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by Brother Carlton

12/27/16
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I recently read in a blog (whether the question was contrived or true I do not know for certain) but supposedly a woman wants to know what her peers think about tattoos. Are they sinful or not?

She writes:

I have a tattoo that I received several years ago. It is not mainstream offensive, as in it is not vulgar or anything along those lines, but it is a pagan tattoo and at the time I had it done, it represented for me a self-reliance (rather than a reliance on God) in regards to resisting evil. Obviously this was also at a time in my life when I was still thinking in terms that symbolism actually mattered and that it could help me be a good person, as opposed to the internal, unseen hard and complex work of genuinely trying to be a better a person. Suffice to say I was pretty immature compared to real wisdom, and mostly just being rebellious and impulsive.

This tattoo is in a place that is prominent unless I make a deliberate effort to keep it covered with clothing choices. I've also gone through periods of severe guilt about the tattoo, although I by now I've reached the understanding that it's more about what others think. God has always known that I have this tattoo, obviously, but what sort of message does it send to others? And also, what would I look like, professing my faith in Jesus Christ, while standing there with a tribal pagan tattoo.

I don't think I'll ever be able to afford to have it removed. Once I finish my college degree in about a year and can become employed again, I'll probably be able to afford to have it covered up, like just a hand-sized black blotch so that it's well, just a big blotch of ink rather than a specific design. That is the best I could afford to do, aside from mutilating it off of my body and having to go to the emergency room (which is something I've honestly contemplated due to how terrible I feel about it sometimes).

At one point, someone else advised me that maybe I should leave it as it is, and use it as some sort of testimony in regards to how I was once astray enough to get a tattoo like that, but then wound up being saved, but I'm not sure how I feel about that.

It has sort of become like this dark secret of mine. I'm currently seeking a church, for example, as I haven't regularly attended church since I was a child, and of course when I go to visit the churches on my list to try them out in search of the right one for me, I'll be making sure that tattoo is covered up, and I certainly won't be eager to mention it to anyone. So then what happens if when the day comes when I am finally able to be baptized, other people see it. The whole situation just gives me a terrible gut feeling.

Lately I've been trying to reach out and feel for what God wants me to do about it, but I haven't felt confident that I've received a response yet, or some sort of sign.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions on this sort of situation?"

NOTE: Such questions are often created by websites and blog posts to collect intelligence on Christian churches and the Christian community to see what they are thinking about such matters. You'd be surprised how much information the government has on each of us and what we believe about certain teachings or people. Social media like Facebook and YouTube are used for this purpose but we have nothing to hide if we speak the truth.

Christians should be transparent and able to speak forth the word of God on particular matters setting aside their personal opinions. Our personal opinions don't matter much. The question is what saith the Lord?

Regarding tattoos my advice would be for this woman to have her tattoo removed as soon a possible or as soon as her budget allows but since she doesn't have the money at this time she can cover her tattoo with clothing since she says it is in a "prominent place" presumably on the neck or arm but if that was the case why would she be so uncomfortable if other's saw it during her baptism? During most baptisms the person is fully clothed. Both males and females would normally have on a long robe to cover the body's nakedness so that arms and legs marked by tattoos would not be seen. This makes be a bit suspicious of the authenticity of this posted blog.

Historically ancient times tattoos have been a sign of pagan practices by the ritual cutting and marking of the skin which is why the LORD commanded Israel not to put any markings or cuttings on their skin."

Just as the Christian is sealed or given a spiritual mark by the earnest of the Holy Spirit so too an unbeliever often showed their allegiance to their god or

This woman has shown at least one sign of repentance since after her profession of being a Christian she feels

Many modern day professing Christians and pastors who try to condone the practice of tattoos say the New Testament is silent on the matter and justify the sinful tattoo by saying there's only one mention of tattoos and that is found in the Old Testament passage Leviticus 19: carry with them a spirit of antinomianism by saying that this verse referred only to the Old Testament law which pertained to ancient Israel but in this they are mistaken not knowing the scriptures.

Except for the ceremonial law which was blotted out and done away at the cross the moral law still stands. In fact Jesus emphatically declared in Matthew 5:17; “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

The heresy of Antinomianism (anti-law) says that Christians are not under the law but are under grace. The New Testament represents grace and the Old Testament represent law. We'll cover more on this in another article entitled Antinomianism.

Theologian R. J. Rushdoony has put this particular sin or violation under the moral law of the sixth commandment because cuttings or markings have a tendency to destroy the body and thus the "Thou shalt not kill" commandment. Rushdoony's remarks are well stated in his Institutes of Biblical law page 223:

"The personal application includes markings, cuttings, and tattoos of the body, for the body must be used under God's law, and all such acts are forbidden in the law, whether for mourning, as religious marks, or for ornamental or other uses (Lev. 19:28; 21:5). Tattooing was practiced religiously to indicate that one adhered to or belonged to a god; it also indicated that a man was a slave, that he belonged to a lord or owner. The believer, as a free man in Christ, indicates Christ's lordship by obedience, not by servile markings: the body is kept holy and clean unto the Lord. The persistence of a mark of slavery among man is indicative of man's perversity."

I've seen videos of professing Christians trying to justify this pagan practice again and again but ask yourself why this ungodly and worldly practice so infiltrates modern day churches and culture. Is it not because the true believer has failed to preach the whole counsel of God regarding God's moral commandments? Until we become a law abiding and Christ honoring people exercising the fear of the Lord in every area of life and thought then the local churches will continue to disregard the commandments of the lord and they will continue allowing pagans to enter their sanctuaries unreproved in their dress, with men wearing earrings and women wearing short skirts and gaudy adornment.

The pagans and unbelievers may try to justify their tattoos but let not those who name the name of the Lord do so and so dishonor God.

Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member) and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See all his videos on https://www.YouTube.com/user/LAStreetPreacher CONTACT at [email protected]

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