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Personally feel that tattoos are not a biblical issue unless they are done out of a spirit of rebellion or if they depict things that are blatantly anti-biblical.
I feel like the verses that have been put before me on the subject do not apply to the situation, as my understanding is that Leviticus was written directly to the Jewish people for a time and a place to set them apart. A verse before it speaks to a man not rounding the corners of his head or marring the edges of his beard and I'd love to see pastors follow that rule.
I by no means proclaim to be an expert on the matter but as long as you feel comfortable with your tattoo, and it does not come from a place of rebellion they you are good to go.
Keep in mind tho, tattoos are permanent and should never be taken lightly. Barring a lot of money and expensive laser therapy tattoos are with you for life. People will also judge you based on your tattoos (sad but true) and you should take into consideration how visible its going to be and what perception it will give people.
I personally love both my tattoos and they carry significant meaning to me and feel that they in no way detract or distract from my Christian walk.
I feel like the verses that have been put before me on the subject do not apply to the situation, as my understanding is that Leviticus was written directly to the Jewish people for a time and a place to set them apart. A verse before it speaks to a man not rounding the corners of his head or marring the edges of his beard and I'd love to see pastors follow that rule.
I by no means proclaim to be an expert on the matter but as long as you feel comfortable with your tattoo, and it does not come from a place of rebellion they you are good to go.
Keep in mind tho, tattoos are permanent and should never be taken lightly. Barring a lot of money and expensive laser therapy tattoos are with you for life. People will also judge you based on your tattoos (sad but true) and you should take into consideration how visible its going to be and what perception it will give people.
I personally love both my tattoos and they carry significant meaning to me and feel that they in no way detract or distract from my Christian walk.
T
The Bible talks about cutting yourself and getting tattoos to remember/honour the dead. They were used in occult practices as part of ancestor worship etc. Most people these days get tattoos because they look good, or bad as the case may be, not for the reasons prescribed in God's Word. 
Spokenpassage has the right idea.
Spokenpassage has the right idea.
1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1 Corinthians 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
1 Corinthians 10:29 conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
So go to God in prayer, and ask to be led by God the Father of Son Christ, who in our stead took away the sin of the world in Father's sight. So we from Father can receive new life sight, in the spirit forsaking the flesh selfishness of self and others
We are free to see not to harm our neighbors per God's sight, a gift from God through Son
So do what you want, just consider first wether whatever you do is beneficial or not, between God and you
Galatians 5:23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
1 Corinthians 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
1 Corinthians 10:29 conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
So go to God in prayer, and ask to be led by God the Father of Son Christ, who in our stead took away the sin of the world in Father's sight. So we from Father can receive new life sight, in the spirit forsaking the flesh selfishness of self and others
We are free to see not to harm our neighbors per God's sight, a gift from God through Son
So do what you want, just consider first wether whatever you do is beneficial or not, between God and you
Galatians 5:23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Well, I have several reasons for NOT getting a tattoo and to be completely honest they are my convictions.
I will share one or two reasons, you don't have to follow the same as me or believe as I do and I'm not trying to convince you of anything and you don't have to agree with me.
Tattoos are a pagan practice dating ages back. It is commonly involved with demonic things (symbols, practices, etc.). The Chinese have some of the oldest records of tattooing. Another culture that participated is Egypt.
If you need evidence here is one site of many:
britishink tattoos and gallery, 508 H st. NE Washington DC
I will share one or two reasons, you don't have to follow the same as me or believe as I do and I'm not trying to convince you of anything and you don't have to agree with me.
Tattoos are a pagan practice dating ages back. It is commonly involved with demonic things (symbols, practices, etc.). The Chinese have some of the oldest records of tattooing. Another culture that participated is Egypt.
If you need evidence here is one site of many:
britishink tattoos and gallery, 508 H st. NE Washington DC
Yeah tattooing and engagement rings are both pagan bond sealing practices--I can't understand why Christians would want to get involved in such things.
-> Engagement ring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
-> Engagement ring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
U
Claiming that 'most' cultures utilize something in a certain fashion, doesn't mean that that practice is inherently wrong in its nature. By that thinking then music, knives, animals all must also be wrong as those are often used in pagan rituals. Just because something is utilized by some groups in a wrong fashion doesn't make that thing wrong in general.
This is a re-repost since this topic resurfaces every so often:
Verses that could support tattoos or other body art:
Genesis 24:47: 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.
Exodus 21:2-3, 5-6: But if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
Ezekiel 9:4: And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Ezekiel 9:6: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Ezekiel 16:11-12: I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. (God speaking to his people and comparing their relationship to a bride and groom.)
