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Do you think it’s wrong for Christians to wear tattoos?
I came up with the subject for today’s Sunday Brunch while I was out on Friday evening. I passed a tattoo shop and this scripture came to my mind:
Leviticus 19:28 28“ ‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.
This scripture is taken from the Old Testament, and far as I know, the New Testament does not mention this rule. I’ve seen some cool tattoos on folks, but, I’ve never been of the mind-set to get one. The thought of being pricked by that painful needle…and making that permanent mark on my skin has never appealed to me. Plus, as you get older, the tattoos don’t look as fresh and vibrant, they fade. I definitely wouldn’t want my skin crowded with faded tattoos!
However, I honestly don’t think that getting a tattoo is necessarily “wrong”. I tend to think more of daily-life Christian laws as being taken from the New Testament, moreso than the Old Testament. However, people may disagree with me about tattoos and I’d like to get a discussion going about this subject. I know I was raised to believe that tattoos were wrong and this scripture was used to back up that “rule.” However, as I got older and more exposed to the world, my thinking has changed.
Although I don’t think getting a tattoo is wrong, it’s not something that I would encourage someone to do. Why? Well, like I’ve already said, the idea has just never appealed to me, and if my son were older (like a teenager) and wanted my permission to get a tattoo, I’d tell him NO!
So, do you think it’s wrong for Christians to get tattoos? Leave your response in the comments!
It says in the Bible-Leviticus that tattoos are forbidden. Personally, I would not take the risk just for health reasons. People can catch Hepatitis B.
Gregory Terry – I couldn’t imagine getting a tattoo. My skin is kinda sensitive and with my luck, I’d probably have a negative reaction to the ink.
I’m pretty sure Leviticus also says not to eat pork or wear clothing made from a blend of more than one materials, and we do that now. I think a person just needs to carefully consider the impression a tattoo makes, and what the content of the image is. I don’t have any because I don’t want to pay someone to cause me pain. Also, because my interests and obsessions change so often! I do think that people should consider the cleanliness/contagion thing and find a reputable tattoo artist. And also consider putting the tattoo somewhere that can be hidden easily for occasions that merit that. ALso consider “How will this tattoo look on an 85-year-old body?” LOL
Beth White Werrell – yes, I do think tattoos CAN create a negative impression on others – no matter what type of tattoo you have. I’d think, especially, if you’re in a ministerial authority, and you wore a tattoo, and you preach to others, some who are unsaved might automatically think less of you if you have a tattoo – they might be less likely to listen to what you have to say about Jesus and mistakenly think that you’re some tattooed thug (or they may think something similar to that). Yes, also, have to think what that tattoo would look like when you’re 85 or 92!! Yikes!!!
Its not what is on the outside that brings judgement..Its what is on the inside…God sees the heart of man..not his tattoo’s or piercings.What if a child of God Had tattoos before becoming born again ? So many love Judgement..but Grace and mercy..not so much
Jim Peterson – so true, we should not be judgmental toward others, it’s what’s in our hearts that counts.
Depends on what they were of. If they remind the person of a dark past and make it difficult to move on, then he/she can get them removed, or even tatted over into something positive. Check out
http://www.spike.com/articles/lbbcmw/tattoo-nightmares-want-to-cover-up-your-own-tattoo-nightmare
@K. K. Ceres Wright – I’ve heard of people getting their tattoos removed. I’ve especially heard of those who got tattoos when they were much younger, but, then they have them removed when they enter the corporate world.
The attitude toward tattoos has changed over the years. When I was coming up, only bikers and felons had them. Now everybody has tattoos and piercings. Actually, I would be more likely to listen to a minister who had a tattoo. I think it would mean he went through something in life, and he’s able to speak from a standpoint of experience, rather than someone who just came out of seminary and is trying to teach me about life.
K. Ceres, I agree, the attitude toward tattoos has changed over the years.