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this one issue has bothered me for quite a while, and especially more in recent years. as tattooing becomes more and more of a common occurrence today, it’s really no wonder that’s it’s gradually become looked at more as a fashion statement instead of being associated with delinquents anymore. my father got me thinking abt this, after he saw a tattoo on another Christian we both know. he asked, "why did he go and tattoo himself? he just put a curse on himself you know!" some Christians i know have tattoos and are ok with it, yet others tell me that it’s a sin and should be avoided at all costs. but really… which camp is right?

the main verse that speaks against the entire act of tattooing yourself, and arguably the most famous one pertaining to it, has to be Leviticus 19:28. It reads, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."

so wait a minute. if the Bible has made its stand so clear, then why am i even blogging abt this?

obviously, one has to go back to the context of the verse. as we should all know by now, verses can always be taken out of context and twisted in some manner to suit the purposes and wadeva message is trying to be put across to us under the guise of "bible truth". this passage in Leviticus, including the surrounding text, is specifically dealing with the pagan religious rituals of the people living around the israelites. God’s desire is to set his people apart from other cultures. the focus here is prohibiting worldly, heathen worship and witchcraft. God forbids his holy people to engage in idolatrous, pagan worship and sorcery which imitates the heathens. He does this out of protection, because He knows this will lead them away from the one true God.

it’s very clear that many other dictates of that particular time in history no longer apply. just read verses 26 and 27. if we take verse 28 for what it is, then we’re in big trouble for eating non-kosher meat or for cutting our hair in a certain way. sure, we dun engage in pagan worship even though we do these things, but back then all these customs were associated with pagan rites and rituals. not so much anymore today are they?

but even after all this, the question still remains. is getting a tattoo a form of pagan worship, forbidden by God to this day? i think it’s still highly disputable, but let’s go on a little bit further. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reads, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." the verse states in no uncertain terms that the body is the Temple of God. clearly, we need to respect and care for it in the same way we love God.

true, this scripture does not ban tattoos, but it raises up other issues associated with tattooing. issues such as why do you want to get a tattoo, and what tattoo do you want to get? as with most sin, it’s not the act but the intents of the sinner that make all the difference. if the act of getting this tattoo is a form of rebellion, against some form of authority like your parents etc., then it’s obviously a sin.

another question one should ask oneself is if the tattoo edifies God in any way. since this is something that many Christians still dispute over, do you really want to take the chance on getting a tattoo that might not honour God? is this even an act of glorification, or just something you do as you seek to fit in and conform to the status quo that has been set by the modern society?

what are your motives for wanting a tattoo? am i seeking to glorify God, or draw more attention to myself? will it be a source of contention for my loved ones, a good example for others to emulate? will it cause someone weak in the faith to stumble?

we are supposed to just be in the world, and not of the world. while i do admit that some tattoos are visually pleasing, they still tend to honour the world more than God. God has given us a clear standard by which to abide in Romans 14:23, "…and everything that does not come from faith is sin."

in conclusion, getting a tattoo isnt something that should be taken lightly. a well-debated issue in the Christian community, there are always differing opinions as to whether a tattoo is sinful or not. as Christians, we need to always keep our eyes on God when we make decisions. ultimately, the decision is really between you and God. it’s not so much of a black and white issue, and perhaps there are different right and wrongs for every individual. instead of asking, "is it ok for a christian to get a tattoo?", perhaps a more suitable question would be "is it ok for me to get a tattoo?"

so… if you do choose to get a tattoo, remember: while man looks at the outside appearance, God looks at the heart.

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btw, if you have any differing views, or if you just want to say sth in response, you’re most welcome. comments would be greatly appreciated (: