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Tattoos are all the rage amongst my age bracket, the under 30 group, and it can be a very sensitive subject.  Personally, I think some tattoos are ‘cool.’  However, what I think doesn’t matter, even though I will NEVER get one.  I gave it a lot of thought a few years ago when I got back from Iraq, it’s kind of the thing to do amongst veterans, get a tattoo to commemorate your time overseas, but there was always something in the back of my head telling me it was wrong.  If you have one, I won’t condemn you for it, that’s not my place.  I might even compliment you on it.  However, even if I don’t tell you to your face, and I know that you should know better, I will be very disappointed, because Biblically speaking, it’s a sin, whether we want to admit it or not.

Some of you are going to read through this and scoff.  Truth is, if a person wants to rationalize something, they can do it.  They will find a way to twist words to mean what they want them to.  Nevertheless, it comes out pretty clear early on in history, as Leviticus 19:28 comes right out and says it, “DO NOT cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.  I am the Lord.” (NIV)  Zondervan’s Archaelogical Study Bible writes about Tattoos on pg. 180:

I know a lot of girls who apparently belong to the cult of the flowers, or any random cute animal.  Growing up in an agricultural area, I have seen countless cows branded with a hot metal iron, similar to the process of a tattoo, but not as refined.  God made us all in his image (Genesis 1:27), and I have a hard time picturing God walking around Heaven with a barb wire image on His biceps, and a tribal decoration across the top of His back.  Do you really think He wants us to walk around like that?

We are to honor God with our bodies, just as we are to honor God with our relationships, and not sin against our bodies, we are not to offer any part of our body to sin.  If we walk the streets looking like everyone else, doing the same things they do, then we are not being a witness for Christ.  Don’t give your arm or legs to a needle, give them to an orphanage in Mexico for a couple weeks, or to an AIDs clinic in Trinidad, or the old guy up the street that needs his lawn mowed.  Romans 7:13 says “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” (NIV)  Save the $50, $80, or whatever exorbitant sum you were going to spend on a tattoo, and buy a Bible for a friend who doesn’t have one.  Buy some groceries for someone who’s struggling, lift a friend’s spirits by taking them out to lunch and a movie.

Don’t try and take God’s words, thinking you’re clever and can get around him.  ”A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condems a crafty man.”  (Proverbs 12:2, NIV)  I can’t argue that there are people who have tattoos who are able to reach people who you and I can’t.  But leave that for them.  God will find people who already have tattoos, and bring someone into their life to help them see the light, and then they can continue to spread the word.  We don’t need to scar our bodies in the name of God, much like far too many wars have been started in the name of God, and some TV preachers have become dishonestly rich in the name of God.  We only need to live our lives in the name of God.  He’ll take care of the rest.  Besides, he said it so simply, clearly, and authoritatively, “DO NOT cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.  I am the Lord.”