Is getting a tattoo a sin?

AviAri · Nov 27, 2017

I used to self harm and have some very ugly scars on my left arm. I wish to get a Christian tattoo to cover it so my daughter doesn't grow up seeing these scars and not confined to long sleeves anymore. Would it be a sin to do so?

Monk Brendan · Nov 27, 2017

AviAri said:
I used to self harm and have some very ugly scars on my left arm. I wish to get a Christian tattoo to cover it so my daughter doesn't grow up seeing these scars and not confined to long sleeves anymore. Would it be a sin to do so?

No, I don't think so. I find tattoos distasteful, and the only reason that I would allow it on my body is if they were marking me for radiation therapy. But a sin? We are not under the Law but under grace.

Have you thought of plastic surgery?

“Paisios” · Nov 27, 2017

AviAri said:
I used to self harm and have some very ugly scars on my left arm. I wish to get a Christian tattoo to cover it so my daughter doesn't grow up seeing these scars and not confined to long sleeves anymore. Would it be a sin to do so?

Leviticus 19:28 seems to speak against them, but I have heard it preached that that prohibition was made because most tattoos in that time were religious ones to other gods, so 5hat it was more against idolatry, and that it wouldn’t apply to most of the tattoos today. I certainly know many Christians who have ink. Not sure if I am right on this.

Winken · Nov 27, 2017

No. Just be VERY careful about what you consider to be a "Christian" tattoo. VERY careful!

Bro. Daniel · Nov 27, 2017

AviAri said:
I used to self harm and have some very ugly scars on my left arm. I wish to get a Christian tattoo to cover it so my daughter doesn't grow up seeing these scars and not confined to long sleeves anymore. Would it be a sin to do so?

Unfortunately as tempting and seemingly beautiful as some look regardless of design, no do not get one, yes it is a sin. Per Leviticus 19:28 as Shoetoyou pointed out as well "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord."

The reason: It's a pagan / occult / witchcraft blood ritual and practice of defilement of God's temple (the body) to worship Satan. If you initiate yourself into one of those, my goodness... it will not be well. Those who already have them need to get them removed. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

ewq1938 · Nov 27, 2017

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

Leviticus 19:28 You may not make cuts in your flesh in respect for the dead, or have marks printed on your bodies: I am the Lord. (BBE)

This appears to be related to putting marks on your body for the dead rather than marks for other reasons.

In many cultures people will cut or tattoo themselves as a way to remember and honor their dead. One tribe I know will cut a finger or toe off. I think God is simply banning that type of thing especially since the dead are alive and with God so there is no need to honor them in such a way.

Print:

H5414
???
na^than
naw-than'
A primitive root; to give, used with great latitude of application (put, make, etc.): - add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ([healed]), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up). + sing, + slander, strike, [sub-] mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, X willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.

Mark:

H3793
?????
ketho^beth
keth-o'-beth
From H3789; a letter or other mark branded on the skin: - X any [mark].

H7085
????
qa?a?qa?
kah-ak-ah'
From the same as H6970; an incision or gash: - + mark.

Genesis 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

God marked Cain.

Ezekiel 9:4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

Ordered one here.

Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

And something very similar here.

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

I still maintain that the printing of marks is directly related to the cutting the flesh....in honor of the dead as opposed to other reasons.

Both Tattoos and cutting the flesh is banned "for the dead". It just is worded for the cutting first and the ban on tattoos for the dead is added afterwards. Doesn't change the context.

It isn't "don't cut your flesh for the dead, and don't get tattoos for any reason" The tattoo statement is directly related to the last thought.

Did not the flesh get cut during circumcision and yet that wasn't banned by God. No, it was cutting the flesh "for the dead" that was banned and I suggest marking the flesh also for the dead which was also banned.

Isaiah 49:16 - Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

2710

02710 chaqaq {khaw-kak'}

a primitive root; TWOT - 728; v

AV - lawgiver 6, governor 2, decree 2, to grave 2, portray 2, law 1,
printed 1, set 1, note 1, appoint; 19

1) to cut out, decree, inscribe, set, engrave, portray, govern
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cut in
1a2) to cut in or on, cut upon, engrave, inscribe
1a3) to trace, mark out
1a4) to engrave, inscribe (of a law)
1b) (Poel)
1b1) to inscribe, enact, decree
1b2) one who decrees, lawgiver (participle)
1c) (Pual) something decreed, the law (participle)
1d) (Hophal) to be inscribed

God has marked himself for us!

Galatians 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

marks

4742

4742 stigma {stig'-mah}

from a primary stizo (to "stick", i.e. prick); TDNT - 7:657,1086; n n

AV - mark 1; 1

1) a mark pricked in or branded upon the body. To ancient oriental
usage, slaves and soldiers bore the name or the stamp of their
master or commander branded or pricked (cut) into their bodies to
indicate what master or general they belonged to, and there were
even some devotee's who stamped themselves in this way with the
token of their gods

And, we bear the marks of Christ in a spiritual way upon our bodies.

salt-n-light · Nov 27, 2017

AviAri said:
I used to self harm and have some very ugly scars on my left arm. I wish to get a Christian tattoo to cover it so my daughter doesn't grow up seeing these scars and not confined to long sleeves anymore. Would it be a sin to do so?

In essence, no. But would it be wise to exercise that right is a better question.

