Hard Questions-Should a Christian get a tatoo?

Introduction

Tonight I was planning on preaching “How Much of the OT Law applies to NT Christians?”

I even told some of you that was what I would be preaching tonight.

But that sermon is not quite ready.

But tonight I do want to preach another sermon in the “Hard Questions” sermon series.

Tonight’s Question is:

“Should a Christian Get a Tattoo?”

Maybe you have wondered this very question.

You would not be alone in being curios about this subject.

My goal is to learn what the Bible has to say about getting a tattoo.

I want to show you what the Bible says and I want you to decide for yourself if you think Christians should get a tattoo or not.

Now I understand that there are many people in our church that probably have a tattoo.

I want you to know that I wouldn’t be a very good pastor if I didn’t preach the WHOLE Word of God.

If I never preach on this subject, I wouldn’t be doing my job.

I would just ask you to be open to what God says about the subject and allow Him to lead.

I just want to present the evidence of what the Bible says, give my thoughts on it, and hopefully I can make my case as to why I believe Christians should NOT get a tattoo.

So…Should a Christian Get a Tattoo?

(Prayer)

To find the answer to our question

I would like to ask you a serious of questions..

I. Who Do You Belong To? (Principle of Ownership)

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

If you are saved you belong to God.

This speaks of the principle of ownership.

Now the sense of “being owned” does not always sit well with our fleshly nature.

1 Corinthians 3:16 “16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

Since you have accepted Jesus as your Saviour, would you agree that you belong to the Lord-the one who purchased you with His blood?

If so, do you believe that God would want you to mark your body?

ILL: Elizondo’s just got a new house! I am just thrilled for them! They deserve it!

Can you imagine, if I went over to their new house and sprayed graffiti all over the walls!

Do you think that would be ok? NO! Why? Because it doesn’t belong to me!

Bro. Eric would beat me up and say, go graffiti your own house!

The same principle should be applied to your body.

Who do you belong to? You belong to God.

A. As the owner of your body, If God wanted you to have a tattoo of Mickey Mouse on your forehead, he would have given you one!

God made you just the way he wanted to.

“You are fearfully and wonderfully made”

B. As the owner of your body, God has given some rules

I don’t know the exact rules of Mrs. Elizondo’s house, but I’m sure she was an unwritten rule that says, “You cannot graffiti the walls.”

God gives some rules as well:

Rule 1: 1 Corinthians 6:20 “20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

We are to glorify God in your body!

Does a tattoo of Mickey Mouse on your forehead glorify God?

2. Rule 2: Leviticus 19:1-2 (To the whole congregation, not just the Levites)

Leviticus 19:28 “28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”

God is Lord of your life. He is the owner of your body whom He has purchased with His own blood.

“Jesus gave everything for you....did He get what He paid for?”

God gives the law to the children of Israel: No Tattoos.

And I’ve heard people say, well this doesn’t apply to us anymore. There are laws in Leviticus that don’t apply to us any longer so why does this one apply?

1. Every law has a principle that still applies to us. And some laws (like this one) are the principle itself!

2. At the end of this message, I want to show you what I think is the best verse on tattoos in the whole Bible…so stay tuned.

Conclusion:

Who do yo belong to? God.

II. As a Christian, are you called to be Holy? (Principle of Separation)

1 Peter 1:16 KJV - 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Being holy has to do with being separate, not blending in, standing out, being a light on a hill, salt of the earth.

To cut away

ILL: Smoking brisket, have to cut away the meat from the fat...

(Turn) 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 “14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”

God calls you to be separate from unbeliever, unrighteousness, darkness, Belial, infidels, idols.

“If there is nothing different about the Christians in a church and the world, why would anyone need church?”

Come out from among them, and be ye separate!

As a Christian, you are called to be Holy

A. Not conformed to the world’s philosophies

If you research the history of tattoos, you will find that barbaric nations, criminals, heathens, and godless people turned to the practice of marking their bodies for idol worshipping, witchcraft, and many other reasons.

1 John 2:15-17 “15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Conclusion:

As a Christian, you are called to be Holy, You are to be separate from the world.

Tattoos have their roots in the lusts of the flesh, in witchcraft, in idol worshipping.

I believe that God would want us to separate from such things.

III. Who Do You Live For? (Principle of Selfless Living)

We are to live for God.

1 Corinthians 6:20 “20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

A. We are not to assert self

James 4:10 “10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

B. We are not to call attention to ourselves

Let’s live for God…present our bodies a living sacrifice....and allow God to use us without intervening.

Now my favorite verse on tattoos....

2 Corinthians 6:14

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Idol=Image, a likeness, a picture....

Conclusion:

Should a Christian get a tattoo?

I believe God’s Word is very clear… ”ye shall not print any marks upon you” Lev. 19

2 Corinthians 6:16 “16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

No, I don’t believe God would want a Christian to get a tattoo?

You might be sitting here tonight thinking well I have a tattoo....can God still use me?

Of course He can!

He loves to use people! and we are all flawed, we have all made mistakes. But he still uses us.

He can use you if you have a tattoo!

ILL: One of the Godliest preachers I have every met is Pastor Jim Vineyard.

He had a tattoo on his arm. (got it before he was saved)