A PASTOR’S TAKE ON TATTOOS

Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19: 28.

It seems like everywhere you turn these days there is someone wearing tattoos. While some people are content with having one or two engraved on their bodies, others go the extreme by having them plastered all over their bodies, so much so that you can’t tell skin from tattoo.

More and more, the Church is now being permeated with members who are sporting at least one tattoo on their bodies.

With this fast growing trend, it could be only a matter of time before everyone is doing it, including set-apart people of God.

Family and Religion sought answers from Evangelist Carlton Daley of the Special Effects Ministry as to whether Christians should engage in the practice of tattooing their bodies.

For him, there is no simple ‘yes or no’ answer on the topic as it is more complex than that.

“Without making reference to the scripture, it must be highlighted that on a moral level, that act of tattooing, more so all over the body, is seen by many, even persons who aren’t Christians or religious, to be a deviant act. Also of note is that the act is not affirmed in the scripture,” he said.

OLD TESTAMENT LAW

Referring to the above-mentioned verse in Leviticus, Daley said although believers today are not under Old Testament law, the mere fact that there was a command against tattoos should be enough to raise some questions.

“The New Testament does not say anything about whether or not a believer should get a tattoo; however, we do have this command in 1 Corinthians 10:31 that whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, all should be done to the glory of God. The New Testament does not specifically command against tattoos, but it also does not give us any reason to believe God would have us get tattoos,” Daley pointed out.

For those who have not yet ventured in getting one, Daley said they should stop and consider the fact that this may be a lifetime mark, seeing that surgical removal is unpopular. Also, one needs to decipher whether or not God would be pleased with the act.

Tattoos, too, have been used by some to show how much they love someone. For others, it is a way of remembering a departed one.

POPULAR MYTH

Responding to this issue, Daley said it is a popular myth that once an act is done out of love, it makes it good.

For him, the Bible does not sanction that.

“Therefore, tattooing someone’s name, date of birth, etc., in the name of love does not make it OK. I am sure there are other effective ways to display love and affection for a person.”

Another reason to be careful of the images that are imprinted on your body is what it can attract.

Pointing out that a tattoo in itself isn’t enough to attract evil spirits from the demonic world, “but if one tattoos demonic signs on their bodies, that is, without a doubt, welcoming such spirits. So, yes tattoos are capable of attracting demons.”

For Christians, Daley said a good test to determine if tattooing their bodies is OK is to consider whether they can, in good conscience, ask God to bless and use that particular activity for His own good purposes.

“An important scriptural principle on issues the Bible does not specifically address is, if there is room for doubt whether it pleases God, then it is best not to engage in that activity. Romans 14:23 reminds us that anything that does not come from faith is sin. We need to remember that our bodies, as well as our souls, have been redeemed and belong to God,” he pointed out.