S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

As a background, please read our article on "What does the Bible say about tattoos and body piercings?". Beyond the general theme of that article, there is the question of Christian tattoos. Do the...

Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer.

July 01 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Hairy Animals Supporter

Leviticus 19:28 says:
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

"Print any marks upon you." If you read it in the New International version, it says:

"'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."

So, this Scripture clearly prohibits tattoos of all kinds. Christians are not supposed to get tattoos. Getting a tattoo of a "Christian kind" would be a contradiction, like "participating in stealing of a Christian kind." Just like there is no such thing as Christian stealing, there is no such thing as Christian tattoos.

As a last word, Colossians chapter 3 says, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." How do you plan to get tattoos in the name of Jesus?

September 04 2014 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Casper Mcconnell Supporter Casper the Irish

I could quote some scriptures that indicate we should not cut our flesh nor brand ourselves but let me instead ask a few questions and make an observation and a suggestion.

How many people with a tattoo seem to be able to stop at one? There appears to be a certain addiction in the practice.

The essence of the process is to repeatedly penetrate the body. I would suggest to you that this gives an entry point to our vigilant enemy.

October 23 2013 • 8 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Melanie Barnert Supporter

There are still many people with tattoos that will have salvation. Some may have to get some removed. God said no tattoos, why get them? The money should be used toward missionaries. I have seen the addictions to them that waste money. 

In this age where many people have tattoos it would be more of a testimony to not have one. Yet it is permissible if it doesn't call people to stumble.

October 19 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Bryan Naidoo Supporter Post graduate and pastor

In my opinion, Christians who are born again would despise to interfere with their body. They realize their body has been purchased with a price and it is the temple of God. “Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? And ye are not your own.”
1 Corinthians 6:19 

There would come a day when all will stand before Christ and must answer what we have done with our body. If the reason for piercing or a tattoo is to make Christ known, we have no scripture to support that theory; rather the Bible says "our lives must be lights, salt." Having a tattoo does not make you a light or salt; it is our thinking, words and actions of Christ that display the light and salt of God.

We need to be very careful not to judge anyone that has a tattoo. There are many that had tattoos before their conversion, and that many today feel very disturbed. This means we have to be very careful how this subject is handled.

August 09 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

lynn Sander Supporter

1 Samuel 16:7
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 

Gal 2:6 
As for those who seemed to be important - whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance.

Mark 7:14-23
Again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him unclean by going into him. Rather it is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean."

I think we need to STOP focusing on things that aren't important and DO focus on what is: people's souls. Are people with tattoos unable to become a child of God? Does a Christian that gets a tattoo loose his salvation or fall out of favor with God? 

As Christians, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Cols 3:12-14.

We should, compelled by Christ's love, regard no one from a worldly point of view, 2 Cor 5:14-16, but, since Christ died for all, have compassion for souls.

I suspect there are many Christians who, like the Pharisees, "appear" to be the perfect clean-cut Christian. However, Jesus referred to them as hypocrites, brood of vipers, full of greed and self-indulgence, whitewashed tombs. In other words, Jesus cared more about the motivations and intentions of the heart.

For all who quote Lev. 19 to say tattoos are a sin, I wonder if they've read the whole chapter?

vs 19 Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material. 
Are all your clothes 100% cotton, polyester or wool?

vs 26 Do not eat meat with the blood still in it.
Do you ever eat hamburger, steak or pot roast?

vs 27 Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. 
Do you even have a beard, and if so do you trim it?
When you get your hair cut, do you only cut the top?

What does the world see when they look at Christians? Do they see judging, pride, condescension or compassion, humility and Christ's love?

October 11 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ezekiel Kimosop Supporter

I am uncomfortable with body tattoos of any description, including what may be described as "Christian tattoos". I do not think they serve any godly purpose. The Bible does not appear to support the practice. Besides, the Old Testament condemnation of body piercing is instructive for believers. Leviticus 19:28 says "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD."

January 28 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report