Does God Allow Tattoos If Our Heart And Motives Are Good
Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:28 NIV
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, not print any Marks upon you: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:28 KJV
Looking at these scriptures in the Bible, God could not make His stand on tattoos any clearer. Yes, God does look at our motives and our hearts but He also tells us the unsanctified heart is wicked and needs cleansing so we all can line up with His Word. Many times our outward appearance can reveal what is in our hearts.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9
With this in mind, we all do things that are sinful when we do not know God or when we are baby Christians who are ignorant of His Word. That is why we must study the Bible, as it is our standard for what God says is sin or is not sin. Certainly, when we are babes in the Lord and do not know the Word, we may be deceived and sin. Because God is very merciful and kind, He overlooks certain things, until we can come to the knowledge of truth about those things. However, if we are truly honest and want to put away our sin and we come to God with an open heart willing to change the areas in our lives that are sin, He will show us those things were we have been deceived.
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25
What Is Your Purpose And Motivation In Getting A Tattoo
Christians should not live as the world lives, and Christians should focus on our insides rather than our outsides.
Do not let your adorning be externalthe braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in Gods sight is very precious. –– 1 Peter 3:34
While this verse speaks of hairstyles, jewelry, and clothing, the idea certainly spills over into the arena of tattoos.
Is your desire for a tattoo based on vanity?
Be honest with yourself. What are your motivations?
Are you motivated to get a tattoo just because everyone else is?
Again, the tattoo may not be a sin, but your motivations may be. Consider it carefully.
Mutilate The Physical Body
Apostle Paul described the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is different from the Temple of Aphrodite at Corinth. The temple is known as a place of worship. The Holy Spirit owns the body of every believer as the Holy Spirit lives in us.
Consequently, our bodies are not for our use but of God and the Glory of God.
When we borrow a friends car, we make every effort not to dent or damage it. Its the same as saying we dont have the right to do whatever we want with our bodies.
At the Cross, Jesus Christ paid for our sins so that we could be His. Have you ever purchased something knowing how valuable it is to us? Jesus paid it all, all to Him we owe.
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Tattoos As Cultural Markers
An interesting article by Trevin Wax for The Gospel Coalition asks, Are tattoos worse than adultery?
This article considers the experience of some Tanzanian missionaries. They were shocked to find that their Christian students unanimously agreed it would be worse for a pastor to get tattoos than to commit adultery. Why? Because tattoos in that culture are associated with witchcraft and evil spirits, and, to them, they show that such evil spirits have an influence over the person.
We should take other Christians views very seriously. We worship the same God as those Tanzanian brothers and sisters. Indeed, they rightly say that the cultural practice of tattooing in that region would greatly limit their witness and would bring undue shame on the church. That is not to say morality is relative to cultures, but, as Christians, we are called to tend our witness carefully. Different cultural contexts sometimes require different applications of the biblical texts and different applications of the same eternal truths.
Later in that chapter, he writes, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus .
And, he also says in 1 Corinthians 89 that many of these issues which are in the gray area should not divide us. At the very least, tattooing should be one of those issues.
Getting a tattoo does not seem to be one of those issues.
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Eastern And Oriental Orthodoxy
Orthodox Coptic Christians who live in Egypt commonly tattoo themselves with the symbols of Coptic crosses on their right wrists for similar historical reasons. From there, the tradition spread throughout Eastern Christian communities such as the Ethiopian, Armenian, Syriac and . Commemorative tattoos are also traditionally done on pilgrims who complete a visit to Jerusalem.
What Does The Bible Say About Tattoos In The New Testament
Some people choose to tattoo their bodies to build a sense of identity or independence as a form of self-expression. According to the book of Romans in the New Testament, to give your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Godthis is your true and legitimate worship. ).
Tattooing is simply a form of self-expression and a violation of biblical principles.
Other notable Bible Verses are listed below
- 1 Corinthians 10:23
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Is It A Sin To Get A Tattoo What Does The Bible Say About Tattoos
The short answer is…nothing. At least nothing definitive. The Bible makes no specific reference to tattoos as we understand them in modern times. Some Christians condemn all tattooing as immoral because God clearly forbids them in Leviticus 19:28. Since the word tattoo does appear in this verse in some popular English translations, this argument seems straightforward. For example, the NIV reads, Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.
