What Does the Bible Say About Tattoos

Thinking about getting a tattoo but are worried about violating the Bible? Find out what does the bible say about tattoos from the article mentioned below.
If you are a Christian, there are many situations which you have to face, where you are confused about what to choose and if it's spiritually right. When you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have to be very careful about your wants, desires, actions, choices and decisions. But many times the meek human inside you questions if this disciplined life of a Christian is what God really wants us to be, or what we want ourselves to be. One such example is the topic about tattoos and body piercing, which many Christians believe is wrong according to the Holy Bible. Thus, the question, what does the Bible say about tattoos is always left either unanswered or vaguely answered. However, today's generation of followers of Christ would definitely want an appropriate answer to this. Therefore, to give you a clearer idea on what does the Bible say about getting tattoos, we have some information coming up for you. Read on and find out.

What Does the Bible Teach about Tattoos

If you had to discuss the question of what does the Bible say about tattoos with a learned priest, he would generally guide you through it by referring to a few Bible verses. These verses are quite clear in what they say, but over the years they have had a variety of interpretations among people. According to 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." But after the New Testament was written many of the Old Testament's teachings were shadowed.

In fact, there is no other verse in the Bible which uses the word "tattoo", as clearly as this one. Hence, people always question that, since we are more dominated by the New Testament law, is it appropriate to follow the Old one. And there are many people who like to get Bible verse tattoos, itself on them, thus how appropriate is that? You can be the best judge for yourself when it comes to spirituality, as you know what your relation with God is. However, to guide you with your decision about whether or not to get a tattoo, we have a little counseling session for you, take a look!

The Scriptures Say...
According to the famous Bible verses, 1 Corinthians 3:16, "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.", the Bible speaks to us. Through these verses, God tells us that our body is his temple and we have to respect and worship it like we honor Him in His house. They also mean that more than us, our body belongs to the Lord because he gave it to us, and we have no right to mishandle it for our selfish deeds.

Another verse from Romans 14:23 clearly says, "...everything that does not come from faith is sin." The lesson this verse from the various other Bible verses on faith tries to teach us is that, when we go against our conscience, teaching and upbringing to do an act, we are considered to be sinning. As Christians, even though we are not under the Old Testament law, it is written very clearly in the Bible, that abusing the temple of God (our body), is not a noble act. Therefore, when you get a tattoo even after you know this fact, you are not doing it with your faith, thus sinning towards yourselves and your faith.

The Conscience Says...
After reading on what does the Bible say about tattoos, let's find out how we can ask our conscience and what answer it can give us. There are a few questions which you can ask yourself, if you follow Christianity, before getting a tattoo and they are:
  • How does my heart and my mind question me to take this decision? Do I have a clear conscience before the Lord regarding getting a tattoo?
  • Am I ready to carry a permanent mark on my body throughout my life and teach my children that it is healthy as well as moral to put your body through this pain?
  • Have I made this decision based on my faith and what I want or is it something I would want the world to see?
When you have answered these questions for yourself, I am sure you will get an answer to what does the Bible say about tattoos. The specialty about the Bible is that, it will never set rules before you but it will make you question yourself so that you know where to set your own rules!
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Published: 11/29/2010
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