Are Tattoos Wrong?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Apr 13, 2007
985
6
0
37
#21
you know what, I can clearly see from God, that you're just simply here to cause divisions and things, well I rebuke that in Jesus name, and I will NOT give into you trying to drive me to wrath. You should worry more about yourself, and not judging others, you have no right whatsoever to judge others. I do not willfully disobey God, I love, serve, and obey God as much as I can. I'm not about to get upset over those whom just look for trouble, but rather I avoid them, because that would do nothing but take time away from God, and I won't allow that. I'm focusing on Him, so bless you anyways, and I have nothing left to say to you.
 
K

karuna

Guest
#22
This is an example of the kind of thing that happens when we toss questions on moral issues out to large groups of people. This isn't the way one should go about finding out whether tattoo is permissible. It may be useful in some ways, but I doubt it'll lead to a personal resolution beyond what you'd already have decided.
 
Dec 4, 2009
467
0
0
#23
red herring. It matters not whether people had tattoos back in the day of Jesus.

Was there murder back in the day of Jesus? Was there theft? Adultery?

What was sin then is still sin today.
what i am saying is if there were no tattoos back in those days meaning they didnt exist then how can it be a sin its like some people say video games are a sin how they wasnt invented back then to be cosidered a sin and what ever someone said early about marking your body can that not mean scars??
 
Dec 12, 2009
3,367
4
0
#24
You have been shown the truth. You refuse to acknowledge it.

Want another Levitical law? Love your neighbor as yourself. Guess you don't have to follow that one either.

You say Christ rid the law. Is that what Christ said he did? Is that why he came? To abolish the law? He never said not to obey the law. Ye be judged for your willful disobedience. You say you're under grace. Why not then keep on sinning so that grace may increase?
Lev. 19:26-30, "You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying. 27 You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads, nor harm the edges of your beard. 28 You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord. 29 ‘Do not profane your daughter by making her a harlot, so that the land may not fall to harlotry, and the land become full of lewdness. 30 You shall keep My sabbaths and revere My sanctuary; I am the Lord."
As you can see, tattooing is mentioned in the context of ancient pagan practices. But does this mean that tattooing is in itself a bad thing to do because unbelievers did it? We have to be careful not to make a logical error known as the genetic fallacy. This error says that something is false because of its origin. For example, it would be a fallacy that because the Nazi regime developed the Volkswagen Beetle, that the VW Beetle is a bad car. Likewise, just because unbelievers get tattoos does not mean Christians should not.

The Leviticus context also tells the Israelites to not round off the hair on the side of their heads nor shave the edges of their beards. Apparently, this is what the Egyptians did and God's people were called to be separate from them. But, why such detail about hair? Perhaps Moses was concerned about the superstitious beliefs of the Egyptians to which shaving the head and beard had a religious significance. If this were the case, then God's people were certainly called to be separate from the false nations and their superstitions.

But, such religious practices that require tattooing, cutting one's own skin, and/or shaving the head and beard are not around in present-day Western culture. So, the admonition against tattooing, based upon the cultural norm, can't apply for today.

If we must conclude that tattooing is automatically bad in and of itself, then we must also conclude that shaving off the hair on the side of the head and shaving edges of men's beards is also equally bad. But, since cutting hair and shaving beards is not sinful in itself, how could we conclude that tattooing is also automatically sinful? We can't.


dont get into leviticus.
 
H

HumbleSaint

Guest
#25
you know what, I can clearly see from God, that you're just simply here to cause divisions and things, well I rebuke that in Jesus name, and I will NOT give into you trying to drive me to wrath. You should worry more about yourself, and not judging others, you have no right whatsoever to judge others. I do not willfully disobey God, I love, serve, and obey God as much as I can. I'm not about to get upset over those whom just look for trouble, but rather I avoid them, because that would do nothing but take time away from God, and I won't iallow that. I'm focusing on Him, so bless you anyways, and I have nothing left to say to you.
Let's just say it wasn't wrong to get a tatoo. Think of 50 years from now as you look in the mirror and you look at your wrinkly skin as it sages to the ground. And in the midst, you see a blurd smug of what used to be a tatoo. You think to yourself wow what was I thinking back then.

