When I got my first tattoo it was to memorialize my acceptance of Christ as my Savior. It was my way of telling the world I loved Jesus. I got the tattoo as a young 18 year old who knew nothing about what was attractive in the tattoo world and I went to an artist who cared little about my faith and quite frankly cared even less about being an artist. I have never regretted my tattoos, they both represent myself and my love for my God, but over the years it annoyed me at how the first one was so poorly done I knew I needed/wanted to get it redone.
I have heard so many good things about In the Blood Tattoo in Pittsburgh in the South Side. So I did my research and I fell in love with Justun's work. I also fell in love with the fact that he was a Christian. I knew I wanted his work on me, so we talked over email and he told me when i wanted it done to let him know.
So this week I finally had saved up enough money and had made an appointment with my best friend who was also getting his 3/4 length sleeve done and we decided to make a day out of it. We were STOKED.
I love the south side of Pittsburgh and In the Blood tattoo parlor is right in the middle. The shop was beautiful with artwork by the artists all over the walls, awesome service and just all around comfortable feeling.
I have never been so impressed at a tattoo like I was when I finally looked down at my arm after watching the entire 1st Pirates of the Caribbean... 2 hours and 15 colors later. It took my breath away, Justun was simply amazing! He works with a quiet confidence, and after 11 years of practice it shows!I couldn't believe that what was on my arm was mine and will be mine for the rest of my life. He created a whole new tattoo that looks NOTHING like the old one. In a way it feels like a rebirth, a new bolder statement about my faith.
Following is a snippet of an article about Christian tattoos. Its a taboo in which the Christian community is facing more and more each day as young Christians express their faith through body art.
"Do the same principles apply to tattoos that are of a Christian nature, such as a cross, a Christian slogan, or even a Bible verse? Some Christians have found that having tattoos gives them more credibility, and thereby more possibilities of evangelism, with some groups of people. So what about Christian tattoos?
Obviously, a tattoo of a cross is “better” than a tattoo of a flaming skull, naked woman, or demon. Having a tattoo saying “Jesus saves” could indeed be a conversation starter with some people who would never approach a preacher wearing a suit and tie. Some refer to Revelation 19:16 as an example of Jesus possibly having a tattoo on His thigh, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” The question is not necessarily “is getting a tattoo a sin?” The question is more “is getting a tattoo a good and necessary thing to do?” First Corinthians 10:23 declares, “Everything is permissible – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible – but not everything is constructive.” Christian tattoos may be “permissible,” but are they beneficial and constructive?
In 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, Paul exclaims, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel.” Becoming all things to save some is perhaps the only good possible reason for getting a Christian tattoo. If having a tattoo genuinely opens doors for evangelism that would otherwise be closed, getting Christian tattoos would likely “qualify” under Paul’s “becoming all things” qualification. At the same time, it is frankly difficult to envision a scenario in which having a tattoo would enable a greater possibility of evangelism. If a person will not listen to you due to a lack of a tattoo, it is highly unlikely that such a person would genuinely listen due to the presence of a tattoo.
With that said, the biblically based conclusion would seem to be that Christian tattoos are permissible, but it is highly questionable whether they can be considered beneficial and constructive. A Christian considering getting a tattoo should pray for wisdom (James 1:5) and ask the Lord to provide pure motives and discernment."
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