Tattoos A Bit More

A few comments have helped me to understand that my recent post on tattoos was less clear than I wanted it to be.

Here’s the point. It wasn’t really about tattoos. It was about Christians being worldly and not noticing. It also wasn’t about shoes, the Beatles, the Navy, or me either. That wasn’t the point. The point is that too often Christians get our sense of cool from observing and then copying the world around us. One of my readers pointed to this verse:

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh (Col 2:20–23).

I think her point was that my saying getting tattoos is worldly and therefore sin, was me saying “do not touch, etc.” But this is exactly the opposite of what I was saying. What I was pointing out is that if we are Christians the first phrase must be true. And since it Itrue, we must live according to it. You have “died with Christ from the basic principles of the world.” Therefore, don’t subject yourself to “regulations—“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men.” What are these regulations and where do they come from? Some of these regulations are “tattoos are cool, get several.” “Beatle boots are cool. You aren’t groovy unless you own a pair.” “Being edgy, smoking, drinking, getting piercings, vaping, #metooing, being a victim, not white, not male, LBGT, etc. are all the way to be.” “You can’t be cool if you don’t join in.” The point is that these are regulations that come from the world. The text is warning you away from them because you have died in Christ.

I’ll end this post with another hunk of Scripture:

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power (Col 2:8–10)

I don’t really care if you have a tattoo. I care why you have a tattoo. For that matter, I don’t care if you smoke, drink, have several piercings on your face or other places. What I care about is why you have them. I also care if Jesus is Lord or if you are making the slide to the place where what the world thinks is right and wrong is right and wrong for you. Or does the Word of God dictate right and wrong? Are you striving to please him, or to fit in? Who is pleased by that nose ring? What would happen if you didn’t join your friends in condemning X? Who would care?

Here’s an experiment you can run: Go to the store, watch TV, go online, and make a list of what the current “traditions of men” and “principles of the world” are. Then ask yourself, “Are these my traditions? Do I believe these things are right, true, good, and beautiful? Do I believe these things are in opposition to God and his world? Does the Bible have anything to say about these traditions or principles? Does God condone or condemn these things? You’ve died with Christ.