Tattoos

[SuperstarD]

Hello,
I have been wondering what the Bible says about tattoos and if God forbids them or not?

 

[Married_Richenbrachen]

Hello, I have been wondering what the Bible says about tattoos and if God forbids them or not?

If God directly tells you to go out and get a tattoo, you should obey Him. If He does not, you should not.

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.

 

[TheBlackRider]

LOL, this is for girls....(this article...) but it helped me a lot...and i thought...why not! XD

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Should you get a tattoo or piercing?

Erin Davis 07/28/11
Category: Myself; ; 74 comments
Getting my ears pierced was a big deal at my house. Despite years of begging, my mom made me wait until my tenth birthday. When I (finally) hit double digits, my mom planned a special trip to Walmart, where I picked out the most sparkly pair of fake diamond studs available and let the sales clerk poke holes in my ears.

My grandma said I looked like a gypsy.
I thought I looked more like a princess.
I never once considered what God thought.

We've had many requests for us to tackle the subject of tattoos and piercings over the years. It's a subject I've avoided writing about, because I want to steer this ship away from legalism and avoid giving the impression that following Christ well means putting checkmarks on a list of dos and don'ts. But ... it is important to put the messages of our culture through the filter of God's Word to see how they hold up. The world increasingly says that we have the right to do anything to our bodies that makes us feel beautiful and accepted, including piercings and tattoos without limits. But what does God's Word say? Let's find out.

It is always helpful when digging for biblical truth to check out the big picture rather than pulling out just one verse. If we start looking for answers to this specific modern question in the Old Testament, we find some surprising info.

There are several passages that indicate that piercings, including nose rings, were permitted by Old Testament law.

In Genesis 24:47, Abraham's servant did something strange when he found a wife (Rebekah) for Isaac.

"Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?' She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms."

In Exodus 32:2, Aaron asks the Israelite women and children to remove the rings from their ears so he could form the golden calf. Later in Exodus 35:22, Israelite women gave their earrings as an offering to help build the Tabernacle.

Clearly, if we were young women looking to please the Lord in Old Testament times, we could come to the conclusion that piercings were a-okay.

What about tattoos? The answer to that question is pretty black and white.

Leviticus 19:28 says, "You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD."

There are probably a lot of cultural references to unpack there, but let's skip to the bottom line—tattoos are a no-go. And just so we don't dismiss the "you shall not tattoo yourselves" part of the verse by assuming that it was just some person saying it, this verse ends with the bold statement "I am the LORD." This is God's standard.

These verses lead to the initial conclusion that piercings are acceptable but tattoos are not. But we can't stop the discussion there. As I thought through this topic, I kept thinking of questions that go beyond what the Bible says specifically on the issues of tattoos and piercings and dig into some bigger, heart issues addressed in the Word.

If you are considering a tattoo or a piercing, here are some questions I'd encourage you to ask:

Is my desire for a tattoo/piercing rooted in rebellion?

Proverbs 17:11 warns, "An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him."

Do I want a tattoo/piercing to draw attention to myself?

Romans 12:3 says, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith God has assigned."

Does getting a tattoo/piercing honor my parents' wishes?

Exodus 20:12 
says, "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you."

Do I want a tattoo or piercing in order to look more like the world?

First John 2:15 says, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

Is the purpose of the tattoo or piercing to get attention from boys?

Romans 14:13 
says, "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother."

Does getting a tattoo/piercing help me glorify God with my body?

First Corinthians 6:19–20 says, "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, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Have I thought through what the people I respect think about tattoos and piercings?

Romans 12:17 says, "Give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all."

My hunch is that you will find that tattoos and most piercings aren't a wise choice if you filter them through these questions and verses. That is not to say that God cannot use someone who is tattooed or pierced. Thank goodness He doesn't wait until we look and act perfect before He starts to work in our lives (that would be a long wait). But when we put tattoos and body piercings under the microscope of God's Word, I think we find that in general, the benefits don't outweigh the risks.

Since tattoos and piercings are permanent decisions, it is worth doing some research on your own before determining your stance.

Lies Young Women Believe | Should you get a tattoo or piercing?

 

[Elizabeth619]

No. They aren't forbidden, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should get one. Marking up your whole body may not be something God would like. Also, someone having a tattoo doesn't mean they're unchristian or disobedient either. God judges the heart. Man judges the physical.

 

[1still_waters]

Be careful. To a certain extent, there is a whole culture, community, attitude, and lifestyle that comes along with the whole tattoo, getting inked thing. One tattoo probably won't drag you into that. But if it becomes something more, be very careful of not falling into the whole community/attitude/lifestyle that can come along with it.

 

[crossnote]

They are pretty permanent too. You might picture your arm (or leg or whatever) now as it will be in 30 or 40 years...wrinkly, dry, flabby, etc. But hey, got my TAT!

 

[Huckleberry]

No. They aren't forbidden, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should get one. Marking up your whole body may not be something God would like. Also, someone having a tattoo doesn't mean they're unchristian or disobedient either. God judges the heart. Man judges the physical.

Tattoos are forbidden in the OT.

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

It's obviously not the unpardonable sin, but I would
discourage, especially women, from getting tattooed.

I don't understand why anyone would graffiti the most beautiful
building that has ever been constructed, i.e., a woman's body.

Ladies, you cannot improve on God.

