What Does the Bible Say About Tattoos?i

The Bible's answer

The Bible mentions tattoos just once, at Leviticus 19:28, which says:  "You must not put tattoo markings upon yourselves." God gave this command to the nation of Israel, thus setting them apart from the neighboring people who marked their skin with the names  or symbols of their god's.  (Deuteronomy 14:2) 

Should a Christian get a tattoo or body art? 

The following Bible verses can help you to reason on the matter: 

"Women should adorn themselves with . . . modesty."  (1 Timothy 2:9, New American Bible) That principle applies to both men and women.  We should respect the feelings of others and draw undue attention to ourselves.  

Note: We should also have respect for our bodies. This should not apply just for Christians, it should apply to everyone.  Tattoos make the body look tacky and you don't need to have those to be different. Your personality does that; which is why God made us with our own personality and certain traits and habits, and intended for us to stay the way we were made and not to change anything. We are not meant to be robots or he not only would have put the tattoos on us, if we were meant to have them;  but he also would have made us robots instead. Why can't people use their minds the way it was meant to be used, and not let someone else/society or your friends, if your friend jumped off a very high cliff, would you do the same?  Think and be logical before you do these things. When you grow old, how do you think these tattoos are going to look on you when everything starts sagging?  THINK!  Piercings also degrade the body and makes it look tacky.

Some want to establish their identity or independence, while others get a tattoo   in order to assert ownership of their body. However, the Bible encourages Christians:  "Present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason."  (Romans 12:1) Use your "power of reason" to analyze why you want a tattoo. If it is because you want to follow a fad or to show membership in a certain group, remember that your feelings may prove to be less permanent than the tattoo.  Examining your motives can help you to make a wise decision. -Proverbs 4:7.

Note: Also, if you are trying to be different; if you join a group and look just like them with tattoos, and piercings, then you are just looking like everyone in your group, not yourself.   Remember your personality makes you an individual in itself. 

"The plans of the diligent one surely make for advantage, but everyone that is hasty surely heads for want." (Proverbs 21:5) The decision to get a tattoo is often made in haste, yet it can have a long-term impact on relationships and employment. And tattoos can be costly and painful to remove.  Research-as well as the booming business of tattoo removal-shows that  a large number of those who get tattoos eventually wished they hadn't.   Why would you want to look like a dozen or more other people. Be true to who God made you to be. 

Next time: KEYS TO FAMILY HAPPINESS/ When Your Child Is Disabled

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