Is It Wrong To Have A Tattoo?

Anyone getting a tattoo really needs to ask themselves, why am I getting this and what is the meaning of this tattoo? Is the tattoo an expression of witchcraft, idolatry or pagan symbolism? If so, as Christians or any person, we need to reconsider.

Before we go into more details, it would be important for us to understand a brief history of tattoos. For a practice so commonly associated with youth, tattooing is remarkably old. The oldest documented tattoos belong to Otzi the Iceman, whose preserved body was discovered in the Alps between Austria and Italy in 1991. He died around 3300 B.C., says Jablonski, but the practice of inserting pigment under the skin’s surface originated long before Otzi. In China, they used tattoos to brand criminals and when a criminal gets more than 3 brands he was killed. Tattooing was also used during slavery. Slaves were branded using hot iron and this could identify them from which homes/families they were working from.

In the bible, tattoos are also mentioned, and this is found in Leviticus 19:28, where Moses was writing to the children of Israel of why they should not tattoo themselves as their neighbors. The bible says, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.” Currently, tattoos have moved from cultural and now it’s a form of art. In places like South America, and other Western countries, people do it to identify with a particular gang or neighborhood. In South Africa, we have gang 69 which young people will input the ink in their bodies to identify with them. It should be important to note that this are blood covenants, I am in this gang by blood.

Now the challenge we find ourselves here in Africa, is that most of the things we do we copy/import from the western world and as much we may want to do it for fashion sake, we don’t really understand the meaning behind the arts we are printing in our bodies. In South America, almost 37 million people have tattoos and most of their drawings are “spiritual”

So, why is this verse in the Bible? God’s desire is for His people to be set apart from other religious practices, like pagan worship and sorcery. If you look at this verse in context, you can see that it is specifically dealing with pagan religious rituals. Does this verse have any relevance for us today? Absolutely! Anyone getting a tattoo really needs to ask themselves, why am I getting this and what is the meaning of this tattoo? Is the tattoo an expression of witchcraft, idolatry or pagan symbolism? If so, as Christians, we need to reconsider…

The tattoo is more than just a layer of ink cut into the skin. It was a vehicle for pagan spiritual and religious invocations – a bridge into the supernatural world. Infamous witch Laurie Cabot (of Salem, Massachusetts) writes: “The origins of tattooing came from ancient magical practices.” Tattooing was intended to make the body a ‘fit home’ for the spirit who dwelt in it. Tribal tattoos are designs that bear symbolical mystical and occult meanings. In short, they are channels of spiritual and demonic possession. The reason people have some demonic dreams and you wonder what is happening to you, you opened a spiritual gate in your life and such only deliverance can help to close those gates. You find someone has the black rose inked on her body, you start asking yourself why very many misfortunes in my life, little did you know you opened a gate of misfortune in your life. Rose Tattoos and Meaning

A tattoo has never been associated with Christianity, though many pseudo-christians sport it. History has shown that whenever  tattooed pagan tribes were converted to Christianity, without exception, one of the first pagan practices to disappear was the tattoo. Why? Because, unlike today’s foolish “tattooed” pseudo-christians,  the converted pagan knew in his heart that the tattoo was against the Word of God. The Holy Spirit convinced the converted pagan that tattoos were taboo! Today’s shameless pseudo-christians don’t seem to understand that: “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: you cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” 1 Corinthians 10:21.

Someone reading will ask and so why am I seeing some pastors tattooing themselves? Leave the pastors, when the trumpet will be sound by the Lord, everyone will be answerable. Some have put it because they say they want tore-cheer these generation and make them feel comfortable and come to church, the Bible says, Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God and therefore it’s not how we present ourselves but the power that comes with the word of God. Owners of Mercedes, Rolce Royce, Range Rover, don’t pimp their cars because of the cost of their vehicles and same should apply with our bodies, the Bible say, “Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

How can I remove my tattoo? Unfortunately tattoos are permanent and even the technology for removing is very expensive. Get a pastor, to seriously pray and close that spiritual gate you opened when you got the tattoo and your life will be okay. God bless and I would like to hear from you.