 

[Married_Richenbrachen]

Ladies, you cannot improve on God.

But in my experience, she will always try. :|

 

[Elizabeth619]

Tattoos are forbidden in the OT.

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

It's obviously not the unpardonable sin, but I would
discourage, especially women, from getting tattooed.

I don't understand why anyone would graffiti the most beautiful
building that has ever been constructed, i.e., a woman's body.

Ladies, you cannot improve on God.

The passage in Leviticus is referring to pagan worship and honoring the dead which was forbidden. This has nothing to do with the modern practice of tattooing.

FYI, I do not ever encourage someone to mark up their body. I don't like tattoos. I don't have any, and never will but I will not tell someone it is an outright sin just because I don't like them.

 

[gb9]

but many Christians take the Bible and use it to make what they don't like into a sin. huckleberry did not do this, but he came kind of close to. we have the right to have opinions about many things, but we can't force them unto others. I think people need to read Colossians more.

 

[john832]

No. They aren't forbidden, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should get one. Marking up your whole body may not be something God would like. Also, someone having a tattoo doesn't mean they're unchristian or disobedient either. God judges the heart. Man judges the physical.

I see this differently...

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.

 

[gb9]

that is the old law. you can't apply that today. besides these laws were given to Israel only, not everyone on the earth. as explained above these had to do with false worship.

 

[Cobus]

So modern day tattoos are NOT MARKING YOURSELF? I wonder if Jesus would have taken a TATTOO... No! Then why would you? Why would you have INK in a PERFECT skin God made... Hey the new testiment says you ladies should not even wear jewelary, or braid your hair... And it is in Timothy for the WHOLE world....


I bet you God would not approve ANY TATTOO, and I can DIG THEM... does it make then righteous becsue I DIG them? NOPE, just look at the spirit that wears the TATOO! Forget the tattoo, look at the SPIRIT...


How do you repent from a tattoo? Like the Mark of the beast is is pretty permanant, not that tattoo is permanent sin, but I doubt it is righteous acts... otherwise Jesus would have looked like a newspaper... And here is another thing to consider...


If the soul is in the blood, and tattoing draws blood, do you think God will approve, even one drop of SOUL? NOPE!

 

[john832]

that is the old law. you can't apply that today. besides these laws were given to Israel only, not everyone on the earth. as explained above these had to do with false worship.

Let's not start that argument here...

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

[gb9]

o.k. , are you wearing clothes with blended fabrics? because it also says in Leviticus not to wear clothes with blended fabrics.

 

[Chinekwu]

that is the old law. you can't apply that today. besides these laws were given to Israel only, not everyone on the earth. as explained above these had to do with false worship.

I think I'm really tired of hearing that too...
If that's the old law..then why don't you go on ahead and steal or covet or bow down to graven images??
Also,assuming you want to go evangelize to someone(an unbeliever that happens to think that one can't possibly be a christian and have a tattoo??),trust me, there's nothing you will tell that person that will make sense to him/her..you've lost that person!
Sometimes, the things that we are warned against are not because those things are entirely sinful but we're representing Jesus and we've got spiritual responsibilities..you don't know who may be looking up to you,who may be watching you....

 

[Cobus]

GB9 if my wife does do that her dress edge off her shape and SHE HATES it, so now she sticks to one fabric, and she can walk comfortably. So not only does she obey a CLEVER law, but it proofed it is also very pleasing and comfortable.

My wife keeps her shape and skin for me only to admire... I guess the Lord gave that law so the women would not feel like they were in tights all the time... Althou todays woman would walk naked like EVE. Some just cannot show enough, shape and skin... Wonder if that is dressing MODESTLY? Like in Timothy...

But then that might just be another LAW or Command we do not do...

Hey tattos are NOT FROM GOD! Period! So not from God not for me thank you!

And my kids know this, so if they disobey, then they will get the punishment I laid out for them. And it is quite a heavy punishment... Fortunately they are no drinkers... I wonder did ANY person here get there FIRST tatto sober?

 

[gb9]

I apologize for trying to rightly divide the Word of truth. so go ahead and use the O.T. and pick and chose which laws to keep and which ones to ignore.

 

[Cobus]

Gb9 this is the way I look at ANY LAW or sin or righteousness... God is the one with the POWER and the GLORY and the Kingdom. Jesus said I should pray for this.... FATHER LET THOU WILL BE DONE IN ME S IN HEAVEN...

Now I ask myself... How is His will done in heaven... PERFECT! Ok! So if God does hear and do the prayer, His will will be done n me PERFECTLY...

Now what LAW can I transgress, or what sin can I do, IF GOD'S WILL IS DONE IN ME? NOTHING!

I look at NO LAW, I look at the Holy Spirit LEADING me, and that way I know HE LEADS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS TO RIGHTOUSNESS. Praise our AWESOME God... His will be done in us, AMEN!

 

[Hizikyah]

THEY ARE FORBIDDEN!

Leviticus 19:28, "You shall not cut your bodies for the dead, nor put tattoo marks upon yourselves. I am Yahweh."

Mattithyah 22:37-40, "Yahshua said to him: You must love Yahweh your Father with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your hneighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Revelation 22:12-15, "And behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work will be. I am the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who keep His Laws, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For outside are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and worshipers of gods and everyone who professes to love, yet practices falsehood."