Tattoos

The only Scripture specifically mentioning "tattoos" is found in the Old Testament: "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the L-RD." Leviticus 19:28.
That the ancients were very violent in their grief, it was the custom of the Amorites, when anyone died, to cut their flesh, as it was of the Scythians, and all this was done to appease the infernal deities, and to give them satisfaction for the deceased, and to make them propitious to them.
Most of the barbarous nations lately discovered have their faces, arms, breasts, tattooed. There are to this day such, who are marked in their youth in their faces, that they may be known; these prints or marks were made with ink or black lead, or, however, the incisions in the flesh were filled up therewith; but this was usually done as an idolatrous practice was the custom of the Gentiles in ancient times. The impression was made sometimes by means of a hot iron, sometimes by ink or paint, as is done by the Arab females of the present day and the different castes of the Hindus.
I have seen several cases where persons have got the figure of the cross, the Virgin Mary, made on their arms, breasts, punctured, and then a blue coloring matter rubbed in, imprinting figures of flowers, leaves, stars, and other fanciful devices on various parts of their person, even in unspeakable places. Does a religious figure make it all right? Then all religions would be free to do so also. What does the Word say to you?
Those that dishonor G-d are thus suffered to dishonor themselves and their families.
Tattoos were used extensively by the other nations for pagan worship, decoration, and to mark a slave. Tattoos are still forbidden among Jews today (by both Orthodox, Conservative, and Reformed Judaism). There is even one rabbinic text prohibiting the burial of bodies with tattoos. (However this prohibition is very rarely enforced - although some traditional Jewish mortuaries and cemeteries will not officiate at a funeral of one who is tattooed.)
The only Scripture that I know of on decorative "piercing" (as opposed to piercing by a sword or nails) is Exodus 21:6. This is a passage on piercing the ear lobe of a person to mark him as a slave. In the Jewish nation, slaves and pagans were the only ones with pierced ears. When Jacob's family wanted to set themselves apart to the L-rd, earrings are specifically mentioned as items that they put off (Genesis 35:4). Apparently any disfigurement or cutting of the body was not allowed for His "holy people" (see Leviticus 21:5; Deuteronomy 14:1-2; 1 Kings 18:28). The only exception to this was circumcision (Genesis 17:11-13).
In modern day Judaism, it has become permissible for women in the West to pierce their ears because it is a common practice among the majority non-Jewish population. Jewish men, however, still may not pierce their ears.
In the Jewish writings on this subject, the rabbis refer to two concepts:
1. We were "made in the image of G-d. Even though G-d is spirit, somehow our bodies reflect G-d's glory.
2. Our bodies are a good gift from G-d - complete as is. As one Jewish rabbi put it, "No matter how well considered, a tattoo is the result of a short-term decision to decorate the body forever. What hubris to imagine that any of us, as individuals, can improve artistically on the original design of the L-rd.
Do the Old Testament verses line up with any basic principle found in the New Testament? The answer is "yes." There is the New Testament concept that our bodies are not our own. This teaching is found specifically in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20: 1. "The body is meant for the Lord" 1 Corinthians 6:13.
2. "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit." 1 Corinthians 6:19.
3. "You are not your own; you were bought at a price." 1 Corinthians 6:19.
4. "Honor G-d with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:20.
The key principle here seems to be that our bodies belong to G-d, not ourselves, and that we are to use them in ways that honor and reflect G-d's glory. Our bodies aren't really ours to decorate as we see fit.
Based upon these facts (the Old Testament commands against tattoos and piercings AND the New Testament principle that my body is not my own) I would reason that G-d would rather I leave my body free from self-inflicted marks and cuts. We were made in "the image of G-d." Apparently He thinks no further pictorial adornment is needed.
Nothing in what I've said is meant to imply any disapproval against those who come to the Messiah with tattoos, cuttings, or piercings. We come to Y’Shua just as we are - with all our imperfections in spirit and body. There are many people in our churchs who have tattoos and scars from their previous life before Y’Shua. Some of these tattoos are even pagan or demonic. Some of the cuttings are from suicide attempts. No one looks down on these brothers or sisters or judges them. We are all flawed sinners. That is why we need Y’Shua. Some of us bear our markings outwardly. Some of us bear them more inwardly.