—
It seems that tattoos are becoming more common in society. Celebrities such as Britney Spears, Julia Roberts, Jessica Simpson, Bruce Willis, Geraldo Rivera, Halle Berry, the Dixie Chicks, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and many others now have tattoos.
The National Geographic News stated that 15 percent of all Americans are tattooed. The Alliance of Professional Tattooists estimates over 39 million Americans have a tattoo. Details magazine published a poll that stated 22 percent of 18-25-year-olds have at least one tattoo.
It’s clear that tattoos are common in society today, even among Christians. Yet, Leviticus 19:28 states, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”€In other words, the Bible states clearly not to print any marks on one’s body.
One may ponder why the Bible would state this. According to James M. Freeman, author of “The New Manners & Customs of the Bible,”€both cutting and tattooing were done by the heathens, and so God forbade his people from doing so in imitation of them.
Unger’s Bible Dictionary teaches that tattoos were forbidden without any reference to pagan, heathen, or idolatrous usages. In other words, the tattoo itself, regardless of the reason, was forbidden.
Just because society says it’s perfectly fine to get tattoos does not make it so in the eyes of a holy God. For Christians, I recommend you strongly consider Scripture before deciding on getting tattoos. Pray about it and see what registers on your heart.
Michael Imhof
Anderson
