I'm Baptist and I've been wanting a tattoo of a cross for a long time. Just recently I was told getting a tattoo is against the bible and is a sin. Is this true if it is a symbol of your religion and showing your faith? If I were to get it, it would be the only tattoo I would ever want and it would be on my upper arm where nobody could see it unless I had my shirt off.

And if it is a sin, would god forgive me for getting it even though it is permanent?

Although I don't attend church on a regular basis like I should, I prey every night before bed and always ask god for forgiveness for my sins and thank him for a list of things.

All opinions and help are welcome, thanks :)

I'm Lutheran and a preacher's kid. I would guess Baptists believe by getting a tattoo you are defacing your body, which is the temple of God. I wonder if Baptist women get their ears pierced or get their hair cut or color changed.

To my way of thinking, a cross tattoo would be honoring God by remembering Jesus' sacrifice.

snippy07,

In the OT under the Law the Lord told the Jewish people not to mark on their bodies.
Check out Leviticus 19:28

"'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

This is the verse that someone might use to suggest it is a SIN. BUT we are no longer under the law...we live on this side of the cross under Grace. You will find nothing in the NT to suggest it is a sin.

I think of this verse that Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.

Personally I wouldn't have one although I don't think it is a sin. I guess I don't like what tattoo's represent to the world in general.

However ,any tattoo that would be dishonoring to the Lord... such as satanic symbols and sexual stuff.. well I think it goes without saying would be wrong for a Christian to put on their body.

From what I know...

ANY tattoo is a sin.

This is what pastors have told me...

Here is a link that may be helpful to your question: http://christianity.about.com/od/faq...ochristian.htm

Sarah

Mud,

It isn't a sin. I just don't think it is WISE to have one. Mostly because of what they represent to the world... ( that is those without Jesus Christ).

The thing is Christianity isn't a religion with a bunch of rules. There are sins that we know to stay away from that are obvious such as lying, stealing, murder I mean it is a given. This is one of those things that I believr is up to the indivudual believer in Christ and his relationship with the Lord. I have my ears pierced for heaven sakes... and I sure don't think it is wrong nor have I asked for forgiveness for it. I do think MOTIVE should always be in question in anything we do though.

I would personally advise against having one... but I cannot in good conscience say it is a SIN in which the Lord had to die on the cross for. NO WAY. I again refer to this verse that Paul wrote to the CHURCH... ( that means US)

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.

Also in 1 Corinthians 10:31 it says "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Can what you are wanting be done for the glory of the Lord? Will it cause a fellow brother or sister to stumble in sin? Personally, I do not think they are a sin to get on your body. The only reason I don't have one is because I use my money on things like... food lol. But when it can come to causing someone to stumble deeper into their sin then I think you need to approach this prayerfully and seek Gods Will in what you do

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Originally Posted by classyT

Mud,

It isn't a sin. I just don't think it is WISE to have one. Mostly because of what they represent to the world...( that is those without Jesus Christ).

The thing is Christianity isn't a religion with a bunch of rules. There are sins that we know to stay away from that are obvious such as lying, stealing, murder I mean it is a given. This is one of those things that I believr is up to the indivudual believer in Christ and his relationship with the Lord. I have my ears pierced for heaven sakes...and I sure don't think it is wrong nor have i asked for forgiveness for it. I do think MOTIVE should always be in question in anything we do though.

I would personally advise against having one...but I cannot in good conscience say it is a SIN in which the Lord had to die on the cross for. NO WAY. I again refer to this verse that Paul wrote to the CHURCH... ( that means US)

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.

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Why do you think it is not wise to get a cross tattoo'd if you are a good believer? I respect your opinion, but I'm just curious why you think that. I like all of your input so far along with everybody else :)

I dislike it when thugs get cross tattoos but if you are a true believer I think it's something to respect because the person is proud of the religion and not ashamed.

Snippy07,

This really should be a decision between you and the Lord. The reason I THINK it might not be wise is because of how the world sees tattoos. By the world I am referring to non Christians.

