Ever since I was a young teen, I knew I wanted to get a tattoo. In fact, I knew I wanted to have a lot of my body covered in them eventually. After expressing my desire to get a tattoo, I was constantly told tattoos are sinful. Well, thanks to a lot of research, I strongly believe tattoos are far from sinful. So next time someone wants to tell you how sinful tattoos are, keep these things in mind. Here are some of the Bible verses constantly used by people who try to prove tattoos sinful:
“You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.” - Leviticus 19:28
After reading the verse, it seems pretty clear cut that Christians should not have tattoos. But when you understand the context of the chapter, a lot will change. The chapter is God giving a passage about how the Israelites should live their lives. When we read on about what else God said in the passage, we can learn more about the context and history.
“Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. Do not practice divination or seek omens. Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.” - Leviticus 19:26-31
So to the same people who are telling you tattoos are sinful, I hope they don’t eat meat or cut their hair because that would certainly make them a hypocrite. Technically, even have pierced ears would be considered “cutting the body.”
In a historical context, God gave the Israelites these laws in a time when pagan idolatry was prominent. Pagans would cut and tattoo themselves to worship dead people. God did not want His people to align with that kind of culture.
“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself” - 1 Corinthians 6:19
Again, it seems pretty clear cut. Until, we see the context of the verse has nothing to do with the exterior of the body. The surrounding verses speak about sexual immorality, and not respecting our bodies in a spiritual way.
“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself” - 1 Corinthians 6:18-19
“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” - Revelation 19:16
OK, so this one even I’ll admit is a little out there. But I think there is a small possibility that it may just be a tattoo on Jesus’ thigh. I doubt He would have such powerful words written in a pen or highlighter.
Tattoos are not sinful, but an art form that we can use to express ourselves. Everyone may have their own beliefs and no matter what, your body is your own body. As Christians, if we are giving all the glory to God and representing him faithfully, then we are doing part of what we are called to do.
