tattoos

Normally I wouldn’t post such a lengthy blog because I know that people have short attention spans.    You can skip to the pictures if you’d like or you can read it all.

Most of you know that I am a planner.  I research things in detail before I make a decision.  This was a year and a half plan to get a tattoo, and to get the right tattoo for my first one.

Raul from Diablo Rojo in Austin, TX

The finished product.  I have lots of moles/freckles so it's inevitable that my tattoos will be in or around them.  If you'll notice, there is shading of red in both "love".

I chose to get lyrics from my favorite song, which has been my favorite song since the album came out in 2006.

The song “Age of Reptiles/Age of Insects” is a song by Showbread on the Age of Reptiles album.  It’s a little over 10 minutes long, and it’s absolutely beautiful.  For those of you who think that all they do is “scream”, there is very little “screaming” in this song.  This song has gotten me through some rough times.  It makes me feel closer to Jesus, like He is right there holding me.  Even though I am a mere human, a mess, and a screw up, He is there taking it all away.  He bears my burden and sets me free.  He is my Savior.  If you ever have 10 minutes to spare, please listen to this song. 

Lyrics (to the Age of Reptiles part):

I am made of parts that freeze & ligaments that atrophy

Though they look they’ll never see

They don’t know something’s wrong with me

Just as well I’ll never tell what’s underneath my scales

I’ve worn too thin to honor you, My every effort fails

Bury me with Israel  and cover up my tracks

Leave not a trace of what I was I’m never coming back

And if your mercy falls upon He whose blood is cold

Unearth me with your hands of love And never break your hold

The world is full of ones like me

Who need to see the truth

But the truth is never truth indeed

The truth is only you

Jesus bless the crocodiles

Forgive the cobras and all the snakes

Open up your arms to carry all of our mistakes

Suck the venom from every bite Vomit every drop

Some of us may bite your hand But some of us will not

And every knee will bow before you Each forked tongue confess

My selfishness will rot in me And I will seek your rest

Still some lizards flee from you Ashamed of all they’ve been

So Jesus take myself from me Never bring it back again

The world is full of ones like me Who need to see the truth

But the truth is never truth indeed The truth is only you

The world will soon become extinct The age will pass away

And all will know that you are God, hallowed be your name

Jesus bless the crocodiles

Forgive the cobras and all the snakes
Open up your arms to carry all of our mistakes

Forgive the basilisk, Forgive the moccasins and adders too

Have mercy on each alligator that never lived for you

I myself hatched from an egg

No white light from above

Just another ancient serpent that never earned your love

Still you find me underneath the rocks and in the ground

I cower there just short of air and never made a sound

It’s true that I’m in love with you and even in my shame

You wipe away the imperfections and take away the pain

You wrap your loving arms around this wretched thing called me

Your love is all I’ll ever need

Your love has set me free.

The truth is only you.

Beautiful right?

I know some people’s personal beliefs/opinions are that tattoos are a sin.  For some it’s just personal preference to not have them

Many people use the reference in Leviticus 19:28

Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.

However we are no longer under the Old law, and looking at it in context God is talking about the pagan religious rituals that are idolatrous devotion and witchcraft.

If people still would prefer to use this as a reference, then we should step back to Leviticus 19:26-27

Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. Do not practice divination or sorcery.

Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

I see many Christians today eating blood filled meat and cutting their hair, but that does not apply to us today either.  These were also pagan rituals that are no longer applicable.

Romans 14 is also a good source since the Bible is not clear on the issue of tattoos.  I feel no guilt, condemnation toward myself, or doubt about tattoos.  I don’t believe that the tattoo that I have and the tattoos that I will get will cause another person to stumble.  If anything, I believe this one will be a great conversation starter on what Jesus has done in my life.

I am taking this from two different questions on Showbread’s formspring account and I think it’s stated very well.  This is in regards to 1 Corinthians 6:19

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own. 

“Some people say tattoos are defiling your body, which is a temple, but I can’t imagine why decorative pictures are anymore defiling a temple than a lovely mural painted on a church wall.  It seems to me, tattoos make some believers (who find them unconventional) uncomfortable and they might like to think there’s a way to explain them as sinful when in reality they are ultimately trivial and inconsequential as a shirt we wear, a color we dye our hair, or paint we put on our fingernails” – Josh Dies

“i don't think it is only applicable toward sexual immorality, i think the scripture is putting an emphasis on health and care for your "temple." some folks use this to argue against tattoos, which doesn't make a lot of sense because it's like arguing that painting a church or hanging art in it keeps it from honoring God, what reason would one ever have for thinking that art on your body keeps it from honoring God? on the contrary, would might say that celebrating art (which is God's invention) honors God!” -Josh

Also I am aware that when I get to be about 70 or 80 they will not look the same. 

At least I’ll have wrinkly colorful skin.

I’m interested to hear if you have any thoughts/beliefs on tattoos.  Either way my belief will stay the same and as I shared mine, you are welcome to share yours.  I’m always curious to hear other thoughts and opinions.