We are told to be 'set apart" from the world. For me Snippy, it would seem wrong. But you are younger than me. You are a different generation . When I was younger even non christians looked down on tattoo's.. that isn't the case anymore.

snippy07,
Having a tattoo on your arm to the glory of God and to show the world that you are lover of Jesus and what he has done for us is OK.
It's not much different than waring a cross or have one as a lapel pin.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snippy07

All opinions and help are welcome, thanks :)

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The laws of God are the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ and HIS righteousness. We are not justified by the law but by the blood of Christ. We understand this!
HOWEVER, That does not mean we do not learn by the laws of God, or that we make void the laws of God. (Romans 3:31)

Anyone who feels they can sin freely are under the law of sin. They are not following the footsteps of Christ. They instead follow their own old ways, and have not surrendered in doing the WILL of GOD as Christ footsteps have done.

God's wisdom is far greater then our own. God teaches us not to mark the body with print, and I would do HIS WILL.

"What IF" a printed mark upon your body would someday mean what satan (anti-christ) wanted his followers to do? "What IF" that is why God has foretold us not to do it? Is our ONE LORD the truth, the life, and the way? (John 14:6)

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Christ judges by FAITH, (Mark 2:9 Mark 5:34 Mark 10:54) and the righteousness of God is reveal by FAITH (The just live by FAITH) + (For we walk by FAITH, not by sight)

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Originally Posted by sndbay

The laws of God are the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ and HIS righteousness. We are not justified by the law but by the blood of Christ. We understand this!
HOWEVER, That does not mean we do not learn by the laws of God, or that we make void the laws of God. (Romans 3:31)

Anyone who feels they can sin freely are under the law of sin. They are not following the footsteps of Christ. They instead follow their own old ways, and have not surrendered in doing the WILL of GOD as Christ footsteps have done.

God's wisdom is far greater then our own. God teaches us not to mark the body with print, and I would do HIS WILL.

"What IF" a printed mark upon your body would someday mean what satan (anti-christ) wanted his followers to do? "What IF" that is why God has foretold us not to do it? Is our ONE LORD the truth, the life, and the way? (John 14:6)

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Christ judges by FAITH, (Mark 2:9 Mark 5:34 Mark 10:54) and the righteousness of God is reveal by FAITH (The just live by FAITH) + (For we walk by FAITH, not by sight)

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Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Review this video: http://www.wayofthemaster.com/hbks.shtml

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Originally Posted by classyT

we live on this side of the cross under Grace.

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Are you telling me that we can sin as much as we want want and we'll still be under grace?

chocodrip,
That is what some folks wrongly think and believe.
They says that they are saved regardless of how sinful they might be.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

Sure the Bible commands against putting symbols on your body, mind you it also decries shellfish.

If you want the Christian Tradition as opposed to the Biblical tradition think whether it breaks.

1. Love the lord your God with all your heart, soul etc etc
2. Love your neighbor as yourself

I can't see how marking your Body with a symbol of Jesus Christ's suffering and love breaks either of those.

If wider society disagrees (you worry about the reaction of everyone else) F*&@ them. Since when did the Christian pay attention to what other people think?

On the other hand I would advise against symbol tattoos in general. They have fluid meanings likely to change over time and context. Some of the greatest crimes in history have been done under a cross. The Nazi swastika was an eastern symbol of peace before the holocaust. There is no way to know what groups or individuals will use the cross as there calling card in 50 years, or what exactly it will mean then.

Anthony Hillyer,
I do agree with your post on a tattoo cross.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

Thank you Arcura
All the best,
Anthony

How much does this tattoo cost?
In my opinion it would be much wiser use of that money to for instance help Haiti or support a missionary or give to support the poor or homeless. How about feeding a family for a week on that money you will waste decorating your body with something that will fade in 20 years into a blob of colors that no one will recognize? To me that is a much wiser use of available funds. To promote the kingdom of God not the kingdom of some tattoo artist who will blow that money on who knows what.

450donn,
You have made a good point.
Thanks,
Fred

snippy - I appreciate your question but I'd like to expand the discussion a little more.

To get or not to get a tattoo in my opinion is not the question. I mean that when you break down the issues we contend with in this life, what is really important to God is that you love him and love your neighbor as yourself. It's been my experience that sometimes we can make a bigger deal about superficial things rather than the most important things. I know what it is like to major in the minors because I once held that perspective. But I see that there is a bigger picture with God and the less substantive things like getting piercings, tattoos, etc. tend to be merely insignificant in comparison to how I relate to God and others. Let me try to illustrate what I mean.

