Is it Biblical for Christians to have tattoos? This has been a polarizing issue in the Church for many years. I have heard many arguments on both sides of the table. And while yes both sides make valid points I believe one side comes out the winner of the debate. As for which side I take, well we will get to that in a little bit. But first let us dive into the argument.
There is one verse in particular that Christians go to that many would say automatically demolish the idea of a Christian having a tattoo. Leviticus 19:28 states “You are not to make gashes on your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves; I am the Lord.” -(CSB) Now, one could read this and very easily come to the conclusion of “The Bible says so right here.” And to many this verse could not be any clearer…to get a tattoo is most definitely a sin. But I do not believe that it is that simple.
I partially just gave my opinion on tattoos, and if you didn’t pick up on it already, I do not think having a tattoo is a sin. To me the verse that I stated above is not enough and here is why. Yes, if you read Leviticus 19:28 by itself then it would seem conclusive, however you cannot just look at this verse, you have to look at the surrounding verses and consider the historical context as well.
When we take a closer look at the scriptures we can see that this verse is in reference to not taking part in pagan practices. Making marks or gashes (including tattoos) was done as a pagan practice. This goes back to how we are to be set apart from the world. Christians have always been called to set themselves apart and live at a different standard than the world, and that calling still holds true today… so how can I say that I believe that tattoos are not a sin?
When we read the Bible, we see that God gives many laws throughout the entirety of the Old and New Testaments. However, some laws transcend culture and radiate throughout time, these are known as universal laws. These are laws like the 10 commandments for example… that no matter in what time, culture, or place are always in effect. There is however another type of law. These are cultural laws. At this point you may be thinking that I am crazy, but there are plenty of examples throughout the Bible. Probably the best example and the most well known is in Acts 10. We see in these verses that Peter has a vision from the Lord. It is in this vision that God tells Peter to “kill and eat.” (Acts 10:13; CSB) Now while this verse is in reference to the system of clean and unclean, we see how a law was changed as the culture itself changed. The question we have to ask ourselves is this…is the passage in Leviticus 19 a universal or cultural law? I have, and would continue to argue that this is a cultural law.
Now we may still disagree at this point, but for the sake of argument, and the fact that I am writing and cannot hear your argument, we are going to agree. So since we agree, let me make a point very clear, while I do not think getting a tattoo is sin, the motive for getting a tattoo, and/or tattoo itself can become a sin. Now I must sound crazy, right? Let me explain. If the motive behind getting a tattoo is in rebellion against ones parents then it becomes a sin. But how is this so? If someone were to do this out of rebellion they are directly going against the fifth commandment which is to honor your father and mother. Another example can vary, but depending on the tattoo itself it can become as sin. If you are tattooing profane words or images that are not glorifying God than yes absolutely it is a sin.
I myself have three tattoos (one is pictured above), and plan on getting many more. There are many reasons why I love my tattoos and love getting tattoos but I will limit them to few.
Like I said, I love my tattoos. First of all they have a very significant meaning for me. For example the above picture is my tattoo on my left wrist. It is “Charis”…the Greek word “Grace”. This tattoo is meaningful to me because every time that I look at my wrist I am reminded of God’s ultimate grace that He continues to pour on my life. Second, I love my tattoos because the provide a conversation starter that can serve as a way to minister to an unbeliever. One thing that I have learned since getting my first tattoo is that having a tattoo puts you in a new community. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have had a conversation begin because of my tattoos. Third, I love getting tattoos because I can tattoo my body in such a way that can tell the story of Christ’s love for me.
As I end, know that these are just my opinions, and you are absolutely entitled to your own. I love tattoos and think they can be a tool used to help further the kingdom. However, they can also be used to hinder the kingdom. So I urge and challenge you, if you are thinking of getting a tattoo, check the condition of your heart and make sure that you can use it to bring glory to God.
コメント