Tattoos are a popular form of self-expression today, but as Christians, we need to ask: Is it a sin to get one? The Bible emphasizes that God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). So, the real question is, what’s your motive? Are you honoring God with your body, or is there another reason behind your decision?
Before deciding, consider how your tattoo will reflect your faith and relationship with Christ. If you’re unsure, it’s always wise to seek God’s guidance and explore what Scripture says. For more insight, check out this article: Is It Biblical for Christians to Get Tattoos?.
It also dictates how to cut your hair and when you can eat fruit from a tree.
Leviticus 19:23, 27 ESV
[23] “When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten.
[27] You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.
I think @DrDale brings up a good point. If we are going to use Leviticus as a ruler for tattoos being a sin then we have to apply Leviticus to every other situation.
Read Genesis 17:9-14, and note how absolute it is. Now read Galatians and see Paul’s response to people who saw that and thought that Christians needed to be circumcised. We have died to the Law, and have been adopted as God’s beloved children! The paradigm has changed from obedience to the Law, to our relationship with our Father and loving our neighbors.
Is it a sin? I doubt it. You can usually take single verses from scripture to support or condemn, but, you have to look at the body of the message the scripture is meant for. If you had tattoos prior to being saved then ask forgiveness for having them as the old you is not anymore. The bigger question would be why you would want to get something permanent on your body. I do believe the body belongs to God, he gave it to us to use while here on earth. Take care of it. I could be wrong but my guess is if you prayed about getting a tattoo(say you want one now) I don’t believe that prayer would be answered. How does having a tattoo advance the glory of God?
My son, a young pastor, has gotten a large tattoo on his arm that is a reminder of how short life is. He uses it as an evangelism tool.
I, myself, don’t have any and don’t plan to get one, but our life and decisions as Christians are (or should be) according to our relationship with our Father and not according to Law.
If it is maiming, pierced ears would be in that category- and Early Israelites pierced the ear of permanent slaves.
Tattoos are a form of body adornment like rings or a necklace. The sin would be the reason for getting a tattoo or in some cases, what the tattoo is depicting.
Wouldn’t a shirt or the fake tattoos do that? Tattoos are permanent. Ear piercings are not. But I’m sure people that “want” one will justify it by any means to seek approval.
Or they realize they are not chained to Old Testament codes that were in place for ancient Jews.
Applying your way of thinking, those who dislike tattoos will use any excuse to condemn them.
What’s interesting is most who get tattoos often regret them later in life. My stance on tattoos isn’t all based on scripture but also to do with change. What someone likes and think is cool changes as they get older. Most 60-80 year olds I’ve talked too and with regret, most are veterans or church goers.Maybe your son fits into that small group that it won’t have those regrets. Maybe the Lord led him to get that tattoo for specifically leading one person to Christ. I’m not totally condemning them as it’s not my place to judge, but, I do caution people and would advise them to pray about it. And they need to be able to differentiate between their wants and what God leads them to do. Obviously it doesn’t have any effect on our salvation. We all make decisions that we wish we had a second chance at.
Somehow I managed 12 years of service without getting one probably because my dad had his from service and wished he hadn’t gotten them. Our kids have them and I tell them the same thing I’ve said here.
I personally think it’s a matter of conscience. My dad has tattoos, but he says that if he could go back in time, he wouldn’t have gotten them. Two of aunts have tattoos, but they don’t seem to regret them. But then again, I’m not really sure where they are spiritually.
I believe it is a sin to get a tattoo because as a Christian, our Body is meant to be Holy Temple of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ living in us.
For some they think it is like a form of body art, but I am sure God would disapprove of this because why would you put some image that is NOT God honoring on your body to be there forever? You might get strange people looking at you weirdly to explain it, thus making you feel even more guilty of spending money on it also. It is permanent, once you get it, you can’t get a Refund.