Other Christians say this passage no longer applies to us because it is Old Testament law, and not for Christians. If you go online to try to answer the tattoo question, youll see both approaches and contradictory conclusions. Both of these approaches, however, are misleading because, as we will see, the answer to the tattoo question is that the Bible has nothing clearly to say about the practice of injecting ink under the skin to form permanent pictures, patterns or messagesa.k.a. tattooing.
The background to this law was that Israel, after being rescued from slavery, was between Egypt and Canaan. Recent archeology indicates that, while Egypt did tattoo, it was limited to women. Evidence suggests that tattooing the body parts of women associated with fertility was believed to be a good luck charm to protect the birthing process. Women also frequently had imprints of the fertility goddess, Bes, which seems to support this theory.
What Are The Motives Behind Tattoos
Proverbs 16:2 You may think everything you do is right, but the LORD judges your motives.
There is always a rush to have tattoos, despite the long-term effects on relationships, professions, the cost, and the pain of removing the tattoo often overlooked. Many people regret getting a tattoo, despite the benefits.
Others believe that tattoos assist them to have the Word of God engraved on their bodies, but they are deceiving themselves, as they are motivated by self-glorification. Everything comes down to how they view themselves.
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Not All Things Are Lawful
You say, I am allowed to do anything but not everything is good for you. You say, I am allowed to do anythingbut not everything is beneficial. Dont be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 NLT
Not all things are lawful for you as a child of God, it might be allowed, but it is not beneficial for you or the church. There might be no particular law that points to it, but you should avoid it as long as it does not edify or build up the church.
No matter your stance on tattoos, there is no reason why a child of God should have multiple tattoos all around their body. It does nothing to build up the church it does not glorify God. It might be lawful, but it is not beneficial.
Here again, Paul mentions that believers should consider the faith of others. Our primary assignment is to win souls for God, so do not engage in anything that does the opposite of that.
Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and dont argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. Romans 14:1 NLT Opposing factions in the house of God do nothing but sew discord and disunity.
For example, some believe Christian women should not wear jewelry or makeup others do not hold this same stance. Whatever belief you have, avoid arguments with others.
Our relationship with Christ is a personal one. If you are truly confused about something, ask God to show you what to do.
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Tattoos According To The Bible
Tattoos have been around for millennia, but the writers of the Hebrew Bible forbade tattooing in the ancient Middle East.
The Bible verse that mentions the inscription on Jesus thigh is Revelations 19:16, On his robe and his thigh he has this name written. Many misinterpret this to mean that its not specifically a tattoo or forbidden by God himself to have one.
The Hebrew Bible forbids tattooing because it was viewed as an act of idolatry, while people who were tattooed during Biblical times were seen as outcasts or rebels. Exodus 21:28-30 states, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free men and slaves to be marked on the right hand or the forehead so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark.
In the Bible, the first printing on the body was done by God in Genesis 4:15 that is the mark on Cain extending grace to the murderer. Bible Scholars often tag this as a sign of divine Grace.
Other Bible verses about tattoos in the New Testament are often viewed as a sign of shame. At times, people would tattoo themselves with words to indicate their disgrace or that they were slaves. Acts 16:17 says, And it happened that she followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.
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What Does The Bible Say About Getting A Tattoo
In summary, some Christians may argue that the Levitical laws against tattoos are there because God doesnt want us to violate our natural bodies. This position has problems and doesnt account for the context well. Biblical scholarship has shown the Old Testament prohibition against tattoos was likely associated with paganism and slavery, which still should guide those seeking tattoos in which specific tattoo they get.
However, since tattoos in the West are no longer associated with those sins, Christians should be free to get thoughtful, God-honoring tattoos. They are cultural markers and artistic expressions that can be redeemed and enjoyed by Christians under the new covenant.
As Paul says about cultural matters which may divide us: We endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ .
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Medical Advantages And Disadvantages If Having Tattoos
Advantages:
When a person goes through the process of getting tattoos, our body releases the chemical and it reduces the cortisol level, which is the main reason for stress. There are many diseases which are caused by stress so indirectly it helps to prevent you from many diseases.
