Christians and Tattoos

I have not done enough Biblical study on this topic, but where can I learn more about why many Christians want or have "tattoos" on their bodies? Thanks.

Oh boy. This could be as bad as Calvinism debates. People love their tats.

My heart in the matter is not to create division, but to discuss real sound Biblical doctrine on this issue which is something I'm facing right now that I need to get a better understanding on. Yes, this is one of those hot topics, (moderators, please watch this thread.) blessings, Doug

My personal experience with Christian friends/family that have tattoos got them in order to be "cool." I don't think it was anything much deeper than that.

That being said, I do not believe a legitimate New Covenant biblical case can be made absolutely forbidding tattoos, despite Lev. 19:28. However it would seem obvious that a tattoo should not be distasteful in either content or location.

The proper "plum line" it would seem is 1 Cor. 10:31 ("whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.")

If there is a smidgen of doubt, I personally would not get a tattoo. Primarily because a tattoo says "look at me."

There was an absolute prohibition against tattoos under the law. God said don't do it. But we have been set free from the law. That being said, if we are born again the lawgiver Himself resides in us and His laws are written in our hearts. If we will fast and pray, putting all of our fleshly desires under subjection the Holy Spirit, He will tell us clearly whether we ought to tattoo our bodies or not. It is not a heaven or hell issue in my opinion, as we are no longer bound to keep the law as a means unto righteousness. But it is an obedience issue and can have a great influence on our spiritual, and sometimes carnal, lives. It really comes down to motive and obedience. Why do we want a tattoo? To look cool as the previous poster stated? That is a pretty carnal motive I think. If your reason is to look cool in the eyes of men, then I think your motive is vanity and you should not be tattooed. What did God say to you? Are you totally in submission and subjection to Him in the matter? I think the issue of tattoos is not cut and dried, but the issue of obedience is cut and dried.

The question that comes to my mind when confronted by things such as this is wether or not it inhibits my witness and or, my ability to love God and my neighbor as myself?
The scriptures seem to say we are at liberty in Christ in such things tho what closely follows the above question (as an extension) is the Romans 14 food law put forth by Paul which makes it an issue of conscience. "Nothing in and of itself unclean but if a man thinketh so then for him it is"

Having Egyptian Coptic Christian friends, I was made aware that they oft have a small cross tattooed inside their wrist interestingly put there by the priest! For which they can, have and in fact often do lose their life as it bears witness to their faith in Christ.
So as TMK made note while it may not be forbidden it does appear to be a heart issue and why we do or don't ultimately reveals the answer.
Does anyone here personally know a spirit filled believer who walks with the Lord who has tattoos and maintains their witness by doing works that glorify Christ?

I know several such men, including the pastor of our fellowship. They are mightily used of God. Interestingly, their tattoos came while they were in the world or during their early walk with the Lord while they were still babes in Christ. I am not sure if any of them would even be interested in a tattoo now as their priorities are increasingly God's priorities.

Things like tattoos, fashion choices, hair style, etc. often speak silently of a person's priorities. When we grow in the Lord, our priorities increasingly change to be God's priorities, and these carnal things are not God's priorities. But we may still have the tattoos or the habit of a particular style of clothes or hair that continue in our outside appearance, though they are no longer a priority. Lets face it, our wardrobe, as long as it is sufficiently modest, is usually not refreshed upon conversion. We wear what we own, right?

I almost cut my thumb off and wear the scars as proof. They will probably remain with me the remainder of my life. I see an analogy here.

I know Spirit filled Christians who live fruitfully for Jesus and have tattoos. Most would not have them again. Some would.

I am a Spirit-filled believer with tattoos and I walk with the Lord and maintain my witness, so it wouldn't matter b/c I don't minister to the kinds of Christians or people who would care!!! :) Even if they did care, they don't know I have them.

God bless,
Lisa

I personally have lots of tattoo's, but I got them all before I came to Christ when I was between sixteen and nineteen years old. So I have a understanding what is in peoples hearts that get tattoo's.

