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Patrick,
I was recently searching the internet for information about tattoos, just to see
what was out there. I'm working on new designs for some of my own, and
wanted to see what others had done. As a Christian it is your duty not to
judge me or have pretenses of who or what I am for having said that. So please
here me out? Anyway, I typed in "Christian tattoos", and a page
from your site came up. I read the page, and felt uneasy. Wondering
what exaclty you and your website stand for, I read a lot of the info from the
rest of your page, and was not put to ease.
I am the son of a conservative independent bible church pastor. I was
raised in the church and am quite firm in MY beliefs. What crushed me about your
reply to Tara's comment was not so much the theological backing behind it (which
I also disagree with) but the way you handled the situation. Had you asked
for some way to contact her through email, and then sent that message, it
wouldn't have been as bad, but you publicly scolded her for everyone to
see, and what's more, you did it in a way that seemed to me to be straight out
of the new testament. The thought of you as a pharisee, came to my mind, and I'm
not trying to attack you, because i don't know you or your intentions, but I
wanted to voice how I, as a christian who was just surfing the net, felt when i
read this. Sure, the old testament says things about not getting markings
on your body, but is she and other christians getting tattoos to mourn the loss
of a loved one, or participate in a "pagan" ritual? No, these
young christian people are doing things that most
christians are afraid to do, and that's express themselves, who they are.
I have six tattoos, and one piercing.
The ear piercing argument that is on your website I consider rediculous, and
it's not part of the issue here anyway. I have three japanese signs on my
body. they look something like this. They are made up six lines.
these six lines are actually a trinity of symbols, since two lines mean
something together. I have one on my forearm that is blackened in, the
trinity of symbols together mean "Father". I have a darkened red
one on my lleft upper shoulder that means "Son" and one above my right
breast that means "Spirit, or Ghost" On my back I have this trinity of
trinities in a cross formation on my back. Under this is the word "Passio"
latin for suffering. Over my heart is the latin word "dolor"
which means intense pain, and anguish. and under it is the sentence
"Remember his, when in yours."
These tattoos, for me, serve two purposes. One, I am reminded of what
Jesus did for me everytime i touch them, or look in the mirror. I find it
serves as a way for me to remember who I am, and what other people see of me.
Second, it can be a great witnessing tool. If i go to a swimming pool, and
someone says "Cool tattoo, what does it mean?" do i care that they
thinks
it's cool? Yes. That makes me feel good, and there is nothing wrong with
that, but what is even better is the witnessing chance they bring me when they
ask what it means. Just explaining what I explained to you is like
planting a seed, and God knows what to do from there. I'm sorry if I've
wasted your time, but I felt this was a small thing I could voice my opinion on
and wanted to share my thoughts with you.
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Dear Dad:
Thanks for taking the time to write. I am saddened by your note.
You wrote, "As a Christian it is your duty not to judge me or have
pretenses of who or what I am for having said that." and then later,
"the thought of you as a pharisee, came to my mind..." I am
saddened that so many times defenders of Christians being tattooed do not extend
the same grace they demand from opponents.
You wrote, "What crushed me about your reply to Tara's comment ..."
I am saddened that you are not crushed for the sake of the one who bore on his
body months of agonizing pain at the hand of a Roman whip for the sake of the
Lord Jesus Christ only for such sacrifice to be used on so many web sites in
comparison to Christians getting tattoos. Shame.
You wrote, "I find it serves as a way for me to remember who I
am..." I am saddened that the direct instruction of our Lord
Jesus Christ to "do this in remembrance of me" isn't enough for you.
You wrote, "what is even better is the witnessing chance they bring me when
they ask what it means..." I am saddened when Christians abandon
antithesis for synthesis, peculiarity for normality, and transformation for
conformation.
Thanks again for writing. God's grace to you.
Pat Hurd
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Patrick L. Hurd EST. 01/01/01 |
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