I’ve been storing up on content and I just want to get the messages that God has put on my Spirit out.
I sense as I write and publish things there is a release in my Spirit and I’ve done my part. Even if it takes a long time before people find it or nobody reads it, I’m fine, because it is all about obedience to God.
In this post I want to discuss the ramifications of getting tattoos and piercings. It is a hot topic for sure that church leaders are divided on, but eventually it is what the Bible and the Holy Spirit says that matters.
Now, I myself was ‘persuaded’ into getting a navel piercing and later a cross tattoo, so I have firsthand experience unfortunately.
It should come to no surprise though that although we are under grace now, it doesn’t mean that everything is lawful or good for us right?
Well, in Leviticus 19:28 it says: ‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.’ This has been the main scripture people use when they state that tattoos are forbidden and ungodly. It may be Old Testament but remember there is always a reason why God tells us not to do something. It has more to do with the spiritual roots and connotations, that many people in the modern world don’t consider. It think it puts us under a curse, much in the same way occult objects in our household can do. The solution is to repent and remove it.
My own story:
I was freshly saved in 2009 and got influenced by some unsaved peers to get a navel piercing. It took me some years before I was convicted by the Holy Spirit to remove it.
Then fast forward to 2012 ca. I’m in a grace-filled world known church (Won’t mention name) and see many leaders sporting tattoos on stage. One of my friends at that time and group leader, talks about getting a tattoo with Christian themes. I get inspired as well, but in the back of my Spirit I sense a nudge. I hear Leviticus 19:28 on and off as I ask God. I start planning the design of the tattoo, a simple cross. I don’t feel peace in my Spirit, yet my soul was stronger at that time. I also thought since we are under grace and NT, it should be alright. Also, seeing leaders in church with tattoos confused me. I guess I thought it must be ok then? It is one thing to have gotten tattoos before you got saved in comparison to afterwards of course.
I was rebelling towards God frankly ignoring my Spirit’s conscience, because I thought it would look cool and be a witness. So, then comes the time when I decide to get the tattoo done. I bring a friend with me from church who also was interested in getting one, but her parents wouldn’t allow it. She felt biased on the issue. Should ring a bell? Also, another friend I talked to from S. Korea said pastors are not allowed to have tattoos in her country. I still went on.
I have a strong gift of discernment and discerning of spirits and when I entered the tattoo parlor, I had a bad feeling. All the dark designs on the wall, the appearance of the tattoo artists and general oppressive feeling, gave off warnings in my Spirit. ‘This is not a place for a Christian to hang around.’ I still proceeded to the counter, being a bit impulsive. I guess I was thinking I could be a witness to these people at the same time, by getting a cross. No more than 5 minutes and around 100 dollars poorer, the inking was over.
I did feel booth happy and sad at the same time afterwards. It looked nice but was it right to do?
Now, I mentioned that I’m very spiritually sensitive and what happened as a result of the tattoos is quite interesting. I noticed a spiritual shift, struggles with depression, suicidal thoughts from time to time and that I attracted spiritual things that were not of God… My mother who is not saved and involved in the occult (though never consciously aware of it), sent me a birth stone angel, which for sure was related to New Age. I had a check in my Spirit at once. On one hand I was blessed and experienced favour but on the other hand there was something I couldn’t shake off no matter what I tried. Even flies and annoying bugs would come to me at times for no reason. Most Christians know who flies symbolize. And certain people that I didn’t want to be associated with seemed to be drawn towards me. I noticed an oppression in the Spirit that would come and go. I experienced attacks that wasn’t normal warfare attacks and this general feeling of being watched. It was quite a hassle to say the least.
The only denominator was my piercing and tattoo.
I asked the Holy Spirit if this was the source of my issues. Each time the answer was the same: ‘Remove the tattoo. It is the tattoo’.
