The Church Case Files — Part Three
Urmila sees a chaotic situation at church.
During a group youth Bible study, one question suddenly erupts:
“Hey, Sonia! You have a tattoo on your hand? You aren’t supposed to have a tattoo as a Christian!”
Scene: A Healthy Discussion That Leads to a Bottom Line
“Yes, Sam. I do have a tattoo. But if you look closely, I actually have a cross alongside an empty tomb.”
“But why would you consider keeping it? Don’t you think people would judge you for it? As a Christian, you should reflect on how a tattoo might affect your witness for Christ. Christians are Jesus’ ambassadors in the world, delivering God’s message to the lost (2 Corinthians 5:20).”
“Sam, that judgment would only be valid if I had done something wrong. But I got it because I love art. It is a form of art. You know what’s more? People at my college often ask me about my tattoo when they see it, and that gives me a good opportunity to share the Gospel. It reminds me of what Paul says in Philippians 1:18. And regarding people judging us, no matter what we do, people will always find some excuse to judge us. I would rather share Jesus with people through my thoughts and actions, even if they judge me anyway. If my action is helping people discover Christ, I wouldn’t step back. That’s my personal opinion.”
“Hmm... I can understand your concern. But doesn’t the Bible prohibit putting tattoos on our bodies? Like the verse about not making marks or cuts on the body? I guess it comes from Leviticus 19?”
“Yes, that verse is often cited. But scholars note that its context is actually related to the practices of that time. Some interpretations connect the marks with slavery, where marks could identify slaves. It was directed toward the Israelites after their freedom. Other alternative views involve pagan customs or mourning practices for the dead, although those interpretations are not completely obvious. Modern tattoos also do not necessarily carry the same meaning that such marks had in the ancient world. Isaiah 44:5 also seems to permit some sort of marking to show devotion to the Lord.”
“But what about the verse that says, ‘Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit’? (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). This raises important questions: How much modification of that temple is appropriate? Is there a line that should not be crossed? At what point do tattoos cease to be artistic self-expression and become sinful mutilation?”
“You are correct. Our bodies are God’s temple. We do not belong to ourselves. We give our lives as living sacrifices to the Lord. Whatever we do, we should do it for His glory. That is what I’m saying, Sam. I did not get the tattoo in the way many people today put tattoos all over their bodies. For me, it is art that expresses my devotion to God. And as I said, people usually see it and ask me about the Lord. Paul says decisions about gray areas should be made ‘to the Lord’—for His glory—and should come from faith (Romans 14:6, 23; 1 Corinthians 10:31). This means that getting a tattoo simply to conform to the world would be wrong (1 John 2:15–17). Therefore, getting a tattoo itself may not be a sin, but the motivation behind getting one can be.”
“So, getting a tattoo is not necessarily a sin in itself. It may be permissible within the freedom a Christian has in Christ (Galatians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 10:23). Yet biblical principles should guide a person’s decision to get one.”
“Correct! Also, I want to add something. While you are using Leviticus 19 to prohibit tattoos, that can become an example of what is called ‘selective citing.’ There are many other laws in the same passage that Christians do not practice in the same way today. In addition, there are many things the Bible does not speak about openly, which are sometimes discussed theologically under the category of adiaphora. Romans 14:23 and 1 Corinthians 6:12 can also give us some guidelines.
“And Samjhana, I do not suggest that you get one. Just because it works for me does not mean it will work for you. It may not be sin for me, but in a case of doubt or discomfort, it could be sin for you. You can ask anyone in this church. I have never encouraged anyone to get a tattoo either. But for me, it is my sincere act of honoring God. And if people judge me for it, they need a strong basis for doing so—and I don’t think they have one.”
“Oh, thank you, Sonia, for this piece of wisdom. It has helped me understand how to handle Christian ethical issues wisely.”
Key Takeaways
- A tattoo is not automatically a sin. It can fall within Christian freedom (Galatians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 10:23), and motive matters most.
- Gray-area decisions should be made “to the Lord”, for His glory, and from faith (Romans 14:6, 23; 1 Corinthians 10:31).
- Citing Leviticus 19 alone is selective. Context matters, and many laws in the same passage are not practiced the same way today.
- Your conviction may not be someone else’s. Doubt or discomfort can make an action wrong for one person and not another.
- Listening, humility and a gentle tone turned a heated question into a wise conversation.
.png)
.jpeg)
.webp)
