Poll: Faith-based tattoo: Have you ever talked to someone with one?

[Daniel whalen]

I got my tattoo's Peter's tattoo 

It was in Mannheim 

He did it and not traveled with Base's 

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll.

If you have not yet voted in the poll, please vote now.

[farouk]

@bdavidc Thanks for participating in the poll vote. (You can see how relevant such a poll can be these days.)

[farouk]

6 minutes ago, Daniel whalen said:

I got my tattoo's Peter's tattoo 

It was in Mannheim 

He did it and not traveled with Base's 

@Daniel whalen Sounds like he was a sort of 'full service' artist, and not only among military personnel....

[bdavidc]

59 minutes ago, farouk said:

Thanks, @bdavidc. I don't recall you mentioning that there is a Mrs. bdavidc, but in any case it seems to be an undeniable fact that as regards tattoos - among them, many faith- and family- oriented - it's not merely the younger women that use tattoo parlor services.

Commenting about her area, Heavenhome said:

My dear Dad had two tattoos but that was from his navy days.
I have noticed however that lots of young girls have them and what is really noticeable is a huge amount are women say around their sixties .

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shnarkle said:

 

One of the churches I go to has three quite elderly women, all widows, who recently went out and got themselves tattoos. .. There was no doubt they were all first tattoos. All three of them went out and got them together.

 

christianforums dot com

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"...Most of my clients are in the older bracket," Gallo-Kohlas told The Huffington Post. "We see a lot of women in their sixties and seventies getting their first tattoos."
 huffington post

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Against this cultural background, it's undeniable that many Godly older women do avail their dermises of at least discreet levels of faith- and family-oriented ink. (Many decades ago it used to be mainly a man thing.)

Yes, I am married, but my wife has no tattoos. I’ve always been old-fashioned in that regard and personally never liked the look of tattoos on women, but that’s just my opinion, not something I hold as a biblical command. I don’t believe having a tattoo is a salvation issue. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not based on whether someone has a tattoo or not (Ephesians 2:8–9). So I don’t go out of my way to defend tattoos, nor do I promote them.

As for Scripture, I do recognize that in Revelation 19:16, when Jesus returns, it says, “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Some have taken that to mean a marking or identification on His body, though the verse could also mean it’s written on the part of His clothing that covers His thigh. Either way, it’s not the same as a modern tattoo and shouldn't be used to justify them. What matters most is not the ink on someone's skin, but whether Christ is truly ruling in their heart.

The Bible doesn't specifically mention tattoos in the context we know them today, but it does speak clearly about the motives of the heart and how we are to present ourselves as followers of Christ. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” Whether it's a Bible verse, a cross, or anything else, God is more concerned with why we do something than the external act itself.

That said, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are not our own, we were bought with a price, and therefore we are to glorify God in our body. If someone gets a tattoo as a genuine expression of faith, not to conform to worldly trends or to draw attention to themselves, that motive matters. However, just because something is culturally accepted, even among older generations, doesn’t make it biblically right or wise. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Be not conformed to this world,” which includes evaluating trends through the lens of Scripture, not society.

Ultimately, each believer must examine their own heart and motives before the Lord. Romans 14:23 says, “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” So if it’s done out of conviction and not for vanity or rebellion, and it doesn’t contradict the clear teaching of Scripture, then it must be left between that person and God. But no matter what, our lives, not our tattoos, should be the real testimony of Christ in us.

[farouk]

2 minutes ago, bdavidc said:

Yes, I am married, but my wife has no tattoos. I’ve always been old-fashioned in that regard and personally never liked the look of tattoos on women, but that’s just my opinion, not something I hold as a biblical command. I don’t believe having a tattoo is a salvation issue. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not based on whether someone has a tattoo or not (Ephesians 2:8–9). So I don’t go out of my way to defend tattoos, nor do I promote them.

