Tattoos

[Mariangelica Valdes]

Something about the tattoo topic has me very confused. As far as my understanding of scripture the verse in Leviticus about marking oneself was based on people putting idolatry marks that were pagan. That was the context. Not to mention it was part of the laws that also forbid wearing cotton, or cutting the beard all things that in today's time are done regularly for anyone. So, it seems to me more of a sin is the judgement we pass on others who have tattoos. I also believe it is unhealthy to inflict guilt on a person of it being a sin if it is not because then that is not what Christ came to do. Christ didn't come to say oh you should carry these sins with you forever and always feel guilty. Christ came for us to be forgiven and for us to repent to turn away from our sin but Christ would not unnecessarily add to us guilt over something that is not needed. Certain things that we need to be convicted of in the holy spirit yes, but not things were feeling guilt over it would cause us to have unnecessary shame or bad feelings. Because that is what Satan does is say "see you messed up feel guilty God will not like you anymore". What I find wrong is when other Christians tell other Christians certain things are a sin when they are not. I was a christian when I got my tattoos not because I was willingly sinning but because I didn't understand it to be a sin. Other things I realize they are and I thank God I have overcome those things with the help of God. But if something isn't a sin we are doing harm to each other by judging or shaming each other as Christians. It is what I feel in my heart and I am not saying I'm the final authority. Only God knows all our questions and the bible doesn't answer every question because we are not meant to know it all. But on this topic that causes so much division among Christians there should be a final agreement on it accepted because it should not be that churches and Christians are divided because of this. Anyone has a point of view that supports or is different? I have peace about this. I know a lot of people think oh they got their tattoo when they were not christians, well and maybe those tattoos were offensive and yeah it is a sin to do something on your body that doesn't glorify God. In my case that is not the case as a christian I got tattoos in a way that I gave glory to God by getting a bible verse/ a cross and the word faith. And if we do everything we do in a way we bring attention to God and glorify Him, that is not a sin. Like for example, sex. We can do it in a way that glorifies him or not. Even something like when David defeated Goliath, it was killing but it was done to defeat the army that were the enemy of God's people. I think God understands our hearts above all and knows if we do something to glorify him or if we do something to be disobedient to him. That's what it comes down to.

 

[Lulav]

Something about the tattoo topic has me very confused. As far as my understanding of scripture the verse in Leviticus about marking oneself was based on people putting idolatry marks that were pagan. That was the context. Not to mention it was part of the laws that also forbid wearing cotton, or cutting the beard all things that in today's time are done regularly for anyone.

Just a correction here to avoid misunderstanding.

The prohibition was for marking oneself for the dead. God teaches to revere life and not to honor death. Many today get tattoos when someone they love dies.

There is no prohibition about wearing cotton. What you are referring to is the mixture of linen (plant) and wool (animal).

There also was not a prohibition about cutting one's beard. It was about a certain way of trimming it that was forbidden.

God's rules aren't arbitrary. He made them based on his knowledge, being the creator and all of how things should be for his people to flourish.

 

[Mariangelica Valdes]

Thank you for the corrections, that is what I was referring to. Well yes and I agree with you in that sense that those tattoos are wrong but its like I mentioned in my post God knows your heart and if the way you did it was to be disobedient to him or not.

 

[Alithis]

there are two groups we speak of though.
1 the worldly ,they dont know God and we cant pass judgment on any of them for we WERE them.
2.the body of Christ, these we not only can but ARE to judge .

no one who claims to be a deciple of Jesus will then go and deface thier flesh
to the glory of the flesh.conforming themselves to the world.
those that love God seek his will that they might do it
those that love self go ahead and do whatever pleases them because they dont care about God at all.

 

[Lulav]

Yes I agree, it's becoming harder and harder to distinguish the believer and non believer in the world today.

Many say they use them to witness, but what are they witnessing to? It's like those that say it's ok to go into a bar like hooters to save people. But it ends up just putting the believer in a place where fighting temptation may be their downfall.