Just something to think about
 
J

JayDee

Guest
#27
I have tattoos....4 to be exact, and yes, one is of a cross. I am undoubtedly Christian. I love the Lord and talk to Him regularly, daily. I trust Him absolutely in everything I do. Now, as far as getting a tattoo... why you are getting it? Remember, this piece of work is going with you through the rest of your life. When I got mine I knew that. There is nothing on my body that I am ashamed of or in anyway desecrates Christ. I refuse to get anything fused into my earthly body that would be contradictory to my beliefs. Remember, we are just here a short time...basically just passing through this earthly existence. Us believers will be given a new body at the appointed time. As long as you are a true believer in Christ, I see no problem with a tattoo that reflects your faith.
 
H

HumbleSaint

Guest
#28
Our decisions should be based on future vanity? :confused:

Yaaah:confused: why else would we be Christians , If were just living for the here and now?
 
H

HumbleSaint

Guest
#29
I have tattoos....4 to be exact, and yes, one is of a cross. I am undoubtedly Christian. I love the Lord and talk to Him regularly, daily. I trust Him absolutely in everything I do. Now, as far as getting a tattoo... why you are getting it? Remember, this piece of work is going with you through the rest of your life. When I got mine I knew that. There is nothing on my body that I am ashamed of or in anyway desecrates Christ. I refuse to get anything fused into my earthly body that would be contradictory to my beliefs. Remember, we are just here a short time...basically just passing through this earthly existence. Us believers will be given a new body at the appointed time. As long as you are a true believer in Christ, I see no problem with a tattoo that reflects your faith.

You know who else wears a cross? The members of the Satanic band Black Sabaath. I don''t know anywere in the Bible that it tells us we need to wear a cross to show that we are Christians. Are fruit is what shows are Christianity, not something we wear.
 
J

JayDee

Guest
#30
Absolutely correct on all points. It says nothing in the Bible about us wearing a cross, icthus or anything else to show our faith. Our faith is in our hearts, not on our skin. Judging someone by their appearance should not be something us as Christians do...would you agree?
 
Last edited:
H

HumbleSaint

Guest
#31
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement. John 7:24
 
Apr 13, 2007
985
6
0
37
#33
Let's just say it wasn't wrong to get a tatoo. Think of 50 years from now as you look in the mirror and you look at your wrinkly skin as it sages to the ground. And in the midst, you see a blurd smug of what used to be a tatoo. You think to yourself wow what was I thinking back then.

Just something to think about

Thank you but I've already considered EVERYTHING very, very, veeeeeeeeery carefully before I ever got my first one done. It's all good, and it also depends on where the tattoo is as to how it'll be effected and all. I'm totally good to go.
 
J

jasonfight7

Guest
#34
Ok, some says yes, while other says no. As of I, I said no because i got a tattoo on my back. I mean serious folks what about ear pierce? Are they ok? Because I know you guys are wearing them. So, don't shook your head no. Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans that we are no longer under laws. The laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Even though we still have to kept the 10th Commandments as Jesus said in the Gospels. But anyway, in Romans chapter 6 verse 14 says

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
 
J

Jrac

Guest
#35
tough subjet, but you need to think about it....


Many people have views on tattoos, but in the end its your choice. In the Bible it says to take care of your body, I have heard that it can be hurtful, but that much I'am not to sure.....

I can't really say if I'am with it or not, but I have good friends of all agesthat have tattoos, and they aren't any diifferent from other Christians. proclaiming your faith with Ink in your skin is a fine way of proclaiming your faith, though some might look down upon it.

There are goods and bads for your choice, but its still a choice....... just chose for the best
 
J

Jrac

Guest
#36
What you say is very true, but The mosiac Law that Christ forfilled reflected Gods nature. When we accept Christ as our Savior we join his family, We leave the fall of Man under the first Adam (inheriting sin) and join Christ as the Second Adam and inherit Christs nature (we inherited Adam fall [sin] becuase we are all desendants of Adam and Eve) once we inherit Christs nature (not his power mind you) by "bieng born again" we naturally follow the Mosiac Law, becuase it reflecs Gods nature........


So we are not held by it, but we still follow it.........
 
M

Mal316

Guest
#37
It is apparent that God's Word has no meaning and less effect. You are judged. I can only judge people's actions and behavior. I can't judge their salvation. That's up to God.

God's Law applies today just as it did when He first gave it. He does not change. His Word is immutable. Do not add or take away from what He commands.

Absolutely we should get into Leviticus. Dive deep! There's great treasure in store for those who diligently study His Word.
 
K

Katie_9809

Guest
#38
If you belive in God and are saved and are going to get a Christan tatto I don't think it would be that bad... But you also think about how the tatto will look when your like 70 or 80... A. you may not see what it is... or B. it could just look bad... But if you still really want to get it, its just showing how much you love could... sooo I don't think that it would be that bad... But then agian don't take what I say into consideration that much b/c I am only 16. I'm just saying what my parents told me.
 
R

RevBrianTice

Guest
#39
*sigh* dear Lord help us, yet again another thread about tattoos...not like the other BUNCHES we have aren't enough.Tattoo And The Bible | Sacred Ink there you go, check it out.Actually I'll copy and paste it here....as most who are against tattoos won't go to the site.
The “tattoo” marks described in Leviticus 19:28 were clearly related to false religious practices. The word translated tattoo in our English Bibles is the Hebrew word “qa aqa”, this word appears only one time in the Bible, here in this passage Leviticus. The word “qa aqa” means literally “to cut” but taken with the surrounding words indicates a cutting that left a mark imprinted in the skin. This could have been a form of branding, scarring, cutting or a process where ink was inlaid into the skin; there is not enough data to fully define exactly what this word meant. However we translate the word “qa aqa” though, in this passage, it is certainly used in the context of cultic religious worship. The prohibition against “qa aqa”, (translated tattoo) was to keep the Israelites from being involved or affiliated with cultic worship practices.
The tattoo of today is much different than it was for those who originally received the Pentateuch. Today tattoo is a decorative means of self expression and personal decoration. In our current culture people modify their appearance for beauty in many ways such as clothing choice, makeup, plastic surgery, haircutting and coloring, weight loss, body-building, and ear piercing. Some of these practices have a history in ancient ritual and false religion, but in our cultural context they do not denote a connection with evil or false faith. In the same way tattoos today do not link the wearer to cultic worship practices and is not generally practiced for ancient religious purposes, tattoos today are for ornamentation.A further reason to believe Christians are free to tattoo their bodies is that New Testament believers are not bound by the Old Testament laws to gain or regain right relationship with God. If we were to obey the laws of the Old Testament we would also be bound by rules that would restrict shellfish and pork eating, hairstyles, wearing of clothes made from two different fabrics, even eating cheese on hamburgers (yes, it is true). Some also feel that modifying the body somehow defiles God's creation, but if this was true would it be right to pierce ears, correct a club foot, cut hair, clip nails, get a tan or use orthodontia? Each of the previously mentioned practices modifies the way we were originally created, some permanently. Getting a tattoo is a deeply personal choice that falls in the category of personal appearance and is vitally connected to the freedom of the believer. The Apostle Paul reminds us that the Old Testament Law was designed by God was to lead people toward Jesus. Now that Jesus has come and set us free, we are not under the law for our good standing with God. Our right standing before God comes from placing our trust in Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for our debts, not on following the Old Testament regulations.
As New Testament followers of Jesus we are not under restriction in the area of personal décor.
Tattoo of today can describe images that merely please the wearer, or have deeper meaning to the owner. Many Christians today are tattooing themselves not in tribute to a false idol or anti-Christian deity, but with love for the one true God and Creator. Many today utilize this permanent marking a way of giving glory to God. Some find that Christian tattoos attract questions about faith and provide opportunities to give God glory by allowing the story-telling of His Love to those who aren’t convinced yet. See, hear, and experience the testimonies of Tattooed followers of Jesus.
A few thoughts for consideration...

