What does Christianity say about tattoos?

Answer 1

The main scripture that concerns many people with regards to tattooing is this verse from the remarkable Old Testament book of Leviticus

“You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:28

At first glance this passage seems to indicate that tattoo is forbidden for Christians. To comprehend the Scripture correctly, we must always examine the whole of Scripture and look at the particular context of a given passage. If we neglect deep study we will never truly understand the intent of the author. We need to look at the word(s) of the above passage in full connection with the surrounding verses, and in context with the historic setting at the time of its writing. When we study below the surface of this text, we then will see more clearly what God says about tattoo. The verse quoted above is part of a larger passage of scripture seen here.

26 ‘You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying. 27 You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard. 28 ‘You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD. 29 ‘Do not profane your daughter by making her a harlot, so that the land will not fall to harlotry and the land become full of lewdness. 30 ‘You shall keep My sabbaths and revere My sanctuary; I am the LORD. 31 ‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19:26–31

In this passage God is speaking to his covenant people Israel. He is specifically telling them to stay far from the religious practices of the surrounding people groups. The prohibited religious practices in these verses include eating bloody meat, fortune telling, certain hair cuts related to the priests of false cults, cutting or marking the body for dead relatives, cultic prostitution and consulting psychics. All these practices would lead God's beloved people away from Him and toward false gods that were not Gods at all. In the midst of this context we find the word translated “tattoo marks” in verse 28. It is important to note here that the context of this passage is not one of body décor but one of marking one's self in connection with cultic religious worship. Bible commentaries tell us much about the eastern religious practices that God was warning His people to shun.

The “tattoo” marks described in Leviticus 19:28 were clearly related to false religious practices. The word translated tattoo in our English Bibles is the Hebrew word “qa aqa”, this word appears only one time in the Bible, here in this passage Leviticus. The word “qa aqa” means literally “to cut” but taken with the surrounding words indicates a cutting that left a mark imprinted in the skin. This could have been a form of branding, scarring, cutting or a process where ink was inlaid into the skin; there is not enough data to fully define exactly what this word meant. However we translate the word “qa aqa” though, in this passage, it is certainly used in the context of cultic religious worship. The prohibition against “qa aqa”, (translated tattoo) was to keep the Israelites from being involved or affiliated with cultic worship practices.

The tattoo of today is much different than it was for those who originally received the Pentateuch. Today tattoo is a decorative means of self expression and personal decoration. In our current culture people modify their appearance for beauty in many ways such as clothing choice, makeup, plastic surgery, haircutting and coloring, weight loss, body-building, and ear piercing. Some of these practices have a history in ancient ritual and false religion, but in our cultural context they do not denote a connection with evil or false faith. In the same way tattoos today do not link the wearer to cultic worship practices and is not generally practiced for ancient religious purposes, tattoos today are for ornamentation.

Romans 14:23 states, "...everything that does not come from faith is sin." Now that's pretty clear!

Here is a self-exam based on the ideas put forth in Romans 14.
These questions will help you decide whether or not getting a tattoo is a sin for you:

How does my heart and my conscience convict me? Do I have freedom in Christ and a clear conscience before the Lord regarding the decision to get a tattoo?

Am I passing judgment on a brother or sister because I don't have freedom in Christ to receive a tattoo?

Will I cause a weaker brother to stumble if I receive a tattoo?

Is my decision based on faith and will the result be glorifying to God?

"Have a nice day!"

Answer 2

It actually doesn't say anything. There's a verse in the Old Testament that mentions not tattooing the body- but it has to do with acting like the "pagans"- and not to worship their gods.

Now Christians are supposed to honor their temple- but instead of focusing on tattooing, why don't we in America focus on what we eat. Why don't we get all up in arms and ask, "What does Christianity say about eating at Mcdonalds or overeating"? This is a cultural issues.

Now, we love to adorn our churches and temples for Jesus. We have ornately stained-glass windows in it- to give glory to God. We make it look pretty. Now, if our body is a temple of God- why can't we adorn it like God's church- like stained-gass windows?

churchtogether.blogspot.com

Answer 3

Rather than what "Christianity" say about tattoos, how about what the BIBLE says:

Leviticus 19:28
" 'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

New International Version

Answer 4

Sure, there is an old testament verse about tattoos, but two things:

1) they were talking about tattooing over dead people and/or other Gods. It wasn't Israeli custom to tattoo in God's name.

2) When Jesus came the old Laws became obsolete because he fulfilled the old testament and created a new covenant.

3) Okay, I know I said two things, but here is a third: I think it was Paul who said "All things are lawful for me..."

Answer 5

Old Testament:
Leviticus 19:28 - Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
New Tesament:
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Answer 6

There is something in Lev. (19:28)

You must not slash your body for a dead person 1 or incise a tattoo on yourself. 2 I am the Lord.

Answer 7

It says not to get them. There is an article on the mark of the beast that should answer this, in Yahoo Groups, Following The Way.

Answer 8

it doesn't say anything specifically, but it does say to 'honor your body' and 'your body is a temple'. i basically take that to mean that you shouldn't do drugs or things that can be life-threatening, which doesn't really include tattoos. so in my opinion, tattoos are ok. and a tattoo that praises god is even better!

Answer 9

your body is a temple. take care of it because you only have one.
basically don't get a tattoo.

Answer 10

The Old Testament says not to do it.