This Post Isn't About Tattoos. Really, I Promise
But... Not Everything is Salvific & There Are Worse Things Than Being Called a Legalist
There he sat, bare forearms outstretched, revealing a pair of tattoos covering his flesh from wrist to elbow. Ironically, the markings were in Hebrew. Had that been all there was, had the “faith leader’s” post simply announced new body art, I would have kept scrolling. Unfortunately, there was more.
Bold font declared, “Legalism is alive and well!” Line after line seemed intent on publicly belittling an older saint who raised a question about the minister’s tattoos. Tragically, scores of professing believers, some of them ministers, piled on diminishing the senior, whose only failure seemed to be that they had asked a question. At first, it seemed, those in the thread forgot congregants, even seniors, have social media, Then, I wondered, was that was the point? Was I looking at a lesson, intended to quite the uncompliant?
As promised, this post is really not about tattoos. Still, there are some facts, which must be established, before real discussion on the issue can begin. For example:
Researchers from the Department of Public Health and the Department of Clinical Research at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), together with the University of Helsinki investigated whether tattoos come with significant health risks 1For lymphoma, the rate is nearly three times higher for the group of individuals with large tattoos compared to those without tattoos. This rate (more specifically, ‘hazard rate’) accounts for age, the timing of the tattoo, and how long the individuals have been followed in the study. This suggests that the bigger the tattoo and the longer it has been there, the more ink accumulates in the lymph nodes.
Another study found:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), raised other questions about the safety of tattoos. One of the key findings is that tattoo ink not only remains in the skin but also accumulates in the immune system, where it stays associated with its cells for years. Moreover, the ink induces cell death and triggers a chronic inflammatory reaction that disrupts the normal function of the body’s defense system.
A recent John’s Hopkins demonstrated tattoos trigger or worsen inflammatory diseases.
And of course there is scripture.
Leviticus 19: 18, 28-32.
“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your
people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”
“You shall not make cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the
Lord. Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into
prostitution and the land become full of depravity. You shall keep my Sabbaths and
reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. Do not turn to mediums or necromancers;
do not seek them out and so make yourselves unclean by them. I am the Lord your
God. You shall stand before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and
you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
Scripture calls us to reasons together. Wrestling with texts and differing opinions is good and healthy. This used to be a normal part of learning and applying God’s Word. Then, we quit talking. Although we may have disagreed about how texts should be applied, until recently almost no professing believer would have responded to black and white scripture with shouts of legalism. Now, the declaration has become almost Pavlovian anytime someone dares to stick their head up and ask, “Should we really be doing this?” As a result, real discussions about trends, changing times, and cultural issues have almost disappeared. If someone could be offended or upset, we roll our eyes and have our thoughts, but we don’t speak up anymore unless it is to shout “LEAGALISM!” when biblical guardrails are referenced.
Because the freedom to ask real questions has faded, few realize the Bible ever mentions tattoos. Almost no one is aware of the growing mountain of research, which should at least raise some concerns about the practice. Still, If medical studies merit more consideration than the God breathed Word, in today’s church, we are in serious trouble.
“That’s Old Testament!” Who hasn’t heard the response to questions about mandates and prohibitions from the first half of the cannon? Too many forget this was the exact argument LGBT groups used to gain ground in the church. It’s also dangerously close to ideas, which got Marcion excommunicated from the second century church. Not everything is salvific, but if 2 Timothy 3:16 means anything every word in the Bible matters and needs to be addressed.
When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” (Matthew 22:29 and Mark 12:31), He was quoting Leviticus 19, the center of the moral law. By referencing the text, Jesus does more than point to a single line or phrase. It is intended to point to the larger context. How do we love our neighbor? We do not look like the world or act like the world. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us not even the tiniest marks or dots in the Law would pass away. The Ceremonial Law was fulfilled; the moral law stands.
Since cultural trends, including the popularity of tattoos, have pressured many to avoid teaching Leviticus 19, other important things are missed. Should we ignore the passage’s prohibitions against trafficking our daughters or engaging in necromancy? Jesus did not explicitly repeat those in the New Testament. Will the church accept Tarot cards as they become mainstream? Here’s where things get hard. We don’t get to pick and choose which verses we like or make sense to us culturally.
By now, someone is almost certainly yelling at the screen, “What about blended fabrics?” Time for more hard truth. If everyone ignores a biblical command, that doesn’t mean the command is illegitimate. Not understanding a passage doesn’t give us permission to pretend it doesn’t matter. That said I’ve never violated the passage about blended fabric and neither have you. Almost no one has. The Leviticus 19 verse is an allusion to Deuteronomy 22:11, a specific prohibition against blending linen and wool, the only commercial fabrics available at the time.
There are at least a couple legitimate ways to understand the verse. Some claim it has to do with the person who did wear linen and wool together , the high priest. Advocates for this view claim the verse is about not seizing authority, which is not our own. Others believe the text mirrors the meaning of the old and new wine skins. Because linen and wool have different shrink rates, purposes, and are for different seasons blending the fabrics would result in the destruction of both. Those promoting this view believe it is about thoughtfulness and stewardship.
Maybe the God who made us understands what is bad for us. If you have been to doctors, who deal with autoimmune issues, one of the first questions you were likely asked is, “Do you have any tattoos?” If you say no, they will almost certainly say, “Good don’t get any.” If you say yes, it’s very possible you could be urged to have them removed.
If someone enters a tattoo shop without first visiting an oncologist, rheumatologist, or immunologist, it is unlikely they are aware these conversations even take place. Because the American church tends to recoil from any discussion, which might cause discomfort, believers frequently fail to receive thoughtful direction on a variety of cultural issues, including tattoos. As a result, at least in the case of tattoos, many will get sick. Statistically some will die.
Often, the silence is encouraged as way to show love. Does love really remain hushed in the face of danger? Aren’t we called to be watchmen, Isaiah 62: 6-12? If the body is a temple, shouldn’t we at least consider the ethical issue of Christian leaders encouraging people towards behavior, which appears to triple the odds that their temple could be seriously damaged or destroyed? Shouldn’t congregants at least be made aware verses on the subject exist? Is the avoidance of all discussion on sensitive or controversial topics really just a way for us to avoid an uncomfortable lunch?
We can disagree on “body art” and many other non-salvific issues. That’s fine. What we cannot do is effectively mark some scriptures as off limits. We cannot pretend important information doesn’t exist. We cannot bully dissenting views into silence, because we are unwilling or unprepared to thoughtfully engage with scripture and unpopular facts. Maybe it is time to acknowledge, the same passage, forbidding trafficking our daughters, fortune telling and communication with the dead, requires honoring the elderly, and it doesn’t make exceptions for the ones who ask difficult questions. That’s Worth Remembering.