Is it a sin to get a tattoo?

Question

Thanks ;)

Answer 1

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 2

It could be, depends on the person, I suppose. The word 'sin' comes from the Greek word 'santos' which literally means 'to miss the mark', or to make a mistake. Most people use the term loosely, without being aware of it's origin. I really like my ink. I'm in the business, and have roughly sixty hours on me. For me, it's not a mistake. For someone who used bad judgment. and got something stupid that they now regret, it very well might be. I've got a friend who is an Orthodox Jew, and tattoos are prohibited by Mosaic Law, just like eating any animal with cloven hooves, or without a spine, or shaving, or working between sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. He's a very hip guy, but the idea of a tattoo, for him, is totally repulsive. For him, I suppose it would be a sin, or a very bad mistake.

Answer 3

There is a prohibition in the OT against the Israelites getting tattoos because it was a custom of their pagan neighbors who did it as part of their idol worship. That law doesn't apply to Christians but still you should consider what kind of tattoo you want to get and why you want to get it.

For instance a Christian might get the Jewish letters YHVH tattooed on their arm to use a witnessing tool or to show that they belong to Jehovah/Yahweh. But if a person just wants to get a tattoo to "look cool" or something like that then they should realize that tattoos are for life and what looks cool at this age might be an embarrassment some years down the line.

Also a person should consider what a tattoo says about them to others who look at it and whether or not it meets the standards of modesty and decency in the culture around them.

Answer 4

Only God can judge us. No one else has the right to say anything about anyone because in the end, they don't decide what happens to you. Every comment that you receive for this question is an opinion. I have a tattoo on my lower back, nothing big. I love my tattoo, and what others think about it, doesn't bother me one bit. I hope I don't offend anyone, but if God can forgive you for murder, adultery, etc..., I'm pretty sure he will forgive you for a tattoo. If the person asking is genuine. Again, I do apologize if I offended anyone, because that wasn't my intention.

Answer 5

Yes.
My Foods teacher [( a woman who knows the bible so well and goes to church so often it's scary )] has said that because it is a skin to purposely scar your body, that tattoos must be a skin for they are nothing but colorful scars.
Also, she said that God made all people as he wanted them to look, and to get tattoos, or even wear makeup and dye your hair, would be changing your body into something that God didn't want it to look like, which is also a sin.

From a religious standpoint, I agree with her wholeheartedly.
However, I'm not religious, and I think original, unique, and creative tattoos are really cool!

Answer 6

That depends on you. If you revere the Old Testament (like Jesus,) it goes against Leviticus. If you have a need to give blood and it's been less than a year, whomever needs your blood can't benefit. If you're Jewish, you eliminate your opportunity to be buried in a Jewish cemetary.

But a sin? Ask God about that. I'm just a hairy chocolate bean with a cocktail.

Answer 7

If you are LDS we have been asked not to get tattoos or piercings.

It isn't a sin...but it is against the council of the Prophet. Following the Prophet is a good thing though.

Answer 8

I saw a young man in New Paltz today and he had a tattoe design all over his face. I can't even begin to tell you the pain I felt for him.

Answer 9

No, those smart ankle things are quite nice and go quite well with three sixes right across the forehead. I'm sure you will get the attention you deserve.

Answer 10

Yes, and to eat meat on Fridays. When you go to heaven god is going to be very concerned about a little butterfly tattooed on your ankle. Not the way you treated people or anything else. A tattoo that hurts no one.