Tattoos?
Tattoos
Should Christians have tattoos?
First what does Scripture say:
Leviticus 19:28 says:
" You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord."
The Scripures are the Word forever and principles of morality and righteousness don't change. We are to be set apart as holy, different and not be like the unsaved.
Leviticus 19:2: "Speak to the whole congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy.'"
1 Peter 1:15-16: "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”"
Ephesians 4:22-24: "You must put off your old self, which is being corrupted by deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Use wise discernment
Romans 12:1-2: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Israel was to be the light to the world and show holy setapartness but they failed due to selfishness. We are not to be like the heathen around us.
1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Leviticus 20:23 “You must not live according to the customs of the nations...I am going to get rid of them, because they did all these things which I hate.”
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world
1 Corinthians 10:31 states: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
1 Thessalonians 4:3: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification... that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,"
Colossians 3:1-4: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
You died to self when you came to Christ and now live for Him.
Also
Romans 14:21 Don't do things that may cause your brother stumble, or be offended
1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your’s become a stumbling block to others
Further considerations...
There are several issues with tattoos.
1. These verses God has given us, are very helpful and clear on Christian living and God's warnings. And we are holy and set apart; different from those in the world.
2. If you are the Temple of the living God, we should not be mutilating the body.
3. Tattoos began and have a very long history connected to paganism(1). Christians are not pagan.
4. That the ink injected into the skin has been shown in medical studies to increase one’s probability of getting cancer, which would go against 1 Cor 3:17.
5. Christians have come out of the wicked world and into Christ. Into Holiness. We are different from them.
A.If we are no longer to be concerned about the things of this world, we arent focused on the temporary or sinful things of this world. We are now focused on Christ, the spiritual things, and eternity. Heaven is where our citizenship and life is. We have killed the old sinful flesh thru salvation... thereby throwing out things that are "me focused" and are not "God focused". So, why would we participate in a worldly thing such as tattoos? Why harm the body God gave us.
B. We are to be proper "image bearers" of God, and show the world we are different. We are the redeemed, the priests of God, Saints, the servants of God. The glorious ones. We aren't supposed to look like those in the world.
C. Most people who have tattoos and then come to Christ, tend to get them removed by laser. They regret tattoos and altering the body.
6. A. If you think you are doing it "to become all things to all men", examine your motives, is it really for you to look cool? It might be a selfishly motivated "excuse" to do things for you and not for God.
Remember, "We were bought with a price and no longer belong to ourselves." *
B. A body with Tattoos makes you Not approachable to many women, children (and almost all old people), and foreigners, to all people in public places, even where you might try to witness to, (even in elevators or even in Church). They're all going to be scared of you.
How can you approach them and reach them for Christ if they're afraid of you thinking you are a rebellious person, a thug (possibly trying to harm them in various ways), a criminal, or even to religious/moralistic non Christians- theyll think you are an evil pagan.
Plus if you travel to conservative areas in your country, other anywhere in other countries etc folk will be afraid of you (gang or bad person) and you cant minister there, nor share the Gospel wherever you travel.
That eliminates you from being a missionary too. Even if one day you feel that calling, your tattoos will exclude you even entering many countries, and will cause most folk to flee from you, as many pagan nations dont accept tattoos in the culture, and folk would flee being in fear of you.
C. Would believers not want to be around you? Would they not want their kids around you or your kids? There's a lot more at stake here than just you wanting tattoos. Would Jesus want people having tattoos? Scripture doesn't say so in affirmation. But it says a lot about Christian living, being seperate, being holy, and that our body belongs to God now... not ourself.
7. There were no Christians in the Scriptures nor OT believers who had added body art. All tattoos were still seen as pagan. There's not one example of a believer who had got one/any after being saved. They'd likely fall under church discipline had they done so.
