from God but from others. I know that some christians snub there nose at those who have tattoos. I don’t think that christians should have them, because in 1 Chorinthian 10:23 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not” christians can get a tattoo but it may not edify the Lord, I don’t know where it is right off the top of my head, but somewhere in the Bible is says, “whatsoever you do in word or in deed do all to the glory of God” and I don’t think that getting a tattoo will edify the Lord
I dont see anything wrong with getting a tattoo as long as its honoring God, and no satanic stuff such as skulls etc. I have a tattoo of a wooden cross with a dove flying in front of it….. so i dont think thats dishonoring God. But no matter what, the Lord will still love you.
Oh yeah sorry for not putting it down before but my email is HSChristianrock@aol.com give me an email if you wanna talk about this kinda of stuff.
Folks I do pray that all I need to share will fit in this box for I always had some kinds of luck with this in it comes to short of a session to share what needs to be said: I feel our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit it shall always be used as such we are not to mark the Lords temple: Now here is my writing that I would like to share with you today:The Bible teaches us that the body of Christ is the company of the faithful. These words are generally taken in their spiritual sense, but the Bible asks us specifically whether we know that our bodies are the members of Christ. In the same way, when the Bible speaks of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or of Christ, we limit His presence to the spiritual part of our being. Nevertheless, the Bible says expressly, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? (1 Corinthians 6). The church needs to understand that the body also has part in the redemption that is by Christ, by which it ought to be brought back to its original destiny, to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, to serve as His instrument, and to be sanctified by His presence. The church must also recognize the place that divine healing has in the Bible and in the counsels of God. Faith puts us in possession of everything that the death of Christ and His resurrection obtained for us. It is not only in our spirits and our souls that the life of the risen Jesus manifests its presence here below, but also in our bodies, according to faith.
In the same way that the Holy Spirit brings to our souls and spirits the life of Jesus—His holiness, His joy, His strength—He comes also to impart to the sick body all the vigorous vitality of Christ as soon as the hand of faith is stretched out to receive it. When the body is fully subjected to Christ, crucified with Him, renouncing all self-will and independence, desiring nothing but to be the Lord’s temple, it is then that the Holy Spirit manifests the power of the risen Savior in the body. Only then can we glorify God in our bodies, leaving Him full freedom to manifest His power in us, to show that He knows how to set His temple free from the domination of sickness, sin and Satan. Now my other question is do you belong to a Bible Filled Believing Church that applies to this what I have shared. If you do not belong to a bible Filled Believing church seek one today, Do not stay in a place where you will receive the wrong insight of the Word of the Lord as well look deeper into the Word on what you are seeking than seek those who are leaders that will build you up and not tear you down. I am kind of against those leaders who are there for you and tear one day on legalistic issues and not really of what the Lord says in the Word. Folks when you put on Christ Jesus daily. He wants You to put Him on Compleatly! Where does it say in the Word that the Lord our God Placed markings on His Body?
Pastor Diana Brevan Where Jesus is Lord!
http://www.jesusislordprayerministries.bravehost.com;www.jesusislordFellowship@yahoogroups.com;coming in 2007,JesusislordFellowshipBibleStudies@yahoogroups.com
I believe that they are simply ungodly and should not be place on the body… I don’t care who has one… I don’t care if your Pastor has one they are simply ungodly and should not be placed on the temple of the Holy Ghost… The bible tells us to come out and be a seperate people… If you say your a christian… COME OUT AND TRULY BE SEPERATE… When the world is tellin you that you need one to fit in… Turn your back… God will bless ya for it in the long run…
I have always thought tattoos looked cool I guess because I love rock music and like the article states, many artists, even Christian artists, have tatoos. I didn’t even think it was an issue until recently. I’ve thought it over and I’ve decided tattoos may not be bad but since we can’t know for sure, we shouldn’t get one in hopes that it’s acceptable. Trying to assume you know what God thinks is dumb and disrespectful. Another reason for not getting one is that you could spend the money on a much better cause.
I think it is not for everyone and you should not be doing it just because you think it’s cool. – that is not honoring god.
You should pray about it, and if you feel it can help you spread the message then it’s worth it. Because we are on this earth to spread the gospel, and to bring people to him.
Corinthians 6:20 – “you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” – I see this differently that I am honoring him by showing that I am his and letting others see that as well.
You can judge tattoos all you want but you are not the one that is the true judge.
If I have shown atleast one person(and I know I have) the true love of christ and brought them to him. Then I can definetly say it was worth it.
