Christians: tatoos?

Question

i dont even know if i spelled tatoos corredtly but my question is
As a Christian, do you approve of getting tatoos or not? I'm not planning on ever getting one but im just wondering because it seems like there are different perspectives/opinions on this.

*tattoos! sorry!

*IF* i ever get a tattoo then it would be small and it would be a cross or something else to honor God.

Answer 1

By now, you've probably received this passage:
“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

However.... If you take the FULL paragraph into context and not just single out 1 sentence, you will see 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.

sorry it's so long, but people really need to read the context of passages instead of just quoting certain ones to justify their beliefs.

Go for it. Get some good art!

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Answer 2

Significantly, the Mosaic Law forbade God’s people to tattoo themselves. Said Leviticus 19:28: “You must not make cuts in your flesh for a deceased soul, and you must not put tattoo marking upon yourselves. I am Jehovah.” Pagan worshipers, such as the Egyptians, tattooed the names or symbols of their deities on their breast or arms. By complying with Jehovah’s ban on tattoo markings, the Israelites would stand out as different from other nations.—Deuteronomy 14:1, 2.

While Christians today are not under the Law of Moses, the prohibition it laid on tattooing is sobering. (Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14, 15) If you are a Christian, you would certainly not want to make markings on your body—even temporarily—that smack of paganism or false worship.—2 Corinthians 6:15-18.

Consider also whether choosing to get a tattoo would enhance or undermine your claim of being a Christian. Could it be a “cause for stumbling” others? (2 Corinthians 6:3) True, some youths have had their tattoos placed on hidden areas of the body. Even their parents may not know about these secret tattoos. But beware! An emergency trip to the doctor or simply taking a shower at school could make your secret common knowledge! Better it is to “conduct ourselves honestly in all things,” avoiding foolish deception.—Hebrews 13:18.

Personally, whenever I have a question that could possibly go either way, I err on the side of caution. I would rather go without something than offend God in any way, I do enough of that conscientiously I don't need to deliberately throw caution to the wind. Though certainly a fad at this time I see no reason to follow the crowd.

Answer 3

Under the Old Testament laws, tattoos were forbidden. At that time they were normally done as a sign of devotion to a religion or "god". The OT God did not choose tattoos as one of his "signs", so he forbid the getting of another "god's" signs.

With the New Testament, and the moving of God's laws from rituals to attitudes of the heart, tattoos are no longer forbidden. It is now an attitude of the heart. If the tattoo is intended to show rebellion, make you a "tough guy", mark you as an outlaw, to make you "sexy" to all the girls/guys, or other bad attitudes, then it is wrong. If it is a sign of dedication to a non-Christian religion, god, or philosophy, then it is wrong. Again because of the heart attitude. If it is done as a thing of beauty (which is different from "sexy"), or as a dedication to God/Christ, by a couple as a way of pledging themselves to each other, etc., then it is all right. (Again, the attitude of the heart).

But currently they are a fad. Ten years from now the fad will swing the other way, and the people will tattoos will be embrassed, looked down on, and "out of style". So personally I would avoid them. It is not like a hair style or a clothing style, that two years from now you can change. Once you are marked, it is for life. So consider carefully before doing it.

Answer 4

The important thing to remember is that your body is a temple of the Lord and you must treat it as such. What are your reasons for getting the tatoo and what does the tatoo suggest?
I personally do not like tatoos because they are very hard to remove after getting and I don't like how they look.

Answer 5

No there is nothing wrong with it.

Some people will claim that it is forbidden in Leviticus 19:28;

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

But this is taken out of context. It is important to read the whole passage and understand a few things. 1. People were putting marks on themselves and cutting their flesh to worship their dead ancestors so God had to tell Moses to tell the Israelites not to do this because they should only worship God. 2. These are instructions given to the Israelites specifically and for those specific times (Lev 19:2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.) God wanted the Israelites to be holy and to differentiate themselves from the heathen Canaanites. This is also why you find scripture instructing the Israelistes to dress a certain way and have their hair a certain length.

Some people will also claim that tattoos are forbidden in 1 Corinthians 6:19;

1Co 6:19 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?

This is also taken out of context. If you read the whole passage, you will see that this verse is speaking out against fornication specifically, not tattoos. Let's look at it in context:

1Co 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1Co 6:19 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?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Was Paul speaking about tattoos? No he was speaking about fornication and sexual immorality.

Simply put, nowhere in the bible are tattoos forbidden.

It is also interesting to note that Jesus appears to have marks of some sort on him

Rev 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Also note what the bible has to say about appearances:

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outer appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

“Stop judging by mere appearances, & make a right judgment.” Jesus Christ, John 7:21

You probably should use some common sense as a Christian getting a tattoo. You don't want to get anything that is vulgar, sinful, or blasphemous. I wouldn't go getting devils or demons or the number 666 or anything like that.

Enjoy your tattoo experience and God Bless

Answer 6

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ESV

To defile our temple, where the Holy Spirit lives in those who are regenerated and in Christ, is to defile it with continual sin.

Answer 7

getting a tattoo is not a matter of right or wrong, it is a way of expressing yourself. i personally think that nomatter what religion you are, there are no designs that you can put on your body and like for the rest of your life. So I disapprove of them personally, but i don't think that having or not having a tattoo will bring you closer or pull you further away from Jesus. He loves you and will take you as you are. Our bodies will only last for a short while. In heaven, we will receive new, perfect bodies, and I'm sure no one will care what our old bodies looked like when we are with ou maker in paradise forever!! Blessings!!!

Answer 8

I have mixed emotions about it..
I mean.. a part of me says "It just a tattoo.. and it's your body anyways".. But then I think about how your body is a temple for God.. and if you think about it-- that'd be almost like painting grafitti on a church. Because, that too is a temple. I definitely don't judge people who get them.. in a way I'd like to have one myself. But, I know I'll never get one.. because I'm not sure enough of where I stand on it..

Answer 9

I'm not christian, but I don't see what Body Ink or Art has to do with living a moral life. Do what you want.

Religion has changed so much since the 1900's. Think of how it will change in the next 50 years...

That is my perspective.

Answer 10

My donkey says to Sarakay:

They branded my buttocks, and I didn´t like that. And I´m wondering why Christians make cuts in their bodies to dangle crosses from, and tattoo their bodies with Icons to prove they are Christians.

My master told me that God wants us to live for God in righteousness and truth. And show our faith by obedience to God, not by dangling jewelery or tattoos. In fact, he read me the following texts: Lev 19:28
¨You Shall not make any cutting in your flesh for the dead, nor tatoo any marks on you: I am the Lord (BOSS).

Thus said my donkey to Sarakay, Balaam