Tattoos and Heaven

So I overheard something at Barnes and Noble cafe that made me cringe. I couldn’t see who was speaking. She was on the other side of a partition.

“I can’t go to heaven because I have tattoos.”

Just to let you know, she wasn’t being serious, simply stating in a sarcastic way what someone told her. Then she said, “I don’t care anyways.”

Wow and Wow.

Got me thinking about the silly things some Christians are passing off as God’s word. Maybe the girl misunderstood. It’s possible. Or maybe she had a tattoo covering her whole face that said, I ‘heart’ satan. But even that shouldn’t matter.  To tell someone some ink on their body can keep them from God . . . Again- WOW!

I fear whenever we add anything to God’s grace.

You know what? I don’t drink alcohol. Nope. And guess what? I take criticism from both sides- Christians and non-Christians! “You’re being legalistic!” “You’re a kill-joy”. Truth of the matter- It’s a personal choice. Sufficient to say I’ve never told anyone, “If you drink you can’t go to Heaven!” I’d be adding to God’s Word.

GRACE! That’s the key. God shows His love to us, even when we don’t deserve it. Salvation IS NOT “I’ll change my ways and maybe I’ll please God and He’ll accept me”. NO! That would be you trying to get there on your own.

NONE OF US ARE GOOD ENOUGH-TATOOS OR NO TATTOOS.

SALVATION IS “Jesus died for me! He loves me despite my weaknesses, my sins, my quirkiness and my idiosyncrasies.”

One other thing she said that made my liver quiver. “I don’t care anyways.”

Sad to say this is the way many people feel. But I believe she’s fooling herself. Deep down everyone  cares. That’s why self-help books are such a big seller. That’s why cults and false religions are so attractive to people. They have a deep-felt need that must be met.

News bulletin! Jesus is God’s answer (and ONLY ANSWER) to that need.

So share God’s love! People have an inner aching only He can take care of. Remember you’re sharing God’s Grace, not your views, opinions, or cultural beliefs. Don’t add to Grace.

And yes, people with tattoos can go to Heaven. And people who drink, and people who own cats, and tall people, and short people, and rich people, and poor people, and people who . . . You fill in the blank.

Not by our actions, but by God’s grace!

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

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