Piercings and Tattoos, are they sins?

Question

I just want to know why some people can look at us who are pierced and tattooed and think that we can't possibly be Christians.

I, for one, look like a punk with four holes in each ear lobe (ten guage x2, twelve guage x2, fourteen guage x2, and sixteen guage x2) , a sixteen guage ring in my left upper cartelage, an eighteen guage in my right conch (inside of ear, not that flappy thing), a tongue ring, eyebrow ring, and one tattoo (with plans to get like five more one day).

I am also a firm believer in Jesus Christ.

And I want to know, where in the Bible does it tell me that I shouldn't be pierced or tattooed? If it exists in the Word, I'd like to know about it, and be able to read about it myself.

Answer 1

I do not believe it makes a difference as long as you believe Jesus is your Saviour.

In Leviticus 19:27, 28, it says "Do not cut the hair on the sides of your head or trim your beard 28 or tattoo yourselves..."

This was a law in the Old Testament. I am sure that Jesus does not care how many tattoos you have. While He was on earth, didn't he disregard many of the religious laws and associate with those the religious leaders did not approve of?

Answer 2

The Bible warns us against tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 (Amplified) which says, "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord."
I know some will have a hard time receiving this teaching because tattooing has now become an accepted practice in our society. However, just because society approves of something does not make it right in God's eyes. Our society at large, also approves of abortion and divorce as well. However, the Bible makes it clear that God doesn't approve of these things.

When the Lord created man and woman and placed them in the garden along with His other creations. He spoke these words in Genesis 1:31, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." When the Lord created the human body, He pronounced that the way He created it was very good. The Lord desires that our bodies be a reflection of His own beauty. When people tattoo their bodies they are tampering with what the Lord said was very good the way He made it. We should never mark our bodies as this is unnatural. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are admonished not to defile them. Tattoos on one's body is like graffiti on a wall. Having tattoos on our bodies does not glorify God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "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."

Answer 3

Leviticus 19:28 for the tattoos, at least.

This is one of the OT laws that, though not rescinded in the NT, doesn't have the application that it did in Moses' day. At the time it was more that God did not want the Israelites practicing some of the self-mutilation of the other religions that at the time were occupying the promise land. Tattoos aren't really a religious practice any more, so the practical application of the law may be obsolete... still, it's there.

EDIT:
Daisy up there is ridiculous. "You don't have to follow the Old Testament." Does that mean that I can worship idols while having sex with three women on a bed that I stole and killed the previous owner of? Get over this whole "Old Testament doesn't count" crap--it's still in the Bible for a reason, people!

And another side note--if you got them before you were a believer, then that was before. Not that I personally think that God cares today one way or another, but if he did, he wouldn't hold you to the rules for the time you hadn't agreed to follow them.

Answer 4

My man is covered in piercings and tats and has a black mohawk, but he is the kindest, gentlest soul I've ever come across. I never judged him by looks and I'm only human! I can guarantee you that God won't judge you either.
As long as you've lived a good, honest life then God will always accept you.

Other people are a completely different story. People that don't conform with societies standards are deemed to be "rebels" therefore trouble-makers. I'm afraid there's nothing you can do about other people's old fashioned notions. As long as you're a good christian, well that's all that matters.

Answer 5

Sins are those act which are openly declared as the wrong & set to bt prohibit. Religion is nothing to do with what u r doing but ur act should not heart other's feeling. any religion does not say against Piercings and Tattoos. actuallu if we go deep inside this concept, Piercings and Tattoos are the therapy of accpressure & accupuncture which are very much reliable & effective. in old days u heard that people used to wear mala or necles etc, & also all these jewellary are developed to used as a therapy.

Answer 6

I also consider myself a christian, but unfortunately I got stupid one summer and got a tattoo. I also have had my ears pierced since I was like three years old. Even though I have a tattoo, I don't think that the Lord likes them. The following scripture may not be the best example, but it was all that I could find real quick. I believe that in more than one place in the Bible the Lord says that we should treat our bodies as a temple. By that I take it that we shouldn't do anything harmful or wrong to our bodies. That makes me think He is telling us not to do things like smoke, drugs, tats, piercings, premarital sex, and other things that we know are wrong and are sinning against our own bodies.....Hope that helps!

1st Corinthians 6:19-20

"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."


We are to regard our Body as a holy vessel of the Lord, literally! For He has both bought us, and dwells within this vessel. Our body is not our own, and we should seek to live clean and Holy lives both in reverence to the Lord and as an example to others showing that we are different from the world.

Answer 7

Alot of people will say that it is not a sin but the Bible says that we are to present ourselves as holy people and our bodies are a temple unto God. How we present ourselves to the outside world is very important to God.

Once you decided to take the Christian name you openly decided to join Gods family. In the commandments it says not to take the Lords name in vain, this doesn't only mean cussing. It also means that you are to honor the Christian name and faith. To do this you need to present youself as holy. I went through these very emotions when I was younger. Don't do anything to your body that will defile it such as putting worldly marks on it. If you study the Bible it will tell you this very thing.
Many Blessings

Answer 8

YES.

(Leviticus 19:28) “‘And YOU must not make cuts in YOUR flesh for a deceased soul, and YOU must not put tattoo marking upon yourselves. I am Jehovah.

Although it is an Old Testament law, Jesus did not deny it. So it still stands.

Answer 9

The Bible is very vague on this subject. There are only a couple of verses that deal with it, all in the Old Testament, and they don't really deal with decorative tattooing and piercing in the modern sense. I'd say it's really more up to your interpretation of what your body is for and what is okay to do with it, with respect to your overall religious belief.

Answer 10

no offense or anything but why do you like to stick foreign metal objects through your skin and tatoo? self expression? freedom? Cause its cool? AAAAA why? theres no legitimate reason to do that, it just boils down to just for fun type excuses. Thats going to be with u for the rest of ur life, till ur eighty your going to have the skin scars of that, why do u do that? It doesn't give any respect or distinguish you in the community. Just mostly gives negative attention. Thats a mild form of self mutilation, but your not art, which can be changed and be mutilated, your a human being. Why would u do that t o ur own body? Not trying to be offensive, just really curious.