In the age of post-modernism and advancing viewpoints, what does the Bible have to say about this controversial topic? I take a look into this and report my findings.
Few things are as awkward as walking into a church and hearing a loud roar of whispers and everyone turning their head towards you. You start to look around nervously wondering what in the world is going on. Maybe there’s a sign on your back or a stain on your clothes, but that is not the case. Everyone is looking at the design of ink on your body. What next? Turn around and walk back out of the door or sit down and push the things aside? The house of God is supposed to be a place of love and acceptance full of Christians whose basis and main focal point is love. How does it seem to be so easy to move beyond that basis of love when there seems to be something different or out of the ordinary? So where does the doctrine of Christianity stand on the issue of tattoos and what does the Bible have to say about it? There are just a few points in the Bible that talk about this directly. The areas that will be focused upon will be the Biblical background as to the doctrine behind tattoos being acceptable in the Christian faith, the opposite view point with the Biblical argument, and the support for acceptance as well as inclusion among those with tattoos in the Christian church today.
Biblical background and doctrine can sometimes be debated and argued and if no resolution is found, a split among the church into different denominations occurs even among the smallest things, as it has been throughout history. This doctrine is based upon Bible passages and their interpretations. Although there really aren’t any verses that deal directly with tattoos of modern day society, there are verses that relate very well. Many verses talk about marks, engraving, and brand marks being upon different people and followers of God. These verses include Exodus 13:9;13:16, Isaiah 44:5;49:16, Ezekiel 9:4, Galatians 6:17, and Revelation 7:2-3. These show and talk about God having His mark among His people. Back among the First Century, a brand or mark was put on a slave or showed ownership or possession and that the person belonged to a master (Gennaro, 2007). Also, the book of Revelation uses intricate and specific detail in chapter nineteen, verse sixteen to describe and show in fact that Jesus himself when he returns will bear a mark or tattoo upon his body: “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (ESV, 2007). The key word here is actually the forth word in the verse, the word “and”. This common word means all the difference. In Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, he talks about the depiction upon the robe. According to him and his research, it was customary for distinguished individuals to have their name inscribed on their clothing for recognition from others, which often could be used as an intimidation factor, mostly when in a military battle (Barnes, 2001). “In Revelation, Jesus is a prize fighter with a tattoo down His leg” (Driscoll, 2008). The biblical commentary by Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown offers insight and support for the second half of the verse following the crucial word “and”. The compilation by those three men state and support exactly what the verse says, that not only was it customary for the robe to be stitched with the riders name if of much importance, but that where the robe fell from the thigh while riding a horse there was His name again, King of kings and Lord of lords (Jamieson, 1871).
Now many people, quick to judge in our human nature, pull out scripture verses as well to support their claim that tattooing and having them is a sin against God. Let’s take a look at these and walk through them and see what happens. One of the first verses that gets pulled out against the topic of tattooing when brought up is Leviticus 19:28 which says, “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD (ESV, 2007). This verse by itself and alone can be quite convincing about how God feels about the issue or topic of tattooing, though in fact this is not quite correct. It is imperative in understanding the meaning behind that verse to take a larger chunk of the chapter including the verses surrounding it to grasp a better understanding. Right before this passage is a verse that says it is wrong to cut hair from the head or trim a beard. Do these things seem like something that is a big deal in modern time? No. Theologian Adam Clarke gives his understanding of this passage saying that it was “a very general custom to carry marks on the body in honor of the object of their worship” (Clarke, 1983). It was common in the day for those who worshipped pagan gods and idols to mark or tattoo themselves to set them apart. Now although some may say that his commentary actually supports the argument that tattoos are a sin, these things must be looked at under the proper lens.
