plus, i agree with salty

 

honestly did not expect to see this here on the forum. You are dead on. This is the bible verse that started the tradition/general exceptance that tattoos are sinful. My folks hold to this very strongly. They hate them. They told me back in the day. No tats. no piercing. no motorcycles.

Here is my point of view. I spent a year in bible college. Lots of years in church. Just started going back actually. Spent about 6 years in youth ministry. This is a common question from high school and college kids.

basically....if you do not hold to the rest of the levitical laws you can not hold me to this one. You can not pick and choose what rules you want to follow and what rules you don't. Do yourself a favor and read the chapters around that verse. Things will come up like not being allowed to wear clothes of two materials or eat hooved animals and what not.

Only people that should be holding to these laws are the orthodox jews and others like them. The ones that do not believe that jesus was the savior and basically do not follow the new testement. If you follow the NT then you are accepting Jesus' sacrifice for your sins and are not required to follow every single law presented in the old testement to stay clean. You don't have to sacrifice cows. Or tear off your close and stay outside the city walls for days to get clean again.

All in all it's like this. If you feel like getting a tattoo is against your morals then don't do it. That is something we are told not to do. If you feel like it's wrong. Don't do it.

 

devils advocate....


because you are not piercing your ears in remorse for the dead.

This law came into practice because in that time there were a lot of idol worshiping cults and what not. One of the things they would do is wear a lot of jewelry and what not..******, etc. Seperate yourself from the ****** by not wearing it. On top of that it was a practice of some of these people to take the ashes of the loved ones you lost and cut yourself and tattoo yourself with their ashes. It was believed that by doing this there was a transfer of energy and in essense you kept them alive.

 

This discussion of the 'old' rules and the 'new' rules makes me laugh because even the 'new' rules are almost 2000 years old.

All the rules are historic in origin, and virtually none of them beyond the 'big 10' apply today...and some of those are even quesionable. I mean...if you live in America, and you see a consumer good that you want (I don't know, say a WRX), then aren't you coveting something of your neighbors? And don't get me started on all the exceptions people use for the 'thou shalt not kill' rule..


Be good to people. That's the only rule of any religion that is timeless, and all religions include it. Tattoos certainly don't force you to be an *******, so I don't see why they would be a sin.

 

here's the best way to simplify morals -
"I believe that everything that you do bad comes back to you. So everything that I do that's bad, I'm going to suffer from it. But in my mind, I believe what I'm doing is right. So I feel like I'm going to heaven." - Tupac

i'm very active in my church as a youth leader and almost all of us have a tat or 2 somewhere... just be a good person mang, dont be a stupid*****assmother****endick

 

I roll with the "god squad", church every weekend, bible study, you name it. I have a couple tattoos, and used to have piercings (got rid of them by choice [piercings]). Tats themselves aren't bad, it's what the tat represents. I mean if it's a tat of a pedifile, or a tat of some chick being raped, then I really wouldn't condone that. You get my point!

 

Just to add some thought. Many people associate the Biblical scripture condemning tattooing with other forms of body modification and this should not be the case. If one explores the Bible further, one will find the following: Genesis 24:22 "Abraham’s servant gave an ear ring and bracelets to Rebekah, wife of his son Isaac. "

 

I'm a Christian and I believe it's not a sin. Some christians will disagree of course, but it's all about how you look at it. If it means something to you and holds alot of importance then go for it. But if you are just doing it to get attention from people, like tattooing all over you body and face then I'd say that's when it gets a little overboard. I wouldn't mind having one someday, but to be honest I haven't found anything important enough yet to get permanantly put on my body.

 

Your sins have already been paid for, i say get one.

 

we are made in his image so tattoos are ruining his artwork, also your body is a temple unto God so tattoos give God's house(temple) in this case your body look bad or give off the wrong impression. i dont feel they are a sin depending on the tattoo, my only tattoos are on my wrists and they are the date my brother was born and died. my parents being strict as they are believe they are a sin.

 

This is why I mentioned the ear piercing thing. My dad didn't want my mom or sister to get their ears pierced for the longest time. My mother never made an issue of it, but when little sister was about 11 or so it became an issue. Of course, the women won out, but it made for interesting discussion around the dinner table.

Following the body is a temple logic...is it right/wrong to let yourself get fat? right/wrong to have your sons to be circumcised? Breathe smog? Eat polluted fish? Laser hair removal? Shaving? The list could go on and on, but I think Hokusai's post is on the right track.

Also, Huffyrex has hit the nail on the head when it comes to Christian idealogy - all have sinned, but the good news is that all sin has been paid for. I wish the Church would focus more on the "good news" and I Corinthians chapter 13. Seems the primary message I get from most churches is one of intolerance of gays and muslims, and the accompanying superiority complex. If they did, I might start going regularly again.

 

I agree, looking at the 'law' from a cultural and theological perspective. If you are a believer, you are not under the 'old' law, thus you do not have to sacrifice burnt offerings, forbid eating certain foods and dress in particular ways to honor God, eventhough we are set free from the law we are also told by Paul to practice self-control. Also, tattoos are open wounds, during that point in history, this would have been extremely dangerous, perhaps another reason they might have been forbidden. So is it wrong or sinful to get a tattoo? I would say no, as long as it does not hinder one's faith ( reference greatest commandment) or become idolatary. Check out www.xtat.org.

 

ding...

 

but just cause the sins have been paid for doesnt give you the free right to sin. umm... thou shall not sin. yes it has been paid for and thats wonderful but dont go sin cuz it is paid for. i dont kno, i have a tattoo and i have two piercings on my ear so yea they are a little extreme but i dont feel they are a sin but once again i feel its all about how, where, and why. just like i said i feel my tattoos have a good reason to show respect, love, and apperciation to my brother who died and i dont have a pointless tribal band(no offense to those who have 'em) or a skull on my arm. I sin you sin we ALL sin so its really how you feel, your relationship with the Lord is only between you and him. Only God can judge me now...

 

if you really read the scriptures you'll find a verse or two about a certain....oh..umm. JESUS having a tattoo on his inner thigh. Read it!!!! controversy *****es!!!