I caught your attention with that title, right? Well, first things first, a disclaimer: I typically avoid political or religious topics like the plague, since they almost always become a spawning ground for divisive hate. However, this particular topic is very important to me (after all, as the picture shows, I HAVE a tattoo). If that turns you off to this post, I would urge and challenge you to set that aside for now (if you are able) and read the following words with an open mind. Every human deserves at least that much, right?
Also, please note that I am not a scholar, nor do I have any professional training in any of the fields of study involved. The words and views expressed in this post are those that have been cultivated to the best of my ability, understanding and conviction.
I confess that I had initially drafted this article on Facebook several years ago, but the topic of tattoos has once again reared its ugly head over social media so I felt it was time that I refined my views and published them on a more public setting.
Tattoos: such a controversial topic among many, unfortunately but especially those who call themselves “Christians”. I have seen it spawn some shamefully hateful, judgmental, hurtful, and sometimes downright sinful attitudes. I’ve watched it divide friends from family, and good people from ugly churches.
I would like first to point out Titus 3:9: “Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” I think that this particular piece of wisdom is especially appropriate for the day and age in which we live because, let’s face it: we argue, a lot. But, we are warned here in the Bible not to waste time arguing about trivial matters (tattoos would be one of these that are discussed in this “Law” – the Old Testament Levitical Law). A calm discussion is one thing, but a heated argument or debate over any controversial topic, I believe, goes against God’s wishes for all of us, as it can (and does daily) cause division among the people. So, if you disagree with any of the sentiments that I express going forward, that’s honestly okay. All that I ask is that, should you feel inclined to comment (which I encourage!), PLEASE keep your words polite and respectful.
I’ll begin with the main Bible verse that the modern day “Christian” uses to justify the attitude that it is sinful to get a tattoo.
Leviticus 19:28 “You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.”
At first glance, this certainly seems to be remarkably straightforward – here is a direct command from God NOT to tattoo your bodies. But with a closer look you will find as I have that there is more to be seen here. To know what I mean, one must take the verse back to the original Hebrew. (Side Note: this also can be applied to the entire chapter, along with much of the Old Testament).
The original Hebrew words used for “tattoo” are u·kthbth, meaning “writing” and qoqo, meaning “mark” or “brand”. The King James Bible, quite interestingly, translates this verse as “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD.” Notice the complete lack of the word “tattoo”? The translation into the word “tattoo” only happens in more recent (modern) versions of the Bible. The meaning of this back then was most certainly something entirely different from our modern ink tattoos.
Tattoos specifically in regards to this passage were… bizarre, to say the least. Some of the pagan nations surrounding Israel would take part in strange rituals that included deep cutting and scarring of their bodies as a sign of mourning and respect for the dead. (Now, I don’t know about you but I certainly didn’t carve the face of a dead ancestor into my shoulder with a razor blade. Call me crazy, but that just doesn’t appeal to me…) These acts of self-mutilation were clearly detestable to God, and He strictly charged Israel not to do such things.
To really get the full understanding you must take the chapter as a whole. Leviticus 19 was written to the people of Israel as guidelines in a time where some rather disturbing pagan rituals were abundant across the land. God wanted Israel, as His chosen people, to be set apart as different from the other nations, so He established a set of rules for His people to follow (Levitical Law). Most of this Law seems odd to us as a modern and evolved society, but when you view them all from that perspective you can begin to see how many were written simply as tests of obedience.
Now, the above understanding might already be enough to convince, but in case it doesn’t I’d like to bring it home by relating what I’ve shown thus far to the New Testament. See the words of Paul in Galatians 5:2-6 “Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is under obligation to keep the WHOLE LAW. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace; for we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.”
So there’s a LOT in that one passage that I don’t have the time to go into in this post, but I will briefly highlight the central message. Paul is speaking to those in the church who believed that, in order for a Gentile (basically everyone who WASN’T Jewish) to receive salvation (freedom from sin and eternal damnation) you had to also be circumcised under the Levitical Law. Paul spoke against this by pointing out that those who follow Jesus Christ are no longer bound by the Levitical Laws. He states that if you seek to be justified under the old religious guidelines, fine, but that means that you are then obligated to follow ALL of the old rules, NOT just one. So, by that logic, if you wanted to use Leviticus 19:28 to say that getting a tattoo is sinful, than it is also sinful to wear clothing of more than one blend (i.e. cotton and polyester, as much of our modern clothing is today) according to Leviticus 19:19d, (“nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together”), or to eat under-cooked meat (rare steak, anyone?), according to Leviticus 19:26a, (“You shall not eat anything with the blood”) or even groom yourself to acceptable modern standards, according to Leviticus 19:27, (“You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard.”) I say all of this to point out a simple truth which I hope will enlighten and encourage – you cannot say that you follow the Levitical Law while picking and choosing which ones to follow. If you truly believe that Leviticus 19:28 prohibits a believer from getting a tattoo and you wish to follow that rule, then you must observe ALL of the other laws as well, otherwise you are a hypocrite. You cannot simply take one and use to condemn or likewise justify whatever you please.
I will close with this: I believe with all my heart that the reason for a tattoo and the type of tattoo is what makes the difference between something that is detestable to God, or of something that honors Him. I mean, we all more than likely know that one person who has a hated and regretful tattoo with the name of an old fling. Getting a tattoo is permanent (mind blown, right?), and as such I think it is more than prudent to take great care and time in deciding what is worth putting on your body forever, and what is not.
For example, after much prayer, study, and seeking on this topic, I got my first tattoo (pictured at the top of this post). It is of a cross, as a memorial to my savior, Jesus Christ, in remembrance of the sacrifice that I know and believe He made for my sins. It is wrapped in a banner to symbolize the royalty of Christ, as the holy and perfect Son of God. Inscribed into the banner are the markings “Isaiah 1:17”. This is my most favorite passage of Scripture because it shows me the clear definition of what it really means to bear the title of “Christian”: not doing evil and instead doing good by seeing justice done while serving and taking care of others. This is something that I know has been almost entirely lost in our culture, especially among the church, and that fact breaks my heart. Too many people hear the word “Christian” and automatically think things like “hypocrite, judgemental, hateful”. I wanted a permanent reminder of the responsibility that I bear when I claim to be one who believes in God and the Bible.
I hope that this article has been enlightening, and if I caused offense to any party, know that you have my sincerest apologies. This was not meant to offend, but inform.
With Respect & Love, D.M. Kurtz
Copyright © D.M. Kurtz 2018
D.M. Kurtz 