So like I said, I don't know all the answers so please don't take anything I said as absolute truth and please don't take any offense to anything because I truly was not intending to offend anyone. Also, I would love to hear what you have to say about the subject so please comment.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tattoo in Ministry?
For a couple of years now I have been contemplating getting a tattoo, but have had the recurring question in my mind.... How would having a tattoo affect my ministry? Sure I've had people tell me of the verse in Leviticus about not marking your body, but how much relevance does that have today? I'm not really sure to tell you the truth. The way I see it, is that if what you get a tattoo of glorifies God and not yourself and truly honors Christ, then I feel like it is okay. Now before you start criticizing or on the other hand deciding to go get a ton of tattoos, first hear that I don't know everything or by any means have all the right answers about this subject, and I would probably not agree with just getting any tattoo, especially while serving in ministry. I feel like it is something that needs to be prayed about a lot and not taken lightly because of course... it's permanent. One thing that concerned me was the aspect of getting a job in ministry while having a tattoo. Now to me this doesn't seem like a big enough deal to not get hired, especially if it is something that does glorify God. However, I can see certain churches having a problem with a pastor having a tattoo which I can understand to some extent because of the kind of example it sets for the church body, and especially a youth pastor because of the affect it can have on the students. Something I would stress if I did have a tattoo and was a youth pastor is why I have it and the fact that I didn't just go get some random tattoo that looked cool on a whim just because I felt like it at the moment. I can understand some parents being upset at first because their students might be more inclined to go get a tattoo because their youth pastor has one, but once they hear why I had one, I would hope that would change. Back to the idea of getting a job, someone once told me that if the church has such a problem with you having a tattoo that they wouldn't hire you, then there might be more contradictory things with what you and the church believe that it might not be a good idea to be there anyway. Once again, I don't know if this is scripturally sound or not, but I feel inclined to agree with what this person told me. I also heard a story of someone who had a whole sleeve of tattoos and that he could cover them up with wearing a long sleeve shirt or expose them by simply pushing his sleeves up just a bit. He would cover them while witnessing to certain people and then slightly expose them when witnessing to others. Not saying that this is always true, but I would have to believe that some people would feel more comfortable talking to someone who seems more like them (for instance if this person had tattoos and felt rejected at church before). Now, where I am wanting to get a tattoo wouldn't be outright visible so this theory doesn't necessarily apply to me but I think the concept still does.
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Jd! I enjoyed reading this and can tell that you have put a lot of thought into it. I also have been considering getting a tattoo, and I have come across many of the things you have mentioned. Although I don't feel called to be a youth pastor (If that's what you do) but I do want to travel on missions and at some point and hopefully do medical missions. One of the biggest concerns I have with getting a tattoo is the different cultural views of one. I don't know where God is going to call me to go and he could call me somewhere that takes a tattoo as offensive. That's the major reason I'll get something in a place not easily visible and/or is easy to cover. I know you have already mentioned this but I just thought you might want to hear my reasons! :)
ReplyDeletefrom what i read it sounds more like a matter of when you get a tattoo not if you get one. my advise would be never compromise where you are going to get it, or what you are going to get, based on what other people may think. the tattoo is not on their body, if you let someone else, whether its the church or a job dictate your decision then you'll end up getting a tat you may not be 100% certain you want on your body and thats gonna be a more long term problem than what a few people at church or on the streets think of you because you're going to be the one getting up every day with that tattoo. it should solely be decided on your tastes regardless of what others think. im not trying to sound like a rebel but the last thing you want is something permanent on your body that someone else had a hand in dictating. you will either reap the benefits of getting the tattoo you 1000% want and really love it once its done, or feel the regret of getting a tattoo that was only kind what you were hoping to get because you based it on someone else's standards. hope that all makes sense...
ReplyDeletethanks jacki and i definitely understand what you mean as far as different cultures and that stuff, i feel like that wouldnt affect me as much but who knows, i may eventually get called out of the country, there's no telling so thanks again for the advice.
ReplyDeleteand dan, thank you so much for what you said, i know what i want to get and where i want to get it and im not planning on that changing when, like you said, i eventually get one, bc i think im pretty set on getting one. so now i guess its kinda just a matter of when i get it