From a Christian perspective, what do you think about tattooing the body?

Question

Alot of people in the younger generation...are wanting to get or have already gotten tatoo's...in your opinion..or from the Scriptures ...do you think they are an option that a Christian person should take?

Answer 1

Leviticus 20: 28 says, "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord."

That's Old Testament law, for the people in Covenant relation with Jehovah God. Okay, so Christians are in the New Covenant relation with God via Christ. Does that mean we can disregard the principles of Old Testament Law?

Who do you think you are trying to kid???!!! Did God come up with Plan A for the Jews, then Plan B for the Christians???!!! Wakey wakey!!!

If tattoos for his Old Covenant people is wrong, then tattos for his New Covenant people is equally wrong. God does not change. His principles are perfect. He created our bodies. He did not intend for them to become pin-cushions. But there is a spiritual dimension to this; the clue lies in the aforementioned bit about the dead. Check that out, and be afraid. Be VERY afraid.

Answer 2

Percentage wise... 76% or so of the US is Christian and somewhere between 36 and 40% of US -adults- have tattoos. Obviously, there's a good deal of overlapping. So, despite whether or not it's scripture, and I understand there's some part in the old testament that forbids it (which is why Jews aren't supposed to get tat'd) a lot of Christians don't seem to care.

Plus, take that and compare it with the fact that Christian soldiers during the Crusades would get tats and apparently still felt holy enough to fight for God... well, I'd say most Christian people, past and present, are getting them.

Oh, and what the guy up above said about blood donation? Wrong. I donated blood a week after getting a tat because the place I went to get tat'd was licensed by the state and had to keep up with the health code.

Answer 3

I don't think it matters. Look do you think getting an earring desecrates the body? Does getting a cavity desecrate the body? What about shaving, that is one thing Jewish law prescribed that the Christian law did not really nullify.

But look, I don't think it matters if we get tattoos or piercings or if we have a mohawk. Those things are all outward, and besides, the scriptures say we will receive new bodies anyway, so it is not like God will see a tattoo and say, "Oh no.... well I can't deal with that, you have to go to hell now. Oh yes I know you were a Christian and that you saved 300 children from a burning building, but I just can't deal with a tattoo. Yes I know Christ died and suffered for you, but he would have changed his mind if he saw you had a tattoo"

If Christ would die for us, I hardly think a tattoo saying "mom" would offend him. Any tattoo, so long as it is not blatantly a sinful image, is fine.

Answer 4

Put it this manner, pricey. If ALL the "christians" that put on tattoos had been going to "hell", it could be an overly crowded position. The US is approximately eighty+% "christian", if tattoos had been a "sin", simplest 20% of the folks could ever put on them. Go to the mall, that's evidently NOT the case. A tattoo isn't a sin. Even in Leviticus (which "christians" usually forget about besides), it says you shall no longer put on tattoos for the useless. And plenty of folks, notably Hispanics, do this, too. Basic regulations for tattoos, preserve them small, preserve them "blank" (no obscenity or such), and feature it in a position wherein you'll be able to quilt it with ease for a role interview or at the process. A lot of locations will NOT rent you in the event that they see a tattoo. Blessings to your Journey!

Answer 5

Tattoos are clearly forbidden in Leviticus. You can find the passage if you search for those keywords. Tattooing also makes you ineligible to donate blood for several months. Depending on what you're using as a subject (and who you ask) you may be violating the commandment about graven images.

Jesus was a Jewish rabbi, and was pretty clear about following his father's rules, so I don't think getting inked is so very Christian.

If you believe that "those are rules for the Jews," they're the same set of rules that prohibit homosexuality, so - under that logic - God doesn't mind Christian homosexuals.

Go have fun - it's ok, now.

Answer 6

The Bible Speaks Against Putting Any Marks on the Body.

Answer 7

I am not quite sure how I feel about this one. I know that the scriptures are against marking the body in any way, but it just seems so harmless to me. What makes it any different than getting your ears pierced? I have one tattoo already. I hope I don't have to burn in Hell for it.

Answer 8

Personally, I don't see the need to have tattoos. I know other Christians who have tattoos, but as Christians we should be different from the world. I would not get a tattoo, but I'm not sure it's wrong. Good question.

Answer 9

I know this religious fanatic who had a big cross tattooed on his forearm. And I mean, he was a FANATIC. He and his wife wouldn't even have jobs unless they were Christian-related (like for a church or Christian radio or something).

Now, according to Scriptures... I don't think Jesus had anything to say about it, so I don't think it's worth worrying about. (Just like gay marriage, for example.) I think Jesus covered all the important stuff with the 2 Great Commandments: Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Go get your tattoo.

Answer 10

Gen. 4:15, Ezek. 9:4-6, Rev.7:1-8, 13:16-17, 14:9-11, 15:2, 16:2, 19:20, 20:4