Relevant Christian Blog

Well said…I don’t have a tattoo personally, but I love it when anyone throws down some good biblical exegesis.

its under bebo.com

check out the following website for another POV on the subject…
It is a personal choice and as stated before must be done with careful consideration…

http://bible-knowledge.com/tattoos-body-piercing.html

I got a tattoo of a cross with moth wings, with eyes in it. For me it was a symbolism of what Matt. 5:8 says. I got into a pretty big fight about it with my husband because he said it was wrong, but then he looked at what you said and changed his mind. I am so glad that we don’t argue about it anymore! I also find it fasinating as I was doing some research that Jesus in Rev. 19:20 has King of Kings, and Lord of Lords written on his robe and thigh. I think that means its permanent.

hey thanks for the posts above, very interesting reading and cleared up any doubts i had.
I am a born again Chrisitan and i am thinking about getting a tattoo, many people said this was hypocritcal and i never had the evidence to prove them wrong…now i do:)
I was thinking about getting ‘Jesus Wept’ in small lettering just above my wrist. However i am doing alot of thinking of find something that would be suitable. Does anyone know of anyone with a verse (i think i would prefer that, than compared to say a cross of thorns etc)
any help would be greatly appreciated

I was just looking up the word “vesture” as said in Rev. 19:16 and it is described as a cloak or garment. So, could it just mean that it was written on his garmet that covers his thigh, not actually on his thigh?
I am just trying to figure out exactly how I feel about tattoos. I have one that I got when I was 18 and am now regretting it because I am scared of it’s consequences. It says in the Bible that any man who marks his body will be destroyed….

After the birth of our first child I wanted to show my husband that I loved him. I was also going through a phase where I didn’t feel attractive. I decided to get a small heart tattooed on my hip with my husband’s initials in it. He is the only one that can see. No one knows I have a tattoo unless I tell them. I have only told a few people I have it and they are always so surprised because I am modest, not real outgoing, mother of 3. I wanted this to show my husband that I will always love him, even when I can’t physically show him. There are Christians that have tattoos and there are people that got theirs before they became a Christian. One of the saddest things I’ve ever heard was an older Christian gentleman making a comment about a young guy that had tatts all over him. I simply made a comment back that maybe no one had ever told the young man about Jesus and that he had died for him too. I will tell you that my dad has tattoos and he has gone to jails before to witness. He told me that he was told there were certain inmates who would not talk to him. He was actually able to talk to them was because of his tattoos. They wanted to talk to someone ‘like them’. My dad’s tattoos are not gaudy, but they were enough to open the door. For the people who are talking about our bodies being temples, yes, they are but how many of you put caffeine (which is addictive), bacon and other fatty meats (which clog arteries), etc into your temple today? Would you be like the Pharisees and forbid Jesus to do miracles on the Sabbath? Most people are not tolerant of Christians because of legalistic religiosity. I admit I am not very tolerant of those Christians myself.

All of my life I have been taught that the commandments of Noah and Moses in the Old Testament are for our learning. I have been taught that the coming of Christ, in particular, his death for our sins, freed us from the law. I was taught that we live in the administration or dispensation of Grace now, and once we confess Christ, as long as we ask for forgiveness for our sins and we are truly repentant in our hearts, then, we are covered by the Blood of Jesus.
As for the current topic… There are many different schools of thought on whether its right or wrong for a Christian to get a tattoo. The truth is, we were all given free will choice. The decision is the individual’s. Personally, I like tattoos. I’ve wanted one for years, but because God stated ONCE in His Word that he didn’t want it done, I won’t get one. That is MY choice. I do not care about why He said don’t do it. I only care that He did. Besides, I haven’t seen anywhere in the NT where He changed His mind! Yes! Paul said we were freed from the law, but that doesn’t mean we are free to go out there and sin at will and justify it with random passages and verses of scripture. That’s called private interpretation and God said not to do that too. My ultimate question to myself was, who do I want to please more? Who is it that I worship? Who is it that I serve? God, or me? To me, there is no question of whether its a sin or not. If God told them not to do that, then it was a sin then, and its still a sin now. I am by no means perfect or sin free! I just believe, that its up to us as Christians to decide whether the consequences are those we don’t mind dealing with. Tattooing could result in sickness, disease, or even death. If that’s the risk you want to take, then God bless you and be with you!

