Christians are notorious for setting up a standard of judgment regarding tattoos. In fact, I personally have been badgered for years because I have three tattoos, and will most likely get at least one more somewhere down the road.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard the common Christian say something like, "Well, you know.... the Bible says we're not supposed to get tattoos." But... when I ask them where they've read that, most of them can't tell me. And not only can they NOT tell me where they read it, but when they DO read it ("it" being the verse typed out below), they can't tell me what it means.
Yeah.... so.... in case you ever been subjected to this sort of thing, the verse below is what people generally like to quote. I have typed it out, and listed the literal meaning (from the Lexicon - http://scripturetext.com/) behind the words. If you study deeper, you will find that tattooing as we know it today is completely different than the tattooing (marking) referred to when this was written. Context and original meaning are EVERYTHING.
THE VERSE:
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
THE MEANING:
Ye shall not make
nathan (naw-than'
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
any
kthobeth (keth-o'-beth)
a letter or other mark branded on the skin -- any (mark).
cuttings
seret (seh'-ret)
an incision -- cutting.
in your flesh
basar (baw-sawr')
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphem.) the pudenda of a man -- body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-)kind, + nakedness, self, skin.
for the dead
nephesh (neh'-fesh)
a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
nor print
nathan (naw-than')
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
any marks
qa`aqa` (kah-ak-ah')
an incision or gash -- + mark.
upon you I am the LORD
Yhovah (yeh-ho-vaw')(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God -- Jehovah, the Lord.
I may be stupid, but I see that this verse is pretty straight forward. If you study the context and original words, you will find that it refers to old testament customs of grieving for the dead and idolatry. That's pretty much it. It really gives no liberty for us to use it elsewhere.
And sooooo.......a small reminder, if I may (and I may, since this is, after all MY blog).... man's judgment, interpretation or offense is not a reason to set a standard for people to live by. We must get over ourselves, live our lives according to our convictions, and leave others to do the same. God is still God, and I am certain that if He can handle watching His Son die, He can handle walking us gently through life so that we can become more like Him.
20 comments:
I personally thought you did a good job with this... I think that people should definately let those of us who like tattoo's live our lives the way we see fit.. WE are not hurting anyone with our tattoo's... And it's not like we go out of our way to offend others with them either...
my complete jewish bible does use the word tattoo at the end and does not repeat the memory of the dead part. my only opinion is that if you are going to go by the old testment torah teachings on tattoos, then you better read the rest of them and follow them to. of course the parts that require a sanhedrin and the temple can be done until the temple is rebuilt and the sanhedrin reinstated as the ruling authority. which will eventually happen. but the other things like not eating things that god doesn't want you to eat need to be observed too. no i agree that tatoos aren't a good idea, but they are a sin just like eating pork or shrimp and many of these church people do those things
so, though i don't support tattoos, if you aren't going to follow torah in all areas, why bother with any? tattoos are between that person and god and they will have to answer for it if god does really have a problem with them. right? so that's where i stand. but you can knock yourself out with peircings and colored hair with no one to tell you it is a sin. does that make sense?
actually rhoda said those things, not erik. though he may agree with me
Thanks, Rhoda. I really appreciate your comment. I, personally, probably wouldn't follow the old testament customs anyway....though I do find all Bible teaching to be fascinating. :o)
Oh.... and I wasn't referring to the Jewish Bible. I was referring to the original language. If you break down and look up the verse in the concordance, you'll see what I was referring to.
this verse was written in hebrew not greek, so double translations can bring about miss translations. my complete jewish bible is simply the old testiment in the jewish order the way it has been for centuries and it includes a translation of the new test. that is often closer to the original than say the niv
From Kim...
Here is my two cents for what it is worth. I too have heard the scripture quoted but I think my reason for objecting goes much deeper than one scripture someone is quoting.
Tattoos as we know them in American, are often tied to rebellion. Some are linked to gang activity, are there for "magical reasons", believed to protect against evil, and ... Read Morethe list goes on. The root of tattoos is in paganism. They originated in devil worshipping cultures.
