Is it a sin to get a tattoo? – Defining Tattoos as Being Sinful
The question; is it a sin to get a tattoo, brings about a variety of answers from each person this is asked to. There are actually three definitions in the dictionary under the word ‘sin’.
The first definition refers to any act that breaks a religious or moral law that is set in place. For instance, some religious groups spread the word within their sect that tattoos are against their religion. This means that anyone practicing said religion is considered to have committed a sin when he/she gets a tattoo. A person who feels that getting tattoos makes someone a bad person will fall into the ‘moral law’ part of this definition.
The second definition of ‘sin’ refers to a serious offense or a fault. There are a lot of people that fall into this category and not necessarily all of them consider themselves to be religious. Some people just feel that getting tattoos are sinful, since they are a permanent mark on an otherwise flawless vessel. Tattoos are permanent, or at least they are supposed to be. There are people who start off thinking tattoos are the coolest thing ever and then later in life realize they feel differently. Considering their earlier act to be a sin, they decide to get laser surgery performed and have the tattoo removed.
The third part of the definition of ‘sin’ includes something that is considered to be against one’s common sense. Most people use this form of the word ‘sin’ lightly, such as when they say it’s a sin to stay inside on such a glorious day.
People who wonder, is it a sin to get a tattoo, might be referring to any of these three definitions. Getting a tattoo is usually considered a personal choice. Some people think they are sinful and others don’t. It is simply a matter of opinion and what you feel is right or wrong.
Is it wrong for a Christian to get a tattoo?
Religious and non-religious folks alike have posed the question: Is it wrong for a Christian to get a tattoo? The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. There are some Christians who feel that it is wrong to violate their appearance, while others know that there isn’t any mention of tattooing in the bible. Since the bible doesn’t state that tattoos are a sin, then some Christians feel there isn’t anything wrong with getting a tattoo.
Some Christians have even been known to get religious tattoos, in order to publicly display their love for the God they worship. This might still be frowned on by other Christians who think that the body should be left the way it was when you were born; clean from permanent markings and piercings.
Jews on the other hand don’t engage in tattooing at all. They won’t even allow any one with tattoos to be buried in a Jewish cemetery, unless the tattoo present on the individual was put there while the person was confined to a concentration camp during the holocaust. This type of tattoo wasn’t received by choice.
It mostly comes down to personal beliefs about what you feel is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. If you feel getting a tattoo is a sin, then having one put on your body is going to be something you feel strongly against. There’s no sense in causing yourself mental anguish by getting a tattoo because you want one, even though you feel you shouldn’t get one.
Next time someone asks, is it wrong for a Christian to get a tattoo, you can either give your opinion based on what is written in the bible about tattooing or how you feel about the subject. Everyone is entitled to an opinion about tattooing, so there’s no right or wrong answer.
