Answer:
The O.T. laws are fertile grounds for controversy if we misunderstand the nature of the different kinds of laws. Basically, there are three:
- CIVIL laws relating to Jewish judicial system and punishments for crimes etc,
- CEREMONIAL laws relating to Jewish worship, ceremonial purity and the sacrificial system and
- MORAL laws relating to absolute ethical guidelines flowing from the all-good character of God.
Now, the Bible outlines clearly that ceremonial and civil laws have been abrogated in the New Creation period, brought in by Christ (Rom 10:4). So the question for Christians is this: what category of law does the requirement against tattoos fall into?
First we should clarify, why are Christians released from O.T. Civil and Ceremonial law? Civil laws related to a sovereign Israeli nation but in the New Creation, the people of God would be a transnational race (Col 3:11) and would therefore be called to submit to the civil authorities in every nation where they were found (Rom 13:1-7). Laws relating to sacrifices and ceremonial purity, were, in their primary function, tools to point to the holiness of God or the sinfulness of man or to draw attention to our need for substitutionary atonement and grace. The intent of these laws was therefore fulfilled when Jesus came as the incarnation of God’s holy character, and the means of grace by which we may be found acceptable to God (Heb 1:1-4; 10:1). But the MORAL LAW remains in play as the rule of life for those who have – by faith – been reborn in Christ (Rom 13:8-10).
So, is the tattoo prohibition in the same category as "do not murder" OR in the same category as "do not wear clothing with two kinds of fabric"? The former is clearly a MORAL law that Christians are obligated to obey. The later is clearly a CEREMONIAL law intended to teach a lesson about purity, but which is no longer in effect in the New Covenant period. How can you tell the difference? It's hard sometimes, because they may be put back to back, in the same portion of the Law. But a good guide is that anything related to the 10 commandment's broad principles is a moral issue requiring a Christian's attention. Anything related to ceremonial purity is not a Christian obligation.
In this way we can say that the tattoo prohibition is not a Christian obligation since it's intent does not relate directly to any of the 10 commandments. Rather it is about ceremonial purity, an object lesson about being pure and unstained and a call to be separate from the pagan nations and set apart for God. So while a Christian may choose to follow this command as an enhancement of his own devotion to God, God does not require it... the Christian is free of the tattoo taboo.
Now, personally, I have no tattoos because I notice that permanently marking, painting, branding, scaring the body happens to coincide with an increase in paganism in societies – both ancient and modern. I feel more separate from those systems of thot and behavior by not tattooing my body. However, this is not an area were I would ever impose my scruples on another believer. This would be one of those disputable areas Paul warns us about in Romans 14, and to not make such a thing central or controversial.
What we do to adorn our bodies is always a bit of a gray area. Some adornment through physical training is surely a sign that we take godly pride in the gift of our physical bodies and are stewarding them well (1 Tim 4:8). And some physical alterations to our body were even COMMANDED by God as a sign of being under a covenant or oath (circumcision, bond servant, Deut 15:17). I know of Christians getting tattoos with deep spiritual significance for just this reason - as a sign of devotion to God.
However, we are warned in the New Testament that excessive adornment is a sign that we've placed our value on outer beauty over inner character (1 Pet 3:3). Surely this principle does have implications for how much emphasis I put on marking my body, permanently, or with other less permanent affectations. Christians should not be prone to excessive adornment so that we keep our emphasis on cultivating inner beauty - "tattooing" our hearts with good character (2 Pet 1:5ff).
That principle aside, I don't believe retaining the prohibition on tattoos is required for Christians.
