Is it a sin for Christians to get tattoos?

A lot of my peers have piercings or get tattooed. Their argument for it lies in the fact that God does not look at your outward appearance. But tattoos and piercings are strictly frowned upon in our community. The Bible also has a passage in the Old Testament where “no tattooing or piercing” was part of the law. How should we understand such a passage, and is it possible to explain the ‘right and wrong’ of it?

Tattoos are an interesting topic because many people want them, and most people get them as reminders of things they believe in or things they have been through. Each tattoo tells a story.

Getting tattoos can cause conflicts in families, especially when teenagers want them, and their parents do not want them to get one. First, if you are not old enough to get a tattoo, you should not get one without your parents’ consent. The Bible commands us to honour our parents (Ephesians 6:1) — and obedience to them, while under their authority, is a natural part of that. Second, it is not a good idea to get a tattoo in order to spite or upset someone else.

What does the Bible say about tattoos?

The only verse in the Christian Bible that mentions tattoos is Leviticus 19:28, which reads: “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD.” This verse forbids getting a tattoo. However, it’s important to note it does so because tattoos were primarily given in pagan or witchcraft ceremonies at the time. The tattoos were also the result of scarring from cuts, typically inflicted with sharp rocks. 

The Jews were not to get tattoos, because they were to worship no other gods. If a Jew received a tattoo, it would have been because he or she was participating in a religious ceremony to someone other than the Lord their God. Today, tattoos are not strictly associated with religious practices, though they can be. The main principle behind the verse has to do with serving and worshipping false gods. Therefore, as long as a tattoo is not of something that is opposed to Christian beliefs, there is no inherently sinful issue with getting one. The same can be said of piercings.

No carte blanche

Having said that, there are a few questions to ask yourself before you make a decision:

• Is the tattoo something you would not be ashamed of in front of others (parents, grandparents, church members, friends, co-workers, employers, neighbours, your kids etc.)? While tattoos typically represent something significant that you have gone through, been a part of, or reflect something for which you care deeply, what you put on your skin should be something you have no problem with other people seeing. If you know, however, that a tattoo will negatively affect your witness, cause you to be continually self-conscious, or reflect poorly on your character, it’s best to avoid that kind of symbol.
• Are you seeking it out of rebellion or some other form of expression? If you are wanting to get a tattoo in rebellion or against the wishes of your family, authority, or community, your motives prove your heart in the wrong place with reference to your self-expression — and you may want to examine what’s driving your decision.
• Will you be happy with having this tattoo for the rest of your life? As we grow older, it is inevitable that our priorities, values and way of thinking will change. What we believe wonderful today may well become something that repels us in a couple of decades. Because tattoos are permanent (unless you consider the very expensive and painful process of having them removed), they should, at the very least, give us pause and make us ask ourselves if we’re sure that’s what we want.
• Will the area of your body where it is change, causing the tattoo to expand or sag? This is not a new argument. Nevertheless, its sheer practicality merits consideration. We have no guarantee that we’re going to look the same as the years pass by. Time is not known to be kind to one’s looks, so if you’re planning to ink a part of you that’s subject to change (and not for the better), it should be reason to think again.   

Consider the big picture

The New Testament does not give us specific instructions on tattoos — but it does offer us big-picture principles on how to make decisions in life. Let me leave you with three to consider:

1. All things are permissible, but not all things are profitable (1 Corinthians 10:23). Getting a tattoo is permissible. As mentioned before, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with getting one. But it would serve us well to consider how it would affect our witness.
2. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit… You are not your own. Therefore, honour God with your bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19). If you choose to get a tattoo, let it not be one that reflects poorly on the Lord or your witness. 
3. Let your adornment be the hidden person of the heart (1 Peter 3:3-4). There is nothing wrong with making yourself look good on the outside or with getting a tattoo, but Peter encourages us to remember that our value comes from being created in God’s image. The way you look on the outside should not define who you are, for God is more concerned with your heart and whether you live in accordance with His will.