| A man who owns a tattoo shop located downtown | | | | "This one will say, 'I am the LORD's,' another will call |
| contacted me. More about him in a moment. | | | | himself by the name of Jacob, and another will write |
| After reading his response, I couldn't seem to get | | | | on his hand, |
| the subject of tattoos and body piercings out of my | | | | 'The Lord's,' and surname himself by the name of |
| head. I recalled a British minister - a man in his late | | | | Israel." -Isaiah 44:5 |
| 50's at the time - testifying that the Lord had | | | | "Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my |
| directed him to pierce an ear in the fashion of the | | | | hands; your walls are continually before me." -Isaiah |
| bond servant referred to by the apostle Paul. Such a | | | | 49:16 |
| servant would have his ear pierced his master as a | | | | Here Isaiah is speaking God's word to the more |
| sign that he would serve him forever. When this | | | | conscious minorities of Israel who, during their exile, |
| minister obeyed, he claimed that many more young | | | | are worried about becoming lost amidst the pagans |
| people were attending his meetings as a result. | | | | of Babylon. Through Isaiah, God reminds His people |
| After a class I was teaching, an attendee mentioned | | | | that he will never forget them because He loves |
| to me that his Christian son showed up on a | | | | them, and as proof that He will never abandon them, |
| construction site where he encountered a | | | | He tells the Jews that He has graven [carved |
| heavily-tattooed man. The Christian struck up a | | | | into...written permanently] on his hands a reminder to |
| conversation with the tattooed man who | | | | save them. |
| commented that he was surprised that he spoke to | | | | "And the LORD said to him, 'Go through the city, |
| him as hardly anyone every did so. He believed this | | | | through Jerusalem, and put a mark upon the |
| was because of all his tattoos, giving the Christian | | | | foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all |
| the in-road to minister to him. | | | | the abominations that are committed in it'." -Ezekiel |
| I remembered a Christian biker preaching from the | | | | 9:4 |
| pulpit, his Popeye forearms covered with tattoos as | | | | The mark in this verse refers to the letter "T" or the |
| he spoke, and how the young guys flocked around | | | | Hebrew letter "Tau," which appears as the shape of |
| him to talk afterward. | | | | a cross, and which was painted in lamb's blood on the |
| MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTSIDE. GOD LOOKS AT | | | | door posts to save the "remnant" of Israel when |
| THE HEART. | | | | God wiped out all the first born of Egypt during the |
| Getting a tattoo is all the rage these days, and many | | | | last plague. In this instance, the mark will be placed |
| Christian are trying to decide if they should get a | | | | upon believers who are saddened by the sins |
| tattoo or not. To tattoo or not to tattoo? THAT is | | | | committed in Jerusalem. |
| the question. | | | | "Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my |
| What does the Bible say? Many Christians will quote | | | | body the brand marks of Jesus." -Galatians 6:17 |
| Leviticus 19:28 as support to their claim that | | | | Here, Paul is likely discussing the beatings and |
| Christians should never get a tattoo: "Ye shall not | | | | punishments he endured for the sake of the Gospel |
| make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor | | | | of Christ (see 2 Cor. 11:24-28). This is a pointed jab |
| print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." - | | | | at those who believe they are justified by other |
| Leviticus 19:28. Can one believe that Jesus is Lord and | | | | marks, that is, circumcision. Undeniable, though, is the |
| that He came to save the world through grace and | | | | tattoo imagery. Brand marks are what Roman slave |
| love and still accept this verse as applicable to us | | | | owners tattooed on their chattel to display |
| today? It sounds harsh, but it's true. Why? The | | | | ownership. |
| answer is simple. Christ gave us a New Law, one that | | | | "Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of |
| supersedes Old Testament Laws like this one in | | | | the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called |
| Leviticus. | | | | with a loud voice to the four angels who had been |
| Oddly, proponents of this verse neglect to consider | | | | given power to harm earth and sea, saying, 'Do not |
| some other verses in that same book, Chapter 19. | | | | harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have |
| There's verse 9, that says: "When you reap the | | | | sealed the servants of our God upon their |
| harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges | | | | foreheads.'" -Revelation 7:2-3 |
