Is it a Sin to Get a Tattoo?

….I looked up what tattoos cost, and a small one will be a few hundred bucks, while a full arm sleeve can be up to $7k (presumably depending on the skill of the artist), and all over the body can set a person back $100k.

But that said, how many of us have expensive things—nice guns, nice bicycles, nice clothes, nice cars, nice food, nice homes—that are technically “a lot more than we “need”? I know I do. So I cannot say “that’s a poor decision based on the cost.”, because I’ve got a bunch of my own fingers pointing at me when I say that.

Where I part ways with tattoos is first of all because, with rare exceptions, I view a tattoo as vandalism on the human body, and because I’m uneasy about having someone who isn’t my wife touching various parts of my body for prolonged periods of time. (same basic thing as with “spa” experiences) Granted, it’s not that huge of an issue when it’s my arm or ankle or something, but I still have reluctance there.

Bert brings up a good point about the cost of the tattoos, but there is a stewardship cost beyond the initial cost. You may be more likely to get a job as a bouncer with a tattoo, but it is not exactly a resume enhancer for many other jobs. I know some are bothered that anyone would be so bigoted as to discriminate against someone with a tattoo- and as Christians we must be careful about our biases and be welcoming of those with tattoos-, but most employers and their customers are not blind. The reality is that a tattoo could hold you back from advancement- particularly if it is large and gaudy vs a small marking in an area that few would notice.

I view tattoos a lot like masks for Covid. They don’t do much to help, they just allow people to make a statement.