Tattoos have gone mainstream and are not found on just sailors and bikers. They are now found on all kinds of people - moms, police officers, doctors, students, and even pastors. Just because they are popular doesn’t mean they are good.
What does the Bible say about tattoos?
Leviticus 19:28 – “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourself. I am the Lord”. This verse is in the Bible because God wanted to protect the Israelites and keep His people different from the other nations surrounding them. He wanted them to be set apart from other religious practices, like pagan worship and sorcery. Tattooing was a pagan practice connected with idolatry and superstition.
Isaiah 49:16 – “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” God is assuring His people that He will not forget them.
Revelation 19:16 says that Jesus has a tattoo on His thigh – “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KINGS OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.
2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.”
Some use 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 as an argument. “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 no you own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” Paul is talking about fleeing from sexual immorality. He is saying that other sins that a person commits are outside the body, but the sexual sin is against his own body. Your body is a temp that was bought with a price so you are to glorify God in your body.
God doesn’t condemn tattoos outright. These kinds of marks when associated with pagan worship were forbidden. Just because tattoos are gaining in popularity, doesn’t mean they are accepted as godly practice. You need to ask yourself what is your motivations. Is it based on vanity? Is it because of rebellion? Will it risk my health? Is it the wisest use of my money? Will it hurt my witness? Will it portray hatred, violence, or something evil that is against God’s standards? The final question to ask yourself is, will the tattoo honor God? It all comes down to personal conviction. The decision is between you and God.
Since Scripture doesn’t condemn tattoos themselves, doesn’t a person should get one. You should think long and hard before heading to a tattoo parlor. Christians are not under the Law, but under grace. It seems that Christians can do what they want as long as it honors God. Just because others are getting tattoos doesn’t justify it. You should ask yourself, “What am I identifying with?”
It seems whatever God desires us to do, Satan encourages us to do the opposite. We are made in the image of God and Satan wants to change that image. He wants us to confuse it so all sexes to look alike and confuse their sexuality. He wants us to do whatever does not please God. God wants us to live a clean and holy life. God wants us to serve only Him, but the enemy wants us to serve other things. Getting a tattoo can identify us with the world. It can harm our testimony. It is one more thing the world is offering from which we should be separate.
Before you get a tattoo consider these things:
Tattoos are permanent.
Others things to consider:
Know your tattoo artist. States require that artists abide by certain health and safety standards. But there's no requirement that an artist have talent. It leaves people exposed to contracting HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.
Research shows that having visible tattoos makes is harder to get hired for a job.
Know that a tattoo could change the way you're perceived. If you are a sensitive person, that could play into your decision.
While there is not a direct link between tattoos and skin cancer, there is enough concerning information about a possible connection to make you think twice.
Because the needles penetrate your skin, you will be exposed to potential infections.
It seems that tattooing your partner's name on your body is a red flag that you're about to break up.
Make sure the tattoo shop is clean
Make sure the water is sterile or it could contaminate the entire ink supply, spreading infection.
You should get to know the artist and ask lots of questions.
Watch out for misspelled tattooing.
You could face some discrimination for a visible tattoo.
Make sure your artist is experienced. Check it out on Yelp. If you can't find the shop's website or there doesn't seem to be any helpful information on it, that's a bad sign.
Make sure you can see examples of the artist’s work.
In Summary - Tattooing falls into “disputable matters”. It is a controversial issue so you need to examine your motives before making that decision. It can harm your testimony. It is one more thing the world is offering from which we should be separate.
Principle: Think before you ink.
Join me here next week. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below. You still need to think before you ink, especially if you’re a Christian. Study the Bible, pray and ask God for wisdom, and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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