Dec 21
Christians and Tattoos! Is it Taboo? Leviticus 19:28
A Christian friend of mine wanted to get a tattoo of a cross on his forearm, but was not quite sure if it was inline with what the bible teaches. We discussed it a bit, and came up with something interesting points. But none of them were really scriptural, or had the scriptural backing we required to make the decision.
I decided to search google, and see what other Christian folks had to say about tattoo’s. I noticed quite a bit of diversity in peoples view points, ranging from “it’s cool” to “if you get a tattoo you going to hell”.
But how can this be?? Surely Leviticus 19:28 clearly reads
“Never slash your body to mourn the dead, and never get a tattoo. I am the LORD.”
So I’ve decided to write my own view on this problem, and hopefully put it all to rest..
One of the reasons I am writing this article is because of the following page :
http://www.biblebelievers.com/watkins_tattoos/bible.html
I felt that it had a strong argument against getting tattoo’s, but felt that the guy was missing the point of being Christian.
How we handle Christians who have tattoo’s:
I don’t believe that tattoo’s are right or wrong..
I definately do not see them as a salvation issue, and I believe that the bible teaches us that if Christian’s have tattoo’s for what ever reason (maybe because of a lifestyle that encouraged it before their conversion), we should not look down on them, or think that we are better than them, for we are one in Christ, and all have fallen short of Gods requirements.
Romans 14:
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
Leviticus 19:28
When ever the debate of “To tattoo or not to tattoo” comes along, Leviticus 19:28 will always without a doubt be played by the one against tattoo’s. But is it right to bring out this verse? Is this verse only for OT Israel? Does it still apply to us today? I think the best place to get the answer’s are from the Bible.
We read in Romans 10 : “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”
Where it says “End of the law”, Paul means that that it is the goal of the Law.. The goal of the Law was, and still is there to show us that we fall miserably short of God’s requirements, and that we need Christ to save us.
We read in Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
We are no longer bound to the OT law, for it was fufilled by Christ.
So you might ask then what about laws like prostitution or bestiality. Well all of those are clearly summed up in the fact that sex is designed for marriage alone, and marriage is designed by God to be between one man and one women.
The site makes a comment of “There are many other “moral laws’ that are ONLY forbidden in the Old Testament, such as the human sacrifice of children. No where in the New Testament is this forbidden. Does that mean that NOW under the New Testament, God Almighty endorses throwing babies into the fire as a human sacrifice?”
The New Testament clearly teaches us that ALL life is valuable, and that we should not kill any one (including babies).
The New testament does not point out that tattoo’s are right or wrong.
But 1 Corinthians 10:31 teaches us that what ever we do, we must do all to the glory of God.
Romans 12:
“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.”
So the real question we have to ask ourselves is: “Is tattooing glorifying God?”
Do tattoo’s glorify God?
I Believe the answer to that lies in Romans 14 5-8
“One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
Obviously this is all in accordance to God’s will. We can not sin, and sin to the glory of God. (This is also taught in Romans)
But we cannot say that tattoo is, or is not a sin..
What we can say is that our motives for getting a tattoo can be a sin..
Are we doing it to fit in? Are we getting a bible verse tattoo’d on our arm as a form of evangelism?
We are clearly taught in the New Testament that it is what is in our heart that makes us unclean, and not that which is on the outside.
See at the end of the day we must question our motives, and try come to an understanding of why we truly want to get that tattoo. Once we know this, we can decide if it glorifies God or not..
So I stand on both sides of the fence on the topic of tattoo’s.
The question you must ask yourself is this :
Does the following picture glorifying God?
18 Comments so far
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[...] Then I wrote the following article on Christians and tattoo’s : http://www.mumblingchristian.com/article/christians-and-tattoos-is-it-taboo-leviticus-1928.htm [...]
Showing a picture of a bad tattoo does nothing to make an argument either for or against tattooing. To say that getting a tattoo is not Christian relies on a legalistic faith–After all, there really isn’t a Biblical case to be made for or against.
Aww . . . I thnk that tattoo is just plain adorable! Perhaps not designed to glorify God, but adorable nonetheless.
Hey man im really glad iv found this blog, and hav in a way found a confirmation of what i was thinking. I personaly have a cross tattoed on my left arm! I do know that i am a sinner… Every1 exept 4 Jesus has sinned! The reason i hav placed the tattoo on my arm is because i have found God in my life and take pride and glory 2 be called a child of God! My view on this is how can it be a sin 2 share the love that u have for God, by placing a christian tattoo on ur body so that others can also see that u r proud 2 b a christian?! My pastor is now about 29yrs old and i have never met a man who loves God more than him and he has easily got 30 tattoos on his body, all of which are in glory of God!
Hey CoG.
Glad to see my post could help.
I think some people mis-read my post.
One Christian can never tell another Christian (through his own logic and understanding). Hey you are wrong! I am right.
We can only do this through the bible.
And the bible says on the topic of tattoo’s (in a nut shell)
Do not act the way the world does. The does this, for this reason.
You who are a child of God, must act otherwise.
I feel that tattoo’s is a way we respond with the world.. (blend in as it where)
You feel that a tattoo is to show others your love for Christ.
I can not fault you on that.
It is only when we say and do one thing, and believe something else that we are in trouble.
Because we might fool everyone else. But we can’t fool God!
P.S. Just a warning (not picking on you personally) But just because your pastor does something. Doesn’t always mean it is right. We first go to the bible. See what the bible says, and obey. Not what others do or say. For we will be lead astray!
well,study“`
i think that tattoo is fucking stupid. hello kitty? can anyone be original now-a-days?
Could you elaborate a bit on your statement ??
It is one thing to hold an opinion.