Take the Pharisees and the confrontations they had with Jesus. They obsessed over things like whether it was lawful for someone to be healed on the Sabbath. They took issue with the disciples taking heads of grain and rubbing them in their hands to eat because they did it on the Sabbath. They complained that the disciples didn't wash their hands before they ate and didn't wash the outside of pots and cups as they drank. The issue is that they made a big deal out of things that were insignificant when they should have paid more attention to their own inwardness. Consider what Jesus had to say:

'And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”'

Now, I'll admit that Jesus is talking about food and not tattoos. But is it really a stretch to conclude that he could have just as easily mentioned tattoos here? Lots of things that were forbidden for people to do in the Old Testament were mere rules of practice that would have made the Israelites distinct from their neighbors and were ritualistic in nature (meaning as it related to their practice of Judaism): abstaining from eating certain foods, not being tattooed, women being unclean during their menstrual cycles, people being unclean after coming into contact with a dead person, and on and on.

As I see it, those things were meant to make the people distinct and they were commanded to observe those things in the context of their religious system. But what God was truly after from the Israelites and from us today isn't that we obsess over every little law but that we take God seriously enough to try and understand who he is and what he values. Is he more concerned that we not mark our bodies than whether we are selfish, cruel, and mean-spirited towards others? Is he more impressed when we abstain from getting a tattoo than when we forgive someone who has wronged us or admitted our guilt to someone we have wronged? At the end of the day, I think those are the kind of questions that get at the heart of what you are really asking…I hope, anyway.

jakester,
Exceptionally Good Post.
Thanks,
Fred

I've actually have been wondering the same thing, but I have also considered at the same time to have the scripture that has impacted me the most along with it, I doubt anything satanic can come from having gods word tattooed on your skin in nice writing. Heck maybe at the swimming pool you'll help bring god into someone's life by sitting in the hot tub with your arm/back facing them with words of salvation on your skin :P

monkeydamyo,
That's an interesting thought.
But keep in mind that displaying religious names and symbols might offend some people and some of the are violent or will sue.
Those kinds of people offend me.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

Galatians 5:3-6
"3.Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
4.You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
5.But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.
6.For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

My father-in-law is a Baptist minister and he will tell you than any tattoo is a sin.

Imagine his surprise when he noticed mine for the first time during our wedding ceremony, which he performed... but that's besides the point. ;)

There's more to it than that - in my belief.

We're born sinners and will make mistakes. Ideally, those mistakes are not intentional, however. I suggest praying about this to make your decision. God will guide you in your decision.

kindj,
Thanks for that info passage.
Fred

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Originally Posted by LearningAsIGo

My father-in-law is a Baptist minister and he will tell you than any tattoo is a sin.

Imagine his surprise when he noticed mine for the first time during our wedding ceremony, which he performed.... but that's besides the point. ;)

There's more to it than that - in my belief.

We're born sinners and will make mistakes. Ideally, those mistakes are not intentional, however. I suggest praying about this to make your decision. God will guide you in your decision.

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I agree, man, there is more to it than that... at the same time, I don't think God is going to guide you about a tattoo. I mean, what's he going to do, part the clouds and tell you not to do it? No disrespect, I'm just saying, how is God going to guide that kind of decision?

There are so many greater things at stake in this life than whether we get a tattoo or not. Will I ever see my need for God's forgiveness? Will I make it through this life with my faith intact? Will I love my neighbor as myself? Will I humble myself to another person when I have wronged him and ask for forgiveness? Will I extend mercy to others when they have wronged me? I honestly think that the greatest plague of humanity is religion which concerns itself which trivial crap like tattoos instead of the life or death issues like eternal life and mercy from God.

Just thinking out loud.

jakester,
You thought out loud well for that.
AND made the point quite well.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

To answer the Leviticus Verse "issue" - I found a great article that articulates the answer:
"Bible says in Leviticus 19:28, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord." (NLT) How much clearer can that be?
It's important, however, to look at the verse in context. This passage in Leviticus, including the surrounding text, is specifically dealing with the pagan religious rituals of the people living around the Israelites. God's desire is to set his people apart from other cultures. The focus here is prohibiting worldly, heathen worship and witchcraft. God forbids his holy people to engage in idolatrous, pagan worship and sorcery which imitates the heathens. He does this out of protection, because he knows this will lead them away from the one true God."

