Tattoos and Honoring God Above All
We actually have a tattoo ourselves that we got as a wedding ring. We sometimes get questions about it:
“Is that okay? Doesn’t the Bible say you’re not supposed to have tattoos?”
The answer is: well… not exactly.
Let’s first look at the Bible verse this is usually based on:
Leviticus 19:28 (NKJV) – “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.”
At first glance, this seems like a straight-up ban on tattoos.
But if we read it in the context of the chapter, it becomes clear what it’s really about. Let’s read it again:
Leviticus 19:28 (NKJV) – “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.”
See? Now it makes a LOT more sense! This is about rituals people did, back in those days, to honor the dead, putting them above God. Wow! They would cut themselves or get tattoos to show connection with the dead or to get their “approval.” That’s placing the dead above God. And that’s a no-go. Period.
Reading the whole chapter, you can see that the real theme is: who do we honor with everything we do?
So the rule in Leviticus 19:28 isn’t really about tattoos themselves, but about honoring someone other than God, as explained in verse 28 and all the verses before it.
We see the same principle elsewhere in the Bible:
Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
It’s about honor and devotion, not about having a tattoo per se. The question is: who do you honor with everything we do?
And then… we have to be honest and look beyond tattoos:
Who or what are we honoring with our clothes, our car, our free time?
Is God really honored in everything we do, or do we sometimes put something or someone else above Him?
A t-shirt of a certain band, a hobby, or even a tattoo can become a sign of where our hearts truly are.
Our Wedding Ring Tattoo
Our wedding ring tattoo symbolizes the cross of Christ, connecting us (M and E) together at the foot of the cross.
It reminds us that through Him we’re united and guided together.
With this tattoo, we honor God, not ourselves or our marriage. Very clear.
Reflection
We can’t always see why someone chooses a tattoo, a car, a piece of clothing, or any choice at all. Only God knows the heart and will judge us accordingly. As 1 Samuel 16:7 says:
1 Samuel 16:7 – “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
So our choices always have consequences. It matters why we do something and what it expresses. Just doing it without thinking isn’t an option. Every choice – even the small ones – calls for reflection and a heart focused on God.
Leviticus 19:28 reminds us of a deeper question: who or what does your heart truly honor?
Question for the reader: Take a look at yourself: in your daily choices, possessions, and actions — do you honor God above all, or do other things sometimes take His place?
PS.
Maybe you already got bad tattoos or did other bad things before you came to faith. Do those count in this discussion? Strictly speaking: yes, they were sin — but you did them in ignorance, without knowing Christ. The Bible says in Acts 17:30:
“So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent.” (NASB)
When you came to faith and asked for forgiveness, God also forgave that. 1 John 1:9 says:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NASB)
Even if, as a Christian, you did something sinful without realizing it, once you do see it, you still need to ask God for forgiveness. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that mistakes from ignorance are automatically erased. As Proverbs 28:13 says:
“One who conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper, But one who confesses and abandons them will find compassion.” (NASB)
But it gets really serious with deliberate sinning. If you now know what God says and still go against it, you can’t hide behind ignorance anymore. James 4:17 says:
“So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.” (NASB)
And Hebrews 10:26 warns:
“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” (NASB)
Now that you’ve learned more about God and know what His will is, ignorance isn’t an excuse anymore. Choosing deliberately against His will is rebellion. Every choice — big or small — calls for awareness and obedience. Not out of fear, but out of love for the One who bought us with His blood.
Whether it’s a bad tattoo that gave honor to someone else above God, a piece of clothing that gave honor to yourself above God, or something else in your life — the principle stays the same: God alone deserves all the glory.
