This topic is complex and unfathomable considering the teachings of the bible. Some christians frown and condemn others with tattoos, body piercing and other body disfigurements.
They argue that, our body is the temple of God and therefore, should not be destroyed with all these body mutilations. Although we no longer live under some of the laws of the old testament, “leviticus 19:28 is always on the lips of christians who view tattoos and piercing as a sin. It says ” Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you, I am the Lord”.
If we take a critical look at this verse, then women should avoid wearing earrings or having their ear pierced. In corinthians 10:31, “therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”. So my question is; If I tattoo’d or inked the image of christ, the bible or rosary on my body as a representation of my faith and believe in Christ, is that considered a sin or transgression that’s unheard of?
When we revisit leviticus 19, verse 19, it goes ” Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: Thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee”
As a friend said, if tattooing is sinful, then we should burn our polyester/cotton clothings, since that is a garment of mixed linen and wool. I cogitated deeply about this subject, especially, when I read from another website that a certain gentleman was sent out of a church because of his tattoos.
Matthew 7:1 saids: “judge not, that ye be not judged”. Are these churches not being judgemental and harsh on these “non-christians” as they prefer to call them?
Very recently, one of our Ghanaian actress was making headlines because of her comment about actors with tattoos. According to Martha Ankomah, it is a sin and even buttressed her point with “leviticus 19:28.
They say, never judge a book by it cover and appearance can be very deceptive, yet our outward appearance is most often a manifestation of what’s inside us.
Due to that, people with tattoos, piercings and anklet are automatically indicated as non-christians or sinners. They are ostracised and society looked down on them since it’s against societal norms and it’s a maladaptive behaviour.
I quiet remember, a friend walked into this church one sunday and the pastor summoned her and kept ranting on the nose ring she had….the minister added “you have a beautiful face, but the nose ring makes you ugly”.
My friend was forced to change her church. Are these really necessary? Does tattoos, anklets and body piearcing depict or define who you are? Must we entertain and accomodate such behavior in our churches? Is it really a sin? What have you got to say?
if Martha Ankomah is makin dis statement, has she asked herself wht the Bible says about her job????? is it ok to kiss and make out wit men other than your partner in the name of movie making??? she should spare us the those statements….
i have a tattoo, a crucifix and i’m very proud of it.it represents ma faith and nobody can tell me otherwise….i did it wit the purest of hearts.. .if in the olden days, der were no combs, have we asked ourselves how their hair looked??today if u wear locks, u’re classified as a nobody, aimless, vagabond…even within the christian faith, der are diverse opinions on certain issues. SDA females do not wear earrings and do not touch their hair wit any chemical. can we therefore conclude that those who do dese are not christians?? from the whites who introduced us to christianity, it’s easy to see a guy attend church wit an earring…if u attend church here wit an earring as a guy or u wear locks to church,dey make sure dey make u so uncomfortable u’ll never come bak. der are churches where a lady can be told to go home by the ushers to change her dress..
my question is,God asked christians to win souls for him, how can u win souls if u send those who’re comin to the Lord home??? have dey imagined the scenario where such a person leaves and dies??? don’t dey think dey have impeded the persons salvation????
i don’t think it’s a sin at all………..
I don’t believe that getting your ears pierced is wrong, as long as you only have only one hole in each. When you start getting your ears pierced multiple times and getting everything else pierced, it starts being a sin. Remember, your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost.
Also, I believe tattoos are wrong. It says in Leviticus 19:28, that you shouldn’t have tattoos. “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, NOR TATTOO ANY MARKS ON YOU: I am the LORD. ” (Leviticus 19:28)
@Miyagi, Leviticus 19:28 saids; “you shall not make ANY cuttings in your flesh for the dead”….so don’t you think getting even one hole in each ear is still a CUT and must therefore be considered a sin?
