by Eulalia Prynn

Created on: November 11, 2009   Last Updated: November 16, 2009

Your body is a temple, and you are the decorator! My step-mom and I are exploring the question of tattoos on Christians at this very moment. I've always wanted to get a tattoo, and recently decided on a scripture in Hebrew or Greek. My step-mom wants to get a tattoo of all our names (the kids) as an anklet. We're both "Christians" in the sense that we follow and love Jesus Christ. I'm cautious in saying that I'm "Christian" sometimes because that word can mean different things to different people. So, depending on what you think a Christian is, I may or may not be that (chuckle).

Here is what I've discovered about Christianity and the Bible regarding tattoos. There are a few places in the Bible that talk about marking your body specifically. Two that I've found that actually say something about tattooing or markings on body. One is Leviticus 19:28, which states, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD." and the other is in Revelations stating that God's wrath will be provoked against those who receive the "mark of the beast" on his forehead or hand, or anywhere on his body, and proclaims to worship the beast. In both of these passages, there is a specific intention that God is wanting His followers to avoid. In Leviticus, God is wanting Christians, many of which are newly Christian and formerly pagan, to avoid looking like the pagans so that they don't cause alarm or distress amongst other Christians. God charges each of us to show His love to the world, and His concern in this is that we (as His followers) will cause others to stumble or to be unable to receive His word if we look too outrageous; covered in tattoos and piercing and wild hair and such. I don't believe that God wants us to look like everyone else, nor will He turn away from us should we decide to get tattoos or piercing. He just wants us to consider, in love, those others that we might come in contact with, and who may need us to show them (through life actions) God's love. As for the mark of the beast, I think that is pretty explanatory. Unless one gets something Satanic like the devil or some evil thing, I don't think that really applies to the question of getting a tattoo at all.

The other argument I've heard against getting tattoos is that our bodies are temples and we should treat them as sacred and holy. This means that we avoid destroying, mutilating, or maiming our bodies, I suppose. However, I do not see piercing or tattoos as destructive

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