Why Do People Get Tattoos
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.
People get tattoos for all sorts of reasons. They may want to remember someone or something special they might think its pretty, fits with their favorite sports team, and so on But nowhere in the Bible does it say anything about wearing a tattoo because you like how it looks.
People who have accepted Christ as Savior should not add more images, such as tattoos, because He is holynot worldly! The Bible says we are to be transformed by renewing mind. If we accept Him into our heart faith, then we will desire His righteousness.
Jesus says in Matthew 19:19, And someone approached Him and said, Teacher, what good shall I do to gain eternal life? And He said to him Keep the commandments. These are not just any set of rules these are Gods Commandments.
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You Dont Want To Cause Your Brother To Stumble
There are many people who believe tattoos are sinful and by getting one it can lead those weak in the faith to get one even though their hearts are condemned. It can also offend others. Think about the youth. Love thinks about others. Love makes sacrifices.
24. Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak.
25. 1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.
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What Are The Most Important Things To Have In Mind When Tattooing As A Christian
At the end of the day the decision to get a tattoo should be your decision and only yours. If you find that it is not desirable to you or goes against your beliefs then by all means do not get one! There is no need to make a rash decision about a tattoo and it is okay to change your mind along the way. If you are still unsure then it is always a great idea to discuss it with other people who share similar values. Also, maybe more importantly, talk to God. The most important thing is that you are at peace with your choice on whether to get a tattoo or not.
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What Is Your Purpose And Motivation In Getting A Tattoo
It is an important question to answer while getting tattooed. The purpose or motivation that provoked the idea of getting tattooed must be to please the Lord. There are sayings that de-motivate inking. But some say if the objective is to fight off the disorder or clarify, your fight with a disease is practically applicable and permissible. But if the purpose is wrong and goes against the following, like getting a tattoo because everyone else is also, it is disregarded.
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Do Not Be Conformed To This World
Even if the reference to tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 is directed solely to the way pagans mourned for the dead , the above-noted scriptures make it clear that avoiding tattoos is the preferable choice for Christians. In order to please God, we must walklive our livesin faith that we are following His commands because whatever is not from faith is sin .
Rather than following the customs and practices of the society around us, we are to be representatives of the coming Kingdom of Godand of Christ Himself. And do not be conformed to this world . Therefore Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you .
Based upon the evidence from Gods Word and these principles, we believe a Christian should not get a tattoo. If a Christian already has one, it is his or her decision whether to leave it alone, cover it up or have it removed.
About the Author
Paul Luecke
Paul Luecke and his wife, Ronda, have three married children and have served congregations in Arizona, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Dakota, South Dakota, Canada, Pennsylvania, Kansas and Oklahoma, currently pastoring congregations in Alabama and Georgia.
Tattoos Are Conforming To The World
I believe tattoos are conforming to the world. I also believe that there are godly Christians with tattoos, but do tattoos really show a heart for God?
Im tired of churches thinking that we have to conform to the culture. We are not going to win the world by being like the world. Why do you think Christianity is going downhill, getting more sinful, and worldly? Its not working! We are not to get the church to conform to the world we are to conform the world to the church. Throughout the Old and New Testament we are told not to conform to the ways of the world.
In Romans we are told to renew our mind so we can prove what the will of God is. What does God want? Im here to tell you that Christian t-shirts and Christian tattoos dont make a man of God. They dont make you radical. When you dont renew your mind you are going to be stuck fighting with this. You are going to think I want to do this so bad and you might even make excuses to justify yourself. You might even start looking to websites that will justify what you want.
When your mind is set on God you desire less of what the world desires. There are some churches today with tattoo parlors in them. There are even Christian tattoo shops. You cant add the word Christian to something that is pagan. God is not pleased with what is happening. More and more people want God and their own ways.
13. Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
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Does The Bible Say Anything At All About Tattoos
First of all, the Bible is all about interpretation so you can take things literally word for word or you can find your own meaning which makes sense for you. If you take the Bible word for word, in Leviticus 19:28, its exact translation is: And a cutting for the dead you will not make in your flesh and writing marks you will not make on you I am the Lord. Some modern-day versions of the Bible do have the word tattoo written in the translation and then it reads: Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord. That makes the argument against tattoos seem much stronger but since the word tattoo did not come into the English language until the 18th century, the literal translation of the Bible does not write tattoo at any point. That here is the only explicit mention of body modifications written in the Bible.
What Does The Bible Say About Tattoos In The Old Testament
Well, we find the reference in Leviticus 19:28, where the bible is clearly speaking about our body, one should not cut himself/herself nor should get any tattoos on their bodies.
God Clearly wants us to be away from such things, because indirectly having this you worship the idol, and lean towards witchcraft which is completely unacceptable for God.
