Ninro Ruiz Pena
Is it a sin for a Christian to become a tattoo? This is recorded in the book of Leviticus 19.28: “And you shall not scratch your body for a dead person; nor on your body print any mark. I am the Lord»(Almeida Updated Version).
» And you will not make cuts on the body as a sign of sorrow for the death of anyone, nor will you make a tattoo. I am the Lord”, (King James Version)
What is the origin of the tattoo? In 1991 it was discovered the oldest tattoo in a frozen corpse of a man from the Copper Age (3,300 BC). This man was nicknamed “Otzi” by scientists.
Several lines were found on his body in the region of the back, wrists, ankles, feet and knees. After advanced studies it was discovered, through X-rays, that there were bone degenerations exactly where these tattoos were.
It was then concluded that the people of “Otzi” used tattoos as part of a treatment to reduce pain. With the passage of time and the advancement of civilizations, tattoos gained other meanings. According to National Geographic, the funeral dancers of Egypt, around 2000 BC, had these same abstract dot-and-stripe markings found on female mummies from this period.
This time the tattoos assumed a spiritual and religious meaning when they represented “Bes”, the Egyptian goddess of fertility and protection of homes.
The Romans had a completely opposite conception of the tattoo, because while some civilizations adorned their bodies with varied designs and techniques, they did not get tattoos because they believed in the purity of the human form. Thus, tattoos were prohibited and reserved only for criminals and the convicted.
In Japan the tattoo It is a widespread practice since the 5th century BC used for body beautification or to mark criminals, the art became prohibited in 1870. Today, members of the Yakuza (Japanese mafia), are identified with specific tattoos.
In our days, the tattoo was decriminalized by society and people of all ages are tempted and encouraged to get hold of them. The tattoo was always related to spiritual issues. In the representation of a tribal protection entity (tribal tattoos) or directly linked to a god or guardian spirits. That’s right, from the frozen “Otzi” to the present day, although the people who use them are unaware.
At the time of Deuteronomy, the Lord forbids the Israelites to assume the various abominable behaviors of the pagan Philistine peoples, from the lands they were to inherit.
We must not confuse “Ordinances of the Law” with “Biblical Spiritual, Moral and Social Principles”. Do not make cuts on the bodies in homage to dead ancestors and do not print mark (tattoo) on the skin are not «Ordinances of the Law», but «Spiritual Principles», and these principles of the Old Testament do not lose their validity in the New Testament, the biblical principles are immutable.
The use of verses such as Revelation 19:16: “And on his garment and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” to justify that the Bible authorizes the tattoo like: “Jesus wore tattoo» this is at least a hermeneutical and exegetical crime.
Let’s look at the original text transliterated from Koine Greek:
“Και εχει επι το ιατιον και επι τον μηρον {var1: αυτου
“ kaì échei epì tò himátion kaì epì tòn meròn autou ónoma gegramménon. Basileùs basiléon kaí kýrios kyríon.”
If we translate this verse it says: “and on his cloak and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords”.
“… the most appropriate translation of Revelation 19.16 would be: “and has on the garment, that is, this name: King of kings and Lord of lords”, (Carlos Augusto Vailatti). We understand then that the inscription is on the clothes, not on the body.
We have not been called to get involved with the passions and lusts of this century, much less chosen to be “equal”, “one more”, on the contrary, we must make a difference by being different.
We must be bearers of the most exclusive marks of a Son of God in this lost world, but not the tattoo, but the fruit of the Spirit and the scars of the sufferings of our fidelity to the Lord Jesus and the Holy Gospel; This is what the apostle Paul teaches in Galatians 6:17: “Furthermore, let no one bother me, because I bear on my body the marks of Christ».
The Christian should not be influenced by the idioms of today, much less bow down to the sinful “charms” of the world. tattoo. We are living in the world with “cattle that have been marked” by the enemy of our souls. Whoever scores has possession, as simple as that. May the Lord keep us to preserve our body, the Temple of the Holy Spirit of God.
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By Armando Taranto Neto, columnist, teacher in sociology of religion, graduate and post-graduate in biblical theology. Assistant pastor at AD Mutua – RJ.
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