@Posted By: Leticia Owusu,Well I don’t think so because it talks about not making any cuttings in your flesh for the dead,…. Either with their nails, tearing their cheeks and other parts, or with any instrument, knife, razor leviticus also says not to cut your hair or eat meat with blood still in it.
so if we’re going to use leviticus as a guide to life, haircuts, and steaks are unchristian as well i love when so-called christians use random verses to criticize someone else.
first of all, it’s the OLD TESTAMENT you can’t have it both ways either you believe in Jesus and the old testament is moot, or you don’t believe in Jesus and it isn’t moot That’s my opinion I could be wrong but will wait for your feedback
@Miyagi, that’s basically the whole point of this article….if we follow Jesus, then that means the laws in the old testament is not significant and therefore the leviticus verse should not be used to condemn ppl. wit tattoos, piercings and anklets…..christ died and wash’d up our sins and all these laws in the old testament…………..So why do we still view that as a sin? remember you first made the assertion that,” it’s a sin”…so was ur first comment or arguement based on the old testament or the fact that u are a follower of christ?? bear in mind u said, “if u believe in Jesus then the old testament is a moot”.
@Posted By: Leticia Owusu, I see where your coming from thanks for the tip
@miyagi,
This is a very important issue Leticia wrote about. Ithink the Lord God is Holy and we as Christians shd not do things that will bring the name of the Lord into disrespect. The NT encourages as to live as Christ did and aspire to become like him. Decency is a matter of choise and preference but the Lord will judge us all one day. People will say sort of things but the bottom line is, does your conscience allow you to do all these things as a Christian? Remember the NT came to fulfil the OT not to ‘moot’ the it. May the grace of our Lord be with us all and know each one of us will be held accountable for we do with the temple of the Lord. Amen
Personally I don’t fancy any of these stuff cos I don’t see how they can enhance my physical looks in any way or add any value 2 my life.Some just put them on for the sake of fashion but dats their own problem.
Christians are always quick to condemn people. And I’m Christian myself. We always quick to say someone is going to hell. Are you telling me when Ghanaians get tribal marks on there face there going to hell? Let’s keep it real. Someone can get a tattoo and do charity work his whole life, is he/she going to hell? Someone with no tattoo can rape young children, is he better than the guy with the tattoo doing charity because he has none? Just be good in God’s eyes and obey Jesus. That’s all. God judges us all by our heart.
interesting topic. don’t know why Martha Ankomah said that, but to me it all depends on what’s within you. @JonJon well said.
well I rly dnt know abt it been a sin or not but i’m not sure i’ll take a girl with tattoo home to meet mom…
It gives a different impression abt a person…..we are ghanaians and I think we have our values and culture……..
if the bibble is against it then i think it a sin.
What a man does with his body does not defiles his intergity according to his own beliefs.God made his rules you have chosen to abide.The other man does vice versa. Please live it to karma and old age.Then we shall all come to terms with choices we made in our lives..
principles are difficult to be compromise. i donot lyk tattoos and any form of body disfiguring but opinions differ and so its with culture i will not do it but if someone wants to do it so be. it. if u ask me i luv my body and i donot think i can withstand any form of piercing and that is the advice i will give to any body. if its a sign then the pple who do it must beware cos the Lord our God is a jealous God.
1. Leviticus? Really! That whole book was written for Levites. Those were the days of the Law where no one can please God. All righteousness to the law is like a filthy rag before GOD. I can’t get the verse to that but I know you all know it anyway. Jesus is the new Grace for unmerited righteousness so whether you done abortion, murder, robbery, sleeping with other peoples husbands and wives, dissing people with articles in the media, piercing or tattoos, once you accept Jesus as your saviour, God does not see all this in you, He sees Jesus his son in you.
2. Now tattoos are very painful trust me. No ‘joke’ minded person can go through it. Its only the ones who think beyond the ordinary. its true other have abused body arts but trust me, one of the reason why I will love to marry Nadia any day anytime is cos of her tattoo. It kills me!
Tish nice one there!!
The Israelites were the children of God. And If we wld remember, wen moses went to collect the Commandment frm God and it took him a while to return; the Israelites used their Gold earrings, bracelets and other jewelry to mold a different image to worship. So if having piercing is a sin why wld they have earrings or even pierced their noses. Besides wen moses was walking with them, he cld have told the ladies to remove their earings, if it was a sin. I dnt knw abt Tatoos though, cos I wldn´t like to hv tatoos on my body bt I do hv more than two ear holes.
Thanks for your feedback you make some good points as well amen to that