8. If Christians see the Tattoos they might think you are a false Christian who follows after the world, the flesh, living in sin. Possibly are under false teachers, not a true believer submitted to Christ. Living for yourself & not for God. *And so they might not want to fellowship with you, thinking you are not living Christlike & could be a bad influence who pollutes other believers walk w God, and is bad example for their children, so they wont want you around their kids, teens (or even keep their kids from any youth activities offered since you are there, which then is causing a stumbling block to their kids faith). How is that "loving one another" by preventing kids from getting fed and being around other believers if they have to avoid you and your kids on Sunday school and youth activities to protect their kids from your unholy influence?
So, If Tattoos might cause anyone to run from you in fear, or it be a stumbling block, why would you get Tattoos?
9. Is your desire for tattoos, actually at the root, a sin issue?
10. Did you know people have died while getting tattoos? Or that the ink has been known to cause cancer?
11. We don't know what our eternal body will look like. It will be somehow similar to our current one. Jesus hand, feet and side have holes. How far fetched is it to think tattoos might be something that remains.
Jesus had noted if your hand sins cut it off, better to enter Heaven without a hand or arm, right? Cut off sin. Enter maimed. Its best to think on & Do what's right and good and lovely and beneficial.... to win anyone to Christ. And not be a stumbling block for anyone.
12. Christians are to look different than those in the sinful world. How can we appear to be different if we look just like the pagans? We are separate from the world, though we live in it still.
Makes sense God's people would do best to refrain from anything that would align them with the things embraced by the sinful world, and that harms a witness. It is best to avoid tattoos, and prayerfully consider removing them when you can if you have them.
Final Thoughts...
Does it damage your testimony? Yes, it is highly likely it will.
Do I think we should avoid them? Yes. Do I judge and condemn those having them, no. Do I avoid those who have them, yes in 99% of the cases(2). Also, I understand people are at different points in their Christian walk. They may not fully understand these things yet. Or may have just realized it through this article and below videos. Others may never have heard about any of this yet, or havent prayerfully gone over it in submissive way, before God, to do what He would want you to do, vs what you want to cling to, to do what you want to. Possibly.
What alternatives?
There shouldn't need to be any. But ideas for today - You can wear t-shirts with designs, and custom prints made with God focused messages.
Let's focus on Christ, and not ourselves. 😊
We want to become more and more like Christ, Become more and more holy, as a redeemed Christ Follower. And a good witness to the world, in every way.
God be with you
Additional points, thoughts and verses noted here:
Video @8:10 min mark
Vid of a man removing his tattoos, and a service that helps certian folk remove them.
What about to cover big scars or for those balding?
For insecurity issues, that will be a sin, & otherwise a liberty issue; while heeding this article. For sinful insecurity issues it wouldnt be to put art on your body but to try to normalize areas exposed while clothed. God can use the scars for you to talk of the suffering problems in the world and point to Christ and eternity. It can be Gospel opportunities if you leave it as is. Even if its on your face. *These are cosmetic they should be seriously considered prayerfully and accompany good biblical counseling before deciding.
God bless
Footnotes:
(1) A man had lived a rebel life, who now today seems a decent person. But in his youth (20s) he was running with a bad crowd who were even attacking people. He had several tattoos on his hands and arms. He got out of that life, and got saved. He was ashamed of them. He regretted those tattoos. It affected his witness.m for decades. Though he went on to be a Pastor, and went to seminary. But the tattoos affected his witness. He was in his 50s when he was finally in a country (where laser removal existed) and worked hard and went thru long period of time to get them removed. His witness as a believer and a pastor is no longer hindered by the tattoos.
Those who come to Christ remove theirs, so why would a believer run after pagan culture to go get them?
We are to be set apart and different. And be approachable as a witness to new life in Christ. The old is gone the new has come.
(2) Paganism info on tattoos
Related Resources
*If you are not saved, not sure you are, or were sent here by someone else and want to embrace Faith; not just so God can help you conquer these areas, but to be right with God, then review this and embrace it. God will give you a new heart, mind and desires.
God bless
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