Can Christians get Tattoos?

By Jayla Early

Can Christians get Tattoos? This is a question that has been asked frequently among many Christians, this is a question that I also have asked myself and today I am here to answer that question! While I am not against Christians who have tattoos, I do believe that there are a few things to consider as a Christian who is curious about getting a tattoo:

1. Read what is before the text and what is after the text.

Many Christians like to pull out the famous scripture Leviticus 19:28 "Do not cut your bodies or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord." Yes, while this particular scripture is talking about not making any cuts or tattoo marks on your body, what is the context of the scripture. What God is referring to in this scripture was for the Israelites, they would practice making deep gashes within their skin to mourn a dead relative.

2. Talk to God about getting a Tattoo.

This is another thing that a Christian needs to do before making any decision and that is to always go to God. Since God is our Creator, He knows what we don't, what we will do, what we won't do, and how we will handle different situations. In my opinion this topic is geared towards conviction, if the Holy Spirit wants you to get a tattoo or to not get a tattoo the Holy Spirit will convict you and let you know if it is ok or not. This was huge for me when I asked God about getting a tattoo, I felt convicted in my spirit to not get a tattoo and I knew that the God was not ok with me getting one.

3. The History behind Tattoos.

When deciding to get a tattoo another thing that should be taken into an account is the history behind tattoos. This was another deal breaker for me after I was convicted by the Holy Spirit. Tattoos were used in ancient Rome and Greece to identify people of a certain religious section, In the Bible Roman soldiers used tattoos as a symbol of status. It has also been stated that slaves were tattooed or marked by the people that owned them and lastly, receiving tattoos was a form of punishment for criminals.

4. Demons

As Christians we are not only fighting the spiritual realm but, also the physical realm and with the spiritual realm comes demons. When receiving a tattoo demons can enter through them, tattooing involves piercing of the skin which is an opening or portal to your body.

5. Types of tattoos

If the Holy Spirit does not convict you of getting a tattoo it is important to know what kind of tattoos you can get. When getting a tattoo be cautious of what you are getting, avoid getting anything Satanic, this can lead to demon possession. Try to avoid getting certain animals like serpents, certain phrases, and certain symbols, if you have any doubt about what tattoo to get consult with God! A symbol, phrase, or animal that you may not think is demonic can indeed be demonic. As a lasting thought, do not condemn those Christians who have tattoos, we are all human and we are not perfect. We all fall short of the Glory of God.