Yes, it does... but not much. There is only one occurrence of the word "tattoo" in all of the Bible. Leviticus 19.28 says this...“Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD." At face value, that would seem to pretty much forbid the practice, and it precisely did for the Israelites. However, as with any single verse of the Bible, it is very dangerous to take it out of context. So, what's the context of Leviticus 19.28?
The larger context of the verse, 19.26-31, is dealing with pagan practices of the surrounding nations and warning the Israelites not to adopt them. The tattoos mentioned there were part of a practice where pagans would mark themselves at funerals to appease their 'gods,' hoping to obtain favor from the 'gods' in the afterlife. That was the sole purpose given for the prohibition of tattoos. Move back to 2010 in America. First, the context is no longer one of people tattooing themselves to placate deities. Basically, people get a tattoo because they want one, not because they are engaging in a religious practice. Secondly, and much more importantly, Jesus Christ fulfilled the entire Law (of which Leviticus 19.28 is but one aspect), freeing believers from its bondage. Christ's law of love is the Law for followers of Jesus.
Other Biblical references, such as your body being a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6.19), are in the context of promiscuous sexual activity, not tattoos.
So, from a Biblical standpoint, the choice of whether one gets a tattoo or not is a non-issue. What is an issue, though, in my opinion, is the tattoo itself. As followers of Jesus, we are to represent him in everything we do, including our choice of tattoos. So my advice would be to never choose a design or wording that you will be sorry for later. Since they are pretty much permanent, you cannot simply hit the "undo" button.
Okay, theology aside, what is my personal opinion on tattoos? I think they're great. I am captivated by them for one reason... there is always a story behind every one. Tattoos have become conversation starters and connecting points between people. Friendships have begun over comparing tattoos. They are a way that people can express their identity, creativity and history. They are symbols of personal expression, similar to clothing or hair styles, but much deeper and more personal. I know of several people who have tattoos that tell the story of their life with Christ. What a creative way to demonstrate that one is 'marked' by Jesus. Because people are typically asked about the symbolism of their tattoos, they can be a great means of a conversation about Christ, should one choose to have one expressing their faith.
Bottom line: As a Christian, if you want a tattoo, there's nothing prohibiting you from doing so. It's no different than choosing to wear this shirt or that one, this hair style or that one. But remember... you represent Jesus, so I think it's important what the meaning of the tattoo is. And while you're at it, why not use it as a way to engage in a spiritual conversation? As with anything in life, there will be those who will really like it and others who won't, but again, we all deal with the same thing when it comes to clothes and hair. After all, people are entitled to having their own personal opinions.
Inevitably, as a result of my writing about tattoos, I will be asked: Do I have a tattoo? The answer: No, not yet, anyway. However, I am strongly considering it. What I can guarantee is that if I get one, it will be an artful expression of my relationship with Jesus. After all, if I am going to endure the pain of the procedure, I certainly want it to count for Jesus! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment