Is It a Sin to Get Tattooed or Pierced?<\\/h2>\\n Almost twenty years ago I was the pastor of the most tattooed and pierced church that I had seen at the time. Many of my church members asked me, \\u201cIs it a sin to get tattooed or pierced? Can Christians get tattoos?\\u201d <\\/strong>Instead of going into a lengthy answer each time, I drafted an article that I could hand out. Later, when I started a blog on a different platform from this, I posted my article. That article became more popular than all my other pieces combined! Since I updated my tattoo piece and shared it on Patheos, it has become one of the foremost articles on the subject. I invite you to check out \\u201cIs It a Sin to Get Tattooed or Pierced?<\\/span>\\u201d<\\/a> That article will address any theological concerns you might have.<\\/p>\\n \\u00a0<\\/p>\\n The Meaning Behind Our Art<\\/h2>\\n**** *\* ****Some people avoid tattoos due to deeply-held beliefs about the purity of their bodies. I admire those with sincere faith who keep this restriction out of their own convictions. (It\\u2019s an entirely different matter when controlling people to prevent others from doing what they want with their own bodies.) Yet, others with equally strong beliefs feel free to adorn their bodies in any way they see fit. Many, like my wife and myself, sport tattoos with religious or spiritual symbolism. I\\u2019d like to show you our ink and talk about the meaning behind our art. <\\/strong><\\/p>\\n Memorial tattoo with feather. \"Your wings were not ready but my heart was not\"<\\/a> Photo by Gregory Smith. Tattoo by Emily Drayer<\\/span><\\/a>.<\\/figcaption><\\/figure>\\nA Memorial Tattoo<\\/h2>\\n****** *\* ******This is my wife\\u2019s memorial tattoo for her nephew, Brendin.<\\/strong> His passing was unexpected and traumatic, and it threw the whole family into a time of grief. Personally, I would not get a memorial tattoo. For me, it would make grieving more difficult. But for others like Christina, memorial tattoos are a way to process their sorrow. She says, \\u201cI know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will see Bren again because I know where he is, and he\\u2019ll always be a part of me.\\u201d For Christina and many others, memorial tattoos bear witness to their faith in an afterlife where they will be reunited with loved ones.<\\/p>\\n Treble clef tattoo: \"Sing unto the Lord a new song. Psalm 96:1\"<\\/a> Photo by Gregory Smith. Tattoo by LindsayLoo<\\/span><\\/a><\\/figcaption><\\/figure>\\nMusic Was the Key to My Heart<\\/h2>\\n******** *\* ********Christina got this tattoo during a difficult time in her life when it felt like things were falling apart. <\\/strong>\\u201cMusic was always the key to my heart,\\u201d she says, \\u201cand it reminded me that I could continue to sing, even in the worst of times.\\u201d But it wasn\\u2019t just any music that spoke to her. It has always been spiritual music that moves her soul the most. This tattoo immortalizes that connection to God through song.<\\/p>\\n**** \"Celtic<\\/a> Photo by Christina Smith. Tattoo by Amber Dinn<\\/a><\\/span><\\/figcaption><\\/figure>\\nMy Celtic Cross<\\/h2>\\n**** This is my first tattoo. Being a Celtic cross, it recalls my Scottish and Irish heritage. I wanted it to be bold. On my right forearm, it\\u2019s the first thing you see when I reach out to shake your hand (I\\u2019m a sleeves-rolled-up <\\/em>kinda guy). I got this during a time when I was doing a lot of faith deconstructing<\\/a>.<\\/span> Despite my difficulties with religion as I\\u2019d known it, I wanted to express my forever commitment to Christ. Also, I knew that some of the little old ladies in the church I served would criticize the fact that their pastor got a tattoo. It was easy to respond, \\u201cWhat\\u2014you have a problem with the cross?\\u201d Because of its prominent placement, this tattoo has started many spiritual conversations with complete strangers. <\\/strong><\\/p>\\n \"Tribal<\\/a> Photo by Christina Smith. Tattoo by Emily Drayer<\\/span><\\/a><\\/figcaption><\\/figure>\\nThe Hawk<\\/h2>\\n**** Hawks have always been special to me. Maybe it\\u2019s because my name Gregory means \\u201cwatcher.