It has taken me four years before I could start the painful and expensive process of laser removal. But God gave me the best option and laser. I am in my second treatment and the moment I finished the session I experienced deliverance and release. It was instant. It still takes many weeks for the body to rid itself of the ink but I know for each day I experience more freedom. Although I’m forgiven for this sin and that putting anointing oil over closes the door, it still had to be removed permanently. God required full obedience and only then would I be free from it completely. Moreover, I discovered that since getting my tattoo I was hindered in certain areas of my life and faced hindrances. At the time I was going through a wilderness and also I had to wait on God for certain things. However, He did remind me again of the tattoo…I find that I couldn’t enter my calling before it was removed too. Always a blockage and I found it couldn’t just be the timing was wrong. I also felt that the tattoo could affect others negatively and it wasn’t enough to just cover it up.
Through all of this, I discovered alot and I want to share it here. Tattoos are not Biblical and are connected with Devil worship, shamanism, sorcery and witchcraft. That should be enough to keep you away. If only I knew that before getting inked! Tattoos are used for channeling and supposedly to ward off evil spirits. However, tattoos are marks of Satan that attract demons or can work as a portal. I tell you some days I would not feel like myself. I don’t think it was discernment or warfare. In a way a tattoo tells the evil spirit world that you belong to them, although you belong to Jesus. The Enemy is always looking for an open door. We as Christians must be on guard against this. It is a pagan practice that Christians never practiced in the Bible and it’s wordly. We don’t need a tattoo to witness to unsaved people. It sets a bad example for immature Christians if we sport tattoos too. Now, in my Spirit I feel an icky feeling if I see tattoos. They remind me of serpent-like skin and the Enemy. There are countless photos of people who have attempted at transforming themselves into dragon-like creatures through tattoos. They look more like demons or the Devil and it is scary to say the least.
Moreover, tattoos were for slaves, prostitutes, criminals and deviants in older times. It was mostly sailors and military men how had them. I think tattoos bring in certain types of demons as you often see a change in behaviour and personality. Issues of promiscuity, lust, alcoholism, rebellion, witchcraft… Nowadays, everyone is getting them sadly without knowing the truth.
Lastly, it is a form of blood-letting which enters you into a blood pact with the tattoo artist along with a soul-tie. How many people know that?! You experience a transfer of demons and possibly can battle with their issues. How clever of the Devil to get a saved and delivered Christian to go and get an ‘innocent’ Christian mark on the skin! Thst way he has a foothold in your life without knowing it. I could tell for sure that my tattoo artist had some struggles and demons of her own and she hesitated a bit when she saw the cross design… I discerned lesbianism e.g…. I do pray for her deliverance but let’s be careful what we associate with.
Good News is: if you are a believer, just repent, plead the Blood of Jesus, cast out demons that entered through this act and anoint the tattoo(s) with oil. It is my belief that you should remove it permanently to be fully free, but this must be between the Holy Spirit and you. It is just my firm conviction that to experience no more oppression the mark must be gone.
In addition to spiritual dangers, there are natural health dangers. You are putting a foreign substance into your skin and blood system. It consist of metals that can lead to potential health risks. There are risks of infections from the needles. Not all parlours are safe. It is not natural to have ink in your body and your body will always try and remove it. Allergies can occur. I have read of chances of stroke. I can only speak of my own experience but it is reasonable to think that it is not healthy to inject an unnatural substance into your body. I started experiencing sensitivity and allergies, especially irritation in my scalp. I feel it was my body’s way of trying to remove something that shouldn’t be there.
I know I made my mistake and I’m not judging anyone but would like to warn others. I’ve learned and I’m moving on. Everything you go through can be used for good for God. It may not be popular but it is the Truth.
I feel that the popularity of tattoos and piercing is a part of and adding to the moral decline in society. People are moving further away from Jesus and true values sadly.
Most importantly God loves you if you’ve got a tattoo but He wants to set you free and protect you from its dangers. Just because everything is permissible it doesn’t mean necessarily that it’s good for you.
I pray for scales to fall of people’s eyes and for deception to break so that they can receive the Truth, in Jesus Name Amen.