Tattoos Are Not Sinful, Says Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo
Popular relationship coach and pastor, Kingsley Okonkwo, has questioned traditional religious beliefs that condemn tattoos, calling them unfounded and detrimental to societal progress.
In an interview on News Central, Okonkwo said there is neither biblical nor scientific evidence to label tattoos as sinful or indicative of bad character. He argued that many religious leaders and worshippers impose personal opinions or church rules on others without justification.
“There is no scripture that says a child of God cannot have a tattoo,” he said. “People keep claiming tattoos are bad, yet no one can explain why. There is no scriptural proof, no scientific proof, just assumptions.”
Okonkwo criticised the habit of equating outward appearance with moral failure, describing it as illogical and limiting. He noted that blaming tattoos, clothing, or lifestyle choices for criminal behaviour is outdated thinking.
He compared the stigma against tattoos to condemning jeans because a criminal once wore them. “If someone wore jeans and robbed a bank, does that mean jeans are now bad?” he asked.
The pastor stressed that character is defined by values, not appearance. “I can give you ten good people with tattoos and ten bad ones. So what does that prove?”
Okonkwo also linked this mindset to the church’s hesitancy to engage in politics, saying believers often avoid certain spaces perceived as “unclean,” only to later complain about poor leadership.
“We avoid everything that looks bad, and then we complain,” he said. He urged Christians to prioritise personal faith, character, and impact, instead of judging others based on appearance or cultural stereotypes.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