This article is quite well-written. I agree that tattoos cannot be generally said to constitute sin. Leviticus 19:26-31 lists references to specific pagan practices (consumption of blood, i.e. vampirism; divination and fortune-telling; roundening the sidegrouths of the head; marring the beard; gashing or tattooing the flesh for the dead; and giving one's daughter over into the role of a temple prostitute). Verse 30 commands that we keep ADONAI's Sabbaths (seemingly, judging from the context, as opposed to pagan sabbaths, which fall on different days). Then, in v. 31, we have yet another pagan practice delineated. The immediate context, i.e. the list in those 6 verses, is all 14th Century BCE pagan rituals.

The word <i>qa'aqa</i>, being a <i>hapax legomenon</i> (a one-time-only occurring word), is of uncertain meaning. It has not been supported linguistically to mean "cut" (the Hebrew word for which is <i>karath</i>). The context of the verse being Egyptian pagan rituals, it is most likely that this foreign (non-Hebrew) root is an Egyptian loanword, a transliteration of <i>kake</i> (which means "darkness") indicating the emotional state of the mourner. Moses frequently uses Egyptian loanwords which do not carry over into later Hebrew (ref. Abraham Yahuda, <i>The Language of the Pentateuch in its Relationship to Egyptian</i>, 1933; Gleason Archer, <i>A Survery of Old Testament Introduction</i>, 1974). The verb paired to qa'aqa in the Hebrew text is <i>katav</i> (to write), indicating the writing of language, i.e. a word. It is likely, then, that this word (<i>kake</i> in Egyptian letters, <i>qa'aqa</i> in Hebrew script) was written, in some fashion, onto a mourner's body or face. Whether it is a permanent or temporary sign is uncertain, but since mourning is temporary, it would be expected that the sign is likewise temporary (perhaps something akin to <i>henna</i>) (ref. Thomas O. Lambdin, <i>Introduction to Sahidic Coptic</i>, 2000). Even if <i>qa'aqa</i> does actually mean tattoo, the context as it is grouped in the Hebrew is mourning, and to divorce it from that context is hermeneutically irresponsible, as it would only refer to tattooing words (not images, since <i>katav</i> indicates the writing of textual siglae) commemorating the dead.

I come from a different perspective with regard to anti-nomianism (i.e. discarding Adonai's standard of holiness/Torah*). Re: the clothes of two fibers, historical-cultural context is crucial to our reading of Leviticus 19:19. The context is a triad of three examples of deceptive marketplace practices - selling something as wool that is actually mixed with a plant fiber like cotton (thus creating an inferior product but advertising it as being of higher quality than it is), selling an animal as purebred that is actually a mixed breed, and selling something as a pure strain of grain which is actually cross-germinated with an inferior strain. The timeless principle to be extrapolated is that defrauding one's neighbor is still something a person of the Judeo-Christian faith ought not do. Amen?! As Yeshua (Jesus) Himself declared in opposition to anti-nomianism, "Until heaven and earth pass away, not even one yod or penstroke of the Torah shall pass away" (Matthew 5:18)... and both are still here. [Cf. David Friedman, Ph.D., <i>They Loved the Torah: What Yeshua's First Followers Really Thought of the Law</i>,2001; Derek Leman, <i>Paul Didn't Eat Pork</i>, 2005]

One correction: The Bible does not actually forbid cheeseburgers (mixing meat and dairy); that is part of the Pharisaic <i>hedge around Torah<i>, not Torah itself. The Torah command is not to take part in the pagan ritual of boiling an young goat in its mother's milk (Exodus 23:19, 24:26; Deuteronomy 14:21); the supererogatory <i>tradition of man</i> (i.e. the Pharisees) that forbids mixing meat and dairy is not found in the Bible, but rather in the <i>Babylonian Talmud</i> (Tractate Hullin, Folio 113b).

It is ultimately important to note that <b>none of these matters impacts salvation</b>. Yeshua (Jesus) said only that they impact our standing in the Kingdom of Heaven: "So whoever disobeys the least of these commands of Torah and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but, whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:19).

"Test all things, and take hold of what proves good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

______
*Torah is the first 5 book of the Bible (Genesis - Deuteronomy).
 
S

SpiritualWarfare

Guest
#40
Your body is a temple, So decorate it! lol :)