Tattoos And The Law

February 8, 2012 by

One of my children was recently told by a well-meaning Christian that having a lot of tattoos is not pleasing to God. The person further explained that it was okay if a person had tattoos before becoming a Christian, but to get a tattoo after becoming a Christian is wrong, even if the tattoo were a cross.

When my daughter told me this, I stopped in my tracks and said, Excuse me? Are you serious?

I’m well aware of Leviticus 19:28, but we can’t just pick out one law to follow. If that were the case, we’d have to follow them all. And I can assure you that no one is making a fuss over verse 27. And let’s be clear: if we’re into commandment keeping, we must realize that most of us worship on Sunday, not the Sabbath, which clearly breaks the 4th commandment of the most abused and misused ten.

Friends, Jesus fulfilled the Law. It’s not our job to keep the Law. What was once unclean and unholy, God has made clean and holy through Jesus.

God places different convictions on His children. What He may allow for one child, He may not allow for another. Be careful not to place your God-given convictions on someone else for you might become a stumbling block, teaching others that what they do or don’t do is more important than living in grace. So while God may convict you about tattoos, it’s dangerous to make a blanket statement like the one told to my child.

In Luke 19:40, Jesus said, I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out! Allow me to share an example of how a person can use a tattoo to bring praise and glory to God:

My nephew, a Christian, is a Marine. He courageously defends freedom, and is willing to sacrifice his own life if necessary. He knows what it is to face death. While fighting in war, his mother prayed Psalm 91 for him daily and included that passage in her correspondence with him. His paternal grandfather died last year, and in sorting through his belongings, the family found a photo of my nephew on his nightstand. On the back of that photo his grandfather had written Psalm 91. As you can imagine, my nephew knows what an important role the prayers of Psalm 91 played in his safety. He is well aware of the fact that if not for God’s protection, he might not be alive today. He recently had his chest tattooed with a cross and Psalm 91. What a great opportunity he has when others ask him the significance of his tattoo! I don’t believe God will be displeased when my nephew recounts his story of God’s protection and of answered prayers.

I think the bigger issue would be if my nephew never acknowledged God’s presence and protection in those dangerous days. Instead, he has a reminder every time he removes his shirt!

Christians, let’s not pick and choose rules by which to live from a long list of laws that are dead. Let’s instead live in freedom…standing firm…not subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Gal. 5:1)

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