\\u201d Or because I played a hawk in a children\\u2019s Christmas pageant. (What? You don\\u2019t remember the hawk in the Christmas story???) Mostly it\\u2019s because of my connection to the Native American portion of my soul. Yes\\u2014you wouldn\\u2019t think a guy with my complexion would have Indigenous heritage. But it\\u2019s there in my genealogy\\u2014a spiritual connection and not just genetic. There\\u2019s a shamanistic part of my spirit that has received divine messages many times, through the presence of real or visionary hawks. This ink honors that aspect of my mysticism. It\\u2019s also special to me because it was my daughter <\\/strong>Emily Drayer\\u2019s<\\/strong><\\/a><\\/span> first tattoo on living skin. <\\/strong>I was privileged to offer my flesh to that cause!<\\/p>\\n \"Tree<\\/a> Photo by Christina Smith. Tattoo by Emily Drayer<\\/span><\\/a><\\/figcaption><\\/figure>\\nThe Tree of Life<\\/h2>\\n This tattoo has a double meaning for me. First, it represents the World Tree<\\/a><\\/span> motif that is prominent in many religions around the globe. In the Abrahamic religions, it\\u2019s the Tree of Life. Buddhists have the Bodhi Tree. In Norse religion, it\\u2019s the Yggdrasil. For Taoists, the peach tree is sacred. Around the world, trees represent the connection between earth and heaven, human and divine. Neopagans have a saying, \\u201cAs above, so below.<\\/span>\\u201d<\\/a> Basically, this means that for everything we see in the earthly realm, there is just as much happening spiritually that we can\\u2019t see. This concept has always spoken to me. This tattoo has a second meaning because it also represents my family tree, with my four little birds who have all left the nest.<\\/strong><\\/p>\\n Compass rose with mountain and trees tattoo. \"Not all who wonder or wander are lost.\" Tolkien quote<\\/a> Photo by Christina Smith. Tattoo by Emily Drayer.<\\/span><\\/a><\\/figcaption><\\/figure>\\nNot All Who Wonder or Wander Are Lost<\\/h2>\\n**** Most people wouldn\\u2019t see this one as having spiritual significance. It\\u2019s (almost) a J.R.R. Tolkien quote.<\\/strong> (The original is \\u201cNot all those who wander are lost.\\u201d) In the TV show The Rings of Power<\\/a><\\/span>, Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards<\\/a><\\/span>) sings the song This Wandering Day<\\/a><\\/span>, with the quote as I have it on my arm. The funny thing was, I had wanted to alter the original quote to these exact words, long before I heard the song.<\\/p>\\n

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Why do some avoid tattoos due to <\/strong>religious prohibitions<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, while others treat <\/strong>their bodies as temples<\/strong><\/a><\/span> by decorating them with religious symbols?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is It a Sin to Get Tattooed or Pierced?<\/h2>\n Almost twenty years ago I was the pastor of the most tattooed and pierced church that I had seen at the time. Many of my church members asked me, \u201cIs it a sin to get tattooed or pierced? Can Christians get tattoos?\u201d <\/strong>Instead of going into a lengthy answer each time, I drafted an article that I could hand out. Later, when I started a blog on a different platform from this, I posted my article. That article became more popular than all my other pieces combined! Since I updated my tattoo piece and shared it on Patheos, it has become one of the foremost articles on the subject. I invite you to check out \u201cIs It a Sin to Get Tattooed or Pierced?<\/span>\u201d<\/a> That article will address any theological concerns you might have.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Meaning Behind Our Art<\/h2>\n Some people avoid tattoos due to deeply-held beliefs about the purity of their bodies. I admire those with sincere faith who keep this restriction out of their own convictions. (It\u2019s an entirely different matter when controlling people to prevent others from doing what they want with their own bodies.) Yet, others with equally strong beliefs feel free to adorn their bodies in any way they see fit. Many, like my wife and myself, sport tattoos with religious or spiritual symbolism. I\u2019d like to show you our ink and talk about the meaning behind our art. <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> Photo by Gregory Smith. Tattoo by Emily Drayer<\/span><\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA Memorial Tattoo<\/h2>\n This is my wife\u2019s memorial tattoo for her nephew, Brendin.<\/strong> His passing was unexpected and traumatic, and it threw the whole family into a time of grief. Personally, I would not get a memorial tattoo. For me, it would make grieving more difficult. But for others like Christina, memorial tattoos are a way to process their sorrow. She says, \u201cI know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will see Bren again because I know where he is, and he\u2019ll always be a part of me.