To Do or Not Tattoo

By Rick Baue

It’s on all of our minds. Today’s society is becoming much more comfortable with the once-despised practice of body decals. Factually grounded rumors that so-and-so just got you-knowwhat pierced or tattooed on his you-know-what are becoming less shocking. A close friend shows off his freshly skewed nipples in the locker room. Should we respond methodically with, "Cool dude…I got a pair a’ those too," playing it off like nothing’s different, or should we respond by raising our WWJD bracelets high and proclaiming, "Would Jesus be walking around with rings in his nibblies?"

The Bible does not directly address these issues by tossing out an extra "Thou shalt not pierce nor tattoo thy armpit, nor thy naval, nor buttocks, nor anything that is thy neighbor's, etc." Therefore, the best way for Christians to address any issue in life is not through trying to read God's mind (WWJD), but through God’s Word.

Picture America today: a time of self-expression and freedom coupled with self-gratification creating a potpourri of confused chaos. Piercing and tattoos are accepted as simple expressions of one’s individuality. Christians and non-Christians alike all seem to be poking, puncturing, and perforating their bodies to look like glossy magazine covers.

It is certainly clear in the Old Testament that piercings and body tattoos were forbidden: "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:28). Remember, though, if you read the text this way that you also have to argue that any tattoos or piercings or any kind should be forbidden today. Tattoos, piercings, even earrings would be forbidden.

Now I suppose that it would be easy to play "my bible verse beats your bible verse" and look at something like Galatians 5:4-6, and argue that tattoos and piercings were Old Testament ceremonial or civil law and therefore don’t apply today. Just because something might be allowed doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Let’s ask the question a different way.

God commands us to live in this world but not of this world. This is no easy task, as Jesus says: "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own, but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hatesyou" (John 15:19).

Why do Christians or non- Christians get tattooed or pierced? "Guys dig my tongue ring…it’s erotic." "My tiger [tattoo] symbolizes ferocity…aiding me on the court." "This simple butterfly has gotten me more attention than ever."

These answers are like big neon signs proclaiming, "I am of this world. Love me." A cross, tattooed on one’s arm, may be an active reminder of your faith, glorify God, and even identify yourself among others as a Christian. Somehow, though, I don’t think that’s what a cross is supposed to symbolize when worn by Madonna or Marilyn Manson.

Okay, so what’s your final answer? Is the physical act of piercing an ear or getting a tattoo a sin? No. But it is sinful to disobey your parents or mark your body as one who loves this world.The millions of questions racing through your conscience are between you and God.

These questions are simply answered by this: your identity as a Christian isn’t found in whether you have a tattoo or not. You are a Christian because you are in Christ. Walking the walk of a Christian is the greatest permanent, rebellious, and shocking mark we can make on this society. We are saved by grace through faith, and no tattoo or piercing can ever take that away.

Rick Baue is a sophomore at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. He is a Music and Business double major and plays piano in Jazz Band, and is the president of House Council. Rick is from St. Louis,MO.

HISTORY OF TATTOOS

2000 BC - Earliest records from Egypt. Civilizations such as Crete, Greece, Persia, Arabia, and China adapted this art soon after.

787 - Pope Hadrian outlaws tattooing

1066 - Norman Invasion halts tattoos in England

1691 - William Dampler made tattoos among sailors popular

1891 - Sam Ortley perfects tattoo machine. Cultural view became poor. Surge of popularity during World Wars. Bikers, Brando, and Hepatitis caused shocking drop in popularity.

1969 - Lyle Tuttle made it glamorous by tattooing celebrities

Present - Popular and seen as form of self-expression and freedom

CULTURAL PURPOSES OF TATTOOS

Borneo - Labeled women's different skills. Used as a symbol of life-long membership

Navajo - Wearer of image calls upon spirit of image

Greece - Communication and trade of slaves

Ainu - Social status

Asia - Criminals would get three strikes (marks) before being killed

Japan - Ceremonial/Religious purposes

CULTURAL PURPOSES OF PIERCING

Egypt - Navel - Right of Passage for kings

Rome - Nipples - Symbol of manhood and virility among soldiers

Mayans - Tongue - Spiritual channeling

England - Ears - Wealthy

India -Nose - Submission

America - All - Self-Expression

MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS OF TATTOOS

Could I get infected with the HIV virus by getting a tattoo? The placement of a tattoo requires the injection of pigment into the skin using needles, and needle exposure in the developing AIDS crisis is well known. Sharing contaminated needles can spread HIV or Hepatitis C. Regulatory law governs the medical use of needles, but such oversight is not necessarily present in tattoo parlors, and regulations vary state by state. Do you trust the person placing the tattoo to be using needles properly?

But can't I just get my tattoo removed? The second medical problem with tattoos is how to get them out. Tattoo parlors will tell you that removal of tattoos is no problem. Actually, removal of an amateur single color tattoo, such as L-O-V-E written across the knuckles, is relatively easy. This might only cost a couple of hundred dollars.

To remove a professionally applied multi-color tattoo requires multiple treatments with several lasers, one for each color of the tattoo. This involves many sessions and can run into the thousands of dollars. Furthermore, it is difficult with lasers to restore skin to its original state, even with this technology.

Ross Betts, M.D. is a nephrologist who works in Pittsburgh, PA. He is a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, Glenshaw, Pennsylvania.