Excuse me. I’m typing on a laptop and it is hard to miss the touch pad while typing. Anyway, They considered tattooing as that of the barbarians (Egyptians, Skandinavians, etc.). So there was no reason to speak against tattooing because the Romans and Jews were in agreement on that. I noticed another thing. There is a sin that is only mentioned once in the New Testament and only when it was committed by someone in the church (1 Cor 5:1). It is referred to as a sin “that is not tolerated even among pagans.” The sin is incest with one’s step-mother. Many people today would only associate incest as with blood relatives, but the Bible includes “step” relatives (Lev 18:8). I read through the entire bible every year and have not yet found any other verse in the New Testament that speaks of this sin. That is because it was a sin “that is not tolerated even among pagans.” So one would not often see it committed just as one would not often see tattooing done in that culture. I doubt that I have convinced you of this, but I hope you would consider looking alittle deeper into this. God Bless.

I’ve read all of these posts and have done my own research on tatooing. I struggle with many of the comments. I’m in a different position then most of you. My husband and I pastor a church. As Pastors, we took a stand on tatoos regarding our leadership (elders, pastors, deacons). We asked that once they decided to become a leader within our fellowship we ask that they not get any new tatoos as long as they were under our leadership. Five years ago we received no objections. Just to clarify, it wasn’t just tatooing, there was also body piercing except for ears as well as smoking, drinking and other actions that we felt would not benefit the body of Christ and could cause a young believer to stumble. Now this subject has come up again and with a vengence. I caution all of you who are embrassing this controversal subject to understand that as Pastors we are accountable to God for how we lead, teach and direct. I would rather lead people as far away from the cliff (sin) then to see how close we can get and not fall over. Is it a question of right or wrong? Maybe, but how about a question of stay as far away from the world and love Jesus so that our light may shine. It also says to be “separate from the world”.

I have lots of friends who have tatoos. They got them when they were in the world and some got them when they were saved. Isn’t it odd how a subject like this can be such a division to God’s people. To me that is a clue.

There are lots of commands from the old testament that are not mentioned in the new testaments that we as a society still follow. I personally think this is one we should honor.

Wow, adding rules to scripture. Is that what it means to truly want to follow God’s word and not embrase the world and its ideas. I’ve never posted on a website before and I now know why. I’m assuming you are not a pastor or called to pastor.

I think I’ll just stick with what God says. And you are right. I will stand before God and account for every word that I preach. That is what the Bible says about those called as Pastors.

Romans 14… Read and ponder.

Well…
There’s a lot of good pros and cons throughout all of these responses and they all make you think. I do not specifically like one more than the other but look at all of the responses in an objective fashion. In regards to Ashley’s response about Romans 14, I read it and within my study bible in regards to verse 1 – accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.
Now, there are and always will be disputable matters between all those who are Christians and follow God. Especially when there is a little evidence, both pro and con, for whatever matter Christians are arguing on. Anyway, the study bible I have makes it a point to explain that first verse by saying “Fellowship among Christians is not to be based on everyone’s agreement on disputable questions. Christians do not agree on all matters pertaining to the Christian life, NOR DO THEY NEED TO.”

Chapter 14 also incorporates the usage of stong/weak faith in terms of how much one understands faith in context with the real world. And this is one aspect as to why there may or may not be disputes on a subject matter, such as tattoos vs food types in this chapter. It also talks about how the strong and weak christians must respect each other because NEITHER is master over the other but God is master of all and as someone stated, we all answer to God, both now and when we are judged after death. It goes on to talk about doing something to cause your brother to stumble, and as someone stated, whether or not tattooing is a modern pagan thing to do against God or not, if it doesn’t cause your brother/sister to stumble because the tattoo is representing Jesus/God/Christianity… then well, it’s not all bad if you view tattooing to be bad.

Further, Paul mentions that the food rules no longer apply, but in any bible verse we must look at it first in the context of that time, and then transfer the understanding we receive to the present time. And that’s hard, plus the fact that the bible mentions numerous times that our God is so great that a lot of things we cant and wont understand about him… this includes many of the things I think Christians argue about today. We were built simply to do one thing, worship the Lord our God.

