If someone had asked me 3 weeks ago “Can Christians get tattoo’s”, I would have said “Sure, why not, I don’t see the harm in it”.

Then I wrote the following article on Christians and tattoo’s :
Christians and Tattoo’s! Is it Taboo? Leviticus 19:28

Since then I’ve had time to sit down and just think about what I actually wrote and the implications of what it should have on my day
to day living as a Christian.

After long internal debates and bible study and prayer, I’ve come to the a conclusion. Now if a Christian had to ask me today if they should get a tattoo, I would say “No..”

Now before the liberals start jumping on my back, and saying how I stunt the growth of converts because of my backward views. I would just like to explain myself.

Please note that I’m not saying that people with tattoo’s are less godly, or more sinful than the rest of us, and I’m definately not saying that if you have/get a tattoo you will goto HELL!!

No, what I am saying is that if a Christian was to ask me if he should get one.. I would reply with a polite “No”, and then explain why. ( which is what I am about to do here. )

In my previous post (Christians and Tattoo’s! Is it Taboo? Leviticus 19:28) I stated that at the end of the day, it has everything to do about motives, and nothing to do about the tattoo itself. I still stand firmly by this view, and would just like to add that this post is rather an add on, rather than a reply/change-of-mind to my previous post.

See, our Christian actions should always revolve around our motives(in accordance with the bible), and not around what the world will think. But let us see what the bible says :

1 Corinthians 10:23-24
“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

1 Corinthians 10:31-33
” So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”

Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

From the following passages I think it is safe to say that God expects our priorities in life to be as follows :
1) God
2) Others
3) Ourselves

Now some might argue that getting a cross on your back, or a verse running up your leg is some how going to glorify God, or produce an evangelical opportunity. But I ask you : Is it beneficial? Is it constructive? Does it seek the good of others or does it seek the wellbeing of our own sinful desires?

See it all just sounds like an excuse to get the tattoo in the first place..
We Christians are very good at this..
If we find something that we want, but the bible is against or not really clear on, then we just do it in the name of God, as if that some how justifies it.

Romans 3 teaches that evil done in God’s name is still evil.. It just makes God look bad.

Romans 3:5-8
“But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say—”Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved.”

Does it not also say that our very life should be as a witness to those around us? Why would we ever need a tattoo? Or are our lives like a lamp under a bowl, instead of on a stand giving light to the whole house? (Matthew 5:14-16)

An important Scriptural principle on issues that the Bible does not specifically address is that if there is room for doubt as to whether it pleases God, then it is best to not engage in that activity. “For whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). We need to remember that our bodies, as well as our souls, have been redeemed and belong to God. Although 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 does not directly apply to tattoos, it does give us a principle, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” This great truth should have a real bearing on what we do and where we go with our bodies. If our bodies belong to God, we should make sure we have His clear “permission” before we “mark it up” with tattoos.

I’ve read many pro-tattoo websites that somehow try to discredit Leviticus 19:28 by quoting Leviticus 19:27 “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.”
Saying, see… These OT rules and regulations are stupid, you cut your hair, so how can you tell me not to get a tattoo. Sadly people misunderstand 19:27.

See 19:27 referred to custom of the Arabs described by Herodotus. They used to show honor to their deity Orotal by cutting the hair away from the temples in a circular form.

See Leviticus 19:26-28 is not about the instructions of the law, but rather about its purpose.
God was saying “Hey, Israel. You are mine, stop acting like all those idiots over there. I am your God, and you shall have no other gods before me. So stop acting as if you do.”

God still expects this from us today. Do not marry the spirit of the age, and do what everyone else is doing.
Think about it, if you had never seen a tattoo in your life before, would you suddenly take a knife and carve a verse into your arm? No, of course not. But we see how appealing it looks on others, then we suddenly have this need to get one, and then justify it by calling it Godly.

See, as Christians we have no real reason to get a tattoo.. It is not a requirement of the law (tho some might argue it is damned by it). No, I would guess that the real reason Christians get tattoo’s is because deep down inside they just really want one(materialism ?? I think so.).. That is all.. All the excuses about getting a cross, and witnessing is just a cover up. A cover up to hide their real motives: to just rebel and fit in. I mean, lets face it. All we ever try and do is keep one foot on earth, and the other one in heaven.

Never ready to fully reject the world, knowing that the world will fully reject us..