Just trying to help save the lost
When speaking out against something like tatooing or body piercing, it’s important to look into the context of the passage you are referring to in Lev. 19:28. The words of my hermeneutics teacher still resound, “CONTEXT!, CONTEXT!, CONTEXT!”. Check this article out (its a long link, but it works). I couldn’t have said it any better. http://christianity.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=christianity&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prodigalsonmagazine.com%2Fwalk%2F2006%2F02%2Fquestion_are_tatoos_sinful.php
I have a cross tattoo on my left thumb, and M.L.A.S tattooed on my right thumb. MLAS stands for My Lord And Saviour. I had these tattoos done as so everyone that shakes my hand in a job interview, or friends, or whatever the case, my religon and beliefs are one of the firts things that they see. For if they cannot associate with me cause I’m religous, maybe they arn’t right to be associated with me at all. Yes in the old rule it states not to mark yourselves for the dead for Iam the lord. Yet the old rule was abolished cause it was alittle too ridgid. my advice about tattoo’s is a phrase that I think is played out, but True. WWJT, or what would Jesus think? Would you show Jesus your tattoo or hide it for it’s meaning? Any tattoo I have I wouldn’t hide for anything. But thats just me. I also believe things like alcohol and such are OK. In the bible it states “to drink the wine, but not to become drunk with it” and that all the seed bearing plants and erbs were saw as good. so things are good, as long as they are in moderation. But some think that it’s wrong all together. In general is this, whether it be tattoos or anything. People of this world do not judge you. The only one that matters is God. If you feel that you are doing something that he would agree with or follows his teachings, even if the world doesn’t agree, it’s your agenda. We all have our own meanings special to us. Mine is my tattoos to educate people about Jesus Christ who might think that all Christians are rich arrogant stuck up people who degrade others. God didn’t teach to the rich and famous and the beautiful. He preached to the poor, the evil, the sick and alone. Just follow your own convictions and walk in his path and don’t worry about what this world thinks. Cause this world is only a flash in the pan compared to eternity.
I have to be careful because this kind of conversation can get me so riled up. I get so peeved at people who can be so judgmental as to tell me it’s a sin or evil for me to get a tattoo. I had a preacher ask me to remove my earring for a play once, a preacher who was probably 100lbs. over weight. Now gluttony, is ok, but my Sacred Heart of Jesus tattoo on my arm and the rings in my ears…that’s just eeeeevil. Bah, that type of attitude turns more young people away from God than any Marilyn Manson or Grand Theft Auto ever could. If Jesus came into the church today and saw you telling some youth he was sinning because of his tattoo or piercing, discouraging and harming this person, who do you really think he would side with. The Pharisee’s thought they knew it all too, and anyone else’s opinion didn’t matter. I work with youth, and am working towards someday being a youth pastor, and this attitude is the biggest thorn in my side. It absolutely infuriates me. Don’t judge the splinter in my eye when there’s a log in your own!! People will nit pick verses about marking your body, and forget that the verses surrounding that include laws such as not trimming your beard, and not wearing a blended material. So the guy with a 50/50 poly cotton blend and a shaved beard, who couldn’t care less about what goes on other than the hour he’s there on Sunday morning is fine , but the guy or gal who bust their chops because they love the Lord and want to make a difference is being judges for a cross on his arm or a dove on her back. People are seeking God because of one thing……LOVE. The entire Bible can be summed by that word, LOVE. Do you think when Jesus was drawing in the sand and they brought the lady caught mid act cheating on her husband he took time to check her for tattoos….hypocrites and dogmatic religion are killing God’s Holy Church. People come into our churches seeking answers and people offer nothing be judging looks and glances. So quick to whip out our doctrines and see if people will live up to our bylaws. Rubbish pure rubbish. God is Love…stop turning him into this spiteful ol’ man yelling at us for stepping on his grass. Sorry to rant but I had to get it off my chest.
As a Christian youth pastor I believe that tattoos are 100% wrong, and a sin. I am appauled at the so called “Christians” out there who get them and say that they are “glorifying God.” Nothing could be further from the truth. When a Christian gets a tattoo they are saying; “look at me, I am independant and I can live my own life apart from Godly principles.” They are also setting bad examples for young believers. Our society clearly distinguishes between trashy filth and cleanliness. Tattoos are nothing but trash, and they turn the body, the temple of God, into trash permanently. God is clear on how we are to treat our bodies, and sticking them with ink-filled needles to permanently use our bodies as Satan’s billboard is nothing but the wrong thing to do. Save your money and buy some good Christian music to listen to. It will do more for your soul.
I wouldn’t necessarily say that you should take anything from the Bible with a pinch of salt but I will say that you have to understand who the scripture is being written to and what exactly it’s talking about. The word tattoo is not even the correct translation from the original texts and it wasn’t talking about tattoos as we know them.
According to me i think if you are a health conscious you should withdraw your decision and if you are really intersted in it i suggest you should do it by a proffessional.
I think God works through people in different ways. Pray to him and ask the advice of the people you love. God will answer you. Best of luck!
I honestly believe that tattoos aren’t bad as long as they honor God. To go along with that I have to say that when and if you go and get one you should make sure that it is at a legitimate shop where they can assure that you will be safe during and after the event.
so i am 18 and i recently have gotten a tattoo. i ddnt tell my mother because she is very judgemental about the whole tattoo thing. once she saw the tattoo she went on a rampage about how i was going to hell and stuff like that. as teenager who was brought up in the church it is hard for us these days to know what is right and wrong. but i wanna know because of my tattoo does that really mean that god is gonna send me to hell because of it?