Getting tattoo's, is it against God?

Question

Leviticus 19:28 says:“Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.” This passage falls within a greater portion of Leviticus that starts in 17:1-2 and ends in 26:46. Most scholars agree that this portion of the book of Leviticus stands apart from the rest of the book. In this section God moves from his words directly to Moses and instructs him instead concerning the laws of conduct for the whole if Israel. The idea was that if Israel kept these commands God would make his dwelling among the people. The books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus record pretty much all of the laws, rules, and regulations that God intended to pass on to his people. There were basically two kinds of laws, the first were the “do” laws that described how to conduct all required sacrifices and feasts, and the second were the “don’t” laws that suggested personal conduct that would “set apart” the Israelites from their pagan neighbors.

A deeper study of the “do” laws shows that they were a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice God had always intended through Jesus Christ. In the same way that the “do” laws point to Christ, the “don’t” laws point to Christian conduct. We as Christians are NOT and were NOT the intended audience of the OT laws! The OT laws were not selective, it was all or none! (Deut 28:15-68) Israel was the intended audience! (Deut 1:1, Lev 17:1-2, Lev 1:1) Throughout the OT God was external, he was the burning bush, the pillar of fire, the parting waters, etc. Studies of the OT major (and minor) prophet’s writings easily show that God in an “external” sense was not enough to keep Israel (or mankind) from ungodly character. We were miserably, and continually, unable to keep his commands. The POINT of the law was to point that fact out to us, and effectively show us the need for Christ! Of course, serving God in an “internal” sense would require a different teaching than the laws.

Not only that, but if that is really what was intended, there ought to be PLENTIFUL teachings in the New Testament to verify this truth. If the Old Testament points forward to the New Testament for verification, then the New Testament MUST also point back to the Old Testament to do the same. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus begins to clarify his relationship to the Law of Moses. What follows is a list of recognized OT laws (external = “You have heard it was said...”) that are coupled with Jesus’ higher (internal = “But I say unto you...”) interpretation of those same laws. For example:“Do not murder, and anyone who murders is subject to judgment” is contrasted with “Anyone who is angry with his brother is subject to judgment” (5:21-22) “Do not commit adultery” is contrasted with “Anyone who looks at a woman (or a man) lustfully has already committed adultery with her (him) in their heart.

(5:27-28) Jesus also confronts other things that people believed and practiced in his culture and contrasted those things with his “higher” standard in this passage. This discourse continues until the end of Matthew chapter 7, and I see NO place where Jesus puts forth ANY standard concerning “external physical” appearance. In a general sense, Jesus taught Servant-hood to your fellow man, and it is this point where the question of rather or not getting a tattoo is acceptable scripturally. Before we discuss that there are other passages (NT, but not written/spoken by Christ) to verify a movement away from the Law (external) and towards the higher (internal) standard that is meant for us (Christians) in modern times. Consider the following: Romans 3:21-31 Speaks of a “righteousness apart from the Law” through Christ Galatians 3:1-14 Paul teaches Faith connects us to God, not Law observance Galatians 3:15-25 Paul teaches that the law was meant to point us To Christ

And Hebrews 8 best of all uses an OT passage to contrast the difference between the Old Covenant and the New one which basically says that the Old is “obsolete” and replaced by a better one based on better promises. SO, I see no place where an Old Testament restriction against tattoos (piercing’s, shaving your head bald, having a goatee, etc.) has any validity today. So TATTOO ON MY GOOD FRIENDS!!!

THIS QUESTION IS FOR ALL THE BIBLE THUMPERS THAT WANT TO COME IN THE TATTOO SECTION AND GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW WRONG AND AGAINST GOD TATTOO'S ARE. I'M SAYING YOUR THE ONE THAT IS WRONG, NOW GO BACK TO CHURCH AND LEARN HOW NOT TO JUDGE YOUR FELLOW MAN!

Answer 1

Tatts...I've read your argument (and the scripture to go with it) and there is NO DOUBT that your point is a valid one. There is just one problem with your argument. A soon as a bible thumper gets couple of paragraphs in its going to remind them of church and they're going to do what they do every Sunday and nod off. No, to attract and hold the minds of such simple minded morons you need an argument that they will be able to grasps with their limited intelligence. Here's the one I use whenever one of the mental midgets verbally assaults me

Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:28 KJV)

I have read this verse several times......and I am going to do like most evangelical Christians and make a literal interpretation.

The verse says YE shall not make.......etc. Using this verse (and taking it as LITERAL) it's my understanding that god is against YOU tattooing or cutting yourself......I THINK he intended for us to use a PROFESSIONAL TATTOO ARTIST/PIERCER

I have found this argument most effective and you are welcome to use it ....

Answer 2

I think the bible is meant to set examples and general ideas and morals for people to follow. There is NO one person on Earth today who could live a life exactly like the bible wants.

Its just unfair and too hard to be that strict and the context is outdated and bias to a good extent. God is not going to hate you for tattoos, he is all forgiving, right? I don't think you should be so concerned about this. If you believe in God and love him and know that he loves you, it won't matter if you have a tattoo or do something that isn't quite the way the bible says.

Answer 3

I dont think its a problem as long as you dont get something against religion tatooed. Its not like your doing your body harm unlike smoking, drinking and drugs do! The bible can be interpeted in many ways! Some people dont belive in blood transfusions because of god but if that was the case id be dead now!

Answer 4

That part of the bible was written by man - the phrase tattoo was coined long after the bible came into the picture. I have no problem with body art, I'm not sure why anyone would think I do!

Answer 5

I dont like tatoos myself but I feel that everyone who reads the bible interpetes it differently .Everyone who reads it has there own ideas of what it really means .I dont think that tatoos are against god .I think that is what you do with your life and how much good you do that god looks at.Now if you covered your whole body in them in order to make a terrible example or statement than its bad but if its not for those reasons than I dont see the problem .

Answer 6

Nothing to add, as it's similar to what I've found. But still, well researched! Bound to severely annoy those who disagree as this is hardly just a sound-bite, but rather an indepth analysis done in a fairly scientific manner - that is, with no presupposition of what the "right" answer is.

You rock.

Answer 7

NO, it is NOT against the lord. If the religious fanatics say it is the mark of the devil, well, I guess I got several marks of the devil. And I DO NOT believe for one minute that the bible uses the word tattoo. And even if it does I will never believe that this is what skin marking or Tattoo's were called back in that day or era.

Answer 8

i dont think im going to hell for having tattoos.but i will say that for all those who want to judge me read the bible a little more.it clearly states that though shall not judge for no man is without sin.so get a life and stop hatin just cause youre not cool like me!=)>ok so i totally agreed with tatts and she writes me an email saying im an idiot.maybe shes the close minded person.

Answer 9

I am sure that if tattoos were invented back then that Jesus himself would have had His Jesus fish tattooed right above his heart. All the Bible bangers need to remember one thing: God made us in His likeness. Why would He have allowed someone to invent tattoos if He didn't think they rocked Himself!!
Awesome research!

Answer 10

it says it in the bible. but the bible was written by man. i have 1 tat. with my fiancee name along with mine. i've been with many ppl before him, and never thought once to do it. it took me a 1 1/2 yrs to get 1. then the next year he got one with my name on the inside of his arm. remember god can forgive, as long as you follow his word.