Why do some Christians have tattoos and piercings?

I can share my own experience with this. I have tattoos and stretched earlobes, but I got them long before I was saved. Back then, I was deeply influenced by satanic music and the lifestyle that came with it, which led me to make those choices for my body. After I got saved, I wondered if I needed to remove them—like through laser removal—so I asked my pastor. He told me not necessarily, and assured me that no one in the church was bothered by it. In fact, one brother even encouraged me, saying that my tattoos could be a strong tool for evangelism because they show that I came from the world but Jesus redeemed me.

If you ask me now if I still like them, my honest answer is no. And if you asked me whether I’d get another tattoo or piercing after being saved, it’s a definite no.

Now, I dress modestly and do my best to cover my tattoos with my sleeves. I can’t hide my stretched ears unless I wear a toque, but I try to present myself in a way that reflects the transformation God has done in my life. Because at the end of the day, God sees our hearts, not just what’s on our skin. Someone can look very religious and holy on the outside, but still struggle with lustful or violent thoughts. That’s why Jesus says in Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

When you truly get saved, you feel ashamed of your sins and the worldly things you used to be involved in. You don’t want to look like you’re still part of the world—you want to be separate from it. As 2 Corinthians 6:17 says, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate.” Based on how God convicted me about my clothing, I personally believe I can’t claim holiness and still look like I’m part of the metalhead culture I came from.

Holiness starts from the inside—with your heart and mind—and then it naturally reflects on the outside, including how you present yourself. For me, worldliness in clothing or appearance can reflect double-mindedness, and I don’t want to send mixed messages about my identity in Christ. I want to be fully identified with God and not blend in with the world.

That’s why I would prayerfully reconsider being part of a church where people in ministry are dressing like the world while preaching the Word of God. 1 Corinthians 10:21 says, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” To me, this verse highlights the importance of consistency in how we live, worship, and represent Christ.