Tattoos? Why not?

I have tattoos. This fact is something that, over the last couple years, I have become ashamed of. Lately through my different studies, both about the theology behind tattoos and studies of who I am, who I am becoming, and who I need to be, I began questioning why? Why am I hiding my tattoos? I got them for a specific reason – so I couldn't hide. I was once so sure of who I was, who I am becoming, and who I need to be that I tattooed it on my body so that I could never turn and run. Fortunately, I have done a full circle and am again running toward what I know is true. With that said, I present a declaration of my beliefs on this issue – no more hiding and running away.

The Bible verses most referenced in regards to tattoos are Leviticus 19:28 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Leviticus 19:28 reads:
Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

From my experience, people not only disregard the context of this verse, but also omit several words. Instead, it seems all they see is, “Do not put tattoo marks on yourselves.” But, the omitted words point directly to the question, “What does “for the dead” mean?” As it turns out, the commands in verses 26-28 are all related to eachother.

Leviticus 19:26 reads:
Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

A clarification of this verse is found in Deuteronomy 14:1, which supports verse 28:
Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead.

For the dead...

These practices that are commanded against were common mourning rituals that pagans followed in that age. This is shown in Deuteronomy 21:10-13, Amos 8:10, and Micah 1:6. All of these texts command the pagans to follow through with their rituals so that all can see that they are indeed pagans.

With this contextual explanation it is clear that verse 28 is relative in regards to the dead – not only because they are successive verses, but because it also says “for the dead” in the middle of the verse. Thus, the meaning of Leviticus 19:28 is to not put tattoo marks on yourselves for the dead.

And I must tell you that I did not put tattoo marks on myself mourning the dead, but in celebration and recognition of the risen and living Christ! I find motivation in the never-mentioned verse in Isaiah 44:5:
One will say, 'I belong to the LORD'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,' and will take the name Israel.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reads:
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.

It is clear that these verses are indeed referencing the physical body. The context is in regards to sexual immorality found explicitly in verse 18:
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexualy sins against his own body.

From my experience, people quote this verse only after taking Leviticus 19:28 in mind. Because they do not understand the context of the Levitical law against tattoos, they consider all tattoos to be a dishonor to God with the body. Well, all tattoos are not a dishonor to God with the body, especially when they specifically honor God.

The Apostle Paul also has much to say about about the body being a temple in a spiritual way as well. Examples include 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:35-58.

Verse 40 states:
There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.

Let me tell you this – tattoos are not the difference between a earthly and heavenly body. The differentiator between an earthly and heavenly body is being a Christian and having faith in God.

As Christians we also have a duty to evangelize. Romans 10:9 states:
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

However, I think the most well known Biblical text about evangelism is found in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

My tattoos serve as a tool of evangelism. They have caused people to ask questions like “What does that mean?” or “Why does the cross on your back look like it is piercing your skin?” You see, the first person to ask me about my tattoo on the train in Chicago fulfilled the tattoo's purpose.

I love the last verse of the Great Commission. Matthew 28:20 states:
... And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

My tattoos are not only used as a tool of evangelism. They are used as a self-mandated tool of accountability. If I ever doubt, I will never be able to hide from the truth that I once and now always know.

If what I have told you so far has not convinced you that tattoos are acceptable, then please read what Paul says in Romans 14:
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant. To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and living. You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

We all have our own convictions. If you have a conviction against tattoos then it is true - to you.

Colossians 2:16-23 states:
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

I encourage you to first ask what a tattoo means before casting judgment. I would also encourage you to only get a tattoo if your heart and motivation are in the right place - in God.