Tattoos are one of the most controversial debate topics, and also one of the most popular trends of the 21st century. The argument is especially prevalent among the Christian community. Using the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, several biblical scholars debate tattoos and whether they are derived from a sinful nature.

Sin is defined as anything that does not bring glory to or point people to God. Several Christians carry a very antiquated, ritualistic belief that any marking or piercing on the human body is blatant disobedience of God's Word; however, from a devout Christian perspective, the Bible provides a clear explanation that these tattoos and piercings are indeed no longer of sinful nature because of the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

The widely held belief that tattoos are sinful was once a true statement. The Old Testament reads, "'You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead, or tattoo any marks upon you,'" a Levitical law that applied to the Jewish people in Israel, a law that God required because there was not yet a Savior who had come to abolish the punishment for sin.

When Leviticus was written, about 1,500 years before Jesus came to Earth, the world was split largely pagan and polytheistic; these people groups "marked themselves" as either a form or worship or in accordance to ritual. Because the Jews were God's people, these laws were set in place to avoid the tendencies of those who didn't follow God and served to guide the Jews and help them live by God's holy standards. Because God's people were (and are still) supposed to look, act, and think differently from the secular world, following these laws became a requirement in order to separate the believers from the unbelievers.

Tattoo opponents that identify as Christians believe that marking the flesh is an intentional recasting for what God has created. This misinterpreted notion is directly answered by the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the cross. The New Testament tells the stories of Jesus' coming to earth, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. Because Christ rose from the grave, the old law was completely fulfilled; Christians were no longer bound to the civil laws of the Old Testament. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ replaced the required sacrament from the Old Testament, requiring no more obligation to keep the laws separating the pagan religions from the Christians, but instead having a salvation that saves and reconciles sinners to a Savior.

Aside from the theology associated with tattoos, discernment is required with getting one. Although having one is not sinful, the motivation and meaning behind the tattoo could be. The decision to tattoo is nothing short of a permanent reminder of a personal mantra, proving the need for a positive, encouraging, or even Godly tattoo that does not divert attention from Christ. The New Testament repetitively states the significance of the human body (Romans 12:1) and the requirement for the Christian to treat it accordingly. Man was created in the image of God; therefore, any object on the body is supposed to be pleasing to and bring glory to God, and anything that contrasts that is considered sinful.

With the exponentially growing number of people with tattoos, it is essential that today's Christians don't judge those who have them. Because Christianity represents a loving and inclusive God, for Christians to judge those with opposing views completely contradicts the message of Jesus Christ, distracting the focus from the gospel. Christians are to reflect others the grace that Christ has given, but if generations of Christians continue merciless judgment, then unbelievers will not be persuaded to follow a Christ with followers hypocritical to the message they preach.

Tattoos can also serve as a gateway to evangelism. Many tattoos have Godly meanings; personally, my tattoo reads "tetelestai," which, in Greek, are the final words that Jesus cried out before dying on the cross. When asked, I have the opportunity to share the meaning behind the words, allowing me to relate today's world to Jesus Christ. Therefore, if Christians completely refute tattoos, they are refuting possibilities to share the gospel, segregating themselves from the unbelievers while contradicting the purpose of living Christian lives.

The idea that tattoos are sinful is still common although it starkly contrasts with the truths of the Bible. Because there was not yet a Savior who had come, the Jewish people had to follow regulations that are no longer required because of Jesus's sacrifice that completely fulfilled the law; therefore, Christians are not held to the same ceremonial standards that Jews were subject to.

Because of Jesus' fulfillment of the law, tattoos are no longer seen as taboo or non-religious, but now can be considered holy and pleasing when used to honor and glorify the Creator.

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Photo Credit: Hasten McKissick, The University of Alabama at Birmingham