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Is gettin' a Tat wrong?

It seems every day that I go back and forth with wanting to get a tattoo, and just can't seem to make up my mind so I thought it might be good to talk about this one.

Here is the verse that people use when it comes to being against tattoos, Leviticus 19:28: "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."

That's an interesting statement but I think it might be good to see what else chapter 19 of Leviticus says:

32 'Rise in the presence of the aged,

19 'Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

27 'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

So if we are to take the tattoo rule seriously, and we do not feel we are equipped to pick and choose which laws we will or will not follow like items from a menu o' God, it is safe to assume that we will all have really long side hair, huge beards, constantly get up and down when we see old folks at McDonald's and be super sweaty from wearing clothing woven of solid wool.

That's an absurd take and to tell you the truth, despite my personal opinion that tattoos are fine, I don't have the answer. But all of this does beg the larger question - which rules do we follow? When Christ came and overcame the old law, what did that mean? And perhaps most importantly, do my pants really need to be 100% wool?

p.s. some people also note that Revelation 19:16 describes Jesus as having a tattoo "On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

Then again, what are my motives for wanting to get a tattoo? Is it to glorify God....or myself?

Published Friday, July 11, 2008 8:53 AM by Uncle Jesse

Comments

# re: Is gettin' a Tat wrong?@ Friday, July 11, 2008 2:17 PM

I am going to be straight with you, man: no to tattoos.

by WesleySonofCornelius

# re: Is gettin' a Tat wrong?@ Friday, July 11, 2008 10:19 PM

Sound Biblical interpretation, especially of the Old Testament, requires distinguishing between the principle (which is timeless, always to be obeyed) and the application of the principle (which will vary from culture to culture). In addition, we must also look to all other portions of Scripture, especially those pertinent and clear and applicable sections, to clarify the more difficult sections. Furthermore, the fullness of the OT principle is often revealed in the NT (ie - Sabbath rest).

Sooo...., you better do better than "that's an absurd take" before you reject a particular portion of the OT, just because it seems really strange. If you could show that the tattoo prohibition was simply a passing cultural application of an underlying eternally binding principle, then go tattoo away. But, you would still be bound to discover the underlying principle supporting the prohibition and live it "out loud" today.

I don't think the tattoo prohibition is cultural. I think it is an application of an eternally binding principle regarding how we are to treat our bodies. (sorry, BK. I still love your blog, though.)

ps- And if Jesus has a tat, it does not make it OK for us to get a tat. God killed His own Son. Does that make it ok for me to do the same?

pps- Be careful. Your line of reasoning in this post is similar to those who would seek to undo Leviticus 18:22.

by Bahnsen8

# re: Is gettin' a Tat wrong?@ Saturday, July 12, 2008 9:35 AM

Uncle Jesse, I know your heart. Therefore, I know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cr 6:19). Why place graffiti on the temple of God? Jesse, I also know the ministry God has currently placed you in. Therefore, as a teacher you will be judged with greater strictness (James 3:1). I love you, man!

by WesleySonofCornelius

# re: Is gettin' a Tat wrong?@ Monday, July 14, 2008 7:41 AM

Thanks guys!

by Uncle Jesse

# re: Is gettin' a Tat wrong?@ Monday, July 14, 2008 9:39 AM

Guys, this one is a hanging curveball over the meat of the plate.

First, can Jesse get a tattoo? Yes, he can. Romans 8:1-2. (Go ahead. Look it up. I'll wait.)

OK, so he has the freedom to do it. Should he? No. Why? Two reasons: (1) He has the freedom, but should be careful so that he doesn't cause someone to stumble in their faith (First,read John 8:36, then Galatians 5:1, and then 1 Corinthians 8:9), and (2) Jesse should honor God with his body, keeping it pure and set apart (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

So, unless Jesse is around very mature Christians and Godhisself tells Jesse to get a tat, I think the answer is clear.

But, beware. If you want a tattoo bad enough and ask God to allow it, he may want the word "whore" tattooed on your forehead just to make a point. Remember, Hosea married a prostitute, Isaiah ran around nekkid and Ezekiel did some crazy stuff.

by Joe Napalm

# re: Is gettin' a Tat wrong?@ Monday, July 14, 2008 7:13 PM

Interesting conversation... I kinda liked the first point made. Torah says it is wrong, so it is wrong! But that's just me... And while I can't see God going against Himself to say "Get a tattoo", I CAN see Him allowing it to happen because of the whole choice thing. Seems this is not the first time this has been brought up either. I would hazard to guess Uncle J, you KNOW the answer but are struggling with something greater. (Aren't we all!?!?!?)

by Fluffy Cow

# re: Is gettin' a Tat wrong?@ Tuesday, July 15, 2008 6:46 AM

Moral freedom and volitional freedom are two different categories. Praise God that, through Christ, He has forgiven us for those numerous moments when our volitional freedom violates our moral freedom. Romans 6.

by Bahnsen8

# re: Is gettin' a Tat wrong?@ Wednesday, July 16, 2008 3:48 PM

I'm afraid that if I went to church with B8 I wouldn't understand a single word being spoken from the pulpit.