Official? There hasn't been an 'official' Christian religion since the Reformation. Christianity is a relationship with God. I seriously doubt He is concerned with whether or not there's ink in your skin. Of course, the nature of the tattoo might make a difference.

I don't think it is official doctrine, but I have been taught to treat my body as a temple. Therefore, a tattoo is like graffiti on a temple. I don't think it is a sin to get a tattoo, however. Just unwise.

It depends how you want to see this verse Leviticus 19:28 – “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.” However, it is also clear that many dictates of that particular time in history no longer apply. There are scriptures in the Old Testament that tell women to keep their heads covered at all time. Others tell people they cannot eat certain types of meat. Still others prohibit certain types of haircuts. They all had their purposes at the time. Yet, many of those rules no longer apply in the New Testament.

A Christian tattoo would be acceptable.

You are IN LUCK!!! I recently had to do a deep study on this because some of the Messianic Jews I know were upset for me to have tattoos. The same question came up, since Jewish tradition is that it offends God, and even bars you from burial in their cemeteries! Yes, consensus is that getting tattooed is wrong. It is not on the list of things that will cost your salvation. Just like not wearing fringes on your garments (prayer shawl or other) won't. There is just ONE verse, used to ban tattoos: <Lev 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD.> This clearly forbids the Pagan mourning ritual of bloodletting, but we can't assume it bars (only) tattoos. If it does. We need to know just what sort of 'marks' would be so bad. Study of the concordance and various Bible encyclopedias turned up a lot. The meaning of the word "marks" is truly UGLY. It refers to deliberate scarring, or branding - such as for slaves, criminals (ex: the Inquisition), and puberty rites(ex: New Guinea). ---BTW - 'Body Mod' studios do these types of "decoration" for customers today. Check out "the Body Art Book" if you don't believe me.--- Branding in particular was referred to as "marking" with a hot iron. A stigma went with the 'marking', which is why it was done to criminals and outcasts. I suppose tattoos COULD be called similar in that they are permanent man-made marks on the body, but they are not on the same level of physical trauma. They are an art form used for decoration, and are both costly and time consuming to do correctly. Branding a thief is fairly straightforward - and cheap. I looked at the matter prayerfully before I got my ink, and I was secure in my relationship with Jesus. My art was carefully chosen to reflect what I would put as art in a place of worship. Therefore, I have no guilt or shame about it. He shed his blood for me; I felt it was appropriate to shed a little blood to have a permanent reminder of the Holy Spirit being with me: a dove, in this case. I know this is a powderkeg - but ya know, it's NOT a 'sin unto death' and we all have to work out our own salvation with the true Master. Cherry Creek Flash is a Christian tattoo studio, with a very cool statement of faith called "Eternal Ink". Why not look Ross up online? Certainly, you ought not get any ink that would be inappropriate within a sanctuary :-) We are temples of the Holy Spirit, after all. You could say Jesus has to wear our ink too, since he indwells believers! And to stir up one more muddy point: Christians brag they 'aren't under the Law' (of Torah) because it is Old Covenant, and yet try to impose points of the same Law on others. Either you are obeying Torah or you are not, and if not, it's not divisible for occasional use. Unless there's some verse about 'thou shalt choose among mine Law according to thine own will...'??? Shalom, and Blessings in Yah'shua (Jesus)

Well, the church says your body is a Temple and you shouldn't do anything to scar it. But I don't think I know a single Christian without a piercing or tatoo, so who knows. I know I have plenty of tats.