What is your OPINION (please be nice) on tattoos?

Question

Everyone quotes Leviticus 19:28, but it says "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourself" To me this is saying to not put "memorial tattoos" on your body. And what about verse 27 that says do not cut your hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard? or 26.. Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it?

I am a Christian and I have 3 tattoos, and I agree that some things have changed since the new covenant. I was just curious what others thought. Some are tacky! Mine are all where they can be hidden if I don't want them seen.

My favorit expression is "The only difference between tattooed people and non tattooed people is that tattooed people dont care if you are tattooed or not.

Answer 1

Hi isellpc,

Tattoos were prohibited in the Old Testament because it was something that was attached to pagan rituals, and so Leviticus was written to instruct the believers of the time as to how to conduct themselves as God's people.

As you point out if we are to say that tattoos are prohibited now it would be like saying there's something wrong with getting a haircut or etc.

The book is to be understood in the context of the culture.

In the New Testament i believe we do have the freedom to have tattoos. I'm a youth pastor and actually i've had kids over the years ask me about tattoos. i usually ask them what they want to have a tatoo of and why. There's nothing wrong with a tattoo but it's what it represents and why you want to get it. Many believers i know have tattoos with their kids names and i think that's super cool. One brother in my church recently got a tattoo of a cross. i gave him the Ok as long as it was cool with his parents.

The main thing we need to keep in mind is while we have the liberty to get a tattoo is it going to cause other people to stumble. The brother in my church who got the tattoo usually covers it up on Sundays because some of the older grandparents at our church might not understand.

As a youth pastor i used to have an earring. When the church staff asked me to not wear it on Friday and Sundays i was OK with it. i got the earring because servants in the OT pierced their ears as a mark that they belonged to their master- and it was at a time i had made a very serious commitment to the Lord about something. But i gladly removed the earring because i can see youth kids or adults stumbling from it and they are more important than my freedom.

That's what Jesus would do- put others before himself- sacrifice his personal comfort and freedom out of love for others...

Hope that helps...

Nickster

Answer 2

My opinion of tattoos does not reflect what the Bible says, because the Bible is what it is, a book to be interpreted by the reader. The Bible contradicts itself over and over, and people expect you to take it all literally? Look, the Bible and the words of the Tora, Quran and such were written millenia ago and done as such to provide answers for which the people of the time were unable to answer for themselves. It was a way of explaining what they had no explanation for. Do not cut your bodies for the dead, yet, a Jewish custome for women was to cut themselves and their hair in a time of mourning when their husband would die. People ate pork and mutton, but because of lack of refrigeration and other technologies at that time, people got very sick and some died. They didn't know why, because medical advancements at that time had not been made concerning food poisoning, so they said that they had angered God and this was something to be saved for sacrifice to God. The sun stopped going around the earth for seven days...hmm, last time I checked, it was the earth that went around the sun, and that we're not at the center of the universe, but on a side of it. The Bible is a collection of stories that were meant to describe how life should be lived, where values should be placed, and to answer questions that they couldn't answer at the time.

If you like tattoos, then good, go get one, two, ten or more. If you don't, for whatever reason, fine, then no one's holding a gun to your head to get one (like the Nazis did to the Jews). It's not the tattoo that's the problem, but you should take the time to evaluate what you're going to get, where, and why.

Personally, I'm an ordained reverend, and I have several tattoos. Their meanings are explicit and mean much to me and my loved ones. They explain times in my life that are important to me, and people for whom I care.

Answer 3

That's kind of what I thought too...about not putting "memorial tattoos" on your body...but then if you re-read it it says simply "do not" if you dissect the sentence literally. I wouldn't have a tattoo personally, just because I'm afraid of pain and don't volunteer for it as a rule, and because I don't want to have a sagging spot on my body where the tattoo is when I'm old...that's just really gross on men AND women. I would consult my priest or minister (since I don't have a mom anymore) if it's a matter of faith and mortal sins and all that. As a human being, I say it's a matter of choice, and if you want to get a tattoo, don't let anyone stop you with guilt or fear of sinning and going to hell, all that stuff, unless that's really important to you. It's ultimately your choice, since GOD GAVE YOU THAT RIGHT TO CHOOSE WITH BIRTH!! Hope this helped in some way!

Answer 4

According to the bible, menstruation is dirty. If God is as loving and forgiving as he says, then it shouldn't be a problem.

On the other hand, if he's not forgiving, is he really going to smack someone to hell just because of a drawing on the body? What kind of all mighty being would mark a tattooed person as being just as evil, or unforgivable as a rapist or murderer? Not to mention the number of people that have been killed in the name of religion...

Bottom line, remind these good, Christian people of the one thing that stands out above the rest, when they judge you, quote the Christ, (or others that have said it,) "Do to others as you would have them do to you." - Jesus (ca. 5 BCE—33 CE) in the Gospels, Luke 6:31; Luke 10:27 (affirming of Moses); Matthew 7:12.

Answer 5

Here is an explanation of the verse in Leviticus:

Print any marks - Tattooing was probably practiced in ancient Egypt, as it is now by the lower classes of the modern Egyptians, and was connected with superstitious notions. Any voluntary disfigurement of the person was in itself an outrage upon God’s workmanship, and might well form the subject of a law.

Personally, I don't believe it is a sin, but I don't think it is wise either. It is something you will have to live with for the rest of your life. I would think hard before doing it, especially if you are a Christian. Questions to ask yourself:
Does it Glorify God? Or simply draw attention to yourself?

Is it a wise use of my money? Or could that money be used for something else that may be more pleasing to God?

Is it something that may turn off a potential mate, or employer?

Do you think you can improve in a permanent way God's wonderful creation of you?

Is it something that is worldly? Aren't we called to be separated from the ways and attitudes of the world?

Just think about it before doing it. Will it keep you out of Heaven? No, but is it something that will please God? That is question you will have to answer for yourself.

Answer 6

In 1 Corinthians 6:19 it says that the body is a temple. I personally feel that to tattoo my body would be like spraying graffeti on a church. I feel it is disrespectful to the Creator. However I recognize that not everyone shares my view. I do not look down on anyone who chooses to get tattooed. When I was in high school, I really wanted one of those tribal armband tattooes. Now I'm grateful I didn't get it done.

Answer 7

Thats a good question,i actually have 4 tattoos,and i regret getting them but the scripture in leveticus does apply to regular tattoos because its a mark that reminds you of something(like a memorial)and as far as not cutting your hair,that was more towards mail jews which it was a shame for a male jew to cut there beards,but the side of there hair were to be long as you see some jews with the long spiral hair at the front,but for women its still shameful for them to cut there hair as said in 1 Corinthians 11:14-16.but as far as drinking blood and eating meat in it,thats always been a sin for jews and gentiles,Acts 15:20 will state it among the gentiles and in Genesis 9:4 tells them not to eat blood

Answer 8

The Bible says a lot of things.
Tattoos are great! I do not have one but you know what, if someone finds something that is meaningful to them and it makes them feel great to have it with them then who cares if other people think it's "tacky."
The only thing I hate is when people get tattoos just for the sake of it and get meaningless symbols just so that they have one.
PLUS to all of you people saying it is a sin, I sure hope you have no piercings (even in your ears) or else you might come across a tad hypocritical.

Answer 9

Personally, I think tattoos are tacky. I would never get one.

I don't think the Bible passage about them meant tattoos in the modern sense. Like most of Leviticus, that rule was against a pagan religious practice.

Answer 10

What you are reading is a seriously editted version of the Bible, who's powerful religious leaders of the times had much to do with what was removed & restated...please do not allow such things to waylay your inner voice on any subject...however, to answer you on my personal opinion of tats...it is a form of art...beauty being in the eye of the beholder & of course, the wearer. I have a few, each having great meaning to me...I sought out those that I respected their talents & artistry to place them...some are meant to be shared by many, others by only my intimates.

As far as the rest, sorrry, but of no concern to me in any way, so I have no opinions on hair, except that some look good with it long & others don't...and meat...in today's world, you can keep it, whether bloody or not...LOL

Answer 11

Good point about the memorial tatoo. Those laws were written to make the Jewish people feel different than the others. I know some seem funny about hair, mixing cloth weaves etc..but it was to remind them always that "THEY" the Jewish people were set apart and different, the chosen one's. When a Jew would enter a house of a gentile there were things he couldn't do or eat so that it was a constant reminder that they belong to God