\u201d For Christina and many others, memorial tattoos bear witness to their faith in an afterlife where they will be reunited with loved ones.<\/p>\n <\/a> Photo by Gregory Smith. Tattoo by LindsayLoo<\/span><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMusic Was the Key to My Heart<\/h2>\n **Christina got this tattoo during a difficult time in her life when it felt like things were falling apart. <\/strong>\u201cMusic was always the key to my heart,\u201d she says, \u201cand it reminded me that I could continue to sing, even in the worst of times.\u201d But it wasn\u2019t just any music that spoke to her. It has always been spiritual music that moves her soul the most. This tattoo immortalizes that connection to God through song.<\/p>\n <\/a> Photo by Christina Smith. Tattoo by Amber Dinn<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMy Celtic Cross<\/h2>\n This is my first tattoo. Being a Celtic cross, it recalls my Scottish and Irish heritage. I wanted it to be bold. On my right forearm, it\u2019s the first thing you see when I reach out to shake your hand (I\u2019m a sleeves-rolled-up <\/em>kinda guy). I got this during a time when I was doing a lot of faith deconstructing<\/a>.<\/span> Despite my difficulties with religion as I\u2019d known it, I wanted to express my forever commitment to Christ. Also, I knew that some of the little old ladies in the church I served would criticize the fact that their pastor got a tattoo. It was easy to respond, \u201cWhat\u2014you have a problem with the cross?\u201d Because of its prominent placement, this tattoo has started many spiritual conversations with complete strangers. <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> Photo by Christina Smith. Tattoo by Emily Drayer<\/span><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Hawk<\/h2>\n Hawks have always been special to me. Maybe it\u2019s because my name Gregory means \u201cwatcher.\u201d Or because I played a hawk in a children\u2019s Christmas pageant. (What? You don\u2019t remember the hawk in the Christmas story???) Mostly it\u2019s because of my connection to the Native American portion of my soul. Yes\u2014you wouldn\u2019t think a guy with my complexion would have Indigenous heritage. But it\u2019s there in my genealogy\u2014a spiritual connection and not just genetic. There\u2019s a shamanistic part of my spirit that has received divine messages many times, through the presence of real or visionary hawks. This ink honors that aspect of my mysticism. It\u2019s also special to me because it was my daughter <\/strong>Emily Drayer\u2019s<\/strong><\/a><\/span> first tattoo on living skin. <\/strong>I was privileged to offer my flesh to that cause!<\/p>\n <\/a> Photo by Christina Smith. Tattoo by Emily Drayer<\/span><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Tree of Life<\/h2>\n This tattoo has a double meaning for me. First, it represents the World Tree<\/a><\/span> motif that is prominent in many religions around the globe. In the Abrahamic religions, it\u2019s the Tree of Life. Buddhists have the Bodhi Tree. In Norse religion, it\u2019s the Yggdrasil. For Taoists, the peach tree is sacred. Around the world, trees represent the connection between earth and heaven, human and divine. Neopagans have a saying, \u201cAs above, so below.<\/span>\u201d<\/a> Basically, this means that for everything we see in the earthly realm, there is just as much happening spiritually that we can\u2019t see. This concept has always spoken to me. This tattoo has a second meaning because it also represents my family tree, with my four little birds who have all left the nest.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> Photo by Christina Smith. Tattoo by Emily Drayer.<\/span><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNot All Who Wonder or Wander Are Lost<\/h2>\n Most people wouldn\u2019t see this one as having spiritual significance. It\u2019s (almost) a J.R.R. Tolkien quote.<\/strong> (The original is \u201cNot all those who wander are lost.\u201d) In the TV show The Rings of Power<\/a><\/span>, Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards<\/a><\/span>) sings the song This Wandering Day<\/a><\/span>, with the quote as I have it on my arm. The funny thing was, I had wanted to alter the original quote to these exact words, long before I heard the song.<\/p>\n