Are Tattoos sin?
Tattoos are something that I have had a problem with for a long time. I believed that anyone who had tattoos were bad people, people you don’t want to socialite with. They were PUNKS, people who always cause problems. Boy! Was I a judgmentally idiot. But let’s read for a minute on what is usually taught on this subject. This was pulled off the internet. It also talks about body piercing.
In relation to tattoos and body piercings, a good test is to determine whether we can honestly, in good conscience, ask God to bless and use the particular activity for His own good purposes. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). The Bible does not command against tattoos or body piercings, but it also does not give us any reason to believe God would have us get tattoos or body piercings.
Another issue to consider is modesty. The Bible instructs us to dress modestly (1 Timothy 2:9). One aspect of dressing modestly is making sure everything that should be covered by clothing is adequately covered. However, the essential meaning of modesty is not drawing attention to yourself. People who dress modestly dress in such a way that they do not draw attention to themselves. Tattoos and body piercings most definitely draw attention. In this sense, tattoos and body piercings are not modest.
An important Scriptural principle on issues that the Bible does not specifically address is that if there is room for doubt as to whether it pleases God, then it is best to not engage in that activity. "For whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). We need to remember that our bodies, as well as our souls, have been redeemed and belong to God. Although 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 does not directly apply to tattoos or body piercings, it does give us a principle, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." This great truth should have a real bearing on what we do and where we go with our bodies. If our bodies belong to God, we should make sure we have His clear "permission" before we "mark it up" with tattoos or body piercings.
(from http://www.gotquestions.org/tattoos-sin.html)
I agree with this to some extent but not all. It also says that the Bible has nothing to say if tattoos and body piercing are sin or not. So let’s deal with one scripture at a time.
1 (1 Corinthians 10:31). In using this scripture, “what so ever you do”, everything we do does need to glory god but how does getting a tattoo or piercing not glorifying? This need to be clarified by scripture before we call it sin. Now I can understand that there are some tattoos that are uncalled for and definitely are not glorify God but not all are that way.
2 (1 Timothy 2:9) Dressing modestly to not to bring attention to your self. Okay, does this mean if I am a minister that wears a suit so that people will know who I am; isn’t that bringing attention to your self? Wouldn’t this also be considered a sin? If so, that means that all ministers that wear suits are sinning.
3 (Romans 14:23). "For whatsoever is not of faith is sin" Since there is no act of faith to breath, specialty while sleeping, does this mean we are sinning?
4 (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) This is where I agree. Our body does belong to God but this still doesn’t give a clear answer on all tattoos and piercing. Because, do we ever ask God if we can get fat, grow long hair or shave our heads, cut our finger and toe nails, where makeup…..?
I am not writing this to disprove this website opinions or theology but to make a point. Never use scripture to support your opinion. Because I can found scriptures that will make eating steak or hamburgers a sin.
And because of this issue, those who have tattoos and body piercing feel they can’t ever go to church or be forgiving by God. Specialty those with tattoo’s, they are not as easy to removed as body piercing.
The Church needs to realize that the generations coming up are asking question like these on why certain thing are called sin and if the church can not give a clear scripture reference than the church needs to revaluate its opinions. Remember we are supposed to defend scripture not church religion.
Tattoos are something that I have had a problem with for a long time. I believed that anyone who had tattoos were bad people, people you don’t want to socialite with. They were PUNKS, people who always cause problems. Boy! Was I a judgmentally idiot. But let’s read for a minute on what is usually taught on this subject. This was pulled off the internet. It also talks about body piercing.
In relation to tattoos and body piercings, a good test is to determine whether we can honestly, in good conscience, ask God to bless and use the particular activity for His own good purposes. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). The Bible does not command against tattoos or body piercings, but it also does not give us any reason to believe God would have us get tattoos or body piercings.
Another issue to consider is modesty. The Bible instructs us to dress modestly (1 Timothy 2:9). One aspect of dressing modestly is making sure everything that should be covered by clothing is adequately covered. However, the essential meaning of modesty is not drawing attention to yourself. People who dress modestly dress in such a way that they do not draw attention to themselves. Tattoos and body piercings most definitely draw attention. In this sense, tattoos and body piercings are not modest.
An important Scriptural principle on issues that the Bible does not specifically address is that if there is room for doubt as to whether it pleases God, then it is best to not engage in that activity. "For whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). We need to remember that our bodies, as well as our souls, have been redeemed and belong to God. Although 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 does not directly apply to tattoos or body piercings, it does give us a principle, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." This great truth should have a real bearing on what we do and where we go with our bodies. If our bodies belong to God, we should make sure we have His clear "permission" before we "mark it up" with tattoos or body piercings.
(from http://www.gotquestions.org/tattoos-sin.html)
I agree with this to some extent but not all. It also says that the Bible has nothing to say if tattoos and body piercing are sin or not. So let’s deal with one scripture at a time.
1 (1 Corinthians 10:31). In using this scripture, “what so ever you do”, everything we do does need to glory god but how does getting a tattoo or piercing not glorifying? This need to be clarified by scripture before we call it sin. Now I can understand that there are some tattoos that are uncalled for and definitely are not glorify God but not all are that way.
2 (1 Timothy 2:9) Dressing modestly to not to bring attention to your self. Okay, does this mean if I am a minister that wears a suit so that people will know who I am; isn’t that bringing attention to your self? Wouldn’t this also be considered a sin? If so, that means that all ministers that wear suits are sinning.
3 (Romans 14:23). "For whatsoever is not of faith is sin" Since there is no act of faith to breath, specialty while sleeping, does this mean we are sinning?
4 (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) This is where I agree. Our body does belong to God but this still doesn’t give a clear answer on all tattoos and piercing. Because, do we ever ask God if we can get fat, grow long hair or shave our heads, cut our finger and toe nails, where makeup…..?
I am not writing this to disprove this website opinions or theology but to make a point. Never use scripture to support your opinion. Because I can found scriptures that will make eating steak or hamburgers a sin.
And because of this issue, those who have tattoos and body piercing feel they can’t ever go to church or be forgiving by God. Specialty those with tattoo’s, they are not as easy to removed as body piercing.
The Church needs to realize that the generations coming up are asking question like these on why certain thing are called sin and if the church can not give a clear scripture reference than the church needs to revaluate its opinions. Remember we are supposed to defend scripture not church religion.
posted by Jason at
8:34 AM
1 Comments:
Hi Jason - thanks for your comments on my blog. I used to live in Muskogee years ago - that sort of caught my eye!
Interestingly enough, I just had this conversation today with someone about tattoo's - (I personally don't see tattoos necessarily as a 'sin' issue) but I think the scripture I referenced was in Corinthians were Paul twice said, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify."
It would seem motive is a big question - if the purpose of a tattoo to draw attention to a certain body part or to one's body period - then I'd have to say that is something I'd deem unscriptural, not helpful or edifying.
That's my .02
Blessings,
Pastor e
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