Revelation 19:16: And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
The context for the Levitical law against cutting or printing on the skin is frequently overlooked. Leviticus 19:26-31 is comprised of 3 complete paragraphs that are a call to separation from pagan types of worship. It forbids eating blood, making enchantments, cutting flesh in mourning, giving your daughter as a temple prostitute, and seeking out practitioners of magic, among others. These were all practiced by the pagan cultures around them, and God was commanding that worship of Him was to be entirely different. It's inconsistent (and could be argued hypocritical) to use verse 28 to condemn tattoos (and somehow extending it to other forms of body art), while ignoring verse 27 in the same paragraph that is opposed to trimming the beard.
On that same train of thought, consider the following: why are we ok with ear piercings? And how many is too many? Why not other body parts? Is it wrong if no one else can see them, thus removing the "stumbling block" aspect? What about people who are already tattooed? So then why is make up okay? It's a mark on the skin, just not usually permanent. Where do we draw the line?
The above illustrates what happens when we are caught up in legalism. The biblical principle us to glorify God in your body. The application of that principle will vary based upon each persons walk with God, their culture, and many other influences.
Verses that could support tattoos or other body art:
Genesis 24:47: 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.
Exodus 21:2-3, 5-6: But if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
Ezekiel 9:4: And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Ezekiel 9:6: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Ezekiel 16:11-12: I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. (God speaking to his people and comparing their relationship to a bride and groom.)
Revelation 19:16: And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
The context for the Levitical law against cutting or printing on the skin is frequently overlooked. Leviticus 19:26-31 is comprised of 3 complete paragraphs that are a call to separation from pagan types of worship. It forbids eating blood, making enchantments, cutting flesh in mourning, giving your daughter as a temple prostitute, and seeking out practitioners of magic, among others. These were all practiced by the pagan cultures around them, and God was commanding that worship of Him was to be entirely different. It's inconsistent (and could be argued hypocritical) to use verse 28 to condemn tattoos (and somehow extending it to other forms of body art), while ignoring verse 27 in the same paragraph that is opposed to trimming the beard.
On that same train of thought, consider the following: why are we ok with ear piercings? And how many is too many? Why not other body parts? Is it wrong if no one else can see them, thus removing the "stumbling block" aspect? What about people who are already tattooed? So then why is make up okay? It's a mark on the skin, just not usually permanent. Where do we draw the line?
The above illustrates what happens when we are caught up in legalism. The biblical principle us to glorify God in your body. The application of that principle will vary based upon each persons walk with God, their culture, and many other influences.
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in the other cultures it was performed on little girls to "ensure fertility" and on women to the goddess Bes, protector of the household (commonly associated with childbaring) across the belly and inner thighs.
If you want scriptural reason, here you go.
Leviticus 21:5
5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.
And If I wanted to throw that out I would go also and prostitute my daughter and sleep with a beast. Why not just throw all of the "rules" away? let's just everyone forget that God isn't going to allow these things in His kingdom, make His grace a whore, and do whatever the hecky pinecky we we want!
If you want scriptural reason, here you go.
Leviticus 21:5
5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.
And If I wanted to throw that out I would go also and prostitute my daughter and sleep with a beast. Why not just throw all of the "rules" away? let's just everyone forget that God isn't going to allow these things in His kingdom, make His grace a whore, and do whatever the hecky pinecky we we want!
That is because Leviticus 21:5 is just a part of the whole.
Let's make this simpler:
I assume everyone know the Ten Commandments. If not, well, you know what they say about assuming.
Also, that everyone knows where they (Ten Commandments) originated.
God wrote and spoke them.
Now, we also can assume that we know the price for disobeying them.
Let's say that I don't want to honor my parents and decide that it must be ok to not obey that rule. That gives license to anyone to make a new god, murder, steal, covet, blaspheme, lie, etc.
It is the same with Leviticus. It shows an image of how God is and how He would like us to behave in preparation for His Kingdom. When we get there He's not going to change your habits and behavior, that goes against our free will.
Now at this point someone is going to bring up stoning people to death, eating pork and crustations, etc.
There are laws in the old covenant that God made either irrelevant or new in the new covenant.
This, I do not believe is one of those laws.
Do I believe that if someone, who has a previous tattoo and after the fact comes to Christ, is going to eternal damnation? NO! Is a christian going to the fire because he or she got a tattoo? Ask God. I know what He has told me and I believe it.
Let's make this simpler:
I assume everyone know the Ten Commandments. If not, well, you know what they say about assuming.
Also, that everyone knows where they (Ten Commandments) originated.
God wrote and spoke them.
Now, we also can assume that we know the price for disobeying them.
Let's say that I don't want to honor my parents and decide that it must be ok to not obey that rule. That gives license to anyone to make a new god, murder, steal, covet, blaspheme, lie, etc.
It is the same with Leviticus. It shows an image of how God is and how He would like us to behave in preparation for His Kingdom. When we get there He's not going to change your habits and behavior, that goes against our free will.
Now at this point someone is going to bring up stoning people to death, eating pork and crustations, etc.
There are laws in the old covenant that God made either irrelevant or new in the new covenant.
This, I do not believe is one of those laws.
