Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 2/8/2007

Question
What does the church think about body piercings/tattoos in general? are they a sin?

Answer
Hi Katie,

Thanks for this great question.  What matters the most is what the Bible says about this issue.  Our church does not have a clause in our constitution or statement of faith specifically addressing piercings or tatoos.  Let us examine what the Bible says:

1.  There is only one passage that specifically speak of making marks on your body, but it would seem that it is specifically speaking of cutting or markings dealing with pagan worship of dead ancestors.

Leviticus 19:28
28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

2.  We do know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Any markings that you would even consider putting on it should be ones that God would be proud to have on His Temple.  Rock Stars, pagan symblos, or worldly slogans would not seem to me to be good temple decorations.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this gives you some principles to consider regarding tatoos and piercings.

In Christ
Pastor Don