SHOULD I TATTOO MY BODY?

The tattoo fad is here! Famous footballers, athletes and Hollywood celebrities are the promoters of such thing. It is not an uncommon sight in Singapore to see young men and women spotting tattoos on their bodies. Some see it as art while others think it as a form of fashion. There are others who tattooed themselves so as to associate themselves as part of a gang or secret society.

I remember distinctly in the 1950s and 60s when people who spot tattoos are usually secret society members. The police will spot these people easily. In Japan, the Yakuza (the Japanese secret society) tattoo their whole body. Is this art?

What has the Bible got to tell us about this matter? Should you tattoo your body? Have you done it? Or are you planning to do it? Will you imitate your friends?

God's Word is very clear about this matter. It says in Leviticus 19: 28 "You shall not … tattoo yourselves; I am the LORD." (ESV) This is a clear instruction from God's Word that we do not tattoo our bodies at all. If, however, we are tattooed against our will, like the Nazis in World War Two tattooed the Jewish concentration camp inmates, we have no choice. But today, there are so many Christians who are doing it. Are they doing it out of ignorance of Scripture? Or are they doing it because they are following their friends or fashion? This is inexcusable. We should be people of the Word.

As Christians we want to be good witnesses for Jesus. Let us keep away from this trend and honour the Lord.

Pastor