I agree with Travis in that it is an outward sign of what is in the heart ( rebellion/vanity/lust). So anyone that claims to be followers of Jesus and are considering getting a tattoo, I would say the tattoo is the least of your worries. But your real worry is the filth in your heart.

Jesus said "You will know them by their fruit"

Blessings Steve

It is very encouraging to hear this!
Thank each of you for testifying and may the God who saves, restores, reconciles, renews, regenerates, and resurrects be our focus, our love, our life. May each day bring us into a greater dependence on Him and may Christ be exalted in our hearts, our homes, our workplaces, so that He will indeed find faith upon the earth when He returns. That we may be an encouragement in the faith and not divided by our skins but one in unity of the Spirit as the Bride our Savior longs to receive unto Himself.

Tattoos or not, I will worship Him and praise Him 'cause He has been good to me!

Doug, I don't think you will find a whole lot that speaks directly to the topic other than the Leviticus verse already mentioned but that verse ought to be enough, God is against the marking of the body.

Any Christian considering a tattoo ought to think again as to what spirit is leading them to do that, I don't believe the Spirit of Christ will lead a person to mar the body.

In Christ,

Does anyone here personally know a spirit filled believer who walks with the Lord who has tattoos and maintains their witness by doing works that glorify Christ?

I know a man of God who was once a drug addict. He had his tatoos. He now is not a pastor but just a street preacher. He does all kinds of job, he even fixes the car of strangers whom he sees in street. If they say they cannot pay him, then he tells them just listen to the Gospel that he shares while fixing their car.

Now regarding his tatoos, I have noticed that he takes genuine attempt to cover it up. He does not want me to be hurt by his tatoos. I am sure he is now sorry for having put them in his body.

1 Cor 6-13- Says that the Body is for the Lord and Lord for the body. So this Body is no longer ours. We cannot do whatever we want with it. If anyone has any questions on such issues, let them ask the Lord acknowledging that the Body belongs to him. This is very important, to be impartial.

I believe God's word will never contradict it. God will never say something against Tatoo and then say I permit you to have it now.

The prohibition to marking the body was part of the old covenant between Israel and God. It was a picture or shadow of what God really desires. I think the application in the NT is found in the fact that a born again man has died to himself. He is no longer calling the shots and his body now belongs to the Lord. So, the man is no longer allowed to call the shots where his body is concerned. This is why it is an issue of the motive of the heart and not of the outward marking of the flesh. I know many, many believers who are tattooed. I would bet half of my church fellowship are tattooed. Most all of them were pre-Christ. Some were post Christ. My son got one that he does not show off. In fact, you would never know it, because he does not intentionally advertise it. He got it simply because he thought it looked really neat. I don't agree with him in that respect, and I would never have wanted a tattoo, but he did not do it out of what I consider a wrong motive, and he did pray about it until he felt that God would allow it. We are not our own. God is in charge and we do not have the right to make our own decisions in these matters, but need to be continually yielding ourselves to the will of God.

Hello everyone, hope all is well with each of you.

When asking questions or considering things like this we must always turn to the Word of God and accept what it says over what the opinions or interpretations of man may be about the matter. After all, faith cometh by hearing, hearing by the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.

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.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

The Bible says if any man be in Christ He is a new creature and old things are passed away behold all things are become new. If you are born again, then God has forgiven you, but if one builds again the things they once destroyed and do the same thing, whether it be tattoos or any sin than have backslidden and must repent.

God bless.

MOG-

Do you believe it is possible for something to be a sin for one person but possibly not for another?

TMK-

How are you buddy? Sorry I took so long to reply, I just seen your question. Thanks for asking. To answer your question;

1 Corinthians 14:36-37 KJV
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? [37] If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

I am not sure how that verse answers my question.

You seemed to be saying in your earlier post that it is always a sin for a Christian to get a tattoo. If that is not what you were saying, then I misunderstood. It wasn't clear to me, which is why I asked the question in my last post.