Posted on 10/22/2018 12:51:44 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Among the contested issues within churches today is what the Bible says and means as it pertains to tattoos, a topic that proves challenging given that they have become normalized in culture.
The most explicit scriptural condemnation of tattoos appears in Leviticus 19:28 which reads: "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."
Some read that passage as God expressed a desire for His people to be set apart for Himself, as tattoos were tied to occult practices like sorcery and other pagan religious practices.
The surrounding verses reveal that forbidding tattoos is but one of many things associated with pagan peoples that the God of Israel prohibits such as making daughters into prostitutes, and turning to mediums and necromancers.
"Anyone getting a tattoo really needs to ask themselves, why am I getting this and what is the meaning of this tattoo? Is the tattoo an expression of witchcraft, idolatry or pagan symbolism?" asked Jay Haizlip, pastor of The Sanctuary Church in Orange County, California, in a 2013 Huffington Post essay.
"I lean toward the belief that it is not forbidding all expressions of tattoos. Culturally and specifically here in the US, tattoos, over the last 20 years, have become more socially acceptable," he said, referencing Pew research claiming approximately 40 percent of millennials have tattoos.
Writing at Crosswalk.com, Liberty University Professor of Apologetics Will Honeycutt explained that injecting ink underneath the skin to make pictures is materially different than the kinds of tattoos referred to in the Old Testament. The passage in Leviticus, he said, is literally translated "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."
The word "writing" refers to inscribed or engraved symbols or words and it is the only time in Scripture where it is used, and the work "marks" — also used here alone — has an uncertain root, leaving its meaning uncertain, Honeycutt continued, noting that "tattoo" did not enter into the English language until the late 1700s.
"This is probably why the KJV, written in the early 1600s, is closer to the literal translation saying, 'ye shall not ... print marks upon you.'"
The cultural backdrop against which this divine prohibition was given was when Israel, after being rescued from slavery, was situated between Egypt and Canaan, he went on to say.
Archaeological findings show that Egypt routinely marked its women on the breasts, thighs and abdomen, which was thought to be a good luck charm of sorts to protect the birthing process.
Women were frequently tattooed of the pagan fertility goddess, Bes, which lends credence to this theory, Honeycutt said.
So while it is not expressly condemned, he urged Christians to think hard about their motives for getting tattoos.
"If it is in rebellion to parents, it is clearly not acceptable," he said, citing Ephesians 6:1-3, a New Testament's reiteration of the Fifth Commandment.
"And while artistic self-expression can be OK, our primary motive for anything we do should be to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31). This means seeking to honor and draw attention to him, not ourselves.
"Getting a tattoo for purposes of witness may be acceptable, but remember, this is not the primary or most effective way to evangelize. It is in no way a substitute for verbally communicating the gospel. You are not fulfilling the Great Commission simply because you have a tattoo of a Bible verse."
Wow no spellcheck on that one.
Not a fan of crucifixion imagery. MANY were crucified. Christ is not on a cross. He is not in a grave. HE LIVES.
ONLY ONE left the Tomb on His own merit.
Up from the grave he arose
with a mighty triumph over his foes
He arose a victor from the dark domain
and He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose!
He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose.
Should people be turned away from the church if they have tattoos? I’ve got a half sleeve with portraits of both of my daughters on it. Does that make me any less of a father? I’m a civil engineer, does that make me any less knowledgeable in my craft or any less of a professional? Does it prevent me from paying my bills and taking care of my family and treating people a certain way? I’m not hurting anybody, and I’m not some evil being that practices paganism or witchcraft. I don’t have anything against religion, but this type of judgemental stuff is exactly why younger people are turned off from it. Just saying.
That would make a good tat....
I saw a comedian who was complaining about always being a loser. He said he wanted to get married so he was looking for a woman with a lot of tattoos, because he knew she wasn’t afraid to do something that she would regret in 20 years.
None on me either.
Besides, I have a large birthmark that I didn’t ask for. Maybe that’s why I am biased against them.
