In our First Sunday discussion this week (soon to be posted), we got into the question of tattoos. This is not only an interesting technical question (does Lev. 19:28 apply to Christians as moral law today?), it also presents a real practical question. How do we deal with people who have tattoos?
In particular, I think we can create two easy divisions. First, we have people who have chosen to be tattooed while in Christ and without thinking they have done anything bad. Second, we have people who received tattoos before they became Christians or after becoming Christians but before maturing, who are now repentant about and bothered by the tattooing. Ultimately, we have Christians who are sorry about being tattooed and Christians who are not sorry about being tattooed.
There are also, of course, many unbelievers who are tattooed, but who cares? If they are unbelievers, then it would be foolish indeed for us to be concerned about skin decorations when they are unsaved.
So, let's stick with our two categories: repentant and unrepentant. Those who believe they did something wrong and those who do not think they did anything wrong.
As to the repentant group, the answer is really simple. We accept them without reservation. They have lived their lives in sin, but, then, so have we. They have made decisions that marked them for life (in tattoos), while our decisions marked us for life as well. I have scars from bicycle wrecks as a child, but no one judges me foolish for having such scars. People have scars from surgeries, but no one judges them for those scars. Tattoos are no different. When a brother or sister in Christ has repented of their sinful lifestyle, I do not then reject them from my brotherhood because of scars from that lifestyle. If we do so, then we are announcing that Christ is sufficient for all things except tattoos, which is nonsense.
As to the unrepentant group, we have to ask whether there is any grounds for repentance at all. Unless we believe that the entirety of the OT law is carried over to the New Covenant (including rules about shirt fibers and such), then we have no basis for condemning a person who chooses a tattoo on the basis of Lev. 19:28. An OT Jew could not be tattooed. Fine. He also could not shave his beard, but most Christians in America today shave their beards off entirely without any sense of guilt at all. Am I to make Lev. 19:28 to be eternal but Lev. 19:27 to be temporary? That makes no sense.
Of course, we find other things on which to base our claims. We will point to the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, a certain truth, but not directly relevant. I am uncertain how that truth applies to tattoos. It does not seem to apply to eating (so many of us are overweight) or exercise (we are not great exercisers) or anything else to do with the body. I am not sure why it would have to do with tattoos.
So, as to the unrepentant group, our duty is to accept them as well. This is a classic Romans 14 issue, isn't it? Some feel it is sinful to have tattoos of any kind. Some think it is okay to have them. Our response, given the lack of law on the issue in scripture, is to accept all brothers and sisters in Christ. The burden they have taken with the step (the practical and spiritual burdens) are theirs.
Now, as to my children, this means two things. First, they will not receive tattoos while in my house (I will not allow minor children to make permanently disfiguring decisions). If anyone tattoos a minor child who lives in my home, we will have a visit with the police.
Second, once they leave, they have left. They can receive tattoos if they choose to do so (and pay for them). I am not going to spend my time worrying about such things. There are plenty of much more important things going on in their lives and in the world.
So, I do not find tattooing to be a very interesting topic. I do not share the desire to make my body a canvas for my temporary ideas of beauty nor any sense that marking myself up makes me better or happier or more useful. I also do not find myself outraged that other people feel this way.
Ultimately, it is just ink on skin. Why should it be a big issue to me?
In particular, I think we can create two easy divisions. First, we have people who have chosen to be tattooed while in Christ and without thinking they have done anything bad. Second, we have people who received tattoos before they became Christians or after becoming Christians but before maturing, who are now repentant about and bothered by the tattooing. Ultimately, we have Christians who are sorry about being tattooed and Christians who are not sorry about being tattooed.
There are also, of course, many unbelievers who are tattooed, but who cares? If they are unbelievers, then it would be foolish indeed for us to be concerned about skin decorations when they are unsaved.
So, let's stick with our two categories: repentant and unrepentant. Those who believe they did something wrong and those who do not think they did anything wrong.
As to the repentant group, the answer is really simple. We accept them without reservation. They have lived their lives in sin, but, then, so have we. They have made decisions that marked them for life (in tattoos), while our decisions marked us for life as well. I have scars from bicycle wrecks as a child, but no one judges me foolish for having such scars. People have scars from surgeries, but no one judges them for those scars. Tattoos are no different. When a brother or sister in Christ has repented of their sinful lifestyle, I do not then reject them from my brotherhood because of scars from that lifestyle. If we do so, then we are announcing that Christ is sufficient for all things except tattoos, which is nonsense.
As to the unrepentant group, we have to ask whether there is any grounds for repentance at all. Unless we believe that the entirety of the OT law is carried over to the New Covenant (including rules about shirt fibers and such), then we have no basis for condemning a person who chooses a tattoo on the basis of Lev. 19:28. An OT Jew could not be tattooed. Fine. He also could not shave his beard, but most Christians in America today shave their beards off entirely without any sense of guilt at all. Am I to make Lev. 19:28 to be eternal but Lev. 19:27 to be temporary? That makes no sense.
Of course, we find other things on which to base our claims. We will point to the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, a certain truth, but not directly relevant. I am uncertain how that truth applies to tattoos. It does not seem to apply to eating (so many of us are overweight) or exercise (we are not great exercisers) or anything else to do with the body. I am not sure why it would have to do with tattoos.
So, as to the unrepentant group, our duty is to accept them as well. This is a classic Romans 14 issue, isn't it? Some feel it is sinful to have tattoos of any kind. Some think it is okay to have them. Our response, given the lack of law on the issue in scripture, is to accept all brothers and sisters in Christ. The burden they have taken with the step (the practical and spiritual burdens) are theirs.
Now, as to my children, this means two things. First, they will not receive tattoos while in my house (I will not allow minor children to make permanently disfiguring decisions). If anyone tattoos a minor child who lives in my home, we will have a visit with the police.
Second, once they leave, they have left. They can receive tattoos if they choose to do so (and pay for them). I am not going to spend my time worrying about such things. There are plenty of much more important things going on in their lives and in the world.
So, I do not find tattooing to be a very interesting topic. I do not share the desire to make my body a canvas for my temporary ideas of beauty nor any sense that marking myself up makes me better or happier or more useful. I also do not find myself outraged that other people feel this way.
Ultimately, it is just ink on skin. Why should it be a big issue to me?