Gospel music artist Mike Abdul has joined the ongoing debate surrounding Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo’s recent tattoo, stating that tattoos do not dishonour the human body.
Abdul shared his views in a post on Instagram, where he explained that tattoos have long been part of human history, serving purposes such as identity, remembrance, status, covenant, and storytelling across ancient cultures.
According to the singer, the presence of a tattoo is not what diminishes the body. Rather, he argued that the true issue lies in what the symbol represents.
“Tattoos don’t dishonour the body,” Abdul wrote. “What dishonours a temple is not the writing on the walls; what matters is what the mark points to, not the mark itself.”
He further emphasized that spiritual worth is determined by the state of the heart, not outward appearance. Abdul noted that tattoos can hold positive meaning when they inspire gratitude, identity, or reverence.
“God reads hearts, not skin,” he added. “Ink without conviction is decoration. Ink with conviction is remembrance. If a tattoo leads you closer to gratitude, identity, or reverence, it has served a good purpose for you.”
Abdul’s comments follow criticism from some Christians who questioned Pastor Okonkwo’s decision to get a tattoo, arguing that it dishonours the body God gave him. The pastor has since defended his choice, maintaining that no biblical passage explicitly forbids tattoos.
The debate has continued to spark discussions online, with opinions divided over faith, personal expression, and modern Christian living.