It is something completely different to be able to give a reason for your opinion..
Kaylla, I’m saying that if someone got a tattoo for what ever reason. Be it gangs, religious or fashion. We should in no way look down on them because they have tattoo’s.
That lifestyle most probably never forced you into questioning your decision to get a tattoo in the first place. So we can’t hold it against someone when they do convert.
Hope this explains my statement.
Howsit Guys, im also in the process of getting a tattoo. I must say that i agree 100% with Ultra-Lord. For those who want more infomation, follow the link -
http://www.scotcrone.co.uk/christian_tattoos.html
isn’t judging other people for having tattoos worse than actually getting one? i have a tattoo and intend on getting more, it’s simply a way of expressing the internal.
Hi Trish..
In my intro I do explain the following :
I don’t believe that tattoo’s are right or wrong..
I definitely do not see them as a salvation issue, and I believe that the bible teaches us that if Christian’s have tattoo’s for what ever reason (maybe because of a lifestyle that encouraged it before their conversion), we should not look down on them, or think that we are better than them, for we are one in Christ, and all have fallen short of Gods requirements.
I am definitely not judging anyone
But your statement of expressing the internal.. What are you expressing? Your love for Christ inked on your arm? Have we truly fallen so low that people can only see our love for Christ via a form of a tattoo???
I myself have a tattoo from before I became a Christian. It says Love & Pain & its on my wrist. After I got it I noticed people looking and treating me different. I have to cover it up at work because I feel others would think I am unprofressional or untrustworthy. I now wish I didn’t get it. My intent at the time wasn’t to glorify God, my intent was to glorify myself by letting others know that I have felt pain in my life & love as well. Without knowing it I was taking the attention away from the person who shouldve had the attention in the first place-God. I now realize how selfish I was being. Instead of putting oursves & our feelings first we must put Him first. We must stop complaining, stop with the low self esteem & glorify Him! If we do nothing but concentrate on ourselves how can we have enough time to thank him for the good things he gave us? Whether you have tattoos or not that doesn’t mean you’re better than someone or that you’re not in His favor. You don’t have the authority to judge someone’s heart, only He does.
I think you made your point perfectly in your blog.
I myself am heavily tattooed. I own a tattoo shop. we have MANY people from the ecola bible school who come in and get tattooed. I mustsay this is a topic that My husband and I have spoken about ALLOT. All my tattoos are for me, I got them with myself in mind. Never once have I said I’m getting this hello kitty in the name of god. However I have asked him for strength when I’m getting tattooed which He has always given me, along with a calm serenity. I think Your personal relationship with god is what matter most. Do I believe in him? YES. Do I thank him daily for another day on earth? Do I thank him for my wonderful family, that I have been truely blessed with? YES!
When judgement day comes, My personal belief is that God will judge me on my Life as a whole, my tattoos aren’t going to be my whole life. I don’t have any ‘evil’ tattoos ( by choice).
I can only hope and Pray that my life as a whole , my choices ,that is going to be the deciding factor. I’m sure I may be rambling a bit, But This is a subject that I think about. I do not regret my tattoos. I love them. I love them After I love God, and my family, they are last on my list, but I think they are great.
Thanks for reading hope you head isnt spinning to much and i hope this made sense.
Would not a tatoo be close to telling God He messed up in the design department? I know better than you and I should have had a “birth mark” over here on this arm. So I’ve fixed that.
I think that tattoo is so cute….I dontthink that tattoos say weither your a christian or not alot of christians have tattoos and still worship”god” it doesnt make them a lesser christian….and for that matter people who judge people who have tattoos in my mind are small minded, to classify something simply because you feel that a book some how gets at the fact that to put ART on your body is an unholy act, when really in the bible it doesnt state that at all, is an ignorant statement, if you want to preach your beliefs then you should probably study up on them…
Being a tattooed christian I find in humorous (sad as well )that the people quote the bible saying, “god said it, i believe it, that is the end of it!” If this is true then the bible is dead as latin, never growing. I believe in the living bible.
but when you look at the bible you have to think 1) what is the context of the word? 2)context of the place? 3)context in time? 4) who is saying it?
The Bible went from Aramaic to Hebrew to English. To see how this works. Go make a copy, then make a copy of that copy do this 4 time and it gets blurry.
things in Greek can mean 12 different things in English.
Did you know that the King James Version has a disclaimer when it first came out? It basicaly says, “this is what we have and we know it is flawed” Go google it.
MY POINT:
Jesus taught love, kindness, and inclussion of all people. The church today is ran on exclusion. it is really sad. It is now build to keep people out.
my 2 cents
Stigandi,
I can’t disagree with you more.
I can disagree with the statement “God said it, I believe it, that is the end of it”
The true statement SHOULD read “God said it, that settles it, I believe it”
I agree with the timely applications for timeless principles, but if you go on to read part 2 of my article you might see how I apply that to tattoo’s.
On you statement about God’s word no longer being God’s word and being blurry.
How as a christian can you believe this?? With no certain hope, you have no hope at all.
You say Jesus taught love?? You know that Jesus spoke more about Judgment day, and denying oneself and following him than what he ever spoke about love.
Sure, love is important. But anyone can love, denying oneself and following Christ is what makes you christian (and living it daily even when you can’ t anymore)
Read http://www.mumblingchristian.com/article/christians-and-tattoos-is-it-taboo-leviticus-1928.htm for information on the historical validity of the bible.
And you statement on the King James, the NIV and ESV are both translated from Greek and Hebrew, not via King James. So, if you want. You can exclude the king james. But don’t call God’s word, a blurry mistake!
This will never help you grow, and you can read 2 Peter Chapter 1 to see how important Growth really is.