So - a Christian in today's society & time - getting a tattoo as a symbol of faith or your love for Jesus is NOT the same as the Levitical Law.

To comment on "sndbay's" comment or suggestion of a person getting a tattoo of their own free will (of a cross, scripture or ANY tattoo for that matter!)as being potentially the mark of the beast (at least that's what I understood your response to suggest) - That is simply NOT at all the case. That's not how that will play out... lots and lots of research on that if you do a little digging.
Check out this article regarding tattoos for Christians - it's really great:
http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/f/tattoochristian.htm

To answer the Leviticus 19:28 verse "issue" - I found a great article that articulates the answer:
"Bible says in Leviticus 19:28, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord." (NLT) How much clearer can that be?
It's important, however, to look at the verse in context. This passage in Leviticus, including the surrounding text, is specifically dealing with the pagan religious rituals of the people living around the Israelites. God’s desire is to set his people apart from other cultures. The focus here is prohibiting worldly, heathen worship and witchcraft. God forbids his holy people to engage in idolatrous, pagan worship and sorcery which imitates the heathens. He does this out of protection, because he knows this will lead them away from the one true God."

So - a Christian in today's society & time - getting a tattoo as a symbol of faith or your love for Jesus is NOT the same as the Levitical Law.

To comment on "sndbay's" comment or suggestion of a person getting a tattoo of their own free will (of a cross, scripture or ANY tattoo for that matter!) as being potentially the mark of the beast (at least that's what I understood your response to suggest) - That is simply not at all the case. That's not how that will play out... there is lots and lots of information & teaching on that if you do a little digging.
Check out this article regarding tattoos for Christians - it's really great:
Tattoos and Christians - Should Christians Have Tattoos?

My advice - first thing to do before getting a tattoo... pray and ask the Lord for direction & guidance & have the faith to believe He will answer!
:)

The way I'm thinking is, I don't regret getting my Cross Tattoo, at the same time I do. I do like showing that I'm a believer and that I can look down always, no matter where I am, see my tattoo on my forearm and it calms me to know that Jesus and God are watching me, and I need to think like them more. It's sort of my sinful reminder, were it considered a sin. However, with that, comes flaunting. If I'm not mistaken, you should be humble about yourself, religion etc. Don't get me wrong, I love my cross as I said because it reminds me everyday of what Jesus did for me, but I do hope if it is a sin God can forgive me for being foolish. I should've known that I don't need a mark to remind me, I just need his guidance and love. My advice, would be not to get one.

I have a tattoo of a cross that says Jesus in you I live and I want the world to see it. In order to reach people they should be able to relate to us and so I believe tattoos are a great way to outreach

It is NOT a sin to get a tattoo. My biggest problem with it is what it represents to the world. It is a "worldly" thing to do. But there is no list of do's and don't's in Christianity. We are to be lead by peace. If you don't have peace about it... don't do it. Paul said in Romans that whatever is done without faith is sin. I guess I would use that as my standard when there is a gray area.

A tattoo is a sin in the first place. If you were to study the bible you would also know that the son of our father, the most high, did not die on a cross rather a tree or stake as noted in the bible over 50 times. Also ask yourself if someone you loved dearly was shot in the head and killed would it be wrong to tattoo the scene, gun, ext. of them being killed on your body? Id think not why glorify the way in which they were killed. Instead remember what the purpose of there death actually was not how it was done.

I'm on the fence about this one.
Where I live tattoos are looked down upon in a sort of way, and getting a cross usually represents something different, yet it is what you want it to be. The small things in life matter not, it's the legacy you leave behind, and the one you take into the afterlife that you will carry forever.

(Leviticus 19:28) 28 “'And YOU must not make cuts in YOUR flesh for a deceased soul, and YOU must not put tattoo marking upon yourselves. I am Jehovah.

(Deuteronomy 14:1-2) 14 “Sons YOU are of Jehovah YOUR God. YOU must not make cuttings upon yourselves or impose baldness on YOUR foreheads for a dead person. 2 For you are a holy people to Jehovah your God, and Jehovah has chosen you to become his people, a special property, out of all the peoples who are on the surface of the ground.


(Jeremiah 47:5) 5 Baldness must come to Ga′za. Ash′ke‧lon has been put to silence. O remnant of their low plain, how long will you keep making cuts upon yourself?


12 Consequently I entreat YOU by the compassions of God, brothers, to present YOUR bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with YOUR power of reason.


