Can a Christian get a tattoo?

 

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.

Consider the placement.

Know it hurts.

Health issues could interfere with your ability to heal – diabetes, heart problems, and circulation issues.

Tattoos breach the skin, meaning skin infections are possible.

Tattoos change with age.

Tattoos can fade.

Removal is expensive and not always completely effective and can leave scars.

It may hurt my testimony.

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.

Resources

The Holy Bible – New International Version

thelist.com/85191/big-reasons-never-get-tattoo/

huffpost.com/entry/is-it-a-sin-to-get-a-tattoo_b_4263807

independentbaptist.com/should-a-christian-get-tattoos/

How do you know your are a Christian?

 

You know you are a Christian by believing in these things:

The virgin birth of Jesus

That Jesus is the Son of God 

There is one true and living God (The Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

The necessity of the Cross for salvation

The Resurrection of Jesus

The second coming of Jesus

The Scriptures are the inspired Word of God

Do you love God and seek to obey His Word?

When you sin, do you feel sorry and turn away from your sin?

Are you growing to be more like Jesus by showing love, joy, patience, kindness, and self-control?

You know you are a Christian when you put God first and by not having idols.  Anything you put before God is an idol.  An idol can be a person, a material thing, a denomination or even a ministry.  A Christian is not full of pride, but humility.  You don’t have a feeling of being superior, but think of the others before yourself.

You can know you are a Christian because of God’s Word.  The Bible gives you assurance and encouragement.  By studying the Bible, it helps you grow and mature in Christ.  It guides you in the right way to live.  It tells you of God’s promises and that His promises are for all believers from the beginning of time.

You can know you are a Christian because He has given you the Holy Spirit who has sealed you for salvation.  His Spirit reminds you that we belong to God.  He intercedes for you when you pray.  He speaks to you with an inner conviction when you sin drawing you away from that sin and closer to God.  He bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of God.

You can know you are a Christian when you strive to be more like Christ.  You listen when the Holy Spirits speaks to you and you are obedient to God’s Word.  You don’t live as the world does by giving in to the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes.  You love others and want the best for them.  You want to do the Father’s will and not your own.  You obey God’s call to be a witness for the Gospel of Christ.

Remember that being a Christian doesn’t mean you are perfect.  While you try to live as God wants, you will fail from time to time.  But you need to remember that Jesus died to pay the penalty for that failure.  So when you fall, get up and admit your sin and give thanks for what Jesus has done for you.  Look at what He has done rather than what you have done.  His actions, not yours, are the actions by which God has saved you.

You can be religious and go to church, mosque, or synagogue and still not be a Christian.  All roads don’t lead to God.  Jesus said He is the only way.  He is the only one who died for your sins.  You can be baptized and live a good life; you can believe in miracles, heaven and hell, but there needs to be an inward change.  You can pray and still not be a Christian.  We all pray when we are in trouble.  You can pray and pray, but if you haven’t admitted to God that you are a sinner and lost without him; if you haven’t asked His forgiveness, it won’t do any good.

1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 13:5 says to examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith.

Now that you know who you are as a Christian, how are you living?  Is there evidence that you are a Christian?  If anyone examined your life, would they find any spiritual fruit?  Would they find good works? 

Good works won’t save a person, but they are reasonable evidence of salvation.  God has taken care of your salvation through the finished work of Jesus on the cross.  Because of the work of Jesus Christ, your life should reflect your commitment to Him.  If you are saved, then good works will follow.  Do you exhibit the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control found in Galatians 6?  A Christian should also be God-fearing and humble.  No Christian is perfect in all these qualities, but you will continue to grow these qualities when the Spirit is at work in you.

You need to know who you are as a believer so you can live the life and destiny God intended.  Understanding who you are will give your life a strong foundation.

You are not your past or anything you have done or not done.  When you became a believer, you became a new creation.  You have a new identity.  Your old life is gone and forgiven.  You are loved and accepted as a child of God.  You are a Saint, redeemed and forgiven.  You are free from condemnation.

Ephesian 1 and 2 tell you exactly who you are as a Christian:

You were chosen before the creation of the world.

You were predestined to be adopted into God’s family.

You have redemption through the blood of Jesus.

You are marked with a seal of the promised Holy Spirit guaranteeing your inheritance.

You are enlightened so you know you have hope and riches in heaven.

You have power and strength like that power Jesus exerted when He was raised from the dead.

You were dead in your transgressions and sin in which you used to live when you followed the ways of Satan and displayed disobedience.

Now because of God’s mercy, you are made alive with Christ.

