Why do you have a tattoo?
I've come across many people who look at my tattoo which is on my wrist and ask me if it was an appropriate choice that I made being a Christian! Most of them point me towards
Leviticus 19 : 28 which says,
28 “‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.' (NIV)
And then, some people told me that I have no right to destroy my body as it is not mine, but a temple of God.
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)
I totally do agree with these verses! Before, getting into answering the question, I would like to show my tattoo and the story behind it. My tattoo displays my initials, "A.M."
I got this tattoo after completing my masters, when I was 23. I waited until then, so that I can be sure of some achievements that I earned through Christ. To know my tattoo, you gotta know my story. I have always been an independent girl, never relying on anyone for help. I studied, researched, achieved many things on my own and by being myself. How did I do it? The answer to that is, I was totally dependent on my Lord, Jesus Christ. Even the tiniest decisions relied on him. For example, what color dress to buy, made me pray! When I was growing up, I was the one who got least noticed. Some people near me didn't even know that I existed. I did not have my own identity. Well, it's because, I was a silent student, and I did not do anything to stand out (atleast not before everyone)! Whatever I did, I did not seek glory, and hence the things got hidden. It is when I moved to college, my works started getting into light! After my bachelors, I got a chance to move to a different side of the world to pursue my Masters. Since then, everything changed! People started recognizing me! My achievements came into light. People started seeing the glory and favor of God in my Life! My works and talents that have been hidden for years came to light. I have achieved even more greater things, while I was being me, not depending on anyone, except for my Christ. He has been my teacher and has been helping me in every way of my Life. After my masters, I emerged as a successful, independent, God-loving, powerful woman. And then I got my Identity -- (A.M.).
God's name was glorified with A.M.'s works! At that moment, I got my initials tattooed on my wrist to represent his glory and honor him for what he had made out of me! I wanted to show the world, how God can give a no-one, an identity that glorifies his name.
So, the answer lies in,
1 Corinthians 10:31
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Whatever I do, should be done to glorify him. I agree tattoos can be a disgrace but it totally depends on what kind of tattoo it is! My tattoo glorifies God.
"you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NIV)
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Leviticus 19th chapter
Back to Leviticus 19:28, why just read one verse (the 28th), let's read the 27th verse for instance, which says,
27 “‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.
When was the last time you did that!? :o
You know what! Let's read the entire 19th chapter of Leviticus. It talks about various laws on what to eat, when to eat, what to wear, sacrifices, and many such things. When you turn your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, it speaks about Believer's Freedom, where Paul talks about the exact same things but in a quite different way. The heading says it all! :)
"But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot," Exodus 21:23-24 (NIV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. Matthew 5:38-39 (NIV)
Those are Jesus' words and not mine!
As we are speaking about the body, please read 1 Corinthians 15: 50-54,
It says that the body we have is perishable, and which is perishable cannot enter an imperishable place heaven! Hence we will be transformed into spiritual body which is imperishable and which can enter heaven! So we are gonna lose this perishable body anyway!
THE BIG QUESTION :
So, do you think getting a tattoo is not a sin?
My answer to this is, if you are getting a tattoo that represents and glorifies God, you have a huge responsibility to stand to it. You have to represent him wherever you go, in your deeds and in your ways! So, think hard and make a rightful decision according to God's will for you!
"But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." Romans 14:23 (NIV)