This section of Levitic law described and briefly explained was part of what can be called the “Old Law”, pertaining to how the religious rules or expectations were to occur in the Old Testament, when sacrificing animals and other rituals were to atone for the sins of the people. The coming of Jesus and the sacrifice of His body on the cross to take care and wipe away everyone’s sin changed around law for those who believe in Him (see John 3:16). Now I am not saying that everything that is considered “Old Law” or that is in the Old Testament is to be thrown out and become null and void, but the atonement of sins upon the cross by Jesus Christ does change things around. One of the more strict laws that were enforced by the religious leaders of the time of Christ was the commandment regarding the Sabbath. The religious leaders had a large amount of specifics that outlined what someone could or couldn’t do on the Sabbath, or day of rest. Jesus though, being the foundation for what can be called the “New Law”, went out against the guidelines that had been set up by what was deemed religious law and healed a man. Jesus also went against the Old Law and religious law in the choosing of His disciples. To become a disciple of a Rabbi a young boy needed to be the very best of the best, having memorized all of the Old Testament. Jesus, the ultimate Rabbi, chose lowly fishermen and common folk. If Jesus was worried or concerned about breaking the religious law of the day, He wouldn’t have done those things, especially since He was perfect and sinless. So if a New Law or new way of how things were to be done developed, the Old Law needs to be questioned as well as studied using the context in which it was written (Gennaro, 2007).
Another verse that gets used in defense of tattooing being named a sin is 1 Corinthians 6:19: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own” (ESV, 2007). While I agree completely with that verse, once again it is taken out of context completely. The verses surrounding it are talking about sexual sin and the sexual immorality of the city of Corinth. I do agree with the verse and believe it though when it says that our body is the temple for the Holy Spirit. But what are the first things you see when you walk into a church or place of worship? Usually it is the artwork on the wall, the set up of the building, or the multi-colored stained glass windows. We do not find a need to completely bland out the place of worship, but in fact adorn it with things to bring about remembrance and ferventness in honor of God.
Religious tattoos actually have some significance and importance. As depicted by the Great Commission we as believers in Jesus Christ are to go out and make other disciples, expanding the Kingdom of God. How did Jesus do that? He spent his time with the less fortunate, the sick, the poor, the blind, the abandoned, and the forgotten. Bearing Christ’s name, we as Christians must do the same. Religious tattoos allow for direct contact and comfortablility with those that do not know Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. A caution and concern I do have with them though is echoed in Romans 14:13-18:
“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men” (NIV, 2000).
It is imperative that the tattoo is honorable and pleasing to God and is for worship of Him. If it becomes a point of pride or arrogance, then that in fact is where the sin comes in, not the tattoo itself. Also, if it hinders another from coming to Christ, don’t flaunt the tattoo or make it a big deal, because you want that brother or sister in Christ to become deep in Him and anything that would hinder that is not tolerable.
The biblical doctrine and explanation on tattoos and the act of tattooing as a sin are few and far between. It seems to be left up to the individual about whether or not for them it is something that is permissible, relying on their motives and reasoning for getting a tattoo to honor and worship God to decide for them. Yes, tattoos are permanent, but being a Christ follower should not be just a part time thing, but a life long journey, so what else is better than a permanent and constant reminder? Jesus himself is even described in His glorious return to Earth in Revelation as having a tattoo. With Jesus being perfect, blameless, and free from sin how can we declare tattooing as wrong?
Bibliography
Barnes, A. (2001) The Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Baker Publishing Group
Clarke, A. (1983). Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Publishing Group
Driscoll, M. (2008). Seven Big Questions. Retrieved April 14th, 2009 from
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god_article.php?id=7418
English Standard Version (ESV) Study Bible. (2007). Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Bibles
Gennaro, J. (2007). Bible Support for Tattoos. Retrieved April 16, 2009 from
http://www.religioustattoos.net/Bible_Support/index.php
Jamieson, R., Fausset A.R., Brown D. (1871) Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible.
Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers
New International Version (NIV) Study Bible. (2000). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan
1 comment:
This makes me want to get a tatto!!!!
Post a Comment