Created
in the Image of God
God created man in his own image, in the image of
God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
This verse proclaims our origins, as well as our spiritual
and physical inheritance. A scriptural principle is neither to add to nor take
away from what God has done. God made our bodies perfect, and just as He
intended us to be. Even when God became the man Jesus, I don’t believe that He
had any tattoos. And before any critics claim that neither were we born with
hair-styles or jewellery, none of these things actually scar or permanently
deface what God gave, in the same way as a tattoo.God’s dislike of tattoos is affirmed in the Law of Moses,
where he commands the Israelites: You shall not make any cuts on your body
for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:28.
This is a clear, straightforward command to God’s people.
Christians may claim that they are not the ancient nation of Israel, and we live
under grace not law, but why would those who have experienced God’s grace want
to do something to their bodies that clearly displeased God. Jesus taught that
our righteousness should exceed that of the Pharisees, not by having more laws
than them, but by doing what truly pleases God, rather than ourselves or the
surrounding culture.The Apostle Paul reminds us that our bodies of temples of
the Holy Spirit. (I Corinthians 6:19) Therefore, we should not deliberately do
things to our bodies that damage or degrade them. If a beautiful church built
with fine stones was vandalised by spraying graffiti on it, do you think the
builders would be happy about that? Why should God be pleased by people
defacing their bodies with tattoo ink?
A tattoo is a permanent change to the skin, and can only be
applied by causing real blood-spilling injury to the skin, and leaves a foreign
substance embedded in the skin. Traumatising the skin in this way causes
inflammation, and can be an opening to infection. Some inks can also cause
allergies. Even if the tattoo is removed by modern laser techniques, the skin
can never be returned to its former undamaged state.
Tattoos in the World
Why is it that outlaw bikie gangs and drug users almost
always sport tattoos? And why do tattoo parlours often have names such as ‘Sin
City’? Have tattoos historically been a source of glory to God? Or
man? Some Christians may try to justify having tattoos by having
Christian symbols or even Bible verses tattooed. Other claim having a tattoo
enables them to identify with the culture they live in. However, Christians
need to remember they need to be prepared to stand against the surrounding
culture in many behaviours, e.g. sexual promiscuity. Being prepared to resist
fashions and fads, such as tattoos, should be good training in standing against
the world in more socially-costly decisions.
Getting a tattoo will not threaten anyone’s salvation. Nor
will having a tattoo prevent anyone from being saved. However, for anyone
sincerely seeking to please God, we suggest that it is always best to err on the
side of safety. Everywhere in scripture we are admonished to demonstrate a
preferential love for God and to place Him first. Scripture makes clear to us
that God’s blessing and our usefulness to Him very much depend on how obedient
we are to Him. Luke 16:10 teaches us God’s attitude towards our behaviour:
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he
who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.”
(NASB) For
a more detailed study of this issue, suitable for use in churches and youth
groups, download the article Should Christians Get
Tattoos? by Steve Cardno. PDF here.
Creation Research.
