What does the Bible say about tattoos / body piercings?

-StarDust- SG

Question: "What does the Bible say about tattoos / body piercings?"

Answer: The Old Testament law commanded the Israelites, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:28). So, even though believers today are not under the Old Testament law (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:15), the fact that there was a command against tattoos should raise some questions. The New Testament does not say anything about whether or not a believer should get a tattoo.

In relation to tattoos and body piercings, a good test is to determine whether we can honestly, in good conscience, ask God to bless and use that particular activity for His own good purposes. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The New Testament does not command against tattoos or body piercings, but it also does not give us any reason to believe God would have us get tattoos or body piercings.

An important scriptural principle on issues the Bible does not specifically address is if there is room for doubt whether it pleases God, then it is best not to engage in that activity. Romans 14:23 reminds us that anything that does not come from faith is sin. We need to remember that our bodies, as well as our souls, have been redeemed and belong to God. Although 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 does not directly apply to tattoos or body piercings, it does give us a principle: “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.” This great truth should have a real bearing on what we do and where we go with our bodies. If our bodies belong to God, we should make sure we have His clear “permission” before we “mark them up” with tattoos or body piercings.

Recommended Resource: How to Make Choices You Won't Regret by Arthur, Lawson, & Lawson.

Take That SG

Do you know that those with tattoos and body peircings still can be saved if they are still alive?You should preach to them the truth.

-StarDust- SG

Do you know that those with tattoos and body peircings still can be saved if they are still alive?You should preach to them the truth.

Yes i have evangelised those ppl with tatooo and body piercing.

gUms SG

didnt know they have tattoos and pierching back in those days.

SingaporeTyrannosaur SG

Depends on how you argue it.

I used to be in the strident anti-tattoo camp but of late have soften my stance quite a bit.

The way I understand it, the original context of the verse was that the practice of branding and tattooing in the old days had a lot of religious significance to the pagan practices and religions, ala. not unlike a traditional tribal tattoo in some places. Tattooing nowadays is done for rather different purposes.

So tough call.

Personally I think God is more interested in if a person is honest and has integrity and all that then if he has tattoos, just my humble opinion.

-StarDust- SG

Depends on how you argue it.

I used to be in the strident anti-tattoo camp but of late have soften my stance quite a bit.

So tough call.

Personally I think God is more interested in if a person is honest and has integrity and all that then if he has tattoos, just my humble opinion.

I agree but since our body is God's holy temple then we should not put tatoos or piercing there.

This post is for christians to read only.

My church have many people with tatoos who converted to christianality. Nvm since they have already done it.

SingaporeTyrannosaur SG

That argument has been used before.

The problem is that how far do you take it? Some people believe that to put any kind of makeup, hair colour, or anything that even alters the body a bit is bad.

No braces for your teeth, because that would often involve removing perfectly healthy teeth to make just straight teeth. Is that really necessary?

My point is not to argue for pro-or-anti tattoos, but to point out that the issue is not so simple to put down in black and white.

My take? Everyone should be truly convinced in their own mind what they are doing is the right thing, and stick to that conviction. We should learn to live with each other even if we do not fully agree. That would be a more powerful witness then being worried about what is on somebody's skin.

vince69 SG

That argument has been used before.

The problem is that how far do you take it? Some people believe that to put any kind of makeup, hair colour, or anything that even alters the body a bit is bad.

No braces for your teeth, because that would often involve removing perfectly healthy teeth to make just straight teeth. Is that really necessary?

My point is not to argue for pro-or-anti tattoos, but to point out that the issue is not so simple to put down in black and white.

imagine... no piercing of the ear to put on earrings....

Hahaha:) SG

Nice singaporetyrannosaur, well done. Guys learn from him/her.