Nigerian gospel artist Mike Abdul has weighed in on the ongoing debate over tattoos in the Christian community, insisting that body art does not dishonour the body and that God prioritizes inner transformation over unmarked skin.

In an Instagram post on Monday, Abdul explained that tattoos have historically served as symbols of identity, memory, status, covenant, and storytelling across cultures. He argued that the value of a mark lies in what it represents rather than the ink itself.

“Tattoos don’t dishonour the body. What dishonours a temple is not writing on the walls; what matters is what the mark points to, not the mark itself,” Abdul wrote. “God reads hearts, not skin. Ink without conviction is decoration. Ink with conviction is remembrance.”

Abdul added, “If a tattoo leads you closer to gratitude, identity, or reverence, it has served a good purpose for you. Faith is not proven by unmarked skin, but by transformed lives.”

Addressing critics who cite Leviticus 19:28, often used to condemn tattoos, Abdul reminded followers that Old Testament laws also cover dietary restrictions, hair rituals, and mixed fabrics, which Christians are no longer bound to under grace.

He drew a parallel between tattoos and circumcision, noting that while they differ in form, both are permanent bodily marks that signify identity and covenant. “Circumcision was a mark on the body, but its power was never in the flesh itself,” he wrote.

Concluding his posts, Abdul emphasized that Scripture values meaning and obedience over mere physical marks. “The debate was never Mark vs. no Mark. It has always been Heart vs. Hypocrisy,” he said.

Abdul’s comments follow a recent social media debate sparked by Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo, who received a Bible-inspired tattoo on his arm, which divided opinions among Nigerian Christians.