What does the Bible say about tattoos? Can a Christian wear them and what is God’s view about them?
Knowing what the Bible says about tattoos will guide you concerning this trending issue, and will enable you to avoid whatever consequences having them may attract.
The Bible has no shortage of passages about tattoos. These passages are often used to support the argument that Christians should not get tattoos.
Tattoos are ancient art forms, dating back to the world’s first civilizations.
The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian tatu, meaning “to strike.” Tatu was the name of the tool that the Tahitians used to create their tattoos.
People have been putting tattoos on their bodies for thousands of years.
Some Bible scholars believe that the first reference to tattooing in the Bible occurred in Genesis 4:15, which describes how God put a mark upon Cain for killing his brother Abel. This cannot be taken as a case of tattooing if we take a deep look at the passage.
God put the mark upon Cain as a punishment, so that anyone who sees him will not kill him. The mark is to give him a kind of appearance that will make people fear to touch him.
While tattoos are not mentioned again until the Book of Leviticus, most scholars believe that the Israelites may have adopted this practice from Egyptian culture.
The Egyptians had a tradition of branding slaves with tattoos to show ownership.
The practice was to tattoo or scar the slaves for identification purposes, or as a way of punishing them.
The scar would be put on the forehead, while the tattoo would be put on the arm.
Nowadays, people who do not know what the Bible says about tattoos use them to express themselves and their personalities.
Tattooing is nothing new, but how it is done has changed over the thousands of years that tattoos have been in existence.
Today, there are many different types of tattoos like tribal tattoos, religious tattoos, memorial tattoos, and more.
These days though, the most popular among all types of tattoo is modern tattooing.
This is a practice of using the newest technology to give your body an elegant and attractive look. Today, a tattoo is no longer just a way of decoration but a status symbol.
Modern tattooing has a special meaning as well and has become an ideal form of body art. You can now get a tattoo not just because of tradition but also because of the desire of getting impressive body art.
We live in a society that is obsessed with our looks and how we present ourselves. People spend billions of dollars every year on plastic surgery and cosmetics.
Unfortunately, many Christians are caught up in this web, especially in the aspect of body art. They completely disregard what the Bible says.
One study showed that the average woman spends $15,000 on makeup over her lifetime. That is a serious matter that calls for a rethink about how we use our bodies.
The more reason why we need to pay attention to what the Bible says about the tattoo is that these are all things that we do on our bodies which the Bible calls the temple of God.
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Do Tattoos Have A Place In Christianity?
Tattoos are highly debated in Christian circles, yet they are becoming more and more popular among Christians.
Christians who support tattoos believe that they can be used to express one’s faith, but others believe these sets of Christians are too carnal, or that they are just not Christians.
A study found that two-thirds of tattoo-owning Christians say their tattoos reflect their Christian values, with most citing the Bible as their main source of inspiration.
While some use their tattoos to express important biblical passages or stories, others use their bodies as a canvas for displaying religious symbols, such as crosses and the Star of David.
However, the poll also revealed that not all Christians buy into all these man-made doctrines, especially those who know and believe in what the Bible says about tattoos.
The Bible tells us in Leviticus 19:28 that we should not cut our bodies in any way. That is because God made our bodies and they are a part of his creation. We don’t need to tattoo His creation.
God created us in His image to show forth His glory and represent Him on earth. To his is the reason why we are so unique, and more endowed than all other creatures of God.
After the creation, God assessed His work and He said they were very good. That included man, and it also means that God did not omit anything that we needed to have.
We were created complete and perfect, therefore we do not need any extra beautification or identification like tattoos as we see them today.
What the Bible says about the tattoo is an instruction for all His children because He does not want us to pattern our lives after that of the unbelievers.
Unfortunately, many Christians are now embracing it, using the scriptures to support their actions.
Many people get tattoos to be cool and some do it to attract the opposite sex. All of these are not what should be mentioned among Christians. So, what is the deal with tattoos in Christianity and what should you think about them?
The following tattoo verses will open your eyes to what the Bible says about tattoos so that you will not partake in other people’s sins.
What The Bible Says About TattooS Straight From God
Leviticus 19:28
You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.
The instructions of God about tattooing supersedes any cultural practice. Culture is one of the major reasons why people tattoo themselves.
The word of God is clear about this in this tattoo verse, no cutting of the body for whatever reason because our bodies belong to God. We should keep it holy and not make it an abode of the devil and his evil practices.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Or 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.
