Tattoo

post 097

I know this very attractive Christian young woman who recently returned from college sporting a tattoo on the perfectly clear skin of her well sculpted shoulderblade.
The cool part of it is that she chose a bible verse in beautiful script, which said;

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14

How can God help but be pleased for this young woman’s public and permanent recognition of her Maker?

I know many Christians proudly sporting tattoos.

But I bet not 1 in 100 Christians know God’s perspective on tattoos,
And I bet not 1 in 1000 knows why.

But before we get into that, lets examine the reasonable logic of this idea, from a purely intellectual perspective;

Mattel makes a very shapely Barbie Doll and is so proud of it that they put their signature logo on her bum where it is expected to be covered up most of the time.
Why?

Virtually all the Masters and all the serious artists place their signatures very small, way down in the corner of their paintings, almost intentionally hidden.
Why?

Great furniture makers hide their signature brand on the underside in some obscure place where it cannot be found without effort.
Why?

And why is it, that no matter how deeply you look, The Maker has not bothered at all, to add His signature to any of us, His Creation?

Does shame of what they have done play an explanatory part in the answer to any of these?
No.

Then what is the purpose of a signature at all?

Clearly the purpose is to be able to identify the maker when the question arises.
Since no one can make anything similar to the Creation, the Maker saw no need to add His signature. In other words His work is signature enough!
(There is a whole branch of this topic regarding his future signature and why!)

OK, but this still does not explain the reason why the signatures are so hidden from view.

The answer is, that like our Maker, the masters are very pleased with what they have made. There work is so exquisite that a signature, no matter how small, is a mar on the masterpiece.
But because there is more than one man, Man can imitate man and therefore it is important that each master sign his work so that he can claim the due credit.

Since there is only One Maker, He has no need to add such a mar. His masterpiece is beautiful and un-marred, as perfect as he intended to make it.
And he declared so in his book to us through the recognition of David;

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:14-16

Unlike the focus of the young woman’s tattoo, the full passage is not glorifying the creation, but the creator.

Further God writes:

“And God said, Let us make man in our image…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them… And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good…” Genesis 1:26-31

* * *

So if the toymaker Mattel who makes a plastic doll for children,
And the Masters who create great works of art,
And if The Maker, who has made us so wonderfully,
Do not wish to mar their beautiful work by even such as a signature except where absolutely necessary,
What do you suppose would be the reaction if we were to take a Magic Marker and write; “Made by Leonardo Da Vinci” across the middle of the Mona Lisa in 2” letters, so that everyone could be sure and know it was he who painted it?

Wouldn’t he be proud of us?
How about the curators of the Louvre who merely display it?

* * *

Let us now examine the industry of collectibles and antiques:
Surely old stuff don’t matter about the condition.

Depending on the category, there is variation on the value of an item regarding its show of age.
In many cases the affects of natural aging actually increases the value of a collectible such as antiques.
But in all cases, in all categories, the affects of un-natural attributes detract from its value.
Abuse is never an improvement on worth or value.

Take your mothers family heirloom china hutch and carve your family name into the wood door. I am pretty sure you are not going to enjoy the results regardless of how good a job you think you did.

* * *

Yet we have no compunction against such permanent and bold marring of such an incredible masterpieces as our own bodies by far the greatest creation in all of existence.
And we have no fear of offending the Maker?

So back to the question;
What does God actually feel about Tattoos?

Leviticus 19:28 “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead,
nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.”

So what do we expect from God when we show such disrespect for his glorious masterpiece by defacing it with graffiti in direct conflict with his written opinion?
Then to be so confused as to think he rejoices when we tattoo a cross on our chest?

This is but a very simple example of the many ways we feel we are doing God a service when in fact we are offending him.
How then in our complete lack of even the most basic understanding of his opinions, are we to think we can properly influence those who do not believe?
We can’t even properly influence ourselves!

* * *

Ask any businessman, What are the two kinds of people you should not do business with?
The answer will very nearly always be; “Relatives and Christians.”
Why is that?

Clearly because it is known far and wide that these groups of people will be most likely to cheat you, or take advantage of you.

Is this a good thing?
Is this honorable?
Is God pleased at the shrewdness of “good business”?
*1

In this case I am pretty sure everyone will agree it is not.
So who then is actually doing all the cheating which would cause such a universal knowledge of the problem?
Good question.
It must be the Democrats!

So if American Christians cannot figure out how to treat their neighbor,
What value is it to sway together singing Coom-bi-ya at a Tea Party Rally?
Please don’t get me wrong. I am all for the Tea Party Movement.
It is a noble cause, will do wonders to slow our demise.
I have every intention of voting in favor of these candidates.
I am just concerned that our quick fix for government will not impress God much.

Will the successful seating of virtually every one of them keep our school children from shooting each other? or workers from going "postal", or resolve the national problem of bitterness, or selfishness? Will they keep our daughters from getting pregnant at 13, or our sons off of drugs?

* * * * * * *

*1 “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.” Ecclesiastes 5:4
“And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God….” Leviticus 25:35-36
“Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matthew 5:37
“LORD, who shall abide in thy holy tabernacle?...He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” Psalm 15:1-4
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the alter, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the alter, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
etc.etc.etc.