Should Christians Get Tattoos? 

“The only time the word “tattoo” appears in the Bible is in Leviticus 19:27-28, which reads, ‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves’ (NIV). Moses gave these rules because Israel’s pagan neighbors practiced these customs as part of false worship. Nowadays haircuts and tattoos are typically a matter of personal preference, not religious meaning (unless you get a cross-shaped mohawk or tat!). Since tattoos are pretty permanent, though, think long-term before getting one: Is this a message/symbol/picture I’ll be happy with the rest of my life? Will it affect my employability? What will it look like when I’m older and my skin starts sagging? 

Personally, there are four reasons I don’t get a tat: 1. Ouch! – I don’t like pain. 2. Yuck! – I’ve seen lots of old, faded tats that are ugly. 3. Cha-ching! – I don’t want the expense of getting and maintaining a quality tat. 4. Splash! – I’m a blood donor. Getting a tat would keep me from donating for a year (or forever if the tattoo parlor accidentally gave me hepatitis).” These are all good things to keep in mind while making your decision. 

-Dr. Jerome Van Kuiken 

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