What the Bible says about tattoos and cutting of bodies - Valentine Baron Nworah (VBN)

 

 

Let's begin with the biblical warning  against tattoos  in Leviticus 19:28  which says, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”
However, just because society approves of something does not make it right in the eyes of God. The Bible warns Christians who are considering getting a tattoo and tries to help overcome the consequences of those mistakes.

 We often hear people claim that having a tattoo will not keep anyone from serving God. They base their argument on the fact that some godly people have tattoos and are serving God and their tattoos do not interfere with what God is doing through them. Others will argue that anything Satan tries to use for evil, God can turn and use it for good, reason there are many dedicated and sincere Christians who have tattoos. This is not meant to say they do not love the Lord. God not only can use them, but does use them.

 Notwithstanding,  tattooing, according to the Old Testament of the Bible has witchcraft “Roots”. In addition to the above verse, the Holy Scripture also warns Christians not to disfigure their bodies in the following verses: “ And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them”. 1 Kings 18:28
“You are the sons of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead”. Deuteronomy 14:1.

 Some people object to using Old Testament scripture as a reference to tattoos since the New Testament doesn’t speak of these things, forgetting that New Testament has its root in the Old.
However, in the New Testament, Christians are even called to a higher law. In the New Testament, Christians are told to glorify God in their bodies. This would include not marring their bodies with tattoos, as the principles in the Bible clearly state it is wrong to defile the bodies.  “What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

 In addition, even the Koran addressed the issue of tattoos and cutting of bodies. As far as the matter of tattoos is concerned, tattoos are built on the body through extremely hurting the body and it is forbidden in Islam education to hurt your body. According to Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen, tattooing which involves piercing with needle and which involves colours of dye are considered Haraam. It might not cause you pain or little pain, but it means changing the creation of Allah .

 In al-Saheehayn it is narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: “May Allah curse the women who do tattoos and those for whom tattoos are done, those who pluck their eyebrows and those who file their teeth for the purpose of beautification and alter the creation of Allah.” (al-Bukhaari, al-Libaas, 5587; Muslim, al-Libaas, 5538).

 From the above narration, it is clear that Allah has cursed the women or man who adopts such things in their lives. Many scholars argue that this is one of the forms of deception and that makes it forbidden in Islam. Another school of thought argues that it is forbidden. . No matter what reason is behind it, Muslims also forbid it.
But come to think of it, why should one alter the creation of God? Of what value are tattoos? What are their moral contributions to the societal life?
Vanity upon Vanity.