Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo has publicly defended his decision to have a tattoo, challenging Christians to point to any Bible verse that explicitly labels tattoos as sinful. In a recent interview with TVC, the founder of the David Christian Centre argued that tattoos have been part of human culture for centuries and are not a modern invention.
Okonkwo's Biblical References and Personal Experience
Okonkwo, who unveiled a tattoo on his arm around his 50th birthday featuring John 3:16 in Roman numerals (“III:XVI”), said he is open to getting more tattoos despite the criticism. He referenced Isaiah 49:16, where God says, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands,” and Revelation 19:16, which describes the name “King of kings and Lord of lords” written on Christ’s robe and thigh. He argued that these passages show that permanent marks were understood in biblical times.
“I was born and bred in Lagos. There were those older men all over Lagos then that you see tattoos,” Okonkwo said in the interview. “It has always been part of human culture, not even just Nigeria. Everywhere in the world, there are tribal marks; there are different marks.”
Cultural Context of Tattoos in Nigeria
Tattoos and body markings are not new to Nigerians. Long before modern tattoos became popular, different Nigerian communities used facial and body marks to show identity, family, status, beauty, and belonging. Yoruba tribal marks, for example, could identify a person's family or community. Some of these traditional practices were later frowned upon as Western Christianity and colonial ideas spread. Missionaries often viewed indigenous body markings as part of traditional practices that should be abandoned, helping shape some of the negative attitudes Nigerians have towards tattoos and tribal marks today.
Leviticus 19:28 and Selective Application of Old Testament Laws
The main biblical argument against tattoos comes from Leviticus 19:28, which tells the Israelites not to make cuts on their bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on themselves. Okonkwo argues that this instruction was connected to practices among the people of that time and should not automatically be treated as a rule against modern tattoos. He also questioned why some Christians apply parts of Old Testament laws selectively.
“If there is no scripture that says tattoo is a sin, where did these people get it from?” he asked. Okonkwo compared the debate with other things that were once considered unacceptable in some Christian communities, including women wearing trousers and makeup, wearing wigs, using perfumes, and even watching television. He said Christianity has changed in how believers understand some of these practices, and tattoos should be considered in the same way.
For Okonkwo, his tattoo is therefore not just body art. It has become part of a much bigger conversation about what the Bible actually says, what churches teach, and what Christians have simply come to regard as wrong.
