Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo, founder and lead pastor of David Christian Centre in Nigeria, has spoken out in defense of tattoos, arguing that there is no biblical scripture that declares them a sin. Okonkwo made the remarks in response to controversy surrounding his decision to get a tattoo bearing a reference to John 3:16. The tattoo, written in Roman numerals as "III: XVI", was unveiled earlier this year and sparked mixed reactions among Christians.
Okonkwo pointed out that tattoos have been a part of human culture for centuries, citing examples of tribal marks and body inscriptions across various societies. He recalled growing up in Lagos, where older people with tattoos were a common sight. According to the pastor, the practice of tattooing should not be automatically associated with wrongdoing. He emphasized that Christians should consider the cultural and biblical context before making judgments about tattoos.
The pastor maintained that he has yet to find a biblical passage that explicitly states that having a tattoo is sinful. He questioned how some Christians can claim that tattoos are a sin when there is no clear scripture to support this claim. Okonkwo argued that some Christians are making the issue a matter of personal preference, church tradition, or individual conviction rather than a clearly stated biblical doctrine.
Okonkwo addressed Leviticus 19:28, a passage frequently cited by Christians who oppose tattooing. The verse warns against making marks on the body, but Okonkwo argued that it was referring to practices connected with the dead and should not be interpreted as a blanket prohibition of modern decorative tattoos. He pointed to the following verse, which contains a prohibition against certain forms of shaving, arguing that Christians who cite the passage against tattoos must consider its wider cultural and biblical context.
The pastor further referred to biblical imagery in which God speaks of inscribing His people on His hands. He argued that this imagery would have been meaningful to people living in cultures where inscriptions and markings were understood as symbols of remembrance. Okonkwo also referred to the Book of Revelation, which contains imagery of Christ having a name written on His thigh.
Okonkwo questioned why some cosmetic practices are accepted by Christians while tattoos are condemned. He compared tattoos to microblading, a form of tattooing used for cosmetic purposes. The pastor argued that practices such as microblading, makeup, wigs, and other forms of personal appearance have also faced opposition in some Christian circles at different points in Nigeria's history.
Okonkwo's comments come months after his tattoo became a major subject of discussion online. The tattoo features "III: XVI", representing John 3:16, one of the Bible's best-known verses. He previously said the tattoo was not merely a fashion statement, explaining that the attention surrounding it had also helped spread the gospel online.
Key points
- Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo argues that there is no biblical scripture that declares tattoos a sin.
- Okonkwo defends tattoos as a form of self-expression and a part of human culture.
- The pastor questions the double standard applied to tattoos compared to other cosmetic practices.