At church, we’d have people with tattoos, regulars and visitors.
I’ll go out of my way to make them feel welcome.
I hear ya. I want to visit St. Peter’s Basilica one day.
Is there a sign saying that the funding for that building was Martin Luther’s last straw to make him forever against indulgences and start his attempts to reform the RCC?
I recently saw someone with a new tat she was showing off - it says “Forgiveness” in cursive and is correctly spelled, but so poorly executed that it looks like “Forgivenegg”.
Oops.
Agreed 100 percent. By today’s standards, I am a rebel, with not one speck of ink on my middle-aged body. Not even from my military service.
My parents, my mother in particular, taught me that only low-class people get tattoos. I have never had any reason to question their wisdom.
Today, tattoos have become one of the worst symptoms of a herd-like popular culture.
I had a similar issue with listening to Christian rock n’ roll as a teenager when the southern Baptist churches preached against it. Does meditating on Jesus have to include rock n’ roll? No. Does it help get the message out? Maybe some, but I’ve heard few cases of that.
Does it help some who are already Christians meditate on Jesus knowing He’s intense enough to let folks spit on Him and run nails through Him, while still being the One Who’s sovereign in every way? Most definitely, especially if you were a teenager during the guitar rock era and back when bands actually practiced their backup singing.
My father was in the Navy in WWII, then worked his way up to an employment / HR director at a large industrial firm in the 60's and 70's
For him, tattoos were something only drunken sailors did while on leave in Manila. He always asked the workers with tattoos interviewing for jobs why they got the tattoo they did. He didn't hide the fact to them he thought it was a negative for their job application. Its a good thing he retired long ago (and passed away as well). His views would not be welcome in the present day and age.
Me too.
We’ve all made mistakes. Some permanent. And there is no reason to ignore or alienate anyone.
One of my sons just got one on his leg. It’s a graphic representation of a Bible verse that’s the staff theme verse at a Christian camp he volunteers at.
He and another staff guy got them to honour the memory of one of the staff guys who died at camp over the summer.
He had a seizure while swimming and drowned. My son was on the rescue team and tried to resuscitate him.
I’m not a tattoo fan but this one is loaded with meaning. It also gives him an opportunity to share the gospel with anyone who asks about it.
Your tattoo sounds lovely, and may the Lord bring you comfort for your loss. My mom passed over 30 years ago and I still miss her every day.
Bible nerd here on a sorta related post. I think the 6-6-6 and 7-7-7 marks on the forehead and wrist in Revelation aren’t some kind of stamp like we think of. I think it’s more symbolic of your creed.
God, through Moses, told the Jews to write His laws on their foreheads and tie them to their wrists (Deuteronomy 6:8). And in other places the forehead and wrists were used to place symbols of what’s important to you or who you represent (Exodus 13:19, 28:38; Jeremiah 48:45; Ezekiel 9:4,6).
If I’m right, then instead of arguing so much about tattoos (which I don’t have one) or trying to look for the latest technology to see if it’ll be how the mark of the beast is implemented, we should instead look to see how various laws are put in place based on people’s creed. For example, in much of the middle east you can’t engage in commerce unless you’re a Muslim (a creed that’s not about Christ). I believe us American Christians tend to be too Western centric in our eschatology (the study of the end times) and should quit expecting the signs to happen in the U.S. I say it’s already been going on for a while in the land Revelation was written.
But even then, I say we can learn lessons to apply here in the U.S. Such as when the liberal city councils threaten to fine your business daily for not helping people celebrate their poop sex vows, don’t give in and put on the mark of the beast. Stay with Christ no matter what, no matter who.
I don’t know about the Bible, but the Book of Iron Jack says “Cover thyself not in ink nor ugly pictures nor stupid symbols the meaning of which thou knowest not, for it is a hideous practice and a waste of money and thou be-ist an idiot.”
Getting a tatoo is the second stupidest thing one can do behind starting to smoke.
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