Is It a Sin to Get Tatoos?

[hilaryisaac]

I don’t care to pitch in on if getting tattoo is a sin or not.

I believe tatoos are in poor taste, however, and I’d like to state that. I can’t image the point of a tattoo except to glorify your body in what seems a solipsistic endeavor.

That said I know everybody is getting one these days. It’s a fad, and a pointless one if your idea is the glory of God not yourself. Plus, fads will pass.

As it is, if I see a tattoo on your body I automatically think less of you. You paid money for that pointless exercise in self aggrandizement? What a waste; I just suppose you thought it was a cool thing to do at the time.

Women without tattoos are sexier. Can’t speak for the sexiness of men.

You seem certain that everybody is getting one “these days”, but the majority of the people I know (to an extent of 98% or 99%) do NOT have a tattoo, and are not considering getting one. I don’t have one, although I am deliberating (for the past year! Ha…).

On the contrary, I know many people from a generation ago who have a tattoo or two. It seems contrary to your observation. Perhaps it’s culture, or perhaps you’re only looking at gangsters when you use the term “everybody”.

You believe that tattoos are a poor taste, that’s a very fair statement. However, if you say something is “pointless” in glorifying God, that might be a tad bit over the top. That may not be your way, it might be for someone else. The Church has not condemned tattoos in any case.

That you say “I automatically think less of you” when you see someone with a tattoo is your poor judgment; typical tendency we have to judge someone prematurely. That, in itself, is wrong, whether it’s someone who smokes, or someone crying, or someone with tattoos.

Not everyone thinks a tattoo simply thought it was a “cool thing” to do at “that time”. If it were, I’d be a year behind my own wanting to be “cool”. My opinion is that that is also a tendency to judge others too soon.

Women without tattoos are sexier, or that tattoos are simply ugly, well, those are pretty much subjective. It is true to me; it obviously is true to you, it may not be to others.

Nevertheless, thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut, I can see where you’re coming from, I hope you’ll put in effort to see where others are coming from.

 

[Shannon9791]

I don’t care to pitch in on if getting tattoo is a sin or not.

I believe tatoos are in poor taste, however, and I’d like to state that. I can’t image the point of a tattoo except to glorify your body in what seems a solipsistic endeavor.

That said I know everybody is getting one these days. It’s a fad, and a pointless one if your idea is the glory of God not yourself. Plus, fads will pass.

As it is, if I see a tattoo on your body I automatically think less of you. You paid money for that pointless exercise in self aggrandizement? What a waste; I just suppose you thought it was a cool thing to do at the time.

Women without tattoos are sexier. Can’t speak for the sexiness of men.

I don’t understand how you can think less of someone if you see a tattoo on them. I have about 100 or so people in my office and most of them have no idea about my tattoo. What difference does it make one way or another if a person decided to put a piece of artwork on their body? Does it make them less of a person? Does it make them less capable of doing good? Does it devalue them in the Eyes of God? The answer to the last three questions questions is a decided NO.

I happen to be opposite of you, and I find some tattos on women very attractive.

 

[stringbeanduck]

I’ve thought about getting on my upper arm near the bicep. It would probably be of something religious I think. I see nothing wrong with getting a tattoo provided it isn’t offensive or satanic.

 

[Fox]

No it is not a sin to get a tattoo in itself, the sin may be in the reasons why you get your tattoos along with what you get.

 

[forever_always]

It seems as if mistreating your body is sinful, obesity, plastic surgery, any piercings, and anything else would be equally as bad. If not, I think people just single out tattoos because they’re very taboo in other generations.

My thoughts exactly…
Personally, i dont have any problems with simple piercings and tatoos… i have two piercings (no tatoos) and i dont see that as being sinful.

 

[andrea3710]

The Old Testament law commanded the Israelites, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:28). So, even though believers today are not under the Old Testament law (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:15), the fact that there was a command against tattoos should raise some questions. The New Testament does not say anything about whether or not a believer should get a tattoo.

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 that particular activity for His own good purposes. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The New Testament 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.Although 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 does not directly apply to tattoos or body piercings, it does give us a principle: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 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 them up” with tattoos or body piercings.

 

[Wollie]

I have the Vatican seal on my bicep and the sacred heart on my chest. I doubt they are sinful. It all depends on what you get and why you get it. Sin is something that separates you from G-d, I don’t think tattoos which glorify Him do that.

Also having religious tats can start many good conversations.

 

[PRmerger]

The closest thing I could find on it is in Leviticus 19:28 where it says Do not lacerate yours bodies for the dead, and do not tatto yourselves. I am the Lord.

I think it may be problematic to use this verse to claim that we are prohibited from getting tattoos. For just a few verses earlier in Leviticus it says that we may not eat the fruit of a tree until its 5th year. I’ve never heard anyone proclaiming that this is a sin!

And it says in verse 19 “do not put on a garment woven with 2 different kinds of thread”. Why would we take verse 28 and claim it’s God’s prohibition, but not verse 19?

 

[m134e5]

I’m not sure it’s a sin to get a tattoo, but it might not be the best decision. While they generally can be removed nowadays, they’re designed to be permanent. If you get one when you are 18, are you going to still want it when you are 80?