Tattoos and Body Piercing
It’s more than skin deep!
While visiting a University Campus, I was amazed at the extent
of tattooing and body piercing among young people. Just about everyone I saw
seemed as though he or she had tried to outdo everyone else. Some had their faces
tattooed, many had hideous monsters or demonic figures tattooed across their backs and chest, and many had multiple rings
through their ears, eyebrows, navels, lips and tongues. What is behind this current
trend?
Formerly, men, mostly, were tattooed to express a macho image,
to impress a girlfriend with the love and devotion, or to show their identification or allegiance with some group or organization. On some occasions, men were tattooed when they were drunk. Usually after they were sober and realized what they had done, they were filled with remorse and shame. Loved ones would be disappointed and embarrassed by their foolishness. Some found that the girls whose name was inscribed on an arm for all to see, had been unfaithful or deserted
them; the tattoo became a permanent reminder of emotional pain and a matter of deep regret.
In spite of this, tattoos and pierced ears were harmless enough-they were only skin deep.
Some of the older generation consider the current trend to be
another passing fad or phase which, given time, will pass away. It may, therefore,
be ignored. Others tend to despise these people for their unconventional behavior
and consider it to be utter foolishness. How serious is the issue? Is this a matter for concern? Are these expressions simply
skin deep?
On the surface, these forms of body mutilation might not appear
to be too serious – there are a lot worse things that people can do. On
the other hand, they are the practical expression of deep issues. Tattoos and
body piercing are outward expressions and manifestations of the philosophy or world-view of Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900). Nietzsche wrote his doctoral dissertation on the two conflicting views of history
in ancient Greek thought. He himself embraced the view symbolized by Dionysus,
a cult characterized by wild orgies in which chaos triumphed over order. According
to the publisher of Nietzsche’s work, Beyond Good and Evil, “The pagan philosophy of Nietzsche is a vital force
in the world today. He is the philosopher of Power, Strength, the Superman, who
takes what he wants and is not deterred by mercy or kindness.”
The current craze of tattooing and body piercing is the declaration
of personal independence and total freedom. If one ask “why?” the answer, if there is an answer, will be, “It is my body, I will do whatever
I please.” It is the declaration, “I am in charge of my life and
destiny. Besides, what does it matter to you what I do?” It is the practical expression of Nietzsche’s philosophy. Since
chaos triumphs over order, life is meaningless and empty; it had no significance or purpose.
On this basis many not only tattoo their skins and pierce their bodies, but also fill their lungs with smoke, their
stomachs with alcohol, their veins with drugs and their minds with sexual perversions and violence.
While we will never know the cause, Nietzsche himself spent the
final decade of his life totally insane. It is entirely possible, even probable,
that his obsession with megalomania drove him to that condition. At least his
insanity ought to cause people to seriously question his approach to life. Nevertheless,
multitudes of contemporary young people, act upon his premises, whether they understand his philosophy or not.
Nietzsche freed mankind and himself from the possibility of truth. The indoctrination has been so thorough that many today are determined to pursue a
course of self-destruction without question or caution. Must a person destroy
himself or herself merely to demonstrate that he or she is in control? Must a
person disfigure himself or herself permanently to make a statement?
Several years ago, an attractive young woman pursued a course
of reckless, indulgent living. She became an alcoholic, a drug addict, and a
prostitute. After years of desperate search and deep degradation, someone shared
with her a truth which radically transformed her life. When I met her, she said,
“I cannot believe that I spent twenty-five years killing myself, trying to live.”
Though she will bear the scars of her folly for the rest of her life, she discovered the freedom and satisfaction for
which she had longed. She learned that she was made by the true and living God;
when he made her, he was not experimenting, playing or deciding what to do as he proceeded.
God made her for a purpose. He made her to experience his love, and to
enjoy His fellowship. She discovered that a personal relationship with her Maker
brings meaning, purpose, satisfaction, and significance to life. She learned
that a personal relationship with God is possible only through Jesus Christ who came into this world to save sinners and to
restore them.
The Bible forbids tattooing and mutilation of the body (Lev. 19:28). The reason for that prohibition is that we as human beings, often live to regret our actions. We are our own worst enemies. God has given such commands
to spare us from remorse and self-inflicted pain. Significantly, however, God
has a tattoo. He says, “I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.” (Isaiah 49:16) God has no regrets about
those on whom he sets his love. Having engraved the names of his people on his hands, he will never abandon or cast them off. God’s “tattoo” is of course
metaphorical. The language is used to describe the permanence and safety of God’s
people. It might also be an oblique reference to the nail scarred hands of Jesus
Christ. His body was mutilated to pay the penalty of human rebellion against
God. The imprint of those scars is a permanent testimony to the fact that all
of the demands of devine justice have been fully met through his death on the cross.
All those who embrace Jesus Christ as their Saviour by faith have peace with God and find meaning, purpose, and satisfaction
in life.
Nietzsche chose Dionysus over “the Man on the Cross”,
as he referred to Jesus Christ. His choice was foolish, it probably led to his
mental derangement and destruction. To follow his view and example is foolishness;
to follow Jesus Christ, however, is the way of life and peace.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the
end thereof are the ways of death.” (Prov. 14:12)
Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is
the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:13-14)
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only
true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.” (John 17:3)
(Copied)
Linleigh J. Roberts
Protestants Today
Our Inheritance Magazine
Summer 2002
