These posts usually begin as an idea that pops into my mind during my morning runs. As a practice, I don’t listen to music, books or podcasts as I run. I listen to the thoughts in my head, to the prayers I utter, and for God’s voice and direction. This week’s post has come about because as I was running through my community, I noticed that we have a number of tattoo parlors that have recently opened. While I have no interest in getting a tattoo myself, my daughter has several and as a result I have paid more attention to the artwork people are displaying and the self expression that tattoos afford.
Based on my observation, it seems that everyone has a tattoo now-a-days. The statistics bear out that tattoos are becoming more commonplace. Approximately 40% of people aged 18-34 in the U.S. have a tattoo. Approximately 36% of people aged 35-50 have a tattoo, while the percentage of Americans over 50 with tattoos is only 16%.
A 2019 article from Psychology Today reports that tattoos first emerged in the 1800s and were considered a sign of being a criminal or deviant. The article then cited a survey of South African college students (“My Body is My Journal, and My Tattoos are My Story”: South African Psychology Students’ Reflections on Tattoo Practices. Current Psychology. February 2019, Volume 38, Issue 1, pp 177–186.) which revealed some striking results. “Most of the participants (78%) did not have tattoos, and most of their parents (92%) did not have tattoos. However, most of the participants’ friends (74%) had tattoos — and almost half (47%) were considering getting a tattoo or another tattoo.”
The reasons people get tattoos are as varied as the ink artwork itself. Some find that tattoos can give them a sense of belonging or allow them to express who they are as individuals. Others perceive tattoos as a way to adorn the body as a fashion accessory or work of art to wear on the body.
Whatever the reason, motivation, or number, I believe tattoos reveal a level of commitment that could be a lesson for us as followers of Christ. While some may consider spontaneously getting a tattoo, we need to remember the permanence of this ink on your skin. Getting a tattoo is a lifelong commitment.
Being a follower of Jesus Christ is also a lifelong commitment, which we call discipleship. So how does a church, how does your church, foster discipleship? Let’s start with a definition of a disciple. While there is not a “one size fits all” understanding of this concept, a definition I like to use is a disciple is someone in a lifelong relationship with Jesus that makes us like Jesus as we do the work Jesus has called us to do. We will explore this more in future posts. And while our motivation may be varied, there is one thing we have in common, we may or may not have a tattoo on our body, but God has placed a tattoo on our hearts. “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” Jeremiah 31:33 (NRSV).