Tattoo in Christianity: is it a sin?

In the culture of European civilization, tattoos are a relatively new phenomenon (we do not take into account the primitive system). They met during the Great Geographical Discoveries, when travelers and missionaries encountered tattooed aborigines.

The fashionable trend associated with the application of images on their own bodies among the inhabitants of Europe began only from the middle of the twentieth century in youth subcultures (except for prison symbols). Prior to that, in the Christian world, tattoos were used as a stigma to mark a criminal or a woman of easy virtue.

The roots of tattoos on the human body go far into the pre-Christian past - in paganism, occultism. At that time, people did not yet know about the existence of a single God, but built their religion on communication with base spirits through ritual ceremonies, magic and symbols applied to the body.

Speaking about the Bible's attitude to tattoos, they usually refer to what is written in the book of Leviticus of the Old Testament: “For the sake of the deceased, do not make cuts on your body, and do not inscribe writing on yourself. I am the Lord. " God makes it clear that the custom of writing and painting on the body is impermissible.

Honoring and flirting with lower spirits, in fact, with servants of evil, through the symbolism of a tattoo, is unacceptable among the people whom Moses brought out of slavery and came to other values, different from violence, cruelty, robbery, which flourished among the pagan population... This means that one of the reasons why God does not recognize tattooed people is the difference between people who live according to God's commandments and those who worship idols.

The second reason was already formulated in the New Testament in the epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, which speaks of the human body as the temple of God. We must respect the "vessel" that contains our soul, and not defile it with tattoos.

Considering that people are created in the likeness of God, embellishing the body with drawings can be regarded as an attempt to make what God created even more perfect. This is a deep sinful delusion, since there can be nothing more perfect than the creation of God.

The world has changed, and today few people think about ritual symbolism and magic. Body tattoos are often meaningless and look more like a piece of art. The question arises whether it is possible to stuff harmless drawings and inscriptions on the body, how such a manifestation is treated in Christianity.

Orthodoxy is an orthodox religion, the views of which have not changed for millennia. The Church even today believes that it is impossible to decorate oneself more than what God created us, and all attempts to do this are regarded as a challenge to God and are considered a sin.

If you think about it, a person already commits many sins, which are very difficult for him to overcome. Why add another one in the form of a tattoo if you can easily do without it? In addition, tattoos on the human body are not so harmless. Transferring an incomprehensible inscription or a beautiful graphic drawing we like, we do not even realize that we mark ourselves with the signs of Satanists, neo-pagans, occultists, thereby allowing far from light forces to enter our life.

For example - a case from life. A young 23-year-old, still unknown actor got a tattoo in the form of the inscription of the slogan of the punk subculture Live quickly die young ("Live quickly, die young"). On a car trip, he saw an accident on the highway, stopped to help the injured. At that moment he was hit to death by a car.

Sometimes people manage to remove dangerous tattoos, and their life changes for the better. But it should be remembered that displaying an inscription is 10 times more difficult than filling it.

It must be said that modern priests are no longer so categorical about the presence of tattoos made on special occasions. Some believe that there is no only black and white, each case is individual, others, on the contrary, say that the Lord does not have double standards, and a tattoo is sinful without exception.

Sometimes people ask the question whether it is possible to hide a terrible postoperative scar with a meaningless tattoo, whether it is a sin. Summarizing the answers of the priests, we can conclude that with this approach it is not considered a sin... But for God there are no terrible scars, he sees a person deeper, and if there is true spiritual beauty in him, it is visible to the Almighty, and the rest is insignificant.

To the question of believers whether it is possible to apply tattoos with Orthodox symbols to emphasize their faith, the clergy answer unequivocally - it is impossible. We can declare our involvement in the Orthodox faith with the help of a pectoral cross, which we do not remove from the moment of the baptism ceremony.

On Earth, only one Orthodox community makes a tattoo in the form of a small cross on the wrist - this is the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt. The fact is that there are few Christians in this Muslim country, and if such a person dies, there is a chance that a Christian will be recognized in him and buried according to the customs of his faith.

The second reason that Coptic believers consider the main reason is to cut off their path to cowardice and not betray Christ, if you have to end up in the hands of the Islamists. After all, you will not be able to get rid of a tattoo quickly, which means that you will not be able to hide your involvement in the Orthodox faith.

If a person did not make ritual magic tattoos, but depicted something neutral on his body, this does not mean that he is not led by sin. To be convinced of this, you just need to think about why he made the tattoo. The reasons are different, and all do not lead to God - a protest to society, I wanted to stand out, draw attention to myself, emphasize my superiority, to please someone.

With age comes wisdom and the desire to get rid of the mistakes of the past. How to do this correctly, we will tell you using the advice of priests. External getting rid of a tattoo does not yet entail a complete disconnection of a person from the forces to which he tied himself, therefore, he cannot do without coming to the temple.

You need to start with confession, sincere repentance with all your heart. Then you should find a good clinic, and prayerfully, asking the Lord for help, get rid of the tattoo on your body.