Before I begin I want to mention two things by way of clarification:
1) I believe the question of whether or not to get a tattoo is largely a matter of personal conviction. There may be strategic and Christ-centered reasons for decorating your appendages, and there may be strategic and Christ-centered reasons for keeping them clean. This is not a cop-out. It is a call for Biblical discernment.
2) Though I will point out some concerns I have with body art, I want to equally stress that there are dangers inherent in abstaining. For example, a person may be tempted to assign greater moral significance to a tattoo than to a besetting sin such as greed, covetousness, or gossip. In other words, the tattoo parlor becomes a greater menace to the souls of men than the Mall of America. This is dangerous.
With that established, here are my reasons for abstaining from artificial pigment:
- We ought to wrestle seriously with the reality that we are not our own (1 Cor. 6:19-20). I realize that the issues are complex and deal as much with body piercing and plastic surgery, but I feel like the culture of tattooing simply assumes that we are free to do with our bodies as we please.
- Tattoos can (not must) breed an infatuation with novelty. One is usually not enough. This is just as true of purses and neckties, but tattoos are so…well…permanent.
- Crash the Christian tattoo artist (from yesterday’s post) said that the primary reason for the popularity of tattoos and body piercings is a desire to express individuality. This seems to distort the purpose for which our bodies are designed, namely, to display the worth of God (1 Cor. 6:20, which is admittedly addressing sexual immorality; however, I think the general principle of glorifying God with our bodies can be applied here).
- Personally speaking, I feel like I run a greater risk of causing offense by having a tattoo than by not having one. Since I don’t have a compelling reason to sport a tat, why needlessly assume a potential liability?
- Practically speaking, tattoos look impressive now, but if all predictions are accurate, my skin will sag and that ink will fade. I really don’t want to be stuck with a fuzzy patch of green tissue at age 70. I have enough freckles and scars to keep me occupied.
As I close, let me express my sincere love for my brothers and sisters who are persuaded that body art is a good thing. My only encouragement would be to view tattoos in relation to the centrality of Jesus and let that govern your motives and decor.
Anything you would add or challenge?
10 comments
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July 23, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Ched
This discussion reminds me of Flannery O’Connor’s short story, “Parker’s Back.”
July 23, 2008 at 4:19 pm
John T Meche III
2. The permanance of tattoos is a twofold thing. You are right in saying that one usually is not enough. But unlike the necktie, my tattoo (generally) won’t wear out after a number of years. If I get it, it’s there. I (generally) can’t lose it. There is also an inherent gravity then in deciding what you want to get and who you will go to in order to get the work done.
3. Agreed. The need to stick out of the crowd is a poor motive for getting a tattoo.
4. That’s why I have not gotten anything on my arm below where a short sleeved shirt hits. All things to all people…
5. My grandmother always said this to me. But when I’m 70 I’ll be sagging all over the place anyway, and if I don’t care about that, then I’m not really going to care that my barbed wire has turned into a picket fence. (Note: I don’t really have barbed wire. yuck.)
July 23, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Molly Piper
Good thinking, Johnathon. I really have never had a desire for a tattoo, and have even had trouble understanding others in their desire for one.
I remember when I first saw my sister’s… I cried with remorse for what she had done. For some reason the permanency of what she had done to her body (a zodiac sign of all things) hit me really hard. I don’t know why.
I suppose now I’ve mellowed a bit in how I think about them. But I still wouldn’t probably encourage someone to get one done.
July 24, 2008 at 12:31 am
Amber
Just a word of thanks for this series. My 20-year-old brother has been appealing our parents for permission to get one for a long time now. As an official “dependent,” he has respectfully honored their wishes for him to wait until he is out of the house. I’ve enjoyed sharing yours and others’ thoughts on the subject with them as it continues to be a dinner-table conversation!
July 24, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Tyler Kenney
Another thought would be the effect it has on missions (if you haven’t mentioned that in a previous post).
A few of my friends would probably have a harder time entering another country or engaging its locals because of the crosses and Hebrew lettering they have on their body.
Great post Mr. Bowers. I hadn’t thought of most of those reasons.
August 28, 2008 at 11:39 am
Tattoos and the Hunger for Permanence « The Fool’s Gold
[...] 28, 2008 in Culture Given our recent discussion of Christians and tattoos, I was interested in this post by R.R. Reno at First Things. He observes the contemporary erosion [...]
September 5, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Charlie Shepherd
Five Reasons I Want a Tattoo:
1.) It is a concrete act of stepping outside of the ruts and pre-planned life of comfort that I live day in and day out.
2.) It can be a sign of remembrance of a particularly good or difficult season of life, artistically symbolized, which you will want to commemorize in a lasting way.
3.) It is a symbol of a more robust hermeneutic.
4.) It keeps me from taking my virtues seriously.
5.) It reminds me and others that the Christian life is grittier than soft pajamas and piano music.
Johnathon, next time I’m in Minneapolis I’ll pop by and show you my new tat. I think you’ll like it.
September 5, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Andie Eggimann
I got my tattoo when I was 18. My reason for wanting a tattoo was as a reminder. It’s the following verse, in Hebrew, around my ankle.
Isaiah 42:6
” I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations”
I also figured that having a tat would allow me to relate to a whole different group of people. It’s a good conversation starter and gives me the chance to quote scripture to strangers. My hope was that when I’m 70, my saggy tattoo will allow me to relate to young kids who have tattoos (if young kids still HAVE tattoos then). And, I just thought that it was cool. I did not obey my mother, though, and that was sin. I respect the young man mentioned above who is waiting to get one in order to honor his parents.
Having one that can be covered is helpful- especially if one ends up in a country where it would be a stumbling block. But, in the U.S., it mostly aids rather than hinders evangelism.
October 14, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Kevin
Charlie,
I don’t know you but maybe you could elucidate on two of your points:
You say a tattoo “is a symbol of a more robust hermeneutic”
Is this a way of saying your hermeneutic is a little looser than others?
And you also say that it keeps you from taking your virtues seriously. I don’t understand, don’t you want to take your virtues seriously? If you aren’t serious about them then why do you keep them as virtues?
I mean no disrespect but I wanted some more clarity to your comments.
October 16, 2008 at 7:32 am
elizabeth Pearson
my husband, who does not have a tattoo, is quick to mention that Jesus Christ himself has the first recorded tattoo - Revelation 19:16 - He has on his thigh imprinted King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That’s the ultimate tattoo!