Thus, instead of always finding a way to argue and be seperate, we shouldnt ever forget that all who believe ( everyone in the WORLD) represents the body of Christ. We cant let minute differences plague God’s mission of spreading his love. Arguing doesnt promote unity, community, etc. Now, debating and great in depth discussions are another that one could argue, heh, is similar to how some people actually argue. The obvious difference is that despite the various opinions/perspectives on all life has to offer, if we remember we worship/follow the same God, I dont think we can go wrong. Afterall, we’ll sin till the day we die, all of us, and God’s OK with that, we should be too. PLus, all the difference perspectives/opinions I think represent the diverse and unique creation/mind God has when making all of us 7 billion people and much more to come in the future… good stuff to celebrate.

Further about disputes… it says that “such matters, decisions should be guided by conscience.” And it also says, “Not to generalize to mean that sin is only a matter of subjective opinion or conscience.” It mentions that Christ died for the weak Christians – those that didnt believe or had a hard time seeing the light, and that we strong christians should at least be willing to adjust our own behavior so as to attract and bring in those weak Christians. THAT is an interesting angle, I think, to ponder when considering tattoos and Christianity.

Here are some really good key points -
“To be concerned with such trivial matters is to miss completely the essence of Christian living.”
“To exercise freedom without responsibility can lead to evil results.”
(def) Mutual Edification – the spiritual building up of individual christians and of the church.

Here’s and awesome perspective to consider:
The weak Christian who as a redeemed person is God’s work and in whom God continues to work. Paul recognizes a strong Christian’s right ot certain freedoms, but qualifies it with the principle of regard for a weak Christian’s scruples. Strong Christians are not required to go against their convictions or change their standards. Yet they are not to flaunt their Christian freedom but keep it private. Here the conviction of one’s action is in keeping with God’s will.

Now Paul identifies himself with strong Christians whose personal convictions allow more freedom than the weak. Not merely to tolerate or put up with but to uphold LOVINGLY (failings – not sins). Since (in the context of food eating in Chapter 14) is not a sin and the scriptures have no clear guidance upon it.
And a choice there is to decide if tattooing and other matters of faith can be transfered over to be in the context of being a Christian.

My hope is that people will read this and understand God’s most strongest desire to LOVE people and have his body, US, do that for him, because he’ll LOVE us no matter what we do in life, as long as we follow him. It’s all about unity, not separation.

^ “Jesus would have never spent time or money getting a tattoo for himself.”

?
REVELATION 19:16
“… and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

in response to Joe, i think what dana is saying, is that people, especially those young in Christ, may see tattoos or other actions comparable to other actions which are often termed as unchristian-like. Also, i work with youth, and in a position where kids may look up to me (as unworthy as i am) i must be careful as to what i encourage them to do. would my visible tattoo justify getting a tattoo against their parent’s veiws? perhaps it would- in which case, getting a tattoo when in a position of leadership could be seen as a bad idea. because a tattoo is often grouped among a certain lifestyle- opening up a door of reasoning in a person’s mind should be avoided. However, i do believe it is insanely important for us to not judge, and let the holy spirit convict us ourselves.

God bless!

Wow.

I came upon this quite accidentally, but I am absolutely flabbergasted at the dismissive justification here… I mean, quite nearly slack-jawed.

“Anyway, the tattoo of today is much different than it was for those who originally received the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the bible)”

This seems like the same kind of rationale that homosexual defenders use, by citing the horde mentality of the Sodomites, or the Roman use of catamite boys, or other homosexual practices of the day, etc. etc. I’m pretty sure homosexuality is much different today than it was for those who originally received the Word, too (Not that I track this kind of thing, but I haven’t heard too much lately about roving hordes of homos coursing through the streets to demand access to anyone’s houseguests). So is it your suggestion that we submit to or dismiss biblical guidance according to contemporary trends?

“If we were to obey the laws of the Old Testament we would also be bound by rules that would restrict shellfish and pork eating, hairstyles, wearing of clothes made from two different fabrics, even eating cheese on hamburgers….Our right standing before God comes from placing our trust in Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for our debts, not on following the Old Testament regulations.”

Uhhh…. forgive me if I am missing something that differentiates this rationale from self-serving cherry-picking. Not to get stuck on it as the countervailing example, but by this logic, not only should Christians be ALLOWED to be homosexual, perhaps ONLY Christians should be allowed to be homosexual, because they are relieved of The Law by virtue of their faith in Christ, whereas the Jews better stick to The Law.