A tattoo is something for the most part is seen in close proximity, however the overall look can be seen from a distance. It's no witness because it only witnesses to marking ones body.

In the Old Testament days it was to keep pagan influences from making one unclean. Today if you are a believer your body is the housing of the Holy Spirit and that temple belongs to G-d he no where in his word says we are to decorate it with permanent markings.

If you like butterflies, get a T-Shirt with them on there. Or any other decent art, can be on a piece of clothing, a cell phone case, a piece of jewelry, etc. All these can be used to start a conversation to lead to a testimony.

And what happens if you change your mind? What about those who are believers that get a tattoo for witnessing and down the road, sadly, they don't believe any longer? Having that tattoo will open doors to opening conversations about why they left Christianity.

Just something to think about.

 

[Doug Melven]

I think God understands our hearts above all and knows if we do something to glorify him or if we do something to be disobedient to him. That's what it comes down to.

In Leviticus 11 there were 2 priests who wanted to worship God, but they wanted to do so in there own way.
God killed them.
Just because someone has good intentions does not mean what they are doing is good.

Whether or not that Scripture in Leviticus is warning against tattoos I am not 100% certain.
I myself do not recommend getting tattoos.
Not for Scriptural reasons, but for common sense.
I have 7 tattoos that I got when I was younger and regret them now.
I have one on each forearm and when I used to go job hunting I would always wear long sleeve shirts.
Also you never can tell what you will be like 20 years after you get the tattoo.

If you want to get one, get a non permanent design and wear it for awhile to see whether you really want it or not.

 

[Jon Osterman]

There also was not a prohibition about cutting one's beard. It was about a certain way of trimming it that was forbidden.

It seems quite clear to me:

Leviticus 19:27
27 “‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

This is why you often see orthodox Jews with long curly hair hanging down at the sides of their heads.

 

[singpeace]

The Lord sees the heart of each person. People have different convictions and we ought to be careful how we judge. I personally see nothing wrong with tattoos on a Christian. I know Christian bikers who are covered in tattoos that, in their own way, are meant to bring glory to God. They feed the homeless and do many good works for the Lord.

The New Testament doesn't speak of believers and whether or not they should tattoo. say that getting a tattoo is a sin. It is something believers must decide for themselves and follow their own convictions. We need to also respect those who follow a different principle.

I believe the Lord is concerned with the intentions and condition of the heart.

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. Psalm 139:1

. . . for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

"I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds. Jeremiah 17:10

 

[St. Helens]

I wear clothing items and jewelry to reflect my interests. Tattoos are too permanent--and my husband dislikes them. For me to get one would be dishonoring my husband. So tattoos are just a no go for me.

 

[Alithis]

The Lord sees the heart of each person. People have different convictions and we ought to be careful how we judge. I personally see nothing wrong with tattoos on a Christian. I know Christian bikers who are covered in tattoos that, in their own way, are meant to bring glory to God. They feed the homeless and do many good works for the Lord.

The New Testament doesn't speak of believers and whether or not they should tattoo. say that getting a tattoo is a sin. It is something believers must decide for themselves and follow their own convictions. We need to also respect those who follow a different principle.

I believe the Lord is concerned with the intentions and condition of the heart.

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. Psalm 139:1

. . . for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

"I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds. Jeremiah 17:10

Sadly this is misrepresentation .mostly.such people (like myself-though im not covered in them)got tattoos while we were dead in our sin

As its written -.. NOTE the PAST TENSE
"As for you, you WERE dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you USED to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are DISOBEDIENT. All of us also LIVED among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath."

We are Not to live that way anymore

 

[Lulav]

It seems quite clear to me:

Leviticus 19:27
27 “‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

This is why you often see orthodox Jews with long curly hair hanging down at the sides of their heads.

Yes that is the common day interpretation and the Ultra Orthodox start their boys when very young to grow the payot. However it again was about a pagan practice common during those days.

