Christian Ink
Published June 8th, 2010 by Editor in General News
News-Leader.com with a thought provoking look at Christians with tattoos:

When Bill Martin walked into New Life Church, he immediately felt comfortable and welcome — despite the tattoos that start at his neck and run to his hands. In the lobby of the south-side Springfield church, one wall is covered with photos of members proudly displaying their tattoos.

Tattoos have been debated among many Christians, especially evangelical Protestants, citing various biblical passages — including Leviticus 19:28 and 1 Corinthians 6:19 — to support a prohibition on the body markings. But Christians, young and old, male and female, sporting tattoos have been an increasingly more common sight in churches today…


Christian Ink at Christian Research Net

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Christian Ink
New Life embraces members with tattoos.
Linda Leicht • News-Leader • June 6, 2010

When Bill Martin walked into New Life Church, he immediately felt comfortable and welcome -- despite the tattoos that start at his neck and run to his hands.


In the lobby of the south-side Springfield church, one wall is covered with photos of members proudly displaying their tattoos.
"It set my mind at ease pretty quickly about being here," says Martin, who had avoided church for most of his adult life until a friend invited him to New Life. "Instead of crucifying people with tattoos, they hang them on a wall."
Tattoos have been debated among many Christians, especially evangelical Protestants, citing various biblical passages -- including Leviticus 19:28 and 1 Corinthians 6:19 -- to support a prohibition on the body markings.
But Christians, young and old, male and female, sporting tattoos have been an increasingly more common sight in churches today.
Martin is one of dozens of tattooed people attending New Life, an Assemblies of God church.
His wife, Jessica, has an explosion of cherry blossoms inked on her side, and they both have an Irish knot representing their marriage.
A statement by the Assemblies of God discouraging tattooing calls it "faddish" and suggests a tattoo be removed if it "in any way hinders a person's testimony or Christian witness." It is a concept that is seldom evident in most Assemblies of God churches in Springfield.
In fact, Tommy Sparger, pastor of North Point Church, recently made a video when he and some staff members went to get a tattoo of an X, the Greek symbol for Christ, on his inner wrist. The video and temporary X tattoos for those who attended were part of a sermon at Christmas.
"To me, it's just a reminder in all my business deals, every dollar I spend, every time I shake hands ... that he is the Lord of my life," says Sparger, who also has the logo of his church on his left shoulder.
The conflict between the church's official position on tattooing and the reality in the pews and at the pulpits is nothing new. Organized Christianity has had conflicting views on tattooing throughout its history



whole article is at Christian Ink | News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader