Since the message I preached on Father's Day about Jesus and religion (the first in a 3-part series entitled "Sick of Religion") I have had many people already ask me about the issue I brought up about tattoos, the theology behind it, and my own testimony regarding it.
I never addressed my tattoos before in a sermon or message prior to this past Father's Day. The third Preview Service of Arise on Father's Day actually marked the first time I preached in a public setting without long sleeves on. I usually did that out of respect, but thought it was hypocritical of me to cover something up that I am proud of at the risk of offending somebody.
The fact is, I have actually had MORE chances to share my faith with others BECAUSE of the tattoos I have. I made it clear in the message that Jesus did not tell me to go and do this, nor do I think it is for everybody. But what is clear is that there is no place in the Bible that adamantly says that people will go to hell if they have tattoos. The Bible actually doesn't even say that Christians should not get them. Let me explain.
The Bible says in Leviticus 19:28 that none from the nation of Israel should mark their bodies for the dead, nor shall they have tattoos. In those days, pagans would cut themselves, take the burned ashes of their relatives, and in a weird way of worship, rub the ashes into the cuts so that when it healed they would have a "tattoo" of their relative. It was more than a memorial. It was an act of pagan worship to the dead. A tattoo was noticeable. That kind of worship marked a person for what they believed and who they served. God was calling His chosen people, the people of Israel, to not worship in such a way, and to set themselves apart from that.
Further proof that this was a law for the Israelites concerning their being "set apart" in that specific time, for that specific people, is the verse RIGHT BEFORE IT: Leviticus 19:27 - "You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard." This was yet another way to be set apart, to be holy for God during that time.
I have no problem with people saying that the Bible says we cannot have tattoos, as long as they also have never trimmed their sideburns or beards. They would also have to sacrifice a long list of animals per year (Leviticus 3), remember to not work from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night (Leviticus 19:30 - no working at all on Saturdays!), and not eat any pork chops or bacon (Leviticus 11:1-8).
We have to remember that these laws were cultural and distinct to the Israelite nation. I know many churches that will use this argument to tell people that tattoos are forbidden, but fail to comment on shaving beards, working on Saturday, and eating pork (or lobster for that matter). True, Jesus declared all things clean to eat to Peter during his prayer time (Acts 11:5-9), but what of the other cultural laws? Are we not going to discuss what was meant for the Jewish nation and what is meant for us? It seems we like to pick and choose our theology. But God sent people to BE the church. He also had people WRITE DOWN this important stuff in a book and compile it together. When we look at these things, we must be careful before we tell others what is right and wrong. The real message is God's love.
What stands out in the Bible is repetitive phrases. Nowhere else does the Bible teach on tattoos in a negative light. In fact, there are 2 places where tattoos are mentioned in somewhat of a positive light. The first being found in the prophetic chapter of Isaiah 44:1-5 where God says He will pour out His Spirit, and some will react by singing, praying, and writing the Name of the Lord on their hands. This verbiage wasn't meant to be taken as if somebody had a Bic pen and was writing God's Name down. This phrase was meant to be understood on a more permanent level - what we might call a tattoo.
The second place it comes up again is in Revelation (a book I am scared of because interpreting what it means seems so improbable). It is here: Revelation 19:11-16. In this part of the prophecy (a story John is telling that alludes to Jesus' return) Jesus enters on a white horse. He comes down looking pretty fresh. It mentions what He looks like and how He is described. He has eyes of fire. He is wearing a robe dipped in blood. On that robe, and written on His thigh (where some would say this is a tattoo - but that is not 100% clear) is "King of Kings" and "Lord of Lords".
I am not saying tattoos are meant to be a necessity or a command from God to actually go out and get now. Not at all! What I am saying is that if you have tattoos, or you are thinking about getting a tattoo, pray about it first. But do not let somebody tell you that you will be hell-bound for such an act. It is simply not true. I know plenty of Christians who love Jesus who have tattoos.
To close, I was asked then why I have tattoos and what they mean to me. Basically, tattoos are a way for me to remember things about myself. I am a forgetful person. I forget what God has done for me. Sometimes I let my situation overpower my foundation, which is Christ. These pieces of art are reminders of who I am and who God says I am. I could go into detail on all of them, but I will not right now. In general, all of my tattoos give me a remembrance of who I am and where I come from. They remind me of Christ, and what He did for me. I have a few blatantly Christian tattoos, and I have some that need explaining, but they are all oriented in my faith, the story of my life, and the remembrance of Christ who is in control.
To listen to the sermon from Father's Day, go HERE.
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