Is it a sin to pierce your body?

Answer 1

See Leviticus 19:28

It says that you may not mark your body or brand it or cut it in for the dead. Some people interpret that as no tattoo at all. Most people believe that it means not to take out your pain and suffering in a self-violent and unclean way.

NIV relate this to the Pagan methods, where they used to cut themselves and brand marks as signs of mourning and to secure attention to their deity.

The things around it say-

19:23 -you may not eat fruit from a fruit tree for 4 years and on the 5th year you can eat of it. (so is that fruit at the store a sin?!)

19:27 Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

19:33 When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him

19:19 you must not wear two different kinds of fabric at once.

20:9 if any person curses their father or mother they must be put to death

We who live under the grace of God are cleansed of all sin - past, present, and future. Those of us who are living under God's grace are free through Christ's sacrifice, and those who are under the Old Testament law are condemned by the law. The context in Leviticus is to inform the Hebrews to be a holy people, separate from the world.

Basically, a tattoo is not a sin for a born again believer.

Romans 4:13-15 ; Galatians 3:11 ; Romans 8:1-2

It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Exodus 20:4 (Depending on translation) forbids graven images or idols, many spiritualists worship artwork and statues of gods that God denies exists (Exodus 20:3)

Exodus 25:18 instructs to create two symbols for the arch, which means you can create images, symbols, artwork, but under certain parameters.

As long as the symbol completely represents the deity you worship, it will not breach Exodus 20:3 or Leviticus 19:28, and justifies its use from the exmple in Exodus 25:18.

It's likely when these symbols are designed for use outside of strict parameters that they become sinful in the eyes of the Lord.

>> I respectfully disagree. You're asking the wrong question. You should be asking yourself, "Does this glorify God?"

Does conforming to the world glorify Him?

Does getting a tattoo further His kingdom?

Would you be proud to have Him standing next to you in the tattoo parlor?

What sort of message are you sending to non-Christians and your Christian brothers?

If you can honestly answer that a tattoo is to His glory, it would not be a sin. I don't think anyone can truthfully do so. <<

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The answer is Yes & No.

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Yes. Your body is a temple of God. You are making it ugly by tattooing.

Additional Answer:

Leviticus 19:28New King James Version (NKJV)

28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.

The context in Leviticus was cutting or marking your body as part of a Pagan religious ceremonies/practices connected with mourning the dead and few cultures cut or mark themselves today for those reasons, so Leviticus 19:28 does not apply in most cases.

A better reason for Christians avoiding such things is that voluntary disfigurement of the person is disrespectful of God's "temple" and an outrage upon God's workmanship.

Answer 2

No, its how you represent your self, and if you want to pierce you body, its your choice, your image,