Tattoo question

[israelmybeloved]

I was thinking about getting a tattoo on the back of my neck of the star of David. How many here have tattoos, and if any, do you regret having it, or not. Thank you all.

[livin_in_the_Son]

Well, my sister-in-law has a tattoo on the back of her neck, and it looks silly. Consider this though, 1 Cor 6:19 tells us that our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit, and to honor God with them, a tattoo would be a dishonor to God. You were bought with the blood of Christ, your body should be pure. You can show your love for God, Christ, and Isreal in other ways. A tattoo isn't going to prove your love to anyone, so don't be of the world, but in everything seek God. Yes, I think that ultimately you would regret it.

[israelmybeloved]

Livin, Thanks for the info. I just wanted my family's thought on this, (which all of you are my family) and your right, our body is the temple of the Most High. Glad I asked first.

[mattfivefour]

My grandson who is in his second year of bible college spent four years in the military. During that time, when he was backslidden, he got the tattoo of a big black scorpion on the right side of his neck. It extends from his shoulders up to almost behind his ear. You have no idea the embarrassment he feels now when he preaches. Yes, perhaps the Lord will use it during his street evangelism in the inner city with gang members and the like, but he sure wishes he did not have it! He intends to get it removed at some point, but that is an expensive (and painful) process.

[SonSeeker]

Goin' along with livin_in_the_Son on this one.

So far, I think it's unanimous, including 1 Corinthians.

[livin_in_the_Son]

My grandson who is in his second year of bible college spent four years in the military. During that time, when he was backslidden, he got the tattoo of a big black scorpion on the right side of his neck. It extends from his shoulders up to almost behind his ear. You have no idea the embarrassment he feels now when he preaches. Yes, perhaps the Lord will use it during his street evangelism in the inner city with gang members and the like, but he sure wishes he did not have it! He intends to get it removed at some point, but that is an expensive (and painful) process.

Adrian, tell your grandson that they make something called 'wreaking balm' at most tattoo parlors. It's a cream designed to eventually break up the ink in the tattoo. It's not guaranteed, and it takes forever, but a lot of people claim it works well at removing tattoos.

[mattfivefour]

Thanks, Juli, I will.

[Minnow Frenzy]

I used to be a tattoo artist in my early twenties and I beg you to reconsider, even though you feel your theme of a specific artwork somehow corrects what you are allowing to happen to the image of your body. Ive been interested in art in general all of my life and wanted a tattoo badly in my teens. I have first hand knowledge of the mistakes. I too wanted a Christian themed tattoo that seemed to justify what I was doing. I picked aninverted circle symbol that I felt represented the trinity and found out in later years that it is actually a sybol close to the trilatural commission, which is also viewed as a 666 symbol, and also close to sybolism found in pagan gods. I also have a tattoo of a sun high up and visible on the back of my neck (this is before I was saved) which I deeply regret, especially now that I am going to be an art teacher by next fall and also the fact that many people throughout history have worshiped the sun. Another thing that I always, always, always noticed working as a tattoo artist was the attitude that INSTANTLY comes over a person once they receive their first tattoo. They change. Their attitude changes. Their view of themselves becomes scewed. They feel, for a lack of a better word, harder. They feel like they accomplished something. They accomplished nothing. They desicrated their body and I regret deeply any tattoo that Ive ever given to a fellow human being. Lord forgive me!

[Hannah]

I have children who regret their tattoos now. Both had them in their early twenties but now in their late twenties are sorry they had them at all. They had things like a single flower or a bumble bee and a dolphine done, nothing that is offensive. However they have realised it has pegged them in a way they really don't want to be judged.


Unlike a bad haircut you are stuck with it and the reactions of other people you get to the Tatts you have.

[israelmybeloved]

Well I am so glad that I asked first before getting one, I am in no way gonna get it. Father God knows I love Israel and I am content with that. Thank you all so very much, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Love you all.

[Meg]

Well I am so glad that I asked first before getting one, I am in no way gonna get it. Father God knows I love Israel and I am content with that. Thank you all so very much, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Love you all.

[willmars]

I think first of all you can try a temporary tattoo on back of your neck and change this in future if you don’t like it.

