Tattoos and Piercings???

Question

I have just become a Christian. I am non denominational.

I have several piercings and a tattoo. I love them all.

But I have read that if you are a Christian you shouldn't have them. What are the arguments for and against piercings and tattoos? (From the Christian perspective)

Serious Answers Only

Answer 1

I have several piercings myself. I got them after I accepted Christ into my heart. I also have a reason for every single one. (One for each one of my children.) If you have a tattoo there is nothing that you can do to change that. (Don't go through surgery to take something away that at one point in your life meant something.) Your piercings are also a part of you personality and help explain who you are as an individual. If someone tells you they have a problem with the way you look and the way you have treated yourself then they are not really Christian at heart. Good luck with your faith walk and God Bless.

Answer 2

The only prohibition is in Leviticus. The Old Testament law commanded the Israelites, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:28). The reason was that these things were a symbol of being a pagan. Christians are free from the details of the Judaic law, but I would not feel comfortable if I allowed my body to be tattooed. Piercings seem to be all right, as Rebecca was given not only earrings but a nose ring by the servant of her prospective husband! This link is useful for considering the topic. http://www.gotquestions.org/tattoos-sin.html
By the way, I was once grateful for a tattoo. I was just outside the Old City of Jerusalem looking for the Garden Tomb and the Moslems around me wouldn't help when I asked for directions, as they don't accept that Jesus rose from the dead. Just as I was feeling desperate, a saw a young Arab lady approaching me with a cross tattooed on her forehead. She had no problem in pointing the way to me!

Answer 3

Historically tattoos and piercings are a form of "adornment" for the pleasure of man, status, and sexuality. I have my ears pierced. They mean nothing. It was just the fad at the time. I don't regret having them done and I don't think I'll burn for having them. Again.....God made us PERFECT. Any new parent knows that feeling when they see their new born baby. They are PERFECT. They don't need sexy clothes or a wallet of money or tattoos or piercings to become "perfect". Piercing and tattoos are a permanent alteration of your body. It's a recommendation but not a hard and fast RULE.

Tattoos and piercings are a visable mark but many more "sins" aren't so visable. It's God that has a say....not me.....I have pierced ears.....so I can't say. I know as a parent I feel strongly on not making permenant alterations on a childs body without their consent. If God gave us free will....who am I to think I have that right to take it away from another?

Answer 4

The Old Testament law commanded the Israelites, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:28). So, even though believers today are not under the Old Testament law (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:15), the fact that there was a command against tattoos should cause us to question. The New Testament does not say anything about whether a believer should or should not get a tattoo.



In relation to tattoos and body piercings, a good test is to determine whether we can honestly, in good conscience, ask God to bless and use the particular activity for His own good purposes. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). The Bible does not command against tattoos or body piercings, but it also does not give us any reason to believe God would have us get tattoos or body piercings.



Another issue to consider is modesty. The Bible instructs us to dress modestly (1 Timothy 2:9). One aspect of dressing modestly is making sure everything that should be covered by clothing is adequately covered. However, the essential meaning of modesty is not drawing attention to yourself. People who dress modestly dress in such a way that they do not draw attention to themselves. Tattoos and body piercings most definitely draw attention. In this sense, tattoos and body piercings are not modest.



An important Scriptural principle on issues that the Bible does not specifically address is that if there is room for doubt as to whether it pleases God, then it is best to not engage in that activity. "For whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). We need to remember that our bodies, as well as our souls, have been redeemed and belong to God. Although 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 does not directly apply to tattoos or body piercings, it does give us a principle, "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? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." This great truth should have a real bearing on what we do and where we go with our bodies. If our bodies belong to God, we should make sure we have His clear "permission" before we "mark it up" with tattoos or body piercings.

Recommended Resource: God's Guide for Life Choices by Woodrow Kroll.

Answer 5

Hi there, you look at all the christians of the world, some murderers, rapists etc.. call themselves christians. A lot of christians smoke drink swear fight etc.. when they leave church and go home. So if tattoos and piercings are all you have. Nothing to worry about. At least you can get rid of them if you ever want to.God wont leave you because of a piercing or tatt. By the way i have piercings and tatts and plan on getting more. Hope this helps. Blessed be.

Answer 6

The minister I had when I was being confirmed in my church, Congregational church, was a minister in the army during Vietnam. he had several small tattoos on his hands and arms. He never hid them. You should feel loved and welcome to any church no matter what you look like. I have never herd anyone say that a Christian can not have piercings or tattoos. Piercings don't make you a bad or good person and I say if your church doesn't approve of your tattoos and piercings then they don't approve of you. And if they don't approve of you then I would you want to join them?

Answer 7

yeah there's a passage in leviticus that says not to put holes in your body or something

but that's old testament and you're not under the old law

i mean, your body is God's so you dont want to do anything to defile it.....tattoos and peircings are dangerous to your body because they can get infected

but i think it would be okay to get something that honored God....

and i feel like it's okay to decorate your body as long as it's not offensive

i got my rook peirced and ive been a Christian for a long time

i know a lot of Christians with tattoo and body peircings

some hardcore Christians will tell you not to...and some will say it's okay....but the Bible says not to let petty arguments come amongst you

so if someone in church says something mean to you ...just smile and say "i did these before i was a Christian....but thanks for making me accepted as a fellow Christian (sarcastic lol)" yeah just be as nice as possible and remind them that you're a child of God...they might mean well but being critical of others is NOt Christian-like

cause honestly....if they give you crap about it...they arent loving you...and thats the biggest thing that Christians are called to do!

Answer 8

The teachings against tats, piercings go back to the Old Testament when people would mark or paints their bodies in honor of the dead.

Legalistic churches will frown on your tats and piercings. The only legitimate teachings for modern Christianity is that we should not use our liberty to stumble a weaker believer.

Answer 9

Sara I became involved in a "recovery" church that reached out to ex-troublemakers of all kinds, tattooed and not ( I personally am not)
I can tell you that most of those that had sexually graphic tattoos or names that blasphemed God had those tattoos covered or removed.
The Bible speaks of a slave that voluntarily comes back to serve his Master forever ( a picture of us being redeemed to Christ) and says:
Exd 21:6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

So I have no problem with piercing, per se. Just remove the blatantly sexual hardware (tongue,clit, nipple)

Answer 10

Sorry, but anyone who says you aren't going to hell is wrong. Leviticus clearly states that shaving your beard, shaving your head, eating shellfish, picking up sticks on Saturday, tattoos, male homosexuality, and wearing clothing of two different textiles are all offenses.

Of course you could be like pretty much every christian out there and ignore everything but the homo part.