(6 min read)
The question caught my attention. I mean, is anyone really asking this?
Turns out the answer is yes, a lot of people are asking this question. In fact, as of this writing, this is the 9th most-asked “can we/I” question on Google.
Most of the questions people ask Google are fairly basic or practical: “what time is it in…,” “when will I get my refund” (at least during tax season), “how many ounces in a cup,” etc.
So I was a little surprised to see this one listed in the 10 most-frequently asked questions on Google that start with the word “can:”
Can we go to heaven with tattoos?
I suppose there’s a practical aspect to asking a fairly straightforward question like this. Seems logical to wonder whether a pretty significant choice like permanently inking our body can change where we end up for all eternity. But this one?
Maybe it’s because tattoos have become so normalized in our culture - it seems like everyone has at least one tattoo. There was a time when seeing someone with ink on their forearms, chest, or neck sent a clear message: I’m in a band. I’ve been through things. I’m not someone you mess with. Now it’s just as likely that your gentle-hearted, kitten-loving local barista has at least a few prominently displayed tattoos.
Tattoos are more common than ever, across all kinds of people – including people who consider themselves spiritual or religious. In a recent Pew Research survey, 32% of people state they have a tattoo.
Plenty of our staff here at Grace Chapel have tattoos as well, so it's probably not them asking whether their ink will keep them out of heaven.
I asked a few of them to share a little about the meaning behind their ink, and here’s what they said:
“My favorite tattoo is my cloud tattoo. It is a constant reminder of God being present even in the midst of deep doubt, unbelief, and depression.”
“On my forearm is a tattoo of a sapling. A very close artist friend designed it for me and helped me test-drive the tattoo for a while. The inspiration comes from Wendell Berry’s “Manifesto: the Mad Farmer Liberation Front” poem as well as Isaiah 61. Wendell Berry encourages us to “plant sequoias” which is a tree that takes over 100 years to reach full maturity. And Isaiah sees a people who will grow to be “oaks of righteousness.” Putting it together, I’m a slow work in progress and my life’s calling is to plant righteous acorns – never fully seeing the fruit of my labor.”
“I was pretty sure I'd get a tattoo at some point, but I wasn't sure what I'd get until one night when I was reading Mark 5 and got to verse 41 when Jesus says to Jairus's soon-to-be-raised back to life daughter, “Talitha Koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” Those words touched an area of my soul that needed to do just that, so I decided that would be my first tattoo.”
“I love all my tattoos but my first one has the deepest meaning. On the top of my foot and going up my leg, I have some roses and a dove. I based this tattoo off Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers and the flowers fade but the Word of God stands forever.” I chose roses as the flowers because my middle name is Rose and the dove represents Jesus (think of the story of Jesus’ baptism when the Spirit descends on Him like a dove in Mark 1:9-11). The whole idea behind this tattoo is that when everything else eventually fades away – myself, this life, literally everything – I have faith that God never will. The Lord is constant, present, and true and I can trust in Him. I put it on my foot because I want this truth to guide me wherever I go!”
The bigger question…
...are these people really asking about tattoos?
It seems to me that the tattoo question is kind of a proxy for a bigger one. I think a lot of people are wondering if something they've done in this life will keep them out of heaven.
They’re worried they’ve done something that God won’t forgive.
A tattoo can be a beautiful, permanent representation of something wonderful and God-honoring in our heart. It can express almost anything that we as humans experience: joy, sadness, peace, comfort, strength… but not all the permanent marks we bear are the same.
Some of us have hurt someone in a way that left a permanent scar; either one we can see, or one we can't. We’ve broken a relationship. We’ve left a different kind of mark on the world, one that haunts us to this day. And because we can’t let it go, we’re scared God won’t let it go.
There are many things about us that matter more to God than our tattoos. And those aren’t always visible.
Jesus cares a lot more about things other than your tattoos
There are plenty of times in the Bible that Jesus warned people about things that could keep them out of heaven. One of them was when he talked about money:
It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 19:24
Wait a minute - is Jesus saying that just because someone is rich, they’re in jeopardy of missing out on eternal life?
That’s a strong word of caution. Jesus knows that the greatest problem with wealth isn’t the money itself, it’s what it can bring: Comfort. Pride. Entitlement. Self-reliance. A sense of security apart from God.
A tattoo can express who we are on the inside, but wealth can influence it. And it’s who we are on the inside that Jesus cares about most. He cares about how we live out our faith. How we live our lives in relationship with God, in a way that’s good for the world.
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ – Matthew 25:40-45
It's clear that Jesus doesn't concern himself with a single act of sin; he's interested in our patterns, our lifestyles, our attitude towards God… and by extension, what we do to help the people around us.
Tattoos existed in Bible times, but they were never mentioned by Jesus. In fact, Jesus only mentioned one “unforgivable sin,” and he specifically directed that towards the Pharisees. You can read more about it here (spoiler alert: it doesn’t mention tattoos).
Tattoos make us vulnerable, because they reveal something about our heart and mind for the world to see. No matter how small, or basic, or hidden, every tattoo tells a story. Jesus cares a lot more about the story behind the ink, the person inside the skin, than he does about what’s on the outside.
So yes, you can absolutely go to heaven with your tattoos.
Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash
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