[seank6]

Adrian, tell your grandson that they make something called 'wreaking balm' at most tattoo parlors. It's a cream designed to eventually break up the ink in the tattoo. It's not guaranteed, and it takes forever, but a lot of people claim it works well at removing tattoos.

yea I've tried that to remove my 6 tattoos that I got when I was unsaved. It doesn't work and is really expensive like 50 bucks for a small amount I wouldn't recommend it.

[SteveJM]

I would recommend against tattoos. Consider a passage in Leviticus.

Leviticus 19:26-31
26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
29 Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a *****; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.
30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

Even though we're not under the law, we should give the law consideration in how we live. The law will condemn rather than save, but it does also reveal the mind of God and His desire for us to be separate from the ways of the world. In the law it also gives us guidelines for dietary and cleanliness among other things. The printing of marks that are forbidden in verse 28, in context, is related to paganism. I personally feel that when we leave our bodies alone, we're saying that we're satisfied with how we're created. We don't need to add to what God has given us. I know there are many spirit filled brothers and sisters with tattoos and some also have piercings, and I'm not about to separate over a tattoo or piercing. I'll voice my opinion if I'm asked, but I don't make it a big issue. If I'm to condemn tattoos, should I not also condemn a shaped beard or goatee? I've recently grown a beard. Is it trimmed? Yes, not as drastically as some do, but just slightly around the mustache, top edges and the overall length, it is however still trimmed. A Christian today can get a tattoo and it doesn't have to be related to paganism. There are even tattoo artists who are Christian. The most important thing is that we seek in prayer the will of our Father before we make decisions, including a tattoo. If we are to jump on those with tattoos, not that anyone is doing that, we would also have to consider, in addition to trimmed beards, hair coloring, cosmetic procedures, shaving, etc. The most important thing is our heart condition, for God looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

[BobFin]

The most important thing is that we seek in prayer the will of our Father before we make decisions, including a tattoo. If we are to jump on those with tattoos, not that anyone is doing that, we would also have to consider, in addition to trimmed beards, hair coloring, cosmetic procedures, shaving, etc. The most important thing is our heart condition, for God looks at the heart.

I agree with SteveJM here. I don't have a tattoo and probably never will (I have more important things to spend my money on) but I could never look down at someone who does. Mentioned in an earlier post was that we are to "keep our bodies as a temple to God". I agree with this too, but how many of us are over-weight? I am one who could stand to loose 50 pounds (or more). My "temple" is rounded at the corners!

I personally don't like the looks of tattoos on the neck, face or lower arms/legs. I think they distract from one's looks. I also think that if it came down to two people in an interview for a job and both people were equally qualified, the one with the visible tattoo would loose out. This is just my opinion though.

I am glad that you have decided against it.
Blessings!

[IamPJ]

I have several tattoos on my upper arms and now regret them. I am so embarrassed of them now that I make sure they are well covered up. I am careful of the shirts I wear to church because I don't want anyone to see them. However, I see women and men in church with tattoos on their necks, arms and ankles. I don't think it looks very nice. I wouldn't recommend getting a tattoo....most people regret it later. I know I do.

[cspat64]

another vote against tattoo.

[nillapoet]

I've got three tattoos. 1 video game character, and two christian related. Never should have gotten them.

[kbella1490]

I agree with SteveJM. Almost three years ago my 19 year old daughter, and only child Kate, was killed in an auto accident. I got a tattoo in her memory. It's a butterfly with her name going through it, and it says "My precious daughter". I would never intentionally do anything that the Lord is against, and I think he would understand that I want to honor the precious gift that he gave me.

[SteveJM]

I agree with SteveJM. Almost three years ago my 19 year old daughter, and only child Kate, was killed in an auto accident. I got a tattoo in her memory. It's a butterfly with her name going through it, and it says "My precious daughter". I would never intentionally do anything that the Lord is against, and I think he would understand that I want to honor the precious gift that he gave me.

I'm so sorry about your loss. Reading your post brought me instantly to tears. I just lost an unborn grandchild, and I have two daughters myself. My prayers are with you.