Growing up, I heard lots of Pastors in church use 1 Corinthians 6:18 as a way to discourage youth from getting tattoos. However, if you look at what the Bible really says in this passage you will notice something.
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
This scripture has to do with sexual immorality. It doesn’t explicitly say, “Do not get tattoos or piercings” It just makes us aware that we should preserve our bodies for the sanctity of marriage by not interacting in sexual intercourse with anyone that is not our husband or wife.
Another scripture most Christians use is from the old testament
You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:28
Which is something that we should take into context that we should not dedicate our bodies to any cuttings or tattoos that are meant for the dead (Emphasis added for clarity).
This brings me to the argument that some Christians make which says we are no longer under the Law so Leviticus 19:28 should no longer pertain to believers of Jesus.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14
In other words He paid the price and took our place.
Personally, I wouldn’t go so far as marking my body for the dead because we have hope in Jesus to see the dead after they die in Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who [a]sleep in Jesus.15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are [b]asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Another scripture I heard as a child to completely discourage me from ever getting a body full of tattoos and piercings is this:
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
Now looking back on it I agree with the efforts my parents made to keep my skin clean. I’m a girly girl and I understand that tattooing is a big commitment and it is something that stays with you for life. That’s why I would only really consider getting meaningful tattoos in discrete places that wouldn’t draw away from my own feminine beauty. I have a few in mind with a Christian message that I would be willing to share eventually but those are part of my personal healing in this journey called life and I would rather keep those to myself and use other forms of healing to reach out to people with my articles and art thought photography and so on.
I know a few older people who might be reading this might not agree with me and I respect their concern but I’ve already thought this through with peace in my heart. I know what I want and I’m already an adult and no longer a child. I have my relationship with Jesus and that is our business and does not affect my Salvation1 with Him.
However, my choice does not always justify yours as your situation may be different.
With all respect, I know that everyone’s house rules are different. Some parents who do not want their teens to tattoo or pierce their bodies while they still live under their parent’s roof should respect their parent’s rules.
The Bible says, Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3)
This scripture includes a promise with goodness in life and a promise of a long life for those kids who honor their parents while still living under their roof.
Also, wives who have a believing husband who doesn’t want her to tattoo or pierce her body should respect him because “the husband is the head of the wife as Jesus is the head of the church” so to maintain a harmonious marriage she should respect her husband’s wishes as the Bible says (Ephesians 5:22-23).
However, if you’re free from any such commitment, living as an adult on your own, or even have permission from your spouse, I do not see why a Christian should not get a tattoo or piercing especially if it is well thought out and glorifies God in the end. That is your business between you and God in Jesus.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Finally, if you are a nonbeliever who already has tattoos that might be considered less than acceptable in God’s sight, God really just wants you to come to Him as you are and love you because of who Jesus is and not because of what you did in the past before you even knew who Jesus was or what He did for us at the Cross. Just forgive yourself and start fresh in Christ realizing that any new tattoos you would be willing to get would really glorify God in the end.
Confession to Salvation in Jesus Christ
If you read this and are new to Jesus and are interested in receiving Him in your heart as your Lord and Savior now is a good time to save this article for later and read it in the privacy of your home to say this prayer with the Lord in the comfort of your living space.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
Having faith in Jesus has nothing to do with your appearance but with the state of your heart.
Scripture says,
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Dear Jesus,
I come to you and confess with my mouth that You are Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that God has raised you from the dead on the third day. You are now seated at the right-hand side of God interceding for us. Please come into my heart today and be my Lord and Savior.
Amen.