There are varying views about tattoos, especially among Christians; today, I am going to address them, but first I am going discuss their significance in my life.
I have always been intrigued by body art, and for as long as I could remember, I have wanted tattoos. I just never knew what I wanted, but I always held my own conviction that I would only get things that were important to me. I'm not sure where this conviction grew from, but even today, I hold to it. I'm not sure where the want for tattoos arose from. My parents don't have any and they hold biblical views against such things, but that didn't stop me or my brother from getting them. When I found out my brother had gotten one 7 years ago, I think I was sort of in awe. Partly because he was brave enough to get one and partly because of my parents not supporting them. When they found out about it, they were upset but I think that had more to do with the fact that he didn't tell them about it. He had just gone and done it. However, I am grateful for how he did it because I think it started to softened my parents' mindsets about tattoos. He then got his second one about a year later after that when my grandfather passed away.
A lot of my cousins did the same, getting tattoos that would remind them about our grandfather. This shaped my thoughts as well as to what I wanted. My first tattoo which I got last May was a tree of life which, for me, represented the bonds of family and under the tree the word Rooted which I derived from Ephesians 3:17-19 about the greatness of God's love.
When it came to getting this piece, I did one thing differently than my brother. I told my parents that I was getting it before I got it, and though I respected their views on tattoos, this was, after all, my body. My mom came around quicker than my dad did. When I came home the first day, my dad refused to help clean it during the healing process. He came around eventually and admitted that he liked it.
My favorite part of my tattoos is that they tell my story, the constant reminder of the trials of life, and most importantly, the way God has been shaping me, especially in these last few years.
A lot of the older generations of Christians do not agree with this generation's view on tattoos. This is because of Leviticus 19:28 which says, "You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord." But we must make sure we are keeping this verse in context. What does the surrounding text talk about? Well...this section (19:19-37) focuses on keeping the statutes. It discuss planting trees, not eating flesh with blood in it, not wearing shirts with multiple types of fabric, etc. So, why do we only focus on the single section of this verse that talks about tattoos? What about the first part of the verse? "You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead..." According to Wayne Jackson, this was an idolatrous practice, and in that time period, pagans tattooed themselves to demonstrate who their favorite god was. So that is most likely the action the prophet is condemning and not our modern day idea of tattoos.
With this in mind, I think the idea of tattoos in a Christian setting depends on intentions.
1. Are we getting these tattoos to show that we have control over our own bodies? If it is, we should keep in mind what Romans 12(:1-3) which says, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned."
Remembering to use the Word of God to help make your decisions, Proverbs 4:7 talks about this.
2. Are we being hasty about getting tattoos because we like them in the moment? Will we like them a year from now? Six years from now? Proverbs 21:5 says this, "The plans of the diligent surely lead to success, But all who are hasty surely head for poverty." We need to remember to think about the permanence of a tattoo and always bring it to God when making big decisions like this one.
