I could scarcely believe what I was hearing. (You can watch it for yourself on YouTube). Joyce Meyer, one of the most prominent Christian personalities in America, declared that she was going to get a tattoo. She told thousands of women in the audience to do likewise. Meyer offered no cautions regarding what kind of tattoos were acceptable (dragons? OM symbols?) or where not on the body to get inked (woman’s breast? First chakra “tramp stamp?”). Meyer issued a blanket call to go under the needle without considering who might be doing the tattoo and what curses might be unleashed by the blood-letting.
Meyer based her broadside on reactions to her restrictive, legalistic, Pentecostal upbringing which dictated many non-biblical conduct codes. She misquoted Isaiah 44:5 as saying the Old Testament condones tattoos on one’s hand. Not one major Bible translation says that. She also referred to Isaiah 49:16 (NIV) which says, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hand” and translates that as “tattoo.” Again, no major translation says that. She added, “I might as well push all the religious people off the cliff and get it over with.” And, I might add, push over that same theological cliff the KJV, NKJV, NIV, ASV, AMP, and NLT Bible versions. Only the Living Bible, which IS NOT a literal translation, loosely uses the word “tattoo.” Joyce, you’re giving bad advice with unsubstantiated exegesis.
Worse yet, Meyer says she’s going to get a tattoo to “make religious demons mad.” Joyce, since you have no significant experience casting out demons and avoid the topic of Christians having demons, you might want to check with those who do deal with demons and see what their experiences reveal. My book “Curse Breaking” has an entire section on tattoos, based on Scripture, and what I’ve learned in four decades of deliverance. Not all tattoos are equal. A cross shouldn’t be compared to a pentagram. Those who got hideous tattoos before they were saved shouldn’t be shunned. Intention and context are important considerations.
Joyce, you’ve done much good for a many people. You’ve empowered women to rise up in their calling. You’ve been transparent about your abusive past and encouraged abused women to be healed. You have a good ministry. But don’t teach things about which you have no practical experience. Tattoos can be portals for evil spirits. I’ve encountered such many times. Please stop encouraging your followers to spiritually put themselves at risk by opening doors to demons with the wrong tattoos in the wrong places.
