Evangelical Cultural Bankruptcy, Exhibit B

First, let me state that I believe that tatooing is a morally neutral act; an adiaphora. Some of my closest friends, such as Travis and Perry, have tattoos, and I don't think about it at all. I've just chosen not to do it. But I don't know if it is my age showing, or my inability to accept new, legitimate trends, but I find this Calvinist skin art to be yet another indicator of how Evangelicalism is being led by culture, not vice versa. I'm not even sure what this is meant to do. The only way he can see it is in a mirror. Talk about wearing your narcissism on your sleeve. Maybe a lesson on Machen's three Christian cultural approaches ("Christ against culture", "Christ is culture", "Christ transforming culture") is in order.

Let me ask would-be critics this: Is having "Jesus saves" tatooed on your penis being cultural relevant? If you agree with the Calvinist skin art, to be consistent, you have a hard time approving of one and not the other. Just think, you could commit adultery and/or fornication, and witness to your sexual partner at the same time. That cancels everything out, doesn't it? Or does your tatoo have to show in order for it to be part of your "witness"?

This is ignoring pragmatic considerations: what if this guy, just like my friend Jamey that had Luther's insignia tatooed on his wrist a few years ago and then converted to Anglo-Catholicism (though as a good postmodern he still thinks that Lutheranism and Anglo-Catholicism are compatible -- love ya' Jamey!), suddenly decides twenty years down the road that he's really an Arminian? Or what if he is still in his cage-Calvinist phase and is a horrible witness to the doctrines of grace (as George Grant describes it, all new Calvinists should be kept in cages for at least two years - a maxim I agree with and wish it had happened to me; though I admit some wish I had been confined permanently) ? It is for this very reason that I stopped putting Christian bumper-stickers on my car, because I drive so aggressively and served as a poor (or real time-sensitive) witness. Really.

Hat tip: Gideon Strauss