You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery. 27 You must not cut off the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. 28 You must not make any cuts in your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.​

That is, they are not to shave off the hair around the temples and behind the ears, so as to leave the head bald except a dish-like tuft upon the crown, thus imparting to their heads the form of a hemisphere. This was done by the Arabs, and other worshippers of the god Orotal. Hence the Arabs are ironically called “those with the corner of their hair polled,”.


According to the 5th century BCE Greek historian Herodotus, Orotalt was a god of Pre-Islamic Arabia whom he identified with the Greek god Dionysus:

They believe in no other gods except Dionysus and the Heavenly Aphrodite; and they say that they wear their hair as Dionysus does his, cutting it round the head and shaving the temples. They call Dionysus, Orotalt; and Aphrodite, Alilat.

 

[Par5]

There are tattoos and then there is this. Many people get tattoos and then spend the rest of their life regretting it. The rest of his life for this poor chap was much shorter than it should have been.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery. 27 You must not cut off the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. 28 You must not make any cuts in your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

Guess this verse spoken by Jesus is incorrect then

Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

We can not pick and choose which words we think are okay to obey

So if we believe that it is okay to "put tattoo marks on yourselves" then why not the others in the verse like "practice divination or sorcery"

Or is it like keeping 9 of the ten commandments? (omitting the 4th)

pick and choose instead of obedience

 

[jayem]

Not a fan of tattoos or body piercing other than earlobes. Not for any religious reason. I just think they're generally in bad taste. If anyone must have ink, it should be very inconspicuous. Think of what it'll look like in 50 years.

 

[Par5]

Not a fan of tattoos or body piercing other than earlobes. Not for any religious reason. I just think they're generally in bad taste. If anyone must have ink, it should be very inconspicuous. Think of what it'll look like in 50 years.


View attachment 241840

Never mind what it will look like in 50 years. Tattoos look pretty awful anytime, especially the ones that completely cover the arms. It makes people look as though they have some kind of skin disease.
I don't get this tattoo craze, much in the same way as I don't understand why some people wear jeans that look as though they have been attacked by a scalpel. Maybe it's just my age!

 

[Runswithdogs]

Meh....I reckon in 50 years i’ll care even less about the oppinion of people on the internet than I do now. Asuming I can even remember what a “internets” is...
Actually, probably by that time, I’ll probably spend all my free time wacking random people with my zimmer frame and asking them to hold my pet spider.... (note to self, get a gooty sapphire tarantula and teach it to sit on my head)

 

[Lulav]

Guess this verse spoken by Jesus is incorrect then

Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

We can not pick and choose which words we think are okay to obey

So if we believe that it is okay to "put tattoo marks on yourselves" then why not the others in the verse like "practice divination or sorcery"

Or is it like keeping 9 of the ten commandments? (omitting the 4th)

pick and choose instead of obedience

Not sure why you are quoting part of my post where the commandment is given about tattoos and then challenging me about Gods laws? Where am I picking and choosing? Did you mean to quote someone else? I don't do any of those things because God said not to.

And about the 10, I keep the Sabbath so I'm not sure why you've said all that?

 

[Original Happy Camper]

Not sure why you are quoting part of my post where the commandment is given about tattoos and then challenging me about Gods laws? Where am I picking and choosing? Did you mean to quote someone else? I don't do any of those things because God said not to.

And about the 10, I keep the Sabbath so I'm not sure why you've said all that?

I was spring boarding off of your post, should have been more clear about that

Sorry

 

[Lulav]

I was spring boarding off of your post, should have been more clear about that

Sorry

Ahh. you gotta be careful about those back flips.

 

[jamesbond007]

Many people have a tattoo today, so it's become mainstream. It isn't considered a sign of rebellion or creativity as much anymore.

There isn't anything the Bible that says getting a tattoo is sinful, but what type you get is. Rebellious ones are considered sinful. Tattoos as outward adornment to call attention to oneself is sinful. The motivation for getting one could be sinful such as to fit in or to stand out. If there is a message sent by the tattoo, then it could be the wrong kind and sinful. I suppose a Christian has to be mindful when getting a tattoo. In the olde days it was a pagan practice, usually based on superstition, so it may have been forbidden, but times have changed.