Let me preface my response by first saying that I was raised that tattoos are bad, citing the obvious scriptures from the OT.
That being said, I have a tattoo
.... I know.... hypocrite right?
I got it prior to being saved and coming into the knowledge of Christ. I can say that I still wrestle with the conviction and shame of my deed. I believe the Holy Spirit has spoken to me very clearly and disapprovingly.
Now just to be clear..... this is how the Lord dealt with
me.... (emphasis on me).
I say that not as a cop out, but over wrestling in confusion for a while.
I saw other Christians with tatoos as asked about how they felt, and I found that some shared in my shame, others did not, but seemed to be every bit as humble and seeking as I was.
My answer was received after months of asking the Lord, "Is this right or wrong?"
The Holy Spirit impressed upon me to stop worrying about it. Would it effect how I loved them? How I treated them? How I interacted with them?
I think we sometimes, unwittingly, take the task of the Holy Spirit in "guiding with all truth and righeousness" upon ourselves. But all He asks of us is to love unconditionally as He has, and to show compassion as He did. (
Note, this does not cast aside the scriptures regarding confronting one in their sin, but it never says to confront them agressively or with a mean spirit, which I see far too often).
So while I would never condemn anyone for getting one, I would never recommend one neither. I know the guilt I wrestled with after coming to know Christ, and the taint I felt over this permanent marking.