Tim Russert is probably best remembered as the longest serving moderator (16 years) of NBC’s Meet The Press. Before his death, he was honored by Time magazine in 2008 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In addition to the many distinguished accomplishments in his career, Tim authored two books that became bestsellers. The first was Big Russ and Me, that chronicled his life growing up in South Buffalo, NY, and the second, Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons, which was a collection of letters that he had received after writing his first book about his relationship with his dad and the values he had learned from him.
In this latter book Tim tells an interesting story about the time he found out that his son (Luke) had gotten a tattoo.
“Dad [speaking of Tim Russert’s dad] needed to know it was all right to express his love to me, and my book had assured him that it was. Now that I had declared my love for him—and in public—something between us changed forever. About a month later, Maureen, Luke, and I went back to Buffalo for Christmas Eve and then on to New York... When we returned to our apartment, Luke disappeared to take a shower. A few minutes later, I heard Maureen yelling, ‘...what have you done?’ She ran into the room, horrified. ‘He has a tattoo!’
I jumped out of my chair and yelled, ‘Luke, come in here!’ I was really mad. A few months earlier, when he had told me he wanted a tattoo, I brought up the possible health risks and pointed out the irreversibility of a youthful decision that he might someday regret. I had talked him out of it—or so I thought.
But here he was before me, with a towel around his waist and his arms firmly locked down.
‘Let me see it.”
‘No.’
‘Let me see it!’
‘No!’
‘Luke, let me see it!’
He reluctantly raised his left arm, and there were the letters TJR. Those are my initials—and also my dad’s. Luke was misty eyed. ‘After I read your book,’ he said, ‘I wanted you and Grandpa to always be on my side.’
I collapsed back into the chair—speechless—and then sobbed. Luke came over and wrapped his arms around me. Laughing and crying at the same time, I pledged never to complain about Luke’s tattoo again. I was honored to be on his side...forever.”
Have you ever experienced a similar circumstance with one of your children? I’m sure other parents have shared that same sinking feeling whenever they learned one of their own had gotten a tattoo. However, this story also reminds parents that our children’s desire to have a tattoo is not always driven by peer pressure, nor is it necessarily a public statement of societal rebellion. That knowledge alone can ease the mind of some when they learn about a tattoo gotten with/without their knowledge. Our children might even have a positive motivation for inking their bodies as in the case of Tim Russert’s son.
Did you know that the Bible has nothing to say in the New Testament about whether Christians should or should not have tattoos? The only reference to this practice is found in the Old Testament Law (Leviticus 19:28). In the Mosaic code the practice of marking the body is strictly forbidden, possibly including various forms of body painting, because it was part of paganism, as well as idol worship. Consequently, God distinguished His people from the pagan nations by giving them specific laws (such as the one dealing with tattoos) so they would not mimic their ways. He wanted them to be separate and distinct from the world around them.
Many Christians who are considering turning their bodies into walls of graffiti argue that since we are not under the Law we are not subject to these Old Testament commands. They rightly view tattoos as a matter of personal liberty and any objection made, especially if an appeal to scripture is included, is quickly labeled as legalism.
Having escaped the clutches of legalism myself, I know that the last thing I ever want to do is return to those days of bondage. I well remember the oppression you feel when you live in a rules-based religious system where you are judged primarily by your external compliance. We must all be careful when trying to define right and wrong in areas where God has not specifically defined it for us. There will always be areas in our Christian experience where each individual has to ask God, “What is right for me in this matter of personal liberty?” And, we have to leave room for people to arrive at different conclusions than the ones we reach.
But, it’s never wrong to think thoroughly and wisely about the important issues involving our Christian liberty. Not everything has to be scripturally right or wrong in order for it to be good or bad for you...i.e., wise or unwise. While we must avoid the trap of legalism, we shouldn’t abandon good sense and spiritual discernment in the process.
Now that you know my spirit in addressing this issue, I hope you will at least consider my thoughts on what has become an increasingly common practice among many Christians. And, even if you disagree with my perspective, at least hear me out and consider the possibility that there might be some wisdom that God would have you consider.
Obviously, if you are under age and your parents have forbidden you to have a tattoo, the only right response is to obey them. Your personal Christian liberties end where biblical commands begin! I don’t think many people would argue with the fact, at least not successfully so, that God has commanded children to obey their parents. God is always pleased when children follow their parents’ instructions, even when they do not agree with the instructions.
