Tattoos and the Bible -- to Ink or Not to Ink?

The stigma of being tattooed is fast fading with notable exceptions. The mainstream popularity of tattooing has brought forth the argument of whether or not "good Christians" can be tattooed or whether this is prohibited by the bible. Popular criticisms include those surrounding the argument that our bodies are simply on loan from god and that we're obligated to return them without any decoration and that tattooing is intrinsically evil and originates from Pagan rituals.

The most well-known bible passage regarding the issue is from the book of Leviticus, 19:28. It reads: "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD." Other translations substitute the word tattoo with incise or carve, and the word cut with slash or gash. For the sake of this piece, I'll use the King James Version, quoted above. Though obviously incorrect, this is by far the most commonly used translation used by Christians condemning tattoos.

To better understand why this argument is trash, the etymology of the word tattoo needs to be clear. The word tattoo is a Polynesian word. This word only entered the English language after James Cook's voyages to Tahiti in the eighteenth century. While the practice of tattooing obviously existed long before then, the word was only discovered and adopted by the English language then. Therefore, the word tattoo appearing in Leviticus 19:28 is simply a product of rewritten versions of the bible. This is significant because of the subjectivity of the actual practice being referred to in the bible.

As a bit of background, the Levitican law was created to save Israelites by forcing them to adhere to the strict standards of the law, to keep them from practicing idolatry or "false religions." Levitius 19:28 refers to the ancient ritual of carving markings in the skin to worship of the soul of a dead family member. The ritual was performed by cutting the flesh and rubbing ash into it and it served as a constant reminder of the death. Mourning was a normal and acceptable part of ancient Middle Eastern culture.

Fast forward to modern Christian religion. Now, amongst many Christian churches, death is no longer seen as the end of life. In fact, it's seen as the beginning of a new chapter -- the afterlife. Bingo! Now the practice of tattooing a mark in memory of the deceased is really marking the start of a new chapter in the dearly beloveds journey toward eternal salvation. The idea behind the ancient ritual is lost, completely.

That's the long version. The short version is that the laws of Leviticus were overthrown in Galatians 3:23-24 and replaced with the new law, one meant to encourage praising God because of faith, rather than for fear of punishment. The law of Leviticus condoned brutal stoning and slaughters, hardly the message of peace that Jesus spread. Simple answer? Modern Christianity doesn't recognize the law of Leviticus as valid.

So what does the bible say? The bible tells us to spread the Word freely, to display our faith. That brings me to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." First of all, in context, the passage refers to prostitution and sexual deviance, not skin markings. Regardless, it's clear that the temple is meant to serve the purpose of glorifying God. It's crystal clear, right? We obtained our bodies as a result of Christ's sacrifice and it's our responsibility to use it appropriately. Moreover, we're told to use our spirit to spread the message as well.

My point is that tattoos are a conversation piece and always will be. It's hard to look at someone's tattoos without asking their significance. They're beautiful and usually visible and just an amazing piece of art to be admired. Anyone tattooed is likely very proud of his or her tattoos and would willingly share their stories and the meaning behind each and every one of them, assuming you're willing to give them the time of day. I'm willing to bet that in almost every case, there is some meaning behind the tattoos and no matter how "vulgar" or "morbid" the design -- in quotes because i've yet to see any tattoo I consider vulgar. I find beauty in personal pain overcome and the strength in finding yourself and showing the world exactly who you are -- and for the Christian, these stories are a direct reflection of their faith. That's not to say that the true meaning of the tattoo was inspired by faith. Our faith in God is constantly tested and even doubted from time to time. this Isn't a sign of weakness but one of questioning and discovery. By sharing our stories and explaining the significance of our tattoos, we spread the word. The word God doesn't even need to be mentioned in a conversation to be a spiritual glorification. In this respect, tattoos can be seen as an unorthodox means of evangelism.

While my position is clear, there will always be opponents and always be the defense by every beautiful, spirited, defiant soul who is covered in art. There isn't an issue today that can't be brought to court by the interpreters of the bible, scholars and illiterate alike -- and tattoos are just the latest victim to be brought to the table. There are minds that will never be changed but if you truly want to practice the word in all it's glory, look to the message of peace. "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4.Wwhy waste our time on petty disputes? I'd say tattoos are the least of our worries, really. Those with the strongest faith will find peace in spreading a message of love, not bickering over external appearance of our brothers and sisters.