Wendy
Tattoos are typically used to express identity, values, feelings, and memories. A lot of people, regardless of gender and age, have tattoos on their bodies. So, it is not uncommon to see men, women, teenagers, and the elderly with tattoos.
Whatever the tattoo is, whether it is a name, image, letter, or quote, the real issue is whether or not those who have it can go to heaven. Can people with tattoos enter heaven when they die?
Before we answer this question, let us first discuss what the Bible says about tattoos.
What the Bible Says About Tattoos
If you have any doubts about whether something is allowed by God or not, it is best not to do it. This is a vital Scriptural rule on the issues that are not explicitly addressed by the Bible.
According to Romans 14:23, anything that does not come from faith is sin. So, you have to keep in mind that your body and your soul belong to God. It is God who has redeemed you from sin.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 also speaks about the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Even though it does not directly say that tattooing or imprinting the body is a sin, it still implies that the body should only be used to praise the Lord. Your body is given by God. Therefore, you have to have permission from Him if you want to tattoo or imprint your body.
Leviticus 19-28, on the other hand, directly speaks about tattoos. According to it, you are neither allowed to make any cuts on your body for the dead nor tattoo yourself.
Many Bible scholars believe that this instruction refers to the mourning rituals that pagans usually carried out during the time of Moses. The pagans cut themselves while mourning to increase their sorrow and pain. It was common to manipulate feelings of grief back then. In addition, when pagans cut themselves, they offer their blood to their pagan gods.
Leviticus talked a great deal about offering blood. God did not want the Israelites to be like pagans. So, such unholy practices and views of death were prohibited.
Then again, there are some scholars who believe that tattooing may also refer to painting the skin. So, if such verse talks about the prohibition of tattooing, then it also means that modifying the body in any way, including using teeth whitening products, cosmetics, and earrings, is also prohibited.
In general, it is believed that the principle of Leviticus 19:28 is that pagan rituals should not be used by the Israelites when mourning the dead. Some scholars believe that modern-day tattoos are forbidden while others believe that they are not.
Nevertheless, scholars generally agree that such verse does not say that tattoos will keep people from entering heaven when they die. So, even those who have tattoos on their bodies may be able to go to heaven.
The Worldliness of Tattoos
Even though Leviticus 19:28 does not forbid anyone from getting tattoos, as long as they do not use it for any pagan mourning rituals, a lot of Christians still believe that tattoos are worldly. Therefore, it is wrong to get them.
When Christians say “worldly”, they are referring to an ungodly and secular value system that describes the behavior or value. The opposite of “worldly” is “holy”. Holiness means being set apart for God.
So, based on this logic, tattoos are not really inherently evil but rather associated with being godless. Those who have tattoos on their body are perceived to be godless and worldly.
It has to be kept in mind, however, that the Bible verses that talk about worldliness do not specifically mention tattoos.
Romans 12:2 says that people should not be conformed to the world. Instead, they should be transformed by mind renewal and that through testing, they may be able to discern the will of the Lord as well as whatever is perfect, good, and acceptable.
James 4:4 says that people who are adulterous are not aware that friendship with the world is actually an enmity with God. So, those who wish to become friends of the world are making themselves enemies of God.
1 John 2:15 also tells people to not love the world or the things in it. Those who love the world do not have the Father within themselves.
Aside from being worldly, tattoos are also believed to violate the body, which is a temple of the Holy Spirit. This belief stems from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
According to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore, has to be glorified.
However, the context of these verses actually pertains to sexual immorality. Paul wrote to the Corinthians to tell them to be moral and to treat their bodies with respect because they are temples of the Holy Spirit.
Nevertheless, some Christians still think that these verses also apply to getting tattoos. Based on this logic, if the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, then it should not be marked permanently. Tattoos should not be put on the body even if they are quotes from the Bible.
Can People with Tattoos Go to Heaven
So, now we go back to the question: Can people with tattoos enter heaven when they die?
The answer is “Yes”, as long as they are eligible, of course.
Getting a tattoo will not prevent you from entering heaven when you die. As long as you follow the teachings of God, you will be able to go to heaven. According to the Bible, going to heaven is actually based on your belief in Jesus Christ.
If you believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead, you will still be able to go to heaven even if you have tattoos on your body.
Also according to the Bible, unbelief and sin are what keep people out of heaven. Those who refuse to believe in God will suffer eternal consequences. So, it is not tattoos that will prevent you from entering heaven.
Your eligibility to go to heaven is determined by your faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior. If you used to doubt God, you have to admit your unbelief and start to believe in God. This would be your first step towards getting saved.
When you put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ, all the sins that you have committed will be forgiven. You will be sinless. If you are sinless and sin-free, you will be able to go to heaven. It is only through Jesus Christ that you can be saved.
What if the tattoos are of something evil or sinful, such as images of demons or words that depict sinful acts? Can the people with these kinds of tattoos still go to heaven when they die?
Yes, they can. Regardless of what their tattoos look like, they will still be able to go to heaven if they repent from their sins and believe in Jesus Christ. Through the cross of Jesus Christ, God forgives all thoughts, behaviors, words, and permanent markings or tattoos on the skin.
Final Thoughts
The Bible is clear on what can take you to heaven, and it is not about your physical appearance.
According to Ephesians 2:8-9, you can only enter heaven when you have faith in Jesus Christ. It is through His grace and your faith that you will be saved, not through your work or yourself.
In essence, people with tattoos can go to heaven if they repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ. Conversely, people without tattoos can go to hell if they do not repent from their sins and believe in Jesus Christ.
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