To Tattoo or not to Tattoo

I have ink. My wife has ink. Our youngest daughter has outrageous ink. We are not circus folk. I could argue that personal body ink has, or at least ought to have meaning. Mine all have scriptural connotations. People ask me what Revelation 5:5 is and I tell them to look it up because I forgot the original reference.

In this context I considered getting a new tattoo in solidarity with Iraqi Christians being persecuted by Islamic State extremists. The Arabic letter ‘nun’ is used to mark Christian homes for attack. The letter stands for ‘Nazarene.’ Many folks around the world are suddenly brandishing the letter to bring attention to the horrific persecution. I though having it inked onto my wrist was the least I could do.

Turns out I was right. Getting a new tattoo would have zero effect in the lives of Christians facing the onslaught of violence. The $70 I would need to decorate myself would provide no shelter, no food, no medical treatment, no comfort whatsoever.

The Voice of the Martyrs provides a Syrian Outreach Package for $7 that includes shirts, socks, bedding, personal toiletries. The packs are filled by Christian families in the USA, sent to the donor with instructions on how to get them to front line volunteers bringing the Gospel of Peace directly into Syria.

Foregoing my tattoo would afford me 10 Syrian Outreach packs. If 10 InspireAFire readers each pledged a $7 pack, I could still get my tattoo and have a better story to show for it.

You can contact The Voice of The Martyrs at 1-800-747-0085 or write to: The Voice of The Martyrs P.O.Box 443 Bartlesville OK 74005-0443 email: thevoice@vom-usa.org

Time to tell the world love writes in indelible ink.

Will Schmit

Will Schmit is a volunteer outreach prison minister for Lifehouse Church in McKinleyville Ca. He is the author of Head Lines A Sixty Day Guide to Personal Psalmistry and Jesus Inside A Prison Minister's Memoir and Training Manual both available at Amazon Books and www.schmitbooks.com. The website also includes poetry, ministry updates, and music downloads from Bring To Glory a CD of spoken word with coffee house jazz.

More Posts - Website - Twitter

One comment

  1. I am so glad you did not get a tattoo, then God won’t have to ask you why you defaced the body he gave you that way. The $70 donation is much better.

Comments are closed.