The lead pastor of David Christian Centre (DCC) and popular relationship coach, Kingsley Okonkwo, has dismissed the belief that tattoos are sinful, saying there is no scripture in the Bible that expressly condemns the practice.
Okonkwo stated this while speaking on Your View, a programme on TVC, where he argued that tattoos have long been part of human culture and are not peculiar to Nigeria.
According to him, different societies have historically used tattoos, tribal marks and other forms of body inscriptions for cultural and personal purposes.
“So 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 older men all over Lagos then that you see tattoos. So what are we talking about? It’s always a part of human culture, not even just Nigeria. Everywhere in the world, there are tribal marks, there are different marks.”
The pastor also referred to biblical imagery involving inscriptions, arguing that God used the concept to illustrate His remembrance of His people.
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👉 JOIN WHATSAPP CHANNEL“So even God used tattoo as an example. To inscribe. Yes, I inscribed it on my hand,” he said.
Okonkwo said the imagery demonstrated the permanence of God’s relationship with His people.
“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.”
He further referred to the Book of Revelation, saying it contains a reference to Christ having a name written on His thigh.
“There are many examples of Jesus or Christ. They mentioned in Revelation that Christ also tattooed the name on his tie,” he said.
Okonkwo, who said he preaches in multiracial churches, said he had encountered Christian leaders who have tattoos, including people who got them before becoming Christians.
“I preach in multiracial churches. I go to churches where the white people, even the pastor has tattoos, the leader,” he said.
He added that some converts had used tattoos to document significant experiences in their lives.
“And we sit down and we talk about, oh, the pastor will tell me how this, or the leader will say, this tattoo I did when I was in, when I found Christ in prison. I was in prison and I met the Lord and I wrote my salvation story.”
He therefore questioned the basis for describing tattoos as sinful.
“So how can you tell that guy now that, oh, that tattoo is a sin? And there is no scripture.
“There’s not even one that says tattoo is a sin. So I don’t know where these people got it from.”
Addressing the Old Testament passage commonly cited in debates over tattoos, Okonkwo argued that it was referring to practices associated with the dead rather than decorative tattoos.
“What it says, I don’t do inscriptions to the dead. It has nothing to do with tattoos,” he said.
He added: “And the verse after that talks about don’t shave. And all pastors in the world are shaving. And they’re okay with it.”
The pastor also compared tattoos with microblading, questioning why one practice could be accepted while the other was condemned.
“So women do microblading is okay. Then tattoo is wrong. Microblading is a form of tattoo. Shot fired.”
Okonkwo further argued that several practices once opposed in some Christian circles, including makeup, trousers, wigs, television and perfumes, are now widely accepted.
“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.”
GISTSMATE MEDIA reported in February that Okonkwo had previously used a Bible-inspired tattoo on his arm, describing it as a means of evangelism.
The tattoo, revealed in a video posted on his official Instagram page, bears John 3:16 in Roman numerals — “III: XVI.”
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