Any disfigurment you make upon your body, is wrong and is a sin. If you are a Christian, you would certainly not want to make markings on your body—even temporarily—that smack of paganism or false worship.

This command must also have encouraged the Israelites to manifest respect for their bodies as God's creations.—Psalm 100:3; 139:14; Job 10:8.

Why not put God's Laws in your heart and respect your body. If you love God, your speech and your conduct will let others know you are a lover of Christ and respect all God given laws. Even if you get a tattoo of a cross, that will not show anyone anything. However if you imatate Jesus in your conduct and speech in all things, that is what will set you apart from the world, as one of Jesus' foot step followers.

Peace,
Hope12

Hope12,
Those verses specifically say these acts are "for" a dead person. They refer to pagan practices that were done by the people of Canaan around the time the Israelites came along. That is something VERY different than what the OP is asking. Your skewed interpretation betrays a personal dislike for tattooing, as well as a high level of legalistic thinking that is not going to help the questioner.

So unless you consider getting a cross tattoo, specifically with Jesus in mind, to be getting it "for a dead person," your answer is not correct.

Snippy, there's nothing biblically wrong with this kind of testimony if it's something you really want to do to honor the Lord. If you later became convinced that getting it was a sin (please don't), yes, God can forgive anything. He looks at the heart, not the upper arm.

I'd say, if you really want to do it and you want to get it as a testimony that you're a Christian, go for it.

Dwasher,
These laws were not just for dead persons but alwso f\or the living. You so nicely prove this in your post -to me. I qoute you " They refer to pagan practices that were done by the people of Canaan around the time the Israelites came along. That is something VERY different than what the OP is asking."
Tattoos were a pracytice of pagans not of those who obey God's laws. Why would a "Christian" follow anything a pagan would do? Would Jesus get a tattoo? Something to think about, what of all the aids and other things passed on b tattoos?

Peace,
Hope12

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These laws were not just for dead persons but alwso f\or the living. You so nicely prove this in your post -to me. I qoute you " They refer to pagan practices that were done by the people of Canaan around the time the Israelites came along. That is something VERY different than what the OP is asking."
Tattoos were a pracytice of pagans not of those who obey God's laws. Why would a "Christian" follow anything a pagan would do? Would Jesus get a tattoo? Something to think about, what of all the aids and other things passed on b tattoos?

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Since you used the comment option instead of the reply, I had to do that quote manually. I don't know if Jesus would get a tattoo or not; neither do you. I don't know where you live, but in the US tattoo artists and parlors are strictly licensed and the sanitizing requirements are very rigid, so the AIDS thing and all that is pretty much a red herring.

The Torah told the Israelites not to be like the people of the land they were going to be occupying. That included things like getting tattooed as a way to call the spirit of a deceased person. In other words, it was a form of occultism. Do you really think it's legitimate to extend that to the modern-day practice of body art? Get real. What you've done her is not that unusual: you find a common practice that you don't like, then go fishing for something in the Bible that you think will support your dislike. As a good American, I will support your right to be wrong. But don't be surprised if I go out of my way to correct your error when you try to foist it on someone else in public.

Once again, snippy, if your goal is to honor the Lord, go for it. My ex-wife and I are scuba divers, and she has an absolutely amazing tattoo on her right shoulder that includes a diver, an octopus, a crab, a starfish, and a critter called a wolf eel. It's quite the conversation starter. And there's absolutely nothing biblically wrong with it.

In LEVITICUS 19:28 the Lord said Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord. I Believe the Lord is saying Don't go off and get someone's name if there dead to keep remembrance of them because once the lord has taking him they no longer exists on earth... which means that you shouldn't try to keep there spirit around.

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Originally Posted by jayman123123

In LEVITICUS 19:28 the Lord said Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord. I Believe the Lord is saying Dont go off and get someones name if there dead to keep rememberance of them because once the lord has taking him they no longer exists on earth...which means that u shouldnt try to keep there spirit around.

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So if I was to get my dead sister's name tattooed on me as a memorial, that would mean I was trying to keep her spirit around? Get real. The Leviticus passage has to do with trying to practice magic spells and invoke the dead, that sort of thing. It has nothing to do with simply remembering someone.

And the question was specifically about a cross tattoo, so I'm not sure what this comment has to do with it anyway.