Also, consider that many people simply do not think through the long-term consequences of their decision to ink their bodies in such a permanent fashion. Some mistakenly convince themselves that their body art will still look good 20, 30, or more years later. Peer pressure or just the fad of the moment often drives quick decisions that are later regrettable and unchangeable. Forget the inherent dangers of the needles and ink used to mark the skin. (That’s a medical consideration I’ll not even explore, since I’m not a medical professional.) Just take a look at some of the tattoos on people that are ten, twenty, or thirty years old and ask yourself the question, “How pretty are they now?” The changes of age, weight, skin conditions, effects of the sun, the fading/spreading of the ink, etc., over the years usually doesn’t fare well for the tattoo itself. And, what if your future spouse (assuming you are not married) isn’t as fond of your body markings (especially when it references another person) as you are when you initially got them? Doesn’t it make sense to at least give careful thought to these practical considerations involving such a permanent marking on your body?
In addition, while some people use their tattoos to commemorate special events, groups, or people with which they desire to be identified (i.e., girl/boy’s name, branch of military service, etc.) most markings can hardly be considered Christian in origin or appearance. Let’s not forget that the primary reason God forbade the Israelites from having tattoos was because they were pagan practices. I agree that the New Testament doesn’t specifically forbid tattoos, but it does teach us to, “...come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17)
Only recently has tattooing been in vogue with so many people in the church. It’s origin is basically pagan, though. In Melville’s classic novel, Moby Dick (1851), you see what has been the generally understood conception of people who wear tattoos. When the character in the book named Ishmael had to share lodgings with an unknown man, he awakened in the night, terrified at the sight of his roommate - a savage covered head to toe in tattoos. Readers in that day didn’t have to be told that the man was a pagan because it was obvious to them from his tattoos. Though this understanding is not as obvious today, there is still validity in considering whether God would have us to distance ourselves from something that is still mostly a pagan practice. As I stated earlier, tattoos are usually about identity and it’s reasonable to ask the question, “with whom does my tattoo identify me?”
But someone will argue...what about a tattoo that has a clear Christian message associated with it (scripture verse, cross, Ichthus, etc.) that might be a witnessing tool to reach others with the Gospel? The argument goes, “Didn’t Paul become all things to all men so that by all means he might save some?” This verse (1 Corinthians 9:22b) is so often quoted out of its context--and dangerously so--that it now means virtually anything goes in the name of reaching people. Paul was NOT talking about the EXERCISE of his Christian liberties in the passage, but about the LIMITATIONS he placed on his liberties. As I’ve stated early on in this article, you have the liberty to get a tattoo, if you think it will please the Lord (assuming children/teens have their parents’ permission). However, when you start accommodating groups with extreme measures to gain a hearing, you also inevitably shut the door on other people you might want or need to reach in another setting. If we are going to use Paul’s argument in its proper context, the better choice would be for you to limit your freedom to get a tattoo, rather than exercising it.
Now, here’s where you are going to think that I have totally lost my mind, especially if you stop reading after the next sentence. I still AGREE that we need to have “permanent markings” in order to be good witnesses for Jesus Christ! The scripture is clear that God wants to “mark” us in a fashion that is much deeper than the ones made on the canvas of our skin. Christians are to have “inked” on their hearts the character and qualities that best identify them with God and His Kingdom. Things like the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23). It seems to me that it’s far more important that a Christ-follower prioritize wearing the true and visible signs of Christ than the mostly tawdry ones that are painted on the body.
By now I am sure that you have picked up on my feelings about whether a person should ink their bodies in such a permanent fashion. If you asked me personally about this subject you would discover that what I have written is basically what I’d tell you. So, let me add in closing that just because I think it is unwise to tattoo your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, I am not condemning anyone that does so. Nor am I trying to impugn the motivation of the individuals that feel this is God’s will for his/her life. Trust me when I say, I’m not making extra biblical regulations by which I am going to judge people who disagree with my conclusion. Every Sunday we have people that attend our services who have tattoos of varying sorts and qualities. I pay little attention to those markings as I’m more interested in what’s taking place deeper in their souls. My purpose here is to ask questions that will make people think as biblically and wisely as possible about a current topic that many families are facing. Tim Russert’s family is not the only one to have the air knocked out of them upon learning their son/daughter has a tattoo.
For me personally, I’m going to stick with letting God “etch” the image of His Son on me (Romans 8:29). That’s the “permanent marking” that has eternal value and the only one I really want.
