Aletheia

Q: As a Christian, does God approve or disapprove of tattoos and body piercing?

Scr: Lev. 19:28; Rom. 14:4-7; 1 Cor. 6:19-20

The dispute over tattoos and body piercing has been going on for a long time and the majority usually reaches the same conclusion: it all depends on the motive and, as Betsy said "it depends on the tattoo". There are always those in the minority who are the extremists. Some say its wrong because we shouldn't punch holes in or paint graffiti on God's temple. This group often uses Old Testament Scriptures like Lev. 19:28. However, Rom. 14: 4-7 abolishes the old Levitical laws. Others say we can do whatever we want so long as it doesn't infringe on others. A third group always exists that is totally apathetic about the whole thing like Krystal who said "it doesn't really matter."

Rachel was one of the first to bring up: "it depends on the tattoo." There are some who's tattoo's have glorified God and caused people to ask the person what it means and as a result has opened up the owner of the tattoo to witness. However, these cases a rather rare because few who want tattoos want something that will glorify God or be a witness. Usually it's a butterfly or some initials or something like that. Motive is the main thing that God is concerned about in us and is usually the only one who really knows what it is. Also, 1 Cor. Talks about not offending other believers and many find tattoos offensive. Based on these arguments, the stipulations would be that it has to glorify God, be motivated from Godly principals, and be able to be concealed so as not to offend.

This has just dealt with the Christian side. But we must consider also what non-Christians would think if they saw someone they knew to be a Christian that had a tattoo. It just might probably send the wrong impression. The impression may be "oh, well, Christians aren't really different from me so I don't need to be one." This is the worst impression to send. We, as Christians are called to be set apart from the world to such a degree with great joy so that the world sees who we are as a desirable thing to be. We are commanded in Rom 12:1,2 to offer our bodies as holy sacrifices and to cease conforming to that patterns of this world. There is no need for tattoos or body piercing. Earrings, I'd say, are OK because it's a culture thing. The extremists can not pierce their ears if they so desire, but they most certainly shouldn't go about proclaiming it as wrong because it is for them. I wouldn't do it because I don't need it and the motivation is usually pride and I want to be set apart from the world in a visible way.

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