Tattoo Or Not To

                                        TATTOO OR NOT TO              

                                              

Though we must never argue on obscure Bible verses, this tattoo argument is often heard in Christian gatherings and the pulpit does not address such disputes for right reasons. 

Leviticus 19:28 says, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord” Now ,Leviticus 19 also adds, “observe my Sabbaths” (There are lot of things we must not do on Sabbath day),  “Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed”, “Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material”, “Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it” and “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.”  Why are we not arguing on all these issues too? Nevertheless, Leviticus 19 has some instructions which are endorsed in New Testament too, like homosexuality which is forbidden in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament 

If you read the surrounding texts, Leviticus is dealing with the pagan religious rituals of the people living around the Israelites. God’s desire is to set his people apart from other cultures. 

                 Do Christians need to obey the Old Testament Law?

The key to understanding the relationship between the Christian and the Law is knowing that the Old Testament law was given to the nation of Israel, not to Christians. Some of the laws were to reveal to the Israelites how to obey and please God (the Ten Commandments, for example). Some of the laws were to show the Israelites how to worship God and atone for sin (the sacrificial system). Some of the laws were intended to make the Israelites distinct from other nations (the food and clothing rules). None of the Old Testament law is binding on Christians today. When Jesus died on the cross, He put an end to the Old Testament law

 Romans 10:4” For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

Galatians 3:23–25 ”Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian”

Ephesians 2:15 ”Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved”

In place of the Old Testament law, Christians are under the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2), which is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and to love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). If we obey those two commands, we will be fulfilling all that Christ requires of us: “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40). Now, this does not mean the Old Testament law is irrelevant today. Many of the commands in the Old Testament law fall into the categories of “loving God” and “loving your neighbor.” The Old Testament law can be a good guidepost for knowing how to love God and knowing what goes into loving your neighbor. At the same time, to say that the Old Testament law applies to Christians today is incorrect. The Old Testament law is a unit (James 2:10). Either all of it applies, or none of it applies. If Christ fulfilled some of it, such as the sacrificial system, He fulfilled all of it.

“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). The Ten Commandments were essentially a summary of the entire Old Testament law. Nine of the Ten Commandments are clearly repeated in the New Testament (all except the command to observe the Sabbath day). Obviously, if we are loving God, we will not be worshipping false gods or bowing down before idols. If we are loving our neighbors, we will not be murdering them, lying to them, committing adultery against them, or coveting what belongs to them. The purpose of the Old Testament law is to convict people of our inability to keep the law and point us to our need for Jesus Christ as Savior (Romans 7:7-9; Galatians 3:24). The Old Testament law was never intended by God to be the universal law for all people for all of time. We are to love God and love our neighbors. If we obey those two commands faithfully, we will be upholding all that God requires of us.

Christians are not at all required to fulfil the civil and ceremonial laws, but are bound to obey moral laws which Old and New Testaments endorse. 

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever because He is God. God doesn't change, but that does not mean the way He deals with mankind doesn't change. God dealt with Adam and Eve in one way, and He dealt with the Jews through Abraham with a different plan. He deals with Christians now through a new plan, a new covenant. 

The nation of Israel was obliged to obey the laws of their nation in order to reap God’s blessings or curses. It was based on their obedience. The New Covenant is based on grace, not obedience. The two laws are completely different, so the ways they apply to us are different. The Mosaic Law of the Old Testament was written for the chosen people of Israel 

First Corinthians 10:23declares, “Everything is permissible – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible – but not everything is constructive.” If the tattoo is not a ‘bad’ one, it’s ok.  Decent tattoos may be “permissible”. Now, you may say whether they are beneficial and constructive. Will my tattoo cause someone who is weak in the faith to stumble? But,wait. There are lot of other things which we don’t bother if someone somewhere is not comfortable with. There are Christians who think drinking coffee is intoxicating and quoting Bible verses, they say it’s a sin. Will you avoid coffee thinking it’s a stumbling block to him? Some Christians are not comfortable with some acceptable dresses and other attires. You aren’t going to bother about such people. So, where is the separating line of stumbling block? There are some Christians who do not want to vote during Indian Elections just because their fingers are tattooed as a mark after voting! In India the election staff  apply black ink on the voter’s forefinger to identify and prevent bogus voters who turn up again! Are these Christians obeying Romans 13:1&2 that says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves”? 

Good tattoos are permissible. But I believe before going for one, question whether they can be considered beneficial and constructive. Think about medical concerns, modesty, and your motive. Do not go for ones which may revisit your decision. There are people who regret having tattooed the name of a dating lover, who they disconnected from their lives at a later stage! A Christian considering getting a tattoo should pray for wisdom “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5) and ask the Lord to provide pure motives and discernment. If you feel it’s ok to have a good tattoo, go ahead. Others, please do not condemn him or her