Ink.

This post is about my tattoos.

I know that a lot of people are against tattoos for a variety of reasons.  Some people just don't like tattoos.  Some people are against tattoos for religious reasons.  Some people think tattoos on women are trashy.  If you have negative opinions or feelings toward tattoos, that is fine.  You don't have to read this post and/or look at the pictures.  All I ask is that you be respectful and polite in your comments, regardless of your opinions.  You are more than welcome to express your opinions.  I don't mind at all and I even encourage y'all to comment as you see fit.  Just be nice.  :)  Thank you.


I have four tattoos & want more.  This post is about the tattoos I have, my beliefs about tattoos & how that fits into my Christianity, and the tattoos I hope to get in the future.

I know that many people feel like getting a tattoo is a sin against God.  I know that some people think it is not a sin.  I know that a lot of people are not religious and do not care.  I also know that a lot of people are unsure of what they believe about tattoos & Christianity.  If you're in the latter group, I recommend that you read these two articles.
     Tattoos & The Bible
     Should Christians Have Tattoos?

What do I believe?  Is it okay for me, as a Christian, to have tattoos?
I think the type of tattoo matters and that as long as my tattoos are not hindering my testimony, I am not in sin by having them.  My tattoos are not (or are not intended to be) stumbling blocks for others and you'll understand more as to why I think that as I explain my tattoos.  I know that the Bible, in Leviticus (which is an Old Testament book) states that we are not to mark our bodies.  I know that other places mention how important it is to preserve our temple, or our bodies.  I know that we are no longer obliged to live under Old Testament law because of Jesus' return so I believe that it is not a sin to mark on our bodies.  As far as preserving our bodies and decorating them, I believe that as long as my "decorations" do not bring dishonor to God, I am in the clear because temples (actual places of worship) are decorated.
 
I believe that when Jesus comes back he will have tattoos on his thighs.  I know that the Bible describes it as "writing" and that there are many arguments against the writing being in the form of a tattoo.  I think that (since God is all-knowing) He knew how popular tattoos would be some day.  I think that He knew where the world would be mentally, physically, and morally.  I think He also knew that Sharpies would be popular.  I think they will be tattoos.  I could be wrong, and the only way I will know 100% if I'm wrong is by seeing Him come back.  That's just my opinion and it's an opinion I may have to answer to one day, but it's a school of thought that I support.  I think the idea of an angel writing on Jesus' leg with a sharpie marker is a little silly.  That's just me.  I think Revelation is describing His thighs as having tattoos.  Alright.  That is that.  

~.~

I got my first tattoo when I was 18 years old.  It was illegal (at that time) for minors (under the age of 21) to get tattoos in South Carolina without parental consent.  I happened to be in Spartanburg visiting a friend one weekend, and we scooted across the border into North Carolina and I got my first tattoo.  :)   

It is on the inside of my left wrist.  I got it there because I did not want any pictures showing on my (someday) wedding day, and I knew that my wedding ring would be on my left hand.  I knew that odd were my left hand would be facing ring-side-up and that my tattoo would probably not make it into any pictures (and four years later, I was mostly right).  This tattoo is particularly special and sentimental to me.  I got it somewhere more visible because I wanted people to ask me what it means.  It roughly means "beautiful person" and it was in honor of & is now in memory of my Aunt Lati who passed away from breast cancer in July of 2009.  She was diagnosed in October of 2005, battled stage four breast cancer for 45 months.  She was such an amazing person.  She left behind a husband and a 5 year old daughter.  If you care to read her story (she kept a blog) click here.  Grab a box of tissues.  It's been over two years and I can't go on the site without crying.  It's still too fresh.  She was too young and too good.  But anyway, my family did a lot of Susan G Komen walks/races.  Our team name is "Bella Person," which is a combination of my maiden name, Lati's maiden name, and her married name.  It means beautiful person because we were doing it for her..the most beautiful person any of us had ever met.  

I have this tattoo because she has an amazing story full of inspiration and faith.  I wanted people to ask me because I wanted to do everything I could to share her story.  She was and is such a precious person to all of us.  She was my favorite aunt.  I loved talking about her.  I still love talking about her.  A lot of people think cancer is for old people.  She was 34.  I'm going to start crying if I keep on, so moving on to the next tattoo... 

    

This tattoo has nothing to do with anything.  I got it when I was 19 and I had it done "under the table" in Myrtle Beach, SC because I was still not old enough to get a tattoo without parental consent.  This is not what it looked like originally.  It looked terrible, haha!  I had it redone after I turned 21 in Florence, SC by Ron White (the man who made tattooing legal in South Carolina!).  This is what it looks like now, and I liked it a lot more after Ron fixed it.  The meaning behind this tattoo & it's placement is to intrigue boys.  That was it's purpose.  It's not a tattoo I am proud of, but now...my husband thinks it is sexy so I don't mind it all that much.    The cool thing about tattoos is that after you've had them for a while, you forget that they are there. I rarely even notice mine anymore.  

This tattoo is a fleur di lis.  It is French for lily and is a symbol of strength and excellence.  I got it because I really like the shape, and Mr. Robinson (who at that time was just my friend) drew it for me.  :)  We went and got tattoos together as friends.  Um...the design inside this tattoo is supposed to (subtly) resemble a marijuana plant.  The colors used are the Rastafarian colors, commonly associated with marijuana smokers.  I got the tattoo during a darker time in my life...and this tattoo no longer holds the same meaning it did when I first got it.  I had it done last January.  Now, it's a reminder of falling in love with "the one" and a reminder how far I've come in the past year.  It is located on my left rib cage.  

 Finally, my fourth tattoo is a cross.  More specifically, it's a Unity Cross.  I did a post all about it not too long ago and you can read about it here.  My husband and I both got this tattoo, except his is on his forearm.  We put together a Unity Cross in our wedding ceremony, display the Unity Cross in our home, and have the tattoo on our bodies to remind us of our love for each other and for God.  The other post goes into more detail.  This tattoo was done on October 1, 2011 and it is located on my right rib cage.

~.~

As for future tattoos...I want tons more!  :)  I love having a new tattoo.  I love doing the unexpected.  I love shocking people.  I love how expressive tattoos can be.  I particularly love the adrenaline rush.  Oh man, there's nothing like it.  Getting tattoos is incredibly addictive because it is incredibly fun.      

I have an entire board on Pinterest dedicated to tattoos.  Here are some of my favorites.

Source: google.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: mandyisdandy247.deviantart.com via Kristina on Pinterest

I want more romantic tattoos for my husband and I.
I want a tattoo that is purely religious, a tattoo I can use as a tool to spread God's Word!
I want a tattoo of Ariel from The Little Mermaid because she was my favorite princess.
I want a tattoo of a long quote...
I love tattoos that are uniquely placed.
I love tattoos that collectively tell a story.

That's my goal.  I eventually plan on having my entire back tattooed.  I love the idea of "sleeve" tattoos, or a tattoo that is made up of tons of smaller tattoos and all fit together perfectly and tell a story.  I love it.  I want a sleeve tattoo, but don't have the guts and would lose my job.  I want a sleeve tattoo on my back.  Does that make sense?  I want my back to tell a story of who I was and who I am.  I want my tattoos to symbolize where I have come from, how far I've come, how much I've grown, who I used to be, who I hope to be..

Do you have any tattoos?


What is your opinion on Christians & tattoos?


Seriously....let 'er rip! :)