Stations on Skin

2 Corinthians 3 reminds us to whom we belong and to whose image we are daily being transformed.  18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

I believe that God uses imagery to powerfully communicate His nature and His glory - to the children of Israel, He communicated through the majesty of the temple and the design of the various elements.   Jesus used powerful images of healing and deliverance, of water turned to wine and bread and fish turned to a feast - in order to show people who He was.

Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

And, in our culture today, we have opportunities to communicate God's truth in a variety of ways - and I am thankful for those Christians who seek to use the arts to tell the story of Christ.    And, a form of artistic - and cosmetic - expression is being used to remind believers in Houston about the death and resurrection of Jesus...

Pastor Chris Seay of Ecclesia Church in Houston encouraged church members to consider being part of an art exhibit during Lent, employing the talents of a local tattoo artist - that's right - tattoo.   And, some 50 people responded by having their skin emblazened with a variety of symbols of the Stations of the Cross - it's called "Stations on Skin" and "Cruciformity".   By the way, it is well known in my family that I do not care for tattoos, and we do recognize that the tattoo was forbidden under the Old Testament Law.   But, in today's culture, tattoos have become quite popular, and if they can be used for the glory of God, then I'm OK with them.   Our challenge as the church as a whole is to find creative ways to speak into the culture and communicate effectively - if a tattoo can provide an open door in order to share God's truth, then go for it.  You just won't find me anywhere near that instrument!!