A few weeks ago, I got my first tattoo: a simple cross on my back behind my left shoulder. I had sat on this decision for a few years, and I decided that it was finally time. During the time that I contemplated this big decision, I got a few negative comments regarding the verse, Leviticus 19:28. It reads, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord." After a lot of thought and prayer, I decided to get a permanent, visible mark on my body demonstrating my Savior's love for me and His work on the cross. I polled some people I know about their own personal tattoos that are a permanent symbol of the love Christ has for us. I decided to keep their identities anonymous. If you are reading this and don't think Christians should have tattoos, please read on with an open mind.
What motivated you to get your tattoos?
Person A: “Originally I was motivated to get a tattoo because I am a musician and I played in bands and other people were doing it. Then I switched my perspective and decided that I would only get tattoos that represent what I believe in or love. People comment on how much they like my tattoos, especially the one on my forearm that has a sunrise behind the cross of Christ and Hebrew writing underneath which reads from right to left, ‘Worshiper of Yahweh.’”
Person B: “Well, agape means God's love and for a long time I struggled because I really didn't have a father's love, so learning that His love is freely given completely changed my life. My other tattoo is a rose inside of Nicaragua because I went there for my first mission trip last year, and it was one of the most spirit-filled times of my life. Really serving people and loving people despite not even being able to verbally communicate with them changed my perspective on what it means to really carry out the duties of a disciple. I also received complete healing from a situation that I struggled with for over four years, so to see that I didn't only go to Nicaragua to try to change people’s lives but to also have my own changed was truly a blessing.”
Person C: “For me it was a way to express myself. Tattoos can get a bad rep because a lot of incarcerated people have them so they can bring a stereotype: bad people go to jail, people in jail or gangs have tattoos, so some people think that means if you have tattoos you are bad; Christians shouldn’t be bad.
I feel that my generation really helped shape and change that stereotype. For me and my generation, tattoos are a form of art that can have meaning. It’s not just a type of person you are. My motivation to get tattoos is also a part of my personal style. Not to be superficial, but we all have a certain style or look -- we all have that one store or outfit or pair of shoes. For me a part of that is things on my body.”
Person D: “OK, so for starters, I have two tattoos. One is on my foot, and it says, "walk by faith," and the second is on my thigh; it's a sunflower. Basically, the motivation behind each of them is my faith. I wanted to have a physical representation of my faith to show the world. Obviously, my foot tattoo represents my faith because 'walk by faith' is a well-known Bible verse. I had seen a foot tattoo on someone else when I was younger and really liked it so that's why I decided on that one first. My sunflower's meaning is a little bit more complex. The Fibonacci sequence is a sequence of numbers evident in a lot of aspects of nature -- galaxies, waves, sea shells, and sunflowers. I love this because it shows how there's a certain order to the universe and how God has created nature to function in a particular way. That's actually why I'm a biology major. I love that God designed this world to function in particular ways, and I love having the privilege to learn about His created order. That was the motivation behind that one.”
Person E: "So the reason I got my first tattoo -- Yahweh in Hebrew -- on my wrist was because I had heard of a friend writing it on her wrist each day as a symbol of God signing his artwork. And that really hit me that I am a creation of God's. But I see it also as a promise because I am far from perfect or complete, but God has still claimed me as his own. I wrote it on my wrist for about three months with sharpie each morning before I got it, as a kind of prayer, but also to make sure that it was what I still felt after a period of time. I still felt the same, so I went to get it done at a Christian tattoo parlor in Pittsburgh, In the Blood.
My second tattoo is the sinner's prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner) in Romanian with the symbol of the Trinity above it on my side. The prayer is one I had learned at school, and it became a meditative chant that has regularly reminded me of my sinfulness and need of grace, but also of God's love and mercy for me. I got this one done because I had been to Romania, and I fell in love with the work that God was doing through the ministry I worked with. Instead of getting the country, flag, or other national symbol on my side, I wanted something in the language. It's a beautiful language that sounds like music, but has a harsh brutality to it (much like the people). And the symbol of the Trinity represents the eternal and unending nature of God, which with the prayer in Romanian reminds me that God's grace and work is unending. I had a close friend design the symbol and one of the missionaries translate the prayer into Romanian, and then another friend put it all together. It was important to me that many hands of people who love and care about me create the art that will forever be on my body. The tattoo on my wrist has drawn more attention than my side piece because it is more visible."
