Can I get into heaven if I have tattoos?

Question

Please answer if you are a priest or someone who knows what you are talking about, I am serious and scared now that I heard I can't get into heaven if I have a tattoo.

Answer 1

I asked the same question for a friend who was VERY upset when told he was pretty much hellbound for having tattoos and piercings. I'm not a christian (I'm Asatru - Germanic Heathenry, Hail Odinn and all that jazz) but I HAVE read the bible. It does say in there not to mark yourself like pagans. (Leviticus 19.28, I believe.) I asked and was reminded of that verse, so we researched it together.

"Christian" just means "Christ-like". Since in Revelations 19.16 it says that Christ will have his very own tattoo (on his vesture and on his thigh written Lord of Lords and King of Kings) I think if you want to be a good christian, you WILL get a tattoo to be more like your savior/god!

I wouldn't worry about it. I think a lot of people in the christian religion today are more concerned with causing division between peoples than with actually following the religion Jesus tried to teach. I'm not saying they should all get tats, I'm just saying - they should try being nice to one another once in a while rather than trying to condemn everyone different from them to hell even if they ARE tattooed! From my understanding of the christian religion, that's not exactly their decision to make anyways.

~Morg~

Answer 2

Dear zyann,

i am a college/youth pastor and am quite familiar with my Bible, so i hope that gives you some degree of assurance that the answer i will give you is based on God's word and not just a "random" opinion.

First i'm not sure who told you that if you have a tattoo that you can't get to heaven. The only prohibition against tattoos were in the Old Testament-- i believe its in Leviticus (where they were associated with) rituals involving the worship of false gods. i'd be interested in knowing what Bible verse they quoted - because if they don't give you a Bible verse- they're just giving you an opinion.

The Bible tells us in John 3:16, Romans 10:10, Ephesians 2:8-9 that if we have faith in Jesus- He loves us, forgives us, makes us righteous. No one gets to heaven because of their own merit- but because of their faith in Jesus and what Jesus has done on the cross.

I have friends who got tattoos before they became Christians and they are some of the most wonderful lovers of God that i know. Even if you got a tattoo after you followed Christ- it would be important to examine why you got the tattoo that you got (motive- i think is more important than the tattoo (a brother of my at the church- got a tattoo of a cross on his arm which i thought was super cool). When he asked me if he could get it- i said as long as you ask your parents and if you can cover it during church that'd be fine (we have an older congregation on the Chinese Side of our church- so the tattoo might stumble them). But the most important thing is not what's on the outside- but whether a person follows God, and loves HIm with all their heart on the inside.

Sorry this is so long- feel free to email me at [e-mail] and i can address your individual situation a bit more specifically. But i hope this helps.

Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 3

Based on what i have heard, tattoos or piercing does not justify whether or not your going to heaven or hell. Its what you do as a person that counts. Say your a Saint who has done no harm leading a very pure life. But u have a tattoo (for whatever reason)
will that bring u to hell instead? Come on. God cant be that unfair.
Tattoo is not taboo or a barrier. If your a good person inside, that will do.

Answer 4

This is absurd. Since when did God judge according to outward physical features? Whoever told you this is sorefully misguided.
Heaven is not a place to just "get" into like Disneyland.
It requires Faith. Understanding. Spirituality.

For example, my favorite story in the Bible is about the adulterous woman brought before Jesus. It is my favorite because, to me, it illustrates two important concepts about God's nature. The first is God's unending capacity to love and forgive and the other is that judgment is God's domain, not mine.

If you recall in that story, the church elders stated, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" (John 8:4-5)

Jesus knew the scriptures of which they spoke. In Leviticus 20:10 it states: "If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death."

To the surprise of all, Jesus blatantly violates the scripture by stating, "Let anyone among you who is without sin, cast the first stone." One by one they left, beginning with the Elders. Jesus asks of the adulterer, " Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" And Jesus says, "Neither do I condemn you." (John 8:7-11)
How powerful and beautiful is this statement.

If the story were to be exchanged with a woman with a TATOO, of all things, would Jesus have responded differently? Would He have said, "You have my blessing in stoning this woman to death?" I don't think so. I believe Jesus would have said to the woman, "Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you."

So it's ok. Don't fret. If it's still bothering, go get it removed xD.

Answer 5

Your chances of getting in to heaven are in no way affected by having a tattoo. Full stop. I know of no reputable authority which suggests it.
(In the middle ages Christian Crusaders frequently had a cross tattoo to ensure a Christian burial should they die while abroad, or just as a reminder of their expedition!)

Relax.

You may however find it more difficult to get into certain Japanese hotels and bath houses:
"A word of warning: many sentos used to ban customers with tattoos, which are the traditional symbols of the Japanese mafia, the yakuza." (Though this connection IS fading).

Answer 6

ATTENTION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ATTENTION !!!!!! i have been raised in a christian family and i have a very close realationship with God so i really know what im talking about, in my life i have done some horrible things even though it didnt scar my body it really scared my heart but the day i asked God for forgiveness and excepted him into my life he erased every scar, scratch and wound. and once he forgives he forgets that means to him those tatoos those wild night outs are all forgotten !!!! most importantly !!! when you go to heaven your human body dose not go with you just the beautifull soul that God gave you and those that say you wont go to heaven just cuz of this they really dont know what there talking about its just siatans words calling to you so just ignor it ....... if any more Q like this i would be thrilled to anwser !!!! God bless

Answer 7

You can't believe everything people tell you. If there is such a place as heaven, I'm only sure of a few things. Murdering people, like Muslim terrorists, does not grant you entry. You can't beg, plead, confess, bargain or buy your way into it with or without tattoos.

Answer 8

Interesting. I wonder how these people feel about earrings, or hair dye, or lipstick, or any of another million things people do to decorate themselves. I strongly suspect this is more a prejudice against tattoos than it is a discussion of sin. A friend of mine got a tattoo of his mother's initials on his arm after she died. If that's a sin, I'll eat this keyboard.

Answer 9

You can get into the heaven if you do or do not have a tattoo. I'm sorry someone told you otherwise.

Answer 10

Tattoos in their own right will not preclude you from heaven, but they are acts of sin. The bible states that you will not mutilate or mark the body as the body is a gift from God and should be respected as such, to do otherwise is a sin in the eyes of God.

All sin can be forgiven but reduces you in the spirit.