We are to use our bodies to glorify God. This we can do by using every member of our body to carry out His instructions.
Some people think they have free will to do what they like with their bodies. How wrong they are. God who created us knows what He created us for, and He has declared that in His word.
One of the reasons why there is an upsurge of diseases and sicknesses in the world is because we are not using our bodies to glorify Him.
Revelation 19:16
On his robe and his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
It is a surprise that Jesus who this scripture is referring to has inscriptions on his thigh. Looking at this ordinarily, one would say Jesus has a tattoo on his body.
This is one of the scriptures that Christians with tattoos are using to justify what they are doing.
What He’s has is the name that signifies the exalt position God has placed him. “King of kings,” and “Lord of lords.” This was written on his robe and his thigh.
1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Do you know that everything you do counts before God,? including your eating and drinking. That may seem to be mundane to you, but not to God. He wants to be glorified in everything you do.
This is the reason why you have to take what the Bible says about tattoos seriously. It is not glorifying God, period.
Ephesians 5:10
And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
We have to try to find how to please God because that is what we are created for. It is true that has made every effort in revealing Himself to us through His son and His word.
To know Him intimately we need to seek Him on our own. If you know God enough you will not desire those things that He hates. Ignorance has set some people against God to their destruction.
1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up.
Yes, you are at liberty to do what you want because God gave you free will. That free will is to be used within the bounds of the power of God.
The reason why Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you.” God is not only your Savior but your Lord too.
It is not everything that others are doing that you can do, because you are different, you have been bought with a price, so you must justify this sacrificial love that God bestowed on you by living to please Him all the time.
Romans 1:24
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
Many tattoo designs you see on people today are fearsome. You may wonder and ask where is the beauty and identity it is meant to portray? It is nonexistent.
Many people are blind. They are doing wrong things, yet they believe they are on the right track. Unfortunately, some ignorant and naive people are following them.
Don’t be like such. When you dwell too long on the side of disobedience you accept it as a way of life. Come out from among them and be separate.
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What Does The Bible Say About Tattoos- Any Hope For Those Who Have It?
Tattooing is just like any other work of flesh mentioned in Galatians 5:19. Since all unrighteousness is sin, and all souls that sin shall die, you must repent of it.
The reasonable thing to do if you want to do away with tattoos is to scrape them off your body. Supposing that is possible, your skin may be cleansed, but the sin of disobedience and rebellion you have committed remain.
If you are one of the people who have ever been tattooed before, you will know that it is a painful and long process to remove it. If you have read anything about it in the bible, you will know that God has never wanted people to have tattoos.
The bible does not tell us any instructions for removing tattoos, but it does say that we shouldn’t have tattoos.
Removing a tattoo physically without dealing with the spiritual problem it has caused is double punishment and suffering.
You will suffer the pain of removing the marks and the cuttings, then you also suffer in hell.
It is the blood of Jesus that can bring a permanent solution to the problem. Instead of looking for how to clean your body outside, seek inward cleansing which the blood of Jesus can do.
The Bible says the Blood of Jesus can cleanse from all sins. This is what you need.
When you repent and the blood of Jesus washes you, the cutting on your body may remain, but the real you have been made clean and the temple of God in you has been restored.
God will forgive you of all the sins you committed and accepts you into His kingdom.
The Biblical Ideals for Christians On Body Art
In today’s society, there are a variety of body art styles that have been embraced by a large number of people.
Some of these styles include tattoos, piercings, and brandings. Each of these has a different effect on those who carry them.
Body art means different things to different people.
Depending on where you are on the spectrum, it can be an artistic project, an expression of a strong identity, a way to get your message across, a challenge to traditional ways of thinking, a creative outlet, or a means of rebellion.
We’ve all seen different kinds of body art in the media and everyday life. We’ve seen celebrities with piercings, tattoos, and even face piercings.
In all, you should know that what the Bible says about tattoo apply to all these body arts.
They are all arts of redesigning what God had done, what He declared to be perfect. God will not accept that.
What about piercings and implants?
Body piercing is another common thing we see in the media. You may have seen the actor that was in some big movies lately, who had two earlobe piercings in each ear.
This has started to come up in some so-called Christian circles, telling us that indeed the world has entered into the church.
However, in the Bible, piercings and even implants are considered to be unclean (Leviticus 21:17). There’s nothing modern about that!
What is your opinion about body art, do you think Christians should wear them? Please comment below.
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