The scripture in Leviticus is telling us it is God’s desire to set his people apart from other cultures. The focus is on preventing worldly, heathen worship and witchcraft or paganism. God forbids his people to be involved in idolatrous, pagan worship and sorcery which imitate the non-believers. He does this because he knows this will lead us away from the one true God.
Is the scripture black and white on tattoos? Maybe not. It is however black and white on what our motives should be and where our hearts should be. I would ask a few questions of anyone who is planning to get a tattoo. What are the motives for wanting a tattoo? Are you seeking to glorify God or draw attention to yourself? Will the tattoo cause ... Read Moresomeone who is weak in the faith to stumble?
The bible says, "If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy." Anyone who puts tattoos on his or her body that do not glorify God are glorifying something else and therefore defiling the temple.
Furthermore Christians are called to be set apart, in the world but not of it, light in the dark, etc. How will anyone recognize a Christian if he or she looks and acts just like the world?When you get that tattoo others do not know your motive behind it. If it causes another to stumble you are guilty of sin. Is it worth the risk?
The bottom line is, we can all live without tattoos.
They are tied to paganism whether you have pagan motives or not. Are Christians ever going to stand up and be different from the rest of the world?
Do I think that anyone with a tattoo should be shunned and ridiculed? Absolutely not. I would however question the motives of any Christian who wants a tattoo. I would challenge you to search your heart and ask God how your tattoo will glorify him.
When will we stop being so self righteous in our society of Christians?
This has been asked as much as I am old!
If we are to judge others unfairly I might add then how will we answer to the TV we watch, the conversations we speak, the eyes that stray, the places we ought not to be, the gossip we speak and all the times we behave like Pharisees....you need this, you must do that.
My motives may stink....I might think I am doing right but don't give me a levitical law and tell me that we need to abide by the law ....that makes Jesus the new law giver not the grace giver. Now, I do not have a tattoo nor do I plan to get one but if I did it would be of Jesus on the cross who in extraordinary love and grace became tattooed for me with lashes I deserved, with a beating that was mine, with a death I should have experienced.
I would rather cling to His temple anyday than being outwardly clean yet inwardly ???????
From Kim...
We don't need to be judemental but we are called to be holy and we should strive to be every day even though none of us are perfect and we will all be sinners. That is where God's grace comes in. We don't need to follow the OT law but we do need to follow the NT and all the we are commanded. Am I better than the person with the tatoo? ... Read MoreAbsolutely not but when will Christians ever be set apart like we are commanded. When will there be a difference between us and the rest of the world? What in our lives attracts sinners so we can share the gospel with them? When will we raise up a standard and strive to attain it. We are no different than the world! It's about time we change! We need to stop leaning on God's grace and making excuses for our behavior. God loves the tatooed just as much as the un-tattooed but that is not the point.
By the way Michele, I love you with or without tattoos!
What attracts sinners is not achieving holiness but witnessing our need for Jesus and seeing the relationship that we have with him. That is my point!. So I honest about my sinfulness...I do not wallow in it though I do fall into the same snares time after time after time but even in those weak moments if you peak in you will see a sincere repentant sinner holding on to Jesus...more than that you will God enveloping His child with mercy and love.
Rules will never change a heart...it failed for the Isrealites and all others but our relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior of all changes everything.
One of my classmates at the sem. He was an artist....tattoed his whole body over time or at least most of it. I judged him at one point until I was invited to go to his mission field. What I saw were bikers, ex strippers, drug attics all worshipping Jesus in a bar...former bar. A white shirt and tie wasn't going to reasonate with this group but his art (I know some would never say it is art) did. And because of that many were saved.
It always comes down to relationship, relationship, relationship......w/Jesus. If we are engaged and intrenched in His love and grace in that relationship then the only thing God will see is the heart of Jesus in me and you.
He is not checking our lists, they have been checked, he is checking our hearts, looking at the mark and seal of Jesus' death and resurrection. ... Read More
You all make good points but don't lose sight of our/my focus...Jesus.
