Many people have been raised to believe that tattoos or ink have a negative connotation when it comes to being a Christian.
In 1 Corinthians 6:19 Christ says, “Do you not know your body is your temple?”
For years, I was dead-set against ink because of the moral stigmas that I had against decorating your “temple” with different shapes or designs that people find artistically pleasing.
I got a tattoo on Jan. 2. I did not do it for aesthetic beauty or so that others would tell me it looked cool, but I did it as a reminder – a note that is jotted down in ink – to remind me every day why I am on this earth.
My tattoo would be like a note on my arm, a sort of compass to direct me in the way I am supposed to live my life.
I decided months before I actually got the tattoo that I wanted every stain to be significant.
The letters all stand for something different and each has something to do with my faith.
The letter “A”- Stands for my constant Awareness of God in my life.
The letter “D” – Represents my Dependence on Christ in every situation knowing that only He can get me through any obstacle I face.
The letter “S” – Is for Sacrifice. It means to sacrifice and serve for others like Christ did for us.
The letter “H” – Is Humility. Reminding me to stay humble in everything that I do and to profess my only way to heaven is through Him.
The two arrows are meant to represent Hebrews 4:12, which signifies the double-edged sword that is God’s piercing word in the hearts of sinners.
The broken arrow points toward the ground signifies peace and reminds me that instead of feeling anger or wanting war to love thy neighbor and find forgiveness when in the face of resentment.
The reason I got it near my veins is because of the simple fact that my blood runs through my veins because of Christ. He alone breathed life into me that I may live for His glory. I must now remind myself every day what I live for and why I am here.
The arrows as a whole symbolize this verse in Psalm 127: “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” Because of my love for children and the fact that I am helping lead the children’s worship program at Highland Baptist Church, this verse was a pleasant depiction of that.
And finally, the arrows are pointing down my arm so that they instruct me as the hands and feet of God, to reach out and help others and spread God’s piercing message across all nations. Even though tattoos are not always seen in the most positive light, I now know where I stand. I have seen the way people inquire about mine and it almost always gives me a chance to share both my testimony and my walk.
Unlike a piercing or some other form of body art, my ink has a purpose and that soul purpose is to share God with others.
Dane Chronister is a junior journalism major from Dallas. He is a reporter and regular columnist for the Lariat.