Few questions to ask yourself:

1.Would it in any way dishonor God?
2.Would it violate your conscience?
2.Can it serve as a stumbling block to others who are weaker in faith when it comes to tattoos?

Personally, I wouldn't do it, because it does have a history to it, as well as it can be distracting. When it comes to those type of things that are not so clear cut, you have to rightfully judge it in accordance to the Word as an individual.

tulc · Nov 27, 2017

No it's not a sin.
tulc(let us know what you decide to get?)

seeking.IAM · Nov 27, 2017

Sentence structure, folks.

This:
28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am Jehovah.

Is not the same as this:
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh nor print any marks upon you for the dead: I am Jehovah.

While we are not bound by the law, I suspect God seldom changes His mind.

Blood Bought 1953 · Nov 27, 2017

Everybody please check this out ....googles this......”Andrew Farley and Bruxy Cavey TB N interview...it is great discussion on tattoos And other important things

ewq1938 · Nov 27, 2017

seeking.IAM said:
While we are not bound by the law, I suspect God seldom changes His mind.

Except that whole part about not binding us to the law which was a pretty big change of mind on literally thousands of mind changes.

HARK! · Nov 27, 2017

Monk Brendan said:
But a sin? We are not under the Law but under grace.

Have you thought of plastic surgery?

(CLV) 1Jn 3:4
Everyone who is doing sin is doing lawlessness also, and sin is lawlessness.

If sin is defined as lawlessness; and there is no law; then either all is sin; or there is no sin.

If there is no sin; what need is there of grace?

Dave-W · Nov 28, 2017

HARK! said:
If sin is defined as lawlessness; and there is no law; then either all is sin; or there is no sin.

That is only PART of the definition of sin.

Sin is also defined as anything that falls short of God's glory and anything NOT done in faith.

Blood Bought 1953 · Nov 28, 2017

Bro. Daniel said:
Unfortunately as tempting and seemingly beautiful as some look regardless of design, no do not get one, yes it is a sin. Per Leviticus 19:28 as Shoetoyou pointed out as well "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord."

The reason: It's a pagan / occult / witchcraft blood ritual and practice of defilement of God's temple (the body) to worship Satan. If you initiate yourself into one of those, my goodness... it will not be well. Those who already have them need to get them removed. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

lev19:28. Is tattooed on a preacher in the you tube videos mentioned in the previous post. Bruxy Cavey A ndrew Farley TBN is what you can google to see it....very interesting

Phil 1:21 · Nov 28, 2017

AviAri said:
Would it be a sin to do so?

No.

ViaCrucis · Nov 28, 2017

AviAri said:
I used to self harm and have some very ugly scars on my left arm. I wish to get a Christian tattoo to cover it so my daughter doesn't grow up seeing these scars and not confined to long sleeves anymore. Would it be a sin to do so?

No. There's nothing sinful about a Christian getting a tattoo--especially if the tattoo is religiously meaningful and significant.

-CryptoLutheran

ViaCrucis · Nov 28, 2017

Shoetoyou said:
Leviticus 19:28 seems to speak against them, but I have heard it preached that that prohibition was made because most tattoos in that time were religious ones to other gods, so 5hat it was more against idolatry, and that it wouldn’t apply to most of the tattoos today. I certainly know many Christians who have ink. Not sure if I am right on this.

Pagan scarification is condemned in Leviticus; along with the removal of the sides of one's beard.

-CryptoLutheran

HARK! · Nov 28, 2017

Dave-W said:
That is only PART of the definition of sin.

Sin is also defined as anything that falls short of God's glory and anything NOT done in faith.

Not that necessarily doubt this, but do you have any scripture that would prove those assertions as irrefutable fact?

If so, what is your point?

ViaCrucis · Nov 28, 2017

HARK! said:
Not that necessarily doubt this, but do you have any scripture that would prove those assertions as irrefutable fact?

If so, what is your point?

"But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." - Romans 14:23

-CryptoLutheran

faroukfarouk · Nov 28, 2017

AviAri said:
I used to self harm and have some very ugly scars on my left arm. I wish to get a Christian tattoo to cover it so my daughter doesn't grow up seeing these scars and not confined to long sleeves anymore. Would it be a sin to do so?

Some quotes, FYI:

QueenCat said:
Around here (Bible Belt), it is common, especially among evangelical Christians, for the girls under about 40 to have religious tattoos. More do than don't, especially when you get to the under 30 crowd. I hardly know any female at church that is under 30 that does not have a tattoo.

forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot com

greenvneck said:
I would be hard-pressed to come up with more than a handful of names of my friends who DON'T have at least one tattoo--and we are all suburban homeschooling moms, ages ranging from early-30s to mid-50s, living in conservative North Texas.

forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot com

bluegreysky said:
I have a few. ..one is a series of 3 from summer 2009, "faith love and hope" in Chinese. They run downward because that's how Chinese is read. and they are all solid black. (an inch to the side of spine)..
Each tatoo is no more than a few inches wide. ..
I have never regretted them once... they all have a positive meaning and that is what I believe those markings should have.

Zoomer said:
↑
My husband has two tattoos so if he came home with more it's no big deal. I know he is planning the designs of two more, they are both religious. I also have plans to get two more tattoos. My avatar is the next tattoo that I am going to get, it symbolizes "Christ, the beginning and the end". I am also going to get a fish on my ankle. I find that religious tattoos are a good conversation starter.

Is getting a tattoo a sin?

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