Ben Cerullo on Christians and tattoos...
i know over the past couple years, we've had several discussions about this controversial subject...
i just saw this on ben cerullo's blog this morning, and thought it was good, so i wanted to pass it on to any of you who have wondered about the subject, and would be interested in another perspective by an awesome evangelist...
http://bencerullo.com/
Question from Karen
Jun 08, 2009
I noticed on your webcam you have many tattoos. How many do you have, when did you get then and what do they mean?
Karen
Tampa, FL
I am hitting this question because there is so much controversy and drama around Christians and the topic of tattoos, but I will start with the questions.
I have four tattoos. Some of them I got before I was saved, and some of them I got after. They all mean something to me. I have on my leg a sword; that represents the Sword of the Spirit. Because the Word of God is the anchor that holds me together as I follow Him.
This one here is an eagle and dragon with a stopwatch that’s chained to the dragon. The book of revelations talks about the dragon in heaven being overcome by the blood of the lamb, and the word of our testimony. He was sent to the earth. It says, ‘woe unto the inhabitants of the earth because the devil knows his time is short.’ I have a time piece that is about to hit midnight, it’s chained to the devil’s tail which is representative of the dragon. Letting him know he is ready to run out of time and for us know that we have to be busy about our Father’s business before it’s too late, because the night is coming where no one can work. We have to work while it’s daylight.
The eagle I have here represents God and the prophetic.
This one is my warfare tattoo. It says fight or die. It’s from Ephesians 6:12. I like to live by that. If we don’t fight, we will die. We are in a battle and the Devil wants to take us out. And that’s what my tattoos mean to me.
As far as if one should have tattoos, or not have tattoos, the famous verse in Leviticus says do not mark or pierce your body, but in revelations it says that Jesus has a tattoo on thigh and forehead, but the Bible is written for the Jew first, then the gentile. We have to read the Bible through Jewish eyes. In Leviticus, God was speaking to His people because He didn’t want them to become conformed to the image of the world. The reason He told them not to pierce or tattoo their bodies is because the people at that time were using piercing, markings and cuttings to tie themselves to their God or their deity.
So really what God was saying is don’t tie yourself to some other God, using it as an act of worship and use it as a form of idolatry and you know, I believe tattoos can become a form of idolatry. You have to live by your convictions; if they control you, then I believe they are wrong. If you feel convicted by getting a tattoo then don’t get one. If you did, I believe it would be sin. If God is convicting you, if His spirit is saying, “I don’t want you to do that,” you need to be true to those convictions.
Personally, I don’t feel that getting a tattoo is wrong for me, but for you, I can’t say the same is true. You have to weigh that out between you and God.
That’s just my view on it. I like using tattoos as a form to witness; to represent the God I serve and love. Through them, I have had many opportunities to minister to people. Even with my tattoo artist. No one has ever prayed with him. I had the opportunity to pray with him. Little things like that. God opened up a door, so I used it. He works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
i just saw this on ben cerullo's blog this morning, and thought it was good, so i wanted to pass it on to any of you who have wondered about the subject, and would be interested in another perspective by an awesome evangelist...
http://bencerullo.com/
Question from Karen
Jun 08, 2009
I noticed on your webcam you have many tattoos. How many do you have, when did you get then and what do they mean?
Karen
Tampa, FL
I am hitting this question because there is so much controversy and drama around Christians and the topic of tattoos, but I will start with the questions.
I have four tattoos. Some of them I got before I was saved, and some of them I got after. They all mean something to me. I have on my leg a sword; that represents the Sword of the Spirit. Because the Word of God is the anchor that holds me together as I follow Him.
This one here is an eagle and dragon with a stopwatch that’s chained to the dragon. The book of revelations talks about the dragon in heaven being overcome by the blood of the lamb, and the word of our testimony. He was sent to the earth. It says, ‘woe unto the inhabitants of the earth because the devil knows his time is short.’ I have a time piece that is about to hit midnight, it’s chained to the devil’s tail which is representative of the dragon. Letting him know he is ready to run out of time and for us know that we have to be busy about our Father’s business before it’s too late, because the night is coming where no one can work. We have to work while it’s daylight.
The eagle I have here represents God and the prophetic.
This one is my warfare tattoo. It says fight or die. It’s from Ephesians 6:12. I like to live by that. If we don’t fight, we will die. We are in a battle and the Devil wants to take us out. And that’s what my tattoos mean to me.
As far as if one should have tattoos, or not have tattoos, the famous verse in Leviticus says do not mark or pierce your body, but in revelations it says that Jesus has a tattoo on thigh and forehead, but the Bible is written for the Jew first, then the gentile. We have to read the Bible through Jewish eyes. In Leviticus, God was speaking to His people because He didn’t want them to become conformed to the image of the world. The reason He told them not to pierce or tattoo their bodies is because the people at that time were using piercing, markings and cuttings to tie themselves to their God or their deity.
So really what God was saying is don’t tie yourself to some other God, using it as an act of worship and use it as a form of idolatry and you know, I believe tattoos can become a form of idolatry. You have to live by your convictions; if they control you, then I believe they are wrong. If you feel convicted by getting a tattoo then don’t get one. If you did, I believe it would be sin. If God is convicting you, if His spirit is saying, “I don’t want you to do that,” you need to be true to those convictions.
Personally, I don’t feel that getting a tattoo is wrong for me, but for you, I can’t say the same is true. You have to weigh that out between you and God.
That’s just my view on it. I like using tattoos as a form to witness; to represent the God I serve and love. Through them, I have had many opportunities to minister to people. Even with my tattoo artist. No one has ever prayed with him. I had the opportunity to pray with him. Little things like that. God opened up a door, so I used it. He works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Art Fontaine on -
Well, I have 5 Tats and 2 of which I got after I was saved. I know the Word says that our bodies are temples but Scripture says not to mark your body up with symbold like the pagans did but I often wonder if the reason it was wrong is because your body is a temple of the Lord or was what they were inscribing where it went wrong. That is a question we wont know the answer to until we die.
I just skimmed this but looking back I agree with the kid, we will never know what God thinks til we ask Him. While I don't think I will get anymore, I will have the ones I have touched up when I have some time...
I do know that I was not convicted for getting the tat, I got convicted for getting it while I was in jail when people were getting staph infections, so chancing an open wound was a risk. I did end up getting one but not in the 1st tat, but from the second. Then again if I didn't have these I feel I would have walked away from my faith early on...when I was a weak young Christian. I got "forgiven" In midevil letters across my back and lets be honest that is only a cool tat if you are a Christian and proud of it...plus people always ask what it says and why so it was a constant reminder to me as to why I did it.
I know of a few Tattoo ministries out west and they get many people saved and Paul did say he became all things to all men so that some might be saved...even the tattood need Jesus...
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Permalink Reply by ♥ Vontrice ♥ on -
That is exactly the way this particular scripture in Leviticus was taught to me. And its true, you have to listen to your own personal conviction on the matter.
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