topic. Google this issue, and you'll see opinions varying from "Go for
it!" to "You'll go to hell for it." Many Christians have grappled with
the tattoo question.
What does the Bible say?
Ink opponents typically ignore the verse that says God "inscribed" a picture of his people on his palms (Isaiah 49:16,
NASB; the Amplified Bible says "tattooed"), and instead ominously quote
another Old Testament verse: "You shall not make any cuts on your body
for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 19:28,
ESV). Understanding the context of the Leviticus verse, however, is
imperative.
another Old Testament verse: "You shall not make any cuts on your body
for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 19:28,
ESV). Understanding the context of the Leviticus verse, however, is
imperative.
God gave this command to the Israelites around 1444 B.C. (right after the parting of the Red Sea) to forbid them from practicing
the idolatrous customs they'd picked up in Egyptian captivity. Their
captors had a nasty habit of slashing themselves to express grief and to
appease their pantheon of imaginary gods. The Egyptians also tattooed
their bodies with symbols of pagan gods. So Jehovah, the only true God,
essentially said to the Israelites, I don't want you to practice those
silly superstitions anymore. You're my people, and I love you. The heart
of God's message isn't about body art, but about reminding the
Israelites they belong to him.
captors had a nasty habit of slashing themselves to express grief and to
appease their pantheon of imaginary gods. The Egyptians also tattooed
their bodies with symbols of pagan gods. So Jehovah, the only true God,
essentially said to the Israelites, I don't want you to practice those
silly superstitions anymore. You're my people, and I love you. The heart
of God's message isn't about body art, but about reminding the
Israelites they belong to him.
The great news of the gospel is that Old Testament law
no longer binds Christians. Avoiding tattoo parlors or Red Lobster
doesn't make you
righteous—Jesus' death and resurrection do! While you need to remember
your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16;
2
Corinthians 6:16),
your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16;
2
Corinthians 6:16),
How does this affect me?
Before you get the tattoo, journal through Psalm 139 to remind yourself God thinks you're beautiful with or without
embellishments. And remember, the butterfly you get now will likely
resemble an amorphous blob when your skin succumbs to the stretches and
wrinkles of age.
resemble an amorphous blob when your skin succumbs to the stretches and
wrinkles of age.
Most important, consider your motives for getting tattooed. Certainly some people do so to rebel against
authority; if that's your reason, remember all things are permissible,
but not all things are beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23).
Still, other people get tattoos for positive and deeply spiritual
reasons. I recently went on a mission trip with a young man who had the
story of the Crucifixion tattooed on his arm. He told me the tattoo was a
great catalyst for dialogue with teenagers turned off by conservative
church culture.
but not all things are beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23).
Still, other people get tattoos for positive and deeply spiritual
reasons. I recently went on a mission trip with a young man who had the
story of the Crucifixion tattooed on his arm. He told me the tattoo was a
great catalyst for dialogue with teenagers turned off by conservative
church culture.
In the end, don't worry too much about how you decorate your exterior as long as you devote your interior to Christ.
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