Let’s get the cheeseburgers (mixing meat and dairy) out of the way… that’s not even from the Bible. The prohibition against mixing meat and dairy is an extrapolation of rabbinic law, rather than divine law developed in the tradition of “building a fence around the Torah,” essentially, taking the word of God and devising a bunch of more stringent and specific rules around THAT, so as to help prevent accidental violations of God’s law. The Law itself actually only refers to cooking goats, not all meats or all milks, or any meats with any milks. Cooking the young of any species in its mother’s milk seems detestable, even barbaric, but to have extrapolated the goat-cooking rule to mean that we should not eat a turkey and swiss sandwich seems a bit extreme. But yours is the logic that a lot of modern Jews use for not observing the dietary laws, kind of a “that was then, this is now” kind of thinking. At least fundamentalist Jews who condemn homosexuality are being consistent in their tradition by taking the actual word of God and adding prohibitions on top of it as a failsafe. (I simply cannot understand the Christian rationale for deciding that homosexuality is such a big deal, while going virtually silent on, say, adultery or divorce, which are OBVIOUSLY much bigger threats to the wellness of the family unit.)

But back to tattoos… what part of “shall not” is unclear here? It’s a simple verse. Really, really simple. Don’t do this, and don’t do that; I am the Lord. Thank you, drive thru. By what standard do you decide which sins Christ’s sacrifice was meant to cover, and which it was not? I just don’t get it.

Leviticus 19:28 (New American Standard Bible)

You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.

What’s poorly contrived, Joe? There’s one verse in the bible that addresses it, and it’s a SHALL NOT, so there’s no usual thorny problem of internal inconsistency. I do think it’s interesting how we come up with rationalizations for dismissing the rules we no longer find relevant or helpful, but indulge broad and generous interpretations for the ones we want to knock someone else upside the head with. My guess is… let’s see… you’ve had a little ink done? You probably don’t wait seven days for relations after your wife has her menses, either.

I’m not hacking at you personally. I’m totally wearing cotton-rayon blends and I don’t keep the sabbath and while I don’t have tattoos, I do eat me a little swordfish now and then, and those babies don’t have fins and scales and apparently the Lord finds them detestable, or an abomination, or some such thing. I pick and choose as much as the next person. We are hypocritical and judgmental and we love other people’s sins. If we put one-fifth of the energy into suppressing adultery–one of God’s Top Ten, okay?– that we put into suppressing homosexuality, now THAT would be some meaningful protection of family and marriage. But hmmmm…. can’t seem to recall the last time I heard about a big anti-cheating rally or any legislation to make sure that cheaters don’t get the same rights as people who divorce for other reasons, or any other kind of social sanction for that matter. Why not? It causes tremendous destruction in homes and families, breaks hearts and often leads to divorce, which is a socio-economic disaster for women and children in particular! Yeah, but it’s OUR sin. We LIKE that sin. If the statistics are correct, just more than half of married people of both genders cheat. Yeah, so we probably won’t be seeing any of that legislation coming up…

Lan, sometimes God gave His reasoning and sometimes He didn’t. I don’t presume to know what He was thinking. I think part of his point was to be arbitrary just to establish a baseline of compliance. But we want to come up with all this latter-day rationalization for Him, like pork caused trichonosis and red tide made shellfish toxic and haircuts and tattoos were pagan. Maybe he just picked some random things and said these I like for you and these I don’t, I am the Lord. I mean, what about circumcision? Hullo? That will sure separate you from some of His other peoples, but doesn’t it seem more like the kind of thing that pagans WOULD do? Yikes! A

Yes it is, Joe. I’m supposed to be operating under the old agreement, though, so I do find it odd when Christians, who have a different covenant, site The Law as authority. As I noted, if the new deal is faith in Jesus, then why all the wrangling about what the original text does or doesn’t say?

That said, I do realize that it’s helpful as a guide, even with Jesus’ sacrifice. The Law is full of guidance that steers people toward more ethical and less self-serving behavior. Yes, I agree that all these arbitrary mundane rules are about making Israel distinguish itself from others not only in the ethical issues, but in little day to day ways that keep us REMINDED that we are supposed to be acting differently. It’s a “mind the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves” approach. And insofar as that is always useful, then I guess the law provides good guidance for anyone.