Disadvantages:
Tattoos breach the skin, with the age it affects dies, and it starts releasing all the colour from the tattoo part, you might have itching and skin allergy too in that area, which could affect your whole body. And no one can be sure when it will start.
Well, we have gone through all the possible questions which you might have in your mind, whether to get tattoos or not in the modern world, where everybody is looking for it.
Before taking any action you should take care of everything, what the bible says about it, and if youre having tattoos then what kind of tattoos you should have, your tattoos should not offend anyone. Also, you should seek words from your pastor, elder your family members and listen to what they are telling you to do.
We talked about advantages and disadvantages too, you must know your health condition, whether youre ready to take it or not, also you must prepare yourself for the future consequences.
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What Does This Mean And Can Christians Get Tattoos
For those whose bodies already bear the marks of a pre-Christian past, take comfort: they are still part of personal testimony. In conversation with others who sport tattoos, they provide a natural avenue to discussing the gospel and demonstrating that the important change has taken place inwardly, where Christ has exquisitely and tenderly marked the inner person.
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There is a Christian belief that partaking in activities or a lifestyle that one believes to be a sin indeed makes the act a sin, even if its not objectively clear or fact than the act is a sin. Believing body piercing is a sin and doing it anyway, makes it a sin essentially, a self-fulfilling prophecy.
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What The Bible Says About Tattoos
Unfortunately, there isnt much in the Bible about tattoos specifically. Tattooing is not mentioned in the New Testament. However, branding and cutting the skin is named in the Old Testament.
Leviticus 19:28 says, Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord. This seems pretty direct.
It is important, however, to keep in mind that it is in the same chapter with several Levitical laws, including, Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.
Many of these laws were put in place to either protect the Israelites or to keep Gods people different.
In the case of tattoos and cutting their bodies, this was a way to distinguish them from other nations surrounding them.
Got Questions explains, The reason for the prohibition of tattoos in this passage is not stated, but it is likely that tattooing was a pagan practice connected with idolatry and superstition. It was probably common for the pagans to mark their skin with the name of a false god or with a symbol honoring some idol. God demanded that His children be different, and He reminded them in the same verse, I am the LORD.
With that being said, getting a tattoo is a heart matter.
According to the Bible, getting a tattoo may not be a sin for this generation, but there are other ways to determine if the reasons you are getting a tattoo may be sinful.
Here are some questions to ask yourself if you are a Christian considering a tattoo.
Physical And Mental Pain
Its no secret that tattoos can be very painful, so make sure that you are prepared for this. Try to check first if you have any medical concerns. Its wise that you dont take tattooing lightly its going to hurt. There are also risks involved such as infections, scars, allergic reactions, and even diseases such as Hepatitis B and C. When in doubt, always have a physical examination first and make sure that you only trust reliable and reputable tattoo artists.
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What Does The Bible Say About Tattoos
Taboo tattoos
Torah Scroll. What is said about tattoos in the Bible? Leviticus, the third book of the Hebrew Bible, prohibits them without giving an explicit reason. Why does the Bible prohibit tattoos?
What does the Bible say about tattoos?
Leviticus 19:28 says, You shall not make any gashes in your flesh for the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the LORD. Although this passage clearly prohibits tattoos, it does not give an explicit reason why. This begs the question: Why does the Bible prohibit tattoos?
In his Biblical Views column Unholy Ink: What Does the Bible Say about Tattoos? Mark W. Chavalas, Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, examines the taboo on tattoos in the Bible. Not only does he analyze traditional explanations for this prohibition, but he also investigates what tattoos signified to ancient Near Eastern peoples, including the ancient Israelites, which suggests the real reason why tattoos were taboo.
Leviticus 19 denounces idolatry and several pagan mourning practices. Some have thought that because of the proximity of the taboo on tattoos to the prohibition of other pagan mourning practices in Leviticus, tattooing must have been a pagan mourning practice. However, we find no evidence of this in ancient texts from the Levant, Mesopotamia or Egypt. As far as we can tell, tattooing was not an ancient mourning practice in these cultures.