Q&A Home > T > Tattoo If tattooing is a sin, according to the Holy Book of Leviticus 19:28, "You shall make no cuttings in your flesh" is having a cross tattoo an exception, or is it to be considered the same as a tattoo of the sun or moon and therefore a sin? Tattoos were rites and ceremonies with which people expressed their sorrow at their funeral. The heathen did so to pacify the infernal deities they dreamt about, and to render them favorable to their deceased friend. God commanded that this must not be imitated by His people. His people, whom the God of Israel had set apart for Himself must not receive the image and superscription of these worthless deities, and therefore must not make cuts or prints in their flesh. Such practices were signs of rebellion against God Himself.
During the era of persecution, the Coptic Christians were prevented from wearing crosses or declaring themselves Christians. As the persecution increased, Christians started to tattoo the cross on their skin as a sign that they will never denounce their Christianity till they are skinned. Henceforth the cross tattoo became a sign of holding on to the Christian faith. I think in our days it is more important to tattoo the cross on our heart rather than on our skin.
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