But if you really–I mean REALLY– get your salvation through faith in Jesus, I don’t see what difference it would make to some Christians whether other Christians get tattoos or the wrong haircut or be gay, for that matter. That stuff is of the Law, not of faith. It’s hypocritical blibber-blabber… except insofar as the Law is used as a guide, and that’s where I see so much self-serving picking and choosing and tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth over someone else’s sin’s. My sister is seriously orthodox and tries to live by the Law–all of it. I have the highest regard for the discipline that takes, but in a lot of ways, she has it easier. It’s like here are the rules. Follow them. And then all the rabbinical fence-building on top of it.

I pick and choose. I am hoping I’m not damned because of it, and hoping that at least some kind of awareness of my hypocrisy and a slow, gradual effort to be more and more compliant will make me acceptable before I die. But I don’t know. And all my life, I keep going back to the Christians and praying to Jesus to see if I can get the same deal, and I’m not kidding, I’ve had dreams where he very kindly but firmly tells me to run along and go back to my people and the Law. Maybe it’s one of those “many are called, few are chosen” things. JC obviously doesn’t want me yet. So I admit it–I have Jesus Envy. I don’t have any right answers, but I darn sure keep coming up with questions. Sometimes they’re more about one thing than the other. And I’m pretty sure that if I don’t stay plugged into the conversation somewhere, I’ll start operating totally on self-will and that’s not gonna be pretty. So, fallible as we all are, I like to hang with the Christians that are working on it, and the Jews that are working on it, and just not ever get to thinking I have it figured out and some general level of ethical humanism is enough. Maybe God really, really cares about me knowingly eating swordfish and as one of His Chosen People, I’m gonna be in big trouble some day. I just know I’m falling short right now, and I don’t have Jesus working on my behalf. But I do keep checking in with him. Ya never know… I might get chosen again someday.

Yeah, I know. It’s okay. Some days I think it would be so much simpler to get saved, but I have an open heart and a hungry soul, and either I’m really supposed to stick –however brokenly– to the path I’ve been given because he doesn’t want me, or maybe I just don’t want him enough. I don’t get it, because I keep coming back and it’s just not happening. And then I look at all y’all Christians fighting and squabbling amongst yourselves as much as us Jews ever did and still do, and I wonder if Jesus really did make it any simpler. I don’t know.

Sundays are always thorny for me. Sorry to spill my guts like that.

i agree. spot on! very understandable and straight forward!

Wonderful information but you realize that Jesus is a mighty god but not Almighty god our creator?(John 17:3) At John 20:17 (1 Corinthians 8:6, JB) John 8:17, 18(Mark 10:18,(John 5:19, (John 7:16John 6:38(Luke 20:9-16Acts 4:23, 27, 30(Matthew 3:16, 17)(Luke 4:18) (Matthew 20:23,(Luke 22:42) (Mark 15:34(Luke 23:46If he were God, then Habakkuk 1:12 is wrong when it says: “O my God, my Holy One, you do not die.” But the Bible says that Jesus did die and was unconscious in the tomb. And who resurrected Jesus from the dead? If he was truly dead, he could not have resurrected himself. On the other hand, if he was not really dead, his pretended death would not have paid the ransom price for Adam’s sin. But he did pay that price in full by his genuine death. So it was “God [who] resurrected [Jesus] by loosing the pangs of death.” (Acts 2:24) The superior, God Almighty, raised the lesser, his servant Jesus, from the dead.
(Mark 13:32Hebrews 5:8 that Jesus “learned obedience from the things he suffered.” Can we imagine that God had to learn anything? No, but Jesus did, for he did not know everything that God knew. And he had to learn something that God never needs to learn—obedience. God never has to obey anyoneThe revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him.” (Revelation 1:1, RS, Catholic edition) If Jesus himself were part of a Godhead, would he have to be given a revelation by another part of the Godhead—God? Surely he would have known all about it, for God knew. But Jesus did not know, for he was not God.”God exalted this one [Jesus] . . . to his right hand.” (Acts 5:31) Paul said: “God exalted him to a superior position.” (Philippians 2:9) If Jesus had been God, how could Jesus have been exalted, that is, raised to a higher position than he had previously enjoyed? He would already have been an exalted part of the Trinity. If, before his exaltation, Jesus had been equal to God, exalting him any further would have made him superior to God.
ust before being stoned to death, the martyr Stephen “gazed into heaven and caught sight of God’s glory and of Jesus standing at God’s right hand.” (Acts 7:55) Clearly, he saw two separate individuals—but no holy spirit, no Trinity Godhead.
Revelation 4:8 to 5:7, God is shown seated on his heavenly throne, but Jesus is not. He has to approach God to take a scroll from God’s right hand. This shows that in heaven Jesus is not God but is separate from him”After that will come the end, when he [Jesus in heaven] will hand over the kingdom to God the Father . . . Then the Son himself will be subjected to the One who has subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.”—1 Corinthians 15:24, 28, (1 Corinthians 11:3John 14:28,