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Alternatives To Getting A Tattoo If You Want To Show Your Faith
There are many ways to show your faith without getting a tattoo. Here are a few ideas:
- Get involved in ministry or service opportunities at your church.
- Witness to others about your faith in Jesus Christ.
- Display Christian symbols or artwork in your home.
- Wear Christian jewelry or clothing.
- Pray for those who are considering getting a tattoo
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Why Did God Prohibit Tattoos In The Old Testament
Some commentators say the statement forbidding tattoos only refers to pagan customs for the dead. For example, the writers of the Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary believe that there is nothing morally wrong with tattooing, but that these practices then, and also now in some places, were parts of heathen ritual .
Other commentators disagree. The Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament, for example, says in reference to this verse, The prohibition of tattooing had no reference to idolatrous usages, but was intended to inculcate upon the Israelites a proper reverence for Gods creation. The Jewish understanding of this command is that the prohibition against all forms of tattooing regardless of their intent, should be maintained .
To gain a more complete perspective, lets consider how other passages and principles relate to this subject.
Our Creator tells us: Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God . Consecrate means to be purified and set apart from the worldas clean and holy people in service to God.
Tattooing has a very long history among the pagan cultures of the world, for different reasons at different times. But God called His chosen nation to come out from the world and be different in many ways.
The Principle Of Influence
Lets begin by examining a passage in 1 Corinthians 11. A rather unusual discussion takes place in this chapter concerning the wearing of veils. The apostle Paul writes, But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved . Verse 6 goes on to say, For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.
The department issued a new policy: officers could get tattoos only if they were hidden by their uniforms. The reason? Because of the message tattoos send. Numerous news stories on the internet discuss the problem of tattoos and body piercings in the workplace. One article from Fox News points out that some employers are having to write very specific dress codes to address the problem. Many employers are requiring that their staff dress in such a way as to hide their tattoos. The new tattoo Barbie doll was mentioned earlier. Here is an excerpt from an article discussing this new doll. Parents have already rallied up against Mattel, asking for the dolls to be pulled off the market. One parent asked, Whatever will they bring out next? Drug addict Barbie? Alcoholic Barbie? Why are parents rallying against Mattel? Because in our society tattoos have negative connotations.
- Sinful Inflictions
- Red devil Tattoo and Piercing
It is disturbing how many tattoo and piercing parlors have the word sinful in their names.
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The Principle Of Modesty
The point being made here is not what you might think. Although it could be related, this is not in reference to showing too much skin. Rather, we are referring to a word that appears in the Bible in 1 Timothy 2:9-10. It says, In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array but which becometh women professing godliness with good works.
Let us consider four words and phrases in this text. First is the word modest. It means orderly, well-arranged, or decent. The idea is that this woman is not to adorn herself in a way that draws undue attention to herself. In the immediate context, Paul is discussing a woman overdoing itwearing flashy clothes, lots of makeup, and expensive jewelry. Of course, a woman could also draw undue attention to herself by under doing it, that is, by wearing too little. But consider this statement in light of the tattoo and body piercing discussion. Can we draw undue attention to ourselves with tattoos, nose rings, or navel piercings? Of course we can!
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.
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Secular Influence And The Popularity Of Tattoos
Tattoos may be more accepted today, but it was not until the late 20th century that tattoos gained great popularity in the United States. Prior to that, tattoos were seen mostly on military men, criminals, bikers or other tough people.
Peer pressure has played a major role in tattoos through history. Whether due to identification with a tribe, pagan god, military group, prison group or gang, sports figures, entertainment icons or circle of friends, people often get tattooed for identity and acceptance.
But God tells His called-out people, Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the worldthe lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of lifeis not of the Father, but is of the world .
Some argue that a tattoo is merely an adornment like jewelry. But jewelry can be quickly removed or changed a tattoo cannot. Many have been tattooed later to regret it. Not surprisingly, tattoo removal is now a big business. But attempted removal is expensive, uncomfortable and not always successful and scarring or skin variations often remain.
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What You Should Consider Before Tattooing
If you are thinking about getting a tattoo it is important that you do the following.
- First, pray. Ask for the direction and confirmation of God.
- Talk to your pastor and explain your feelings. Ask him what is the position of the church that you attend.
- Ask yourself honestly whether it will be a stumbling block for your brothers in faith.
- Analyze what your motivation is. Why do you want to get a tattoo? Do you want to get peoples attention or create controversy? Do you consider it beautiful or an artistic expression? What motivates you?
- Do not let yourself be pressured by friends or by fashion. Do not get a tattoo to please another person.
- Choose the tattoo well. Imagine yourself with that tattoo in 50 years. Will you be ashamed? Can it make you feel ridiculous? Will you feel good when looking at it?
- Think about how it will influence your life. For example, will it cause complications in the workplace?
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