Nigerian pastor Kingsley Okonkwo has defended the practice of tattooing, arguing that body markings have existed across different cultures throughout history and that the Bible does not explicitly describe tattoos as a sin.
Okonkwo made the remarks in a viral video while addressing the ongoing debate among Christians over tattoos and the biblical position on the practice.
‘Tattoos Have Always Been Part of Human Culture’
The pastor argued that tattoos and other forms of body markings are not peculiar to modern society or Nigeria, noting that different cultures have historically used various forms of markings.
“You know, people are just weird like that. So, tattoos have always been part of human culture. In fact, I was born and bred in Lagos. > “There were those old men all over Lagos then. So what are we talking about? It has always been part of human culture, not just Nigeria. Everywhere in the world, there are tribal marks; there are different marks.”
Okonkwo also referred to a biblical passage in which God uses the imagery of an inscription on the hand to describe His relationship with His people.
“So even God used tattoo as an example. To inscribe. Yes, I inscribed it on my hand. > “Because why would you use an example if you can’t relate with it? Use an example because the culture could relate with people who put tattoos to remember. > “So He was saying, ‘Look, I’ve also tattooed you.’ That means I can never forget you.”
Okonkwo Says Bible Does Not Explicitly Call Tattoos Sinful
Okonkwo maintained that tattooing has existed throughout human history and argued that there is no biblical passage explicitly declaring tattoos to be sinful.
“So it’s a part of culture. It’s a part of culture throughout human history. And even biblically, there are many examples of Jesus or Christ. They mentioned in Revelation that Christ also tattooed the name on His thigh. > “So I don’t know what that drama was about, to be honest. Again, sometimes some people probably are not as exposed.”
He explained that his experience preaching in multiracial churches had exposed him to different cultural perspectives on tattoos.
“I preach in multiracial churches. I don’t just wear the white people. Even the pastor who was the leader, I said, ‘Yes, we’ll sit down and we’ll talk.’ > “The person will tell me, ‘How can the leader say this? The tattoo I did when I was in—when I found Christ—I was in prison, and I met the Lord and I wrote my salvation story.’ > “So how can you tell that guy now that that tattoo is a sin? And there is no scripture. There’s not even one that says tattoo is a sin.”
He Questions the Old Testament Passage
The pastor also addressed the Old Testament passage commonly cited in discussions about tattoos.
According to Okonkwo, the passage was addressing specific cultural practices among the Jewish people rather than modern decorative tattoos.
“So I don’t know where they get it from. The Old Testament? So it doesn’t say it’s a sin. What it says, I don’t know. > “It has nothing to do with tattoos. And the verse after that talks about, ‘Don’t shave.’ Don’t do… and all pastors in the world are shaving, and they’re okay with it. > “So it wasn’t speaking to the body of Christ. It was speaking to the Jews because they were in a culture where people were doing certain things, and God was saying, ‘Don’t do these things.’ That was what that was about. > “It has nothing to do with the tattoo, the decorative tattoos that we do.”
‘Microblading Is a Form of Tattoo’
Okonkwo further referenced cosmetic procedures such as microblading, arguing that the practice also falls within the broader category of tattooing.
“So women do microblading; it’s a form of tattoo.”
He said he was surprised by what he considered a lack of exposure among some Nigerians regarding the issue.
“I was just shocked. I thought Nigerians were a bit more exposed.”
Pastor Recalls Opposition to Makeup, Jeans and Television
The pastor also compared the current debate over tattoos with historical opposition within some Christian communities to practices such as makeup, trousers, jeans, television and wigs.
He argued that some of these practices eventually became more accepted after Christians challenged the idea that they were incompatible with Christianity.
“People don’t realise that the Christianity we have today, people fought. There was a time you couldn’t have makeup on. You couldn’t wear jeans. You couldn’t even have television. > “So people fought to say, ‘This thing has nothing to do with Christ. Let the ladies wear their trousers. Let the women have their makeup.’ > “You can’t have makeup. You can’t have nice wigs. You can’t have makeup. You can’t look good. You can’t even have perfumes.”
Okonkwo’s comments have sparked further discussion online about biblical interpretation, cultural practices and the question of whether tattoos should be considered incompatible with Christian faith.
AB