Very intriguing topic! I have a tattoo, and have recently had it re-colored. I too have considered getting another. To respond to Kim's comment on being set apart. I believe that is to be done in conduct, not outward appearance. There are many physical characteristics that will draw or repel people. It takes all kinds of people to reach all kinds ... Read Moreof people. And, typically one will initially relate to another person based on the way he/she looks. So, that said, the tattooed people may be more likely to speak to someone who has tattoos like themselves. Personally, I would be more likely to approach or befriend someone my own age who seems to fit in my crowd rather than a person who say...wears a long skirt and a scarf on her head. It's just human nature. Christians are the ones who need to stop looking at outward appearances and look at the heart, not the sinners.
I never once said to judge people with tattoos. I said that each person should exmaine his/her heart and motivaton for having one. There are many things people do with the wrong motives. Our actions should glorify God. If you get a tatoo out of a rebellious motive it is sin. If you get a tatoo that glorifies God, that could be another story. ... Read MoreI don't believe that the guy who ministered to the bikers couldn't do that without a tattoo. Maybe they wouldn't respond if he were in a suit and tie. Remember I said we need to examine our motives, consider we cause a weaker "brother" to fall. Being set apart is in conduct but it will often spill over into appearance. Your attitude is often reflected in appearance.Yes we do need to look at the heart and that is what motivates us. So once again, what motivates our decisions? I agree that God checks our hearts but the word says he is coming back for a spotless bride. We can't always make excuses and cover ourselves in grace.
Point taken. :)
Holiness has benefits from God. Obeying Him promises blessing. It is the blessing that attracts the unsaved just as much. A person who is struggling in their marriage doesn't usually go to someone who has been divorced 5 times for advice. They go to someone who has a strong marriage.I keep hearing you say rules and judgement but I continue to ... Read Moresay it is the heart, attitude, and motivations that lead our decisions for certain actions. We need to examine our motives (heart) before we do something. Ultimately we are here to bring glory to God. Enough said, I have to study!
Understand the spotless bride...so far as that reflects faith in Jesus not an outward appearance of faith in Jesus. There is a difference. One could rest secure (insecure) in their appearance of being a Christ follower yet not truly believe. I spend all week dealing with people like this from every facet of life. Not so easy to look the part when ... Read Moreyou struggle, make poor decisions etc.
Kimberly I understand your responses believe me I have even used them myself. I agree with your statement for the sake of the weaker brother/sister (Romans 14). However, making blanket statements on a small piece of scripture out of context is not good enough for me to say right or wrong.
Though outward faith (fruit) is a sure indication for real faith in God it is not a requirement for salvation. There are way too many people out their still trying to work out their salvation (good works, image, I go to church etc) and by doing that it reduces the perfect and completed work of Jesus.
Hebrews 11-12 great chapters seeing how God used imperfect people but people of faith. Were all there motives pure...no but they had faith so God credited their faith as righteousness. IE. Abraham, Rahab etc I live for Jesus not by image but by faith. What attracts others to my ministry is not so much that I have outward signs but that in the ... Read Morerelationship I build with people they see a real human being dependent on Jesus. I wish you could meet some of the most amazing Christians who according to your quote may/may not have poor motives. The problem with using such an outward example is that you or I could never know what is inside the person to truly know if it is wrong or right. I prefer not to judge but discern and ask the question as you say...is my life bringing glory to God..... not so much as I want a blessing or that He will give one but because I love Him deeply. I love Jesus and every person who sees my "tattoos" IE failures ..will know it by my witness of His vacant cross
This is great study material!! Thanks for raising the issue Michele!!
wow i dont know where to start..
1. Michele thanks for your courage i've never seen so many anonymous comments.
2.i do tend to sit on the fence intill i get a personal word from God. Both in my spirit and scripture. So as a peace maker (or maybe its my disfunction) i can see it both ways.
3. Inward is way more important than outward, what comes from the mouth is in his heart.
4. the dude in the bar. Tatoos or not tatoos? God can take all things and use them for good. ... Read More
5. why stop at tattoos what about make up, that is marking, yeh its temp. but still, how about what we eat? not just pork or not to pork, isn't the 10th oreo that i shove in my mouth that makes me sick just as wrong to this temple. We ALL need Grace.
6. and last....Revelation 19:16
On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
7. dare i say , does Jesus have a tatoo?
WWJD
With Gods Love, janelle
I don't like tats myself but Chris has a bunch of them....I, as a Christian, don't have a problem with them but I think Chris has too many...hehe That's a mom for ya....
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