As for Scripture, I do recognize that in Revelation 19:16, when Jesus returns, it says, “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Some have taken that to mean a marking or identification on His body, though the verse could also mean it’s written on the part of His clothing that covers His thigh. Either way, it’s not the same as a modern tattoo and shouldn't be used to justify them. What matters most is not the ink on someone's skin, but whether Christ is truly ruling in their heart.

The Bible doesn't specifically mention tattoos in the context we know them today, but it does speak clearly about the motives of the heart and how we are to present ourselves as followers of Christ. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” Whether it's a Bible verse, a cross, or anything else, God is more concerned with why we do something than the external act itself.

That said, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are not our own, we were bought with a price, and therefore we are to glorify God in our body. If someone gets a tattoo as a genuine expression of faith, not to conform to worldly trends or to draw attention to themselves, that motive matters. However, just because something is culturally accepted, even among older generations, doesn’t make it biblically right or wise. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Be not conformed to this world,” which includes evaluating trends through the lens of Scripture, not society.

Ultimately, each believer must examine their own heart and motives before the Lord. Romans 14:23 says, “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” So if it’s done out of conviction and not for vanity or rebellion, and it doesn’t contradict the clear teaching of Scripture, then it must be left between that person and God. But no matter what, our lives, not our tattoos, should be the real testimony of Christ in us.

Thanks, @bdavidc; some good points there, indeed.

It's interesting also that in Isaiah 44.5 the KJV has: "One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord..."

ESV: "This one will say, ‘I am the Lord's,’ another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord's,..."

NASB: "This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; And that one will call on the name of Jacob; And another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the Lord,’ ..."

CSB: 'This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; another will use the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and take on the name of Israel.”

 

(I have restricted the quotations to versions which are more formal.)

It has been commented: 'Here a tattoo appears to be allowable as a sign of submission, not to a human master but to God.' (biblestudytools dot org)

I guess Christians will likely have various personal perspectives on this, right?

[farouk]

@Your closest friendnt 

Re. the discussion also on the other thread, it would make one wonder why so many Christians - like Heather, below - would deliberately receive a cross needled into their dermis if it wasn't even based on something factual, right?

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I waited 5 years before getting it. .. Reno also has a lot of tattoo places. Carson City has a few. Most people travel to Reno or Las Vegas for it. .. I have 1 tattoo and I got it in Reno. .. I do have a cross tattoo.

heather christianityboard dot com

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[farouk]

On 4/15/2025 at 2:34 PM, Daniel whalen said:

I went overboard when I was 18

@Daniel whalen

Maybe you've heard the saying that for 18 years olds and onward, it's good to want a particularly tattoo for a year and then if the person still wants it, then make the decision?

Because age 18 or thereabouts is indeed the time when first tattoos are so widely gotten.

FYI:

From my last trip everyone got a scripture tattoo..Some meaningful scriptures. One girl said she was so thankful .. realizing she could relate the tattoo to her life..I had that tattoo planned out for nearly a year (11months) .. Maybe next year when I go back (these trips are going to be regular every 4 or so months trips) I will get another. ..One guy decided last minute but everyone literally spent hours on their phone that day looking up verses and verse tattoos ..They are meaningful to them

kmrichard christianforums dot com

[farouk]

18 hours ago, bdavidc said:

I’ve always been old-fashioned in that regard and personally never liked the look of tattoos on women, but that’s just my opinion, not something I hold as a biblical command.

Hi @bdavidc To some extent it may be what one is personally accustomed to among one's circle of acquaintances, but I think you will find also that the most conservative of ppl do receive inking rather confidently.

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I am a nurse in a cardiac ICU. I am also pretty heavily tattooed. I am a well educated, well rounded nurse, and was raised with strong morals and manners. .. I am an extremely traditional person. I've always worn long sleeves ..a professional persona as well as a unique one while I'm not working

julieannenw allnurses dot com

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cc @Daniel whalen

[farouk]

On 4/16/2025 at 9:16 AM, Daniel whalen said:

Every tattoo represents a part of my life (whether military ...

Hi @Daniel whalen Haven't the rules on tattoos in the military relaxed a bit since you were in?

(Or visible tattoos, or something...)