PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, REDEEMING THE GOSPEL: TATTOOS, JESUS AND GOD

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST:  Leviticus 19:28

“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelations 19:16 (NKJV).



I do not believe that God wants to deny us personal
expression nor choices about whether we want to put ink in our skin.
Pastor John Collins, Evangelist


Tattoos are taboo, right? Wrong!! There has been “religious” debates over the topic of tattoos for years and years. There has been so much misinterpretation on this subject. I approach not only the bible but also life with common sense and with the goal of understanding things from God’s perspective. With that goal in mind, I try to gain knowledge of the lesson in the words that were written down for our benefit and apply them with common sense to life. Seems simple, right?

The Leviticus text that was written to instruct the Israelites not to mark their bodies with cuttings or tattoos were told to them so that they would not do so in honor of the dead. Idolatry was a problem then and it is a problem now. With so many people seeking psychics and mediums today, you can see that the human desire for connection to those that we have lost to death remains. Those that lived prior to Jesus did not know that He was their mediator to God and also did not know for certain what happened to those souls that passed on.

God made it clear that they were not to worship the dead nor ask for them to “intercede” on their behalf. They were not to seek necromancers nor sorcerers and witches or seers. There have always been people who get caught up in idolizing those that have gone before them such as a child idolizing a parent and vice versa or a people idolizing a leader. God was giving instructions to His people about how to worship Him and honor Him. A very necessary lesson was to establish the most important law which was a forbidding of idolatry which included marking anyone’s body in honor of the dead. It was no different than forbidding any altars being made for false gods.

Now, Jesus, in Revelations is seen with a mark upon His thigh. It is written. It is obvious to me that the issue of tattoos and forbidding of marking the body is about idolatry and not the tattoo itself. I, personally, have tattoos and love them. I do not believe that God wants to deny us personal expression nor choices about whether we want to put ink in our skin. He wants us to be aware of our choices of artistic representation and what it means to us and to our souls. Personally, I love that Cross and I have crosses tattooed on my arms which fills me with strength, confidence and love knowing that Jesus died on that Cross for all.

We are never to place anyone or anything above our Lord and Savior nor our Father in heaven. We are to worship in spirit and truth. Yet, we are individuals and many choose to cover their bodies in permanent art and text. There needs to be less judgment and more understanding of the purpose of the forbidding laws that are in the bible. If we could just look at the lessons and make the effort to see things as God sees them then we would be better equipped to have knowledge and understanding in this world which would translate to tolerance and love for others without judging them.



“From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Galatians 6:17 (NKJV).

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