Are tattoos and piercings wrong?

Author: BibleAsk Team


Tattoos and Piercings

Concerning tattoos and piercings, the Bible in Leviticus 19:28 says, “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.” In ancient days, cutting the flesh was done by various heathen peoples in connection with ceremonial rites for the dead. Sadly, today some follow such occult practices. Tattoos should not be adopted by believers since it mar the image of the Creator (Genesis 1:27, 28).

The spiritual principle found in Leviticus 19 about cutting the flesh and tattoos still applies to us today. Christians are to be in the world, but not of the world. This includes giving ourselves to God in every way, including what we do with our bodies. The apostle Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Glorify God in Your Bodies

The believer must do everything in such a way that God, not man, is honored. Such life will call for the dedication of all the powers of mind and body to Him, and daily yielding of all one’s being to His Spirit (Proverbs 18:10; 2 Corinthians 4:10; Colossians 3:17). The Bible teaches, “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). We need to remember that our bodies, as well as our souls, have been redeemed and belong to God (Ephesians 1:7).

Romans 14:23 reminds us that anything that does not come from faith is sin. A believer’s external appearance should not be the focus of his attention. The Lord says in 1 Peter 3:3–4: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment… Rather, it should be that of your inner self.”  The focus in our lives should be on reflecting God’s character to the world (1 Peter 3:2; Matthew 5;16). Our lights are to shine, not so that people may notice us, but that they may be attracted to God, who is the light of life (Matthew 6:31–34; John 6:27; Isaiah 55:1, 2).

In His service,
BibleAsk Team

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