A lot of people always look to verse (Leviticus 19:28) on this topic which says "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on your yourself" But you have to also look at the surrounding scripture to fully grasp what is being said.
"Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.Do not practice divination or seek omens.
Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.
Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.
Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness.Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:26-31 NIV)
Here, God is speaking to His covenant people of Israel. He is telling them to stay away from all the religious practices so they wouldn't follow false gods. And if you really followed (Leviticus 19), then you shouldn't shave or cut your hair or get piercings.....yeah ;)
Now back to verse 19:28 "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves" In this practice people made gashes in their skin not to express sorrows but to give life blood to the spirit of the deceased. Tattoos today are much different because it's personal decor to express ones self, which obviously is not what that verse is talking about.
"Now that Jesus has come and set us free, we are not under the law for our good standing with God. Our right standing before God comes from placing our trust in Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for our debts, not on following the Old Testament regulations."-Pastor Chuckk Gerwig
"Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:24–25"
So yes, as new testament believers, you are free to tattoo...or not to tattoo :-) .. Either way It's ok!
