A New Fad - Tattoos

[Tg. Thangno]

There’s a new fad that is circulating around our culture and it has found its way into the lives of Christians. Many young Christians are asking, “Should I get a tattoo?”

The Bible is loud and clear on this subject. The Word of God says,

Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 21:5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

By-the-way, a tattoo is merely a scare with ink imbedded in it. Hence, it is a cutting.

Some, so-called, Christian tattoo artists suggest that these Scriptures do not apply to New Testament Christians because we don’t do things like sacrifices in our day. But our Lord Jesus Christ said,

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

What Scriptures was our Lord talking about? He wasn’t talking about the New Testament because the New Testament wasn’t written until after 55 AD, and our Lord died in 33 AD. So our Lord was talking about the Old Testament Scriptures we hold in question today. Jesus also said,

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Our Lord stated clearly that He came to fulfill not destroy the Word Of God (the law and prophets). How did he fulfill the law, He fulfilled all of the sacrifices that pointed to His one eternal sacrifice for all time, as pointed out clearly in the book of Hebrews. Our Lord points His people to the Old Testament Scriptures so that they might find and fulfill the will of their Heavenly Father. Our Lord also said,

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Meaning that not one dot on an "i” or cross on a “t” would pass from His precious Word. Hence, we need to search the Scriptures so that we can obey our Lord, not disregard Him.

Our Lord did much for us on Calvary’s Cross. The Bible states,

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Our Lord also said,

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

The very Scriptures that our Lord Jesus Christ held in His hands are still with us today in our Old Testament. Not a single word has changed. These are the same Scriptures that our Lord pointed His disciples to for the discovery of the will of God and the eternal redemption provided for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Will you hear them and heed them?

What About All Those Who Say Tattoos Are Okay? Their voices remind me of what Paul wrote in,

Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Misery loves company, sin loves a crowd! They have rebelled against God and want more and more people to join them in their rebellion. It is almost as if they feel like if they muster enough support for their rebellion and disobedience then God will bend for them when they stand to answer for their sin before God one day. This just is not the case. Their sin is simply sin and always will be. Don’t fall into their deception. Will God forgive them, if they repent, stop their rebellious actions, and ask God to forgive them they certainly can be forgiven. But the scare of their rebellion can never be removed. And to those who teach others to follow in their sin the Bible says,

Matthew 5:19 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

There will be eternal consequences for those who teach others to disobey God, for any reason. Be careful what you do with your sin and rebellion. The only right response is repentance and confession.

So here is my best counsel to those of you who are thinking about getting a tattoo. Love God and the Lord Jesus Christ, obey Him by hearing and heeding His Word and don’t put marks or scares on your body. Jesus would have you search was the only Bible He had, the Old Testament, and you should read it and heed it. Don’t get a tattoo. Spend your time, treasure, and talents enjoying the life God has given you and serving Him in loving obedience instead. You won’t ever regret obeying your Lord.