Leviticus 19:28 reads, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord." So why do we see Christians with ink? Here are a few examples of people with real faith who chose to ink their skin.
Don't miss part one.
1. What motivated you to get your tattoos?
Person A: "All through growing up I lost myself over and over trying to fit a certain image that I thought would make me popular. This quote means a lot to me because it's a constant reminder to hold strong to your values and be who you truly are."
Person B: "I got my first tattoo on my 18th birthday--Celtic symbol for the trinity on my back. At that point I was waiting to leave for college to study religion and psychology with the hopes of being a youth pastor."
Person C: "I've always loved tattoos, and for me, I knew I would never regret getting anything religious. No matter how old I get, they'll be just as relevant. A lot of people ask about the Hebrew tattoo (since nobody sees my other one because it's on my ribs). They ask what it means and why I got it written in Hebrew. For me it's more symbolic of our roots in our faith, and also I think it looks really beautiful.
Person D: "The first one (the cross) was a random spur-of-the-moment decision because I was accompanying my friend when she got her tattoo. However, it was something I had been thinking about for a while. It's meaningful to me. I wouldn't want to mark my body with something that's only applicable to my life in a moment. My life is devoted to Jesus, and that's not going to change as long as I live. The beloved tattoo was inspired by Alyssa Bethke's book, Spoken For. In it she talks about how God is pursuing our hearts constantly, and how he is able to love us more intimately than anyone. She says that 'we are God's beloved--created to be loved by him.' I loved that and took it to heart. This tattoo is a label on my body, reminding me of that truth."
Person E: "I got it because it is an artistic expression of a Biblical truth that defines who I am, and it is meaningful to carry that around with me."
2. How have they (tattoos) helped you share your testimony/serve as a conversation starter?
Person B: "Throughout my college career, I added several other faith based tattoos. They served as great conversation starters with my peers and opened up the opportunity for me to tell my story when asked what a tattoo meant or why I had gotten it and were always positively received."
Person D: "The cross is seen by a lot of people since it's clearly visible on my wrist. Sometimes I think people look at it and assume that they have to act a certain way around me because I'm 'religious.' And it's clear that I'm a Christian, so I'm expected to act a certain way as well."
Person E: "I use it when telling my testimony. Youth love it. If I'm ever anywhere without a shirt on, sometimes people will say its cool, and I go on to explain the meaning."
3. Has anyone confronted you about them, saying God doesn't permit tattoos based on the OT? If so, how have you responded?
Person C: "Sometimes people comment about how in Leviticus it says we can't have tattoos, but when I ask if they're wearing two different fabrics or if they swear, etc. they usually shut up. Leviticus isn't relevant anymore, so it's pointless for someone to quote Leviticus only when it benefits them in a hypocritical argument."
Person D: "No one has ever said to me directly that I shouldn't get a tattoo because of the OT. I think that most people are over that argument by now."
Person E: "Not really, but I considered the Old Testament before I got my tattoo. The interpretation of those verses that I follow is one where God commanded people to not mark their skin because they were using tattoos to worship pagan gods instead of Him. It was a specific rule given to a specific people in a specific time to address a specific issue."
Thanks to those who shared their art work!