| of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest." | | | | "On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, |
| Verse 19 reads: "Do not plant your field with two | | | | King of kings and Lord of lords." -Revelation 19:16 |
| kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two | | | | This last verse from Revelation is part of John's |
| kinds of material." Verse 26: "Do not eat any meat | | | | prophecy about the destruction of the Roman |
| with the blood still in it." Verse 27: "Do not cut the | | | | Empire and the heretofore-invincible Roman armies. |
| hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges | | | | The verse shows Christ as the "Master of the |
| of your beard." Verse 28: "Do not cut your bodies | | | | Universe" whose Name, which is the Word of God |
| for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I | | | | (and, in essence, everything), is more than just a title |
| am the Lord." | | | | on a royal garment. Instead, it is something that |
| As you can see, many of the other rules laid out in | | | | belongs to Jesus alone and is intrinsically linked to He |
| Leviticus are not followed today. This does not mean | | | | who is Lord of all...through a unique marking on his |
| that the whole book of Leviticus, or even the Bible | | | | body. |
| itself, should not be followed. It just means that we | | | | Again, I want to stress that these verses do not |
| need to carefully analyze what the theme of the | | | | show that God endorses tattoos but that tattoos |
| Bible is, and realize what it means for us today. | | | | were an accepted part of society during the biblical |
| The book of Leviticus contains laws intended to keep | | | | era and that there is little evidence to show that God |
| the children of Israel healthy and holy for God. | | | | explicitly disapproves of such body art. |
| Tattoos were extremely dangerous and could result | | | | USING THE VEHICLES OF EVANGELISM |
| in injury, disease, or death. The verse also refers to a | | | | Finally, it's important that Christians realize that Jesus |
| pagan ritual of putting tattoo marks on oneself for | | | | doesn't want us to hide our faith or keep our faith to |
| the dead, in order to protect oneself from the spirit | | | | ourselves. Just the opposite. He commands us to do |
| world and the wrath of other gods. | | | | everything within our power to let our brothers and |
| Many Christians do not fully understand the saving | | | | sisters know the one true Word, Jesus Christ. |
| grace that was given to us through the humanity and | | | | "Go, therefore, and make disciples from all the |
| death of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are under a new | | | | nations." -Matthew 28:19 |
| covenant where His sacrifice covers our sins in a | | | | "What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and |
| different way than the old Levitical laws did, which is | | | | what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the |
| seen in the letter to Hebrews which states: "But the | | | | housetops." -Matthew 10:27 |
| ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as | | | | In fact, even if we wanted to keep it to ourselves |
| the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to | | | | (for selfish reasons or for fear of persecution), once |
| the old one, and it is founded on better promises. For | | | | the Spirit moves us, we can longer keep silent: |
| if there had been nothing wrong with that first | | | | "No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or |
| covenant, no place would have been sought for | | | | under a bushel, but on a stand, that those who enter |
| another," Hebrews 8:6-7. | | | | may see the light."-Luke 11:33 |
| Now, this does not give us license to sin (we don't | | | | So, whether we choose eMail messages or tattoos, |
| need one for we will all sin anyway; it's what we do). | | | | God, through the Holy Spirit, lets us discover the |
| We are still responsible for our behavior and how it | | | | different and dynamic ways we let others know |
| affects our spiritual lives and the lives of others. For | | | | about Him. One thing is certain, though: as Christians, |
| example, the letter to the Romans states: "Do not | | | | we need to fully proclaim our beliefs, every day of |
| destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All | | | | our lives. |
| food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat | | | | It is beyond doubt that tattoos are NOT sinful and |
| anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is | | | | that Christians expressing their faith with some ink |
| better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do | | | | under their skin have NOT succumbed to Satan's |
| anything else that will cause your brother to fall." | | | | wiles (at least, not because of the tattoos). Yet, let |
| -Romans 14:20-21. | | | | us remember that just because we are allowed to |
| From this we can see that it is important to think | | | | be tattooed, doesn't mean that this is what is best |
| carefully through all of the effects that getting a | | | | for everyone. Paul tells us that we need to be careful |
| tattoo can have on oneself, on our relationships, and | | | | that our actions do not lead others away from the |
| on one's future. For some this may mean that getting | | | | faith: |
| a tattoo will increase their ability to witness to | | | | "Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of |
| others, while in other communities having a tattoo | | | | God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for |
| would greatly diminish this ability. | | | | any one to make others fall by what he eats; it is |
| SHOULD A CHRISTIAN GET A TATTOO? | | | | right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything |
| The conclusion then is that there may not be an | | | | that makes your brother stumble." -Romans 14:20-21 |
| answer to "Should Christians get tattoos?" Each of us | | | | With that in mind, let us pray that, through the |
| may have to answer this question for ourselves | | | | intercession of the Holy Spirit, each of us may |
| after taking time to think and pray about it. But, let's | | | | understand God's intention for us, and whether or |
| be careful not to shun those who have sell or display | | | | not that calling includes some permanent ink under |
| tattoos, or make the blanket statement that they | | | | our skin. |
| can't be a Christian because they have a tattoo. To | | | | There you have it. The question regarding one's |
| do this would be "destroy the work of God" instead | | | | motives can only be answered between the individual |
| of taking time to reach the lost. The burden lies with | | | | and their God. |
| those Christians who choose to get a tattoo. They | | | | THE REST OF THE STORY... |
| need to prove to their critics that their faith is based | | | | By the way, the owner of that tattoo shop testified |
| on more than just tattoos; it is supported by good | | | | to me that, after his wife left him, he sought |
| works as well. And they must pray as often as | | | | desperately to find God. One miraculous day, the |
| possible that divisive but trivial issues (such as body | | | | couple reconciled. Within hours, he had a terrible |
| art) are cast aside in favor of more pressing | | | | roll-over that left his vehicle flattened down to the |
| problems: inequality, hunger, Christian unity and | | | | steering wheel. Miraculously, he walked away without |
| spreading the Good News. | | | | a scratch. Since then, both sets of parents, siblings |
| Here are some verses that display at least an | | | | and other relatives have since chosen to follow |
| acknowledgement of religious markings: | | | | Jesus, some have been baptized and he is now |
| "And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as | | | | seeking training for the ministry. He writes, "I want to |
| a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the | | | | preach! I have fought it for 20 something years. Real |
| LORD may be in your mouth." -Exodus 13:9 | | | | men love Jesus and stand up boldly to proclaim God's |
| "It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets | | | | love and grace, and good news! So, I will be the first |
| between your eyes; for by a strong hand the LORD | | | | to want to say GOD DOES INDEED ANSWER |
| brought us out of Egypt." -Exodus 13:16 | | | | PRAYER! As far as your question of where are all |
| In these two quotes from Exodus, God is telling his | | | | the bold Christians? Here I am.....let me preach!" |
| people that while many - especially pagans - use | | | | Friends, whether it's a tattoo shop, a bar or an adult |
| tattoos and religious totems, He will give the Jews | | | | book store, God sent His only Son to die for those |
| something greater: a celebration of the day they | | | | who own, frequent or work in these places. He is |
| were saved and brought out of Egypt. For the Jews, | | | | simply big enough not to be moved by what goes on |
| this will be their unique mark. This seems to | | | | inside a specific location! He can be trusted and He |
| contradict our position. However, the verses show | | | | loves the owners of such establishments enough to |
| that tattoos were a normal aspect of society. God | | | | do whatever it takes to save them. |
| never tells the people that tattooing is wrong or | | | | Do we have the compassion to pray for their |
| immoral. He doesn't even say that they need to stop | | | | salvation - or do we venomously curse them as we |
| doing it. He only tells them that He will make them | | | | pass by and even pray for their downfall? |
| different than all others through their celebrations. | | | | |