Do I believe that if someone, who has a previous tattoo and after the fact comes to Christ, is going to eternal damnation? NO! Is a christian going to the fire because he or she got a tattoo? Ask God. I know what He has told me and I believe it.
Tattooing has always had negative connotations this is why certain business organisations prohibit visible ones. It's associated with youthful rebellion and prideful spirit in western society. You'll find many teens and young adults getting them as a rite of passage and because of peer pressure ("oh, but all my friends are doing it and Justin Bieber has one too so why can't I?"); some even get them against their parent's will. Thus, I believe it's wise for Christians to abstain from tattooing. We shouldn't forget to consider Romans 12:1-2 and 1 John 2:15-17.
i have no tattoos fell from God a bit and wanted to get a tattoo of the Hebrew sign for first and last on my foot then my friend had a dream about a man covered in tattoos preaching to her don't be deceived God was showing her that he don't care were people are coming from not long after i went to church and a minister preaching looked me dead in my face and said if you come to God with a tattoo he takes you as you are but Christians don't go out and get tattoos, i knew this in heart. so No i think tattoos are just ways of expressing yourself and letting others know what you stand for and who you are but there's many ways to do this once i got a graffiti artist to write on my white canvas trainers standing on the promises of God with a rainbow
D
After reading most posts here, I feel totally astonished
First, the law was not written for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, etc.
It's written :
" But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; "
1 Timothy 1: 8-10
Simply put, I don't need any written law to already know and feel deep in my heart tattoos are totally wrong !
It was already written in God's Eternal Heart and in Moses's heart before it was written in Leviticus.
The moral law is first written in every human heart, it's written : " Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; " Romans 2:15
Do you know the origin of the word " tattoo " btw ?
Tattoo etymology in short: " The Oxford English Dictionary gives the etymology of tattoo as, "In 18th c. tattaow, tattow. From Polynesian tatau. In Tahitian, tatu." The word tatau was introduced as a loan word into English; its pronunciation was changed to conform to English phonology as "tattoo".[SUP][1][/SUP] Sailors on later voyages both introduced the word and reintroduced the concept of tattooing to Europe.[SUP][ 2] [/SUP]The first written reference to the word, "tattoo" (or Samoan "Tatau") appears in the journal of Joseph Banks (24 February 1743 – 19 June 1820), the naturalist aboard Captain Cook's ship the HMS Endeavour: "I shall now mention the way they mark themselves indelibly, each of them is so marked by their humor or disposition" [SUP]" [/SUP]Tattoo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
So basically, this is a word of pagan origin describing a pagan practice.
Now the question is: How can Christians be the salt of this fallen world
if they loose their flavor by conforming to the pagan ways of the ancient world ?
It's written : " Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead,
nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord. " Leviticus 19:28
The word is clear. And even signed by the Lord's Name in the end.
It's an eternal commandment for all people of Israel, including us.
No tattoos allowed in the New Jerusalem and on the New Earth ! Forever !
And if anyone disobedient wants to try and suppress the Lord's commandment in favor of human tradition, think again !
Here is what Jesus tell to them : " Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.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.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. " Matthew 5: 17-19
Amen Forever !
First, the law was not written for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, etc.
It's written :
" But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; "
1 Timothy 1: 8-10
Simply put, I don't need any written law to already know and feel deep in my heart tattoos are totally wrong !
It was already written in God's Eternal Heart and in Moses's heart before it was written in Leviticus.
The moral law is first written in every human heart, it's written : " Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; " Romans 2:15
Do you know the origin of the word " tattoo " btw ?
Tattoo etymology in short: " The Oxford English Dictionary gives the etymology of tattoo as, "In 18th c. tattaow, tattow. From Polynesian tatau. In Tahitian, tatu." The word tatau was introduced as a loan word into English; its pronunciation was changed to conform to English phonology as "tattoo".[SUP][1][/SUP] Sailors on later voyages both introduced the word and reintroduced the concept of tattooing to Europe.[SUP][ 2] [/SUP]The first written reference to the word, "tattoo" (or Samoan "Tatau") appears in the journal of Joseph Banks (24 February 1743 – 19 June 1820), the naturalist aboard Captain Cook's ship the HMS Endeavour: "I shall now mention the way they mark themselves indelibly, each of them is so marked by their humor or disposition" [SUP]" [/SUP]Tattoo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
So basically, this is a word of pagan origin describing a pagan practice.
Now the question is: How can Christians be the salt of this fallen world
if they loose their flavor by conforming to the pagan ways of the ancient world ?
It's written : " Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead,
nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord. " Leviticus 19:28
The word is clear. And even signed by the Lord's Name in the end.
It's an eternal commandment for all people of Israel, including us.
No tattoos allowed in the New Jerusalem and on the New Earth ! Forever !
And if anyone disobedient wants to try and suppress the Lord's commandment in favor of human tradition, think again !
Here is what Jesus tell to them : " Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.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.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. " Matthew 5: 17-19
Amen Forever !