How have they helped you share your testimony, or serve as a conversation starter?
Person B: “Whenever people ask about my tattoos it's usually the one for Nicaragua (probably because it stands out and is always in eyesight), and it gives me a chance to share my experiences with them and tell them about a culture of people that I love.”
Person C: “My tattoos all have to do with Christ, the cross and Scripture, so every person who asks about my tattoos hears the name Jesus and about Christ being crucified for my sins.”
Person D: “Yes, the tattoos have helped me share my faith with others, especially my sunflower tattoo because people want to know if it means anything. Some people assume it's just because I really like sunflowers (which is true), but there's more to it than that. Whenever someone asks, I get to teach them about the Fibonacci sequence and about how God has structured our universe. In that aspect, I get to share my faith. My foot tattoo is a bit more self-explanatory, and generally people just ask me if it hurt.”
Person E: "I have been able to share a little bit about my faith with those who ask why I got God's name on my wrist, which I believe has been a positive impact. I also am able to talk with people outside the faith about tattoos, showing them that not all Christians 'demonize' things like tattoos, but that there is God's redemptive power in all things."
Has anyone confronted you about them, saying God doesn't permit tattoos based on the Old Testament? If so, how have you responded?
Person A: “As far as someone confronting me about the Old Testament stating that tattoos are forbidden? There is not one true reference to tattoos in the Bible that states they are wrong. The Scripture that says, ‘Do not mark your body for the sake of the dead’ (Leviticus 19:28) is referring to how in the culture of that day there were professional mourners that would cut their arms and wail outside someone's home who had lost a loved one. This is not speaking about ink, whatsoever. But, I haven't had anyone confront me per se. My grandmother spoke that Scripture to me once, and I lovingly explained to her the meaning of the Scripture. So, I have experienced mostly positives when it comes to tattoos.They start conversations, and they help people see that it a choice to have art on your skin, that you can represent Christ and love or the enemy and evil things. I choose Christ and love.”
Person B: “People have told me that tattoos aren't Biblical, mostly my family, but Leviticus consists mostly of laws that were for a specific group of people at a specific time. Usually, I point out the verse that tells men not to trim the edges of their beards. I feel that most people who tell me tattoos aren't biblical are saying it out of their own judgments and preconceived notions of what it means to have a tattoo, not on what Scripture actually says. The only reason I would find a tattoo to be unbiblical is if it was some kind of profanity or obvious rebellion against God. We are not bound by law because we have been freed and made completely new in Christ, and isn't that more important than someone's physical appearance? I believe my tattoos are glorifying God and only give me another opportunity to minister to people that might not be reached by the standard conservative Christian (not at all saying there is anything wrong with being more conservative).”
Person C: “I have not had any confrontations lately. In the past, before I had tattoos, I did. My first tattoo was the verse, Revelation 19:11-16, which clearly says on Jesus’ return he has the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords written on his cloak and thigh. It also say he has a robe dipped in blood, fire in his eyes and a sword, so that leads me to argue Jesus might have a tattoo also.”
Person D: “As far as what the Old Testament says about tattoos, I have come across people who ask me about what I believe, especially if I think that it's a sin. I've basically come to the conclusion that all the laws in the OT were for a purpose. For tattoos, in that time period, people would have gotten diseases if they tried to tattoo their bodies. It was not sanitary or safe at all. Now, however, it is. That's why I don't think it's sinful anymore. Yes, our bodies are a temple, but I think they can serve as a means of sharing our testimonies with others and, especially because my tattoos are faith-based, I don't have any qualms with it.”
Person E: "Luckily, no one has called me out on my tattoos, which may be because of the nature of them (the literal name of God, and a prayer and symbol of the same God). But I would not argue with them. I would simply point out that there are different ways to interpret the Scriptures, and while I take a more liberal approach, I am interpreting based on my own worldview, which is something the church has done throughout history."
A huge special thank you to those who were so willing and excited to take part in this article and were kind enough to share pictures of their artwork!