I am 49 this year and have always wanted a tattoo but never known exactly what i wanted. Last week it came to me and I want a dove of peace with interlinked alpha and omega symbols to symbolise my relationship with Jesus and the work of the holy spirit in my life. It is just for me and will be small and on my inner wrist where it can be covered if needed. Its a personal thing and a reminder of what God has done in my life but as a christian i wanted to ensure that there was no major issue with doing this from a biblical sense. Everything else aside…and there have been some excellent points of view…it comes down to my relationship with God and my prayers on the subject. I think we can get carried away by the law and lose the spirit of the issue. In all we do we should be glorifying God and to do this we should be in constant communication with him and examine our motives in all things. Sometimes we will be wrong as we are human but in the end its a personal thing between me and God. So i say follow the KISS principle…Keep It Simple, Stupid. (no offence meant and i am not calling anyone stupid its just a management principle).

God bless

probably the greatest article on tattoos, I have ever seen, definitely opened my eyes up to a different biblical perspective that I am used to. Thanks

Well one thing, I will not try to persuade anyone not to get a tattoo or to get one. On account I mean we as people have the right to make our own decisions and we are judged on the kind of choices we make in different circumstances. I will encourage you all to read your Bible and recieve an understanding of what it means to you. Be salty.(Matthew 5:13, Mark 9:50,) And get your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) and don’t be a fool Proverbs tell us to get our knowledge and don’t be affraid of it.

Greeting Everyone

The topic of Tattoos, was just discussed in my house. I know that tattoos were forbidden in the Old Testament, which is the Law. Many say because Jesus died for our sin, that we are no longer bound to the law. But I beg to differ, Jesus stated himself in Matthew 5:17-18; Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled. So individuals research the scriptures further, before they state Tattoos was under the Law.

Mt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy THE LAW, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mt 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from THE LAW, till all be fulfilled.
We most certainly are STILL held responsible for what we teach our children! I don’t believe that heaven and earth has passed away yet…and ALL has not yet been fulfilled…the Lord has not returned yet! But yes, we do have freedom through Jesus Christ! Still, God says for us to be HOLY even as He is HOLY! As Christians, we are to be a separate people,a HOLY people, living in the world but not of the world! What tattoos say to those that are in the world is that you are just like them! If you want to look like, and act like the world then why become a Christian?? God tells us to NOT act like the heathen! Come out of the world and be a HOLY people! Did Jesus cut himself? Did Jesus print any marks upon himself??
When I was in the world, I acted just like others in the world(I spake as a child). But I chose to ask the Lord to come into my life…into my heart and I became a new creature! Over time, the Holy Spirit began to teach me and change my sinful heart, mind & soul. The things that I had already done to my body (now – the temple of the Lord) I can not change. But I have the choise NOW that I have accepted the LIFE of Christ in me to be HOLY just as HE IS HOLY! That means with joy I accept His commandments for myself, to live as Jesus would live and obey God’s word. I hope I can be the example to my children that Jesus was to all generations to come. Would you also write graffiti on the walls of the sanctuary? Yes, it is only a building…but it has been set aside to be a HOLY place where we go to worship our God and our most holy SAVIOR! Ask my son the definition of sancutary. Now he is 22 and he has great respect for the body of Christ and His sancturary. He plays music (sax, clarinet, piano, etc.) for two churches in Atlanta and he is a really cool young man. He loves to serve the Lord…he has a wonderful witness for the Lord to other young people and he has NO TATOOS!

I say why get a tattoo anyway? Seems like everyone is sporting one or one hundred; Especially the basketball players. Why be a copy cat? The authenic self is what is everlasting.