We are saved by His grace through faith, not by your works.

You are God’s workmanship created in Christ to do good works.

You were separated from Christ, but now you have been brought near to Him because of His blood.

You are at peace because Jesus Himself is peace.

You are a new creation.

You have access to the Father by one Spirit.

You are no longer aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of His household.

You are part of a community of believers joined together with other Christians building a holy temple in the Lord in which Jesus is the chief Cornerstone.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope to see you here next time.  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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What Does It Mean To Let Go And Let God

 

Do you like to be in control of your life?  We all like to be in control.  We like to be in control at work, at home and in our finances.  We try to control our circumstances and we even try to control people by manipulating their behavior.  We think we know best.  God calls that pride.

Are you really in control?  If not, who is?  Is it your spouse, your children, your boss, your hobby, your circumstance?  Is God the One in control?  God needs to be.  What does it mean to let God be in control?  It means you acknowledge Jesus as the ultimate authority in your life and you yield the control of your life to Him and Him alone.  You turn to Him with all your concerns and let Him handle them.  You trust Him to make all the decisions.  He’s already in control anyway.

We all struggle to give up control usually because of fear of the unknown.  Remember God has promised He will always walk beside you, no matter what.  “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9. 

We many think we have the perfect solution to a problem, but it may be completely wrong.  God already has your problem solved.  You may not know why you are going through something, but God does and He is working it out for your good.

Friends and family give you advice, but their advice is not always perfect.  God always gives perfect advice and at the perfect time.  He gives the perfect answers.  “His works are perfect, and all His ways are just.” – Deuteronomy 32:4.  He is consistently on your side pushing you in the right direction and He never changes.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8.

Whatever trial you are going through, just give it to God.  That means surrendering to Him and just plain giving up.  It’s telling Him you are not big enough to deal with your worries and He has to take over.  Nothing is too big for Him.  He can handle it.  Our hands are weak and tired while His hands are strong and powerful.  “Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.” – Psalm 89:13. 

Letting go is a daily and a moment by moment choice.  We must learn to surrender and give it to God.  Start the day with prayer and Scripture.  Continually surrender your worries to Him and trust and believe He is for you and not against you.  “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7.

If you believe Colossians 1:17 - “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together”, then you can trust and know He’s got everything under control so you don’t have to worry about anything.  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us He knows what’s best.  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

The unknown is scary.  We get anxious and we doubt God’s ability.  Giving Him control is not always easy.  So how do you let go and let God? 

• First as you start your day, get down on your knees and pray.  Let God guide you in all that you do.
• Stop striving to make your life a certain way and just abide in Him.  Psalm 46:8-10 says to come and see His works and know that He is God.  Then you need to confess and surrender your need for control.  Stop trying to figure out why things happen in life.  We don’t always understand why God does what He does or why He lets things happen in our lives.  He understands more about us and our life that we ever could.
• To let go and let God you need to be still, trust and know He’s always in control. Learning to trust God completely doesn’t just happen overnight.  It’s a lifelong process.  We have to choose to trust Him.  Talk to Him and listen to Him.  Spend time with Him in prayer and in His Word.  When you spend time with someone, you get to know them.  It only makes sense the more you know someone, the more you learn about them and their character.  It’s easier to trust God when you know Him.  You will never fully grasp His power unless you are focused on Him.
  
• You must also continue to seek God.  “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13.  It’s wonderful to have the burden of decisions and control taken off your shoulders.  God’s plan will always be better.  By giving Him total control you can experience true peace and freedom knowing He has a plan for you.
• Don’t forget to thank Him.  He is so good.  Even if you struggle with control, go to Him with a thankful heart.  Always show gratitude for all He’s done and is doing for you.  And don’t forget to thank Him for the small things, not just the big things.

Who is in control of your life?

Is it God or is it your pride?

Are you fully surrendering your worries to Jesus in every area of your life?

Why should you let go and let God?  He is trustworthy and faithful.  He keeps His promises.  He is consistent and never changes.  He already has your problem solved.  He doesn’t make mistakes.  He created you and He controls everything.  Why wouldn’t you want Him to be the center and the controller of your life?  He has proven Himself over and over again.  He’s on your side and He can sure do a better job of running the world and your life than you can.  So let go and let God.

“The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become because He made us.” – C. S. Lewis.

“It’s time to let God’s love cover all things in your life.  All secrets.  All hurts.  All hours of evil, minutes of worry.” – Max Lucado

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope to see you here next time.  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.

Resources:

The Holy Bible – New International Version