Junior Joshua Suaverdez displays his prominent tattoos. | Olivia Blinn/THE CHIMES

Whether you are an art major, hipster or simply have a keen interest in body art, chances are good that you have come across a biblical argument which speaks out against the marking of your body. Arguing this issue from a biblical angle can be challenging. The Levitical law has no bearing on Christ-followers of today and the argument of keeping our temples pure and undefiled is subject to acute interpretation. The book of James encourages us to pray for wisdom and affirms that God will respond generously. With that I will approach the dispute of tattoos from a contemporary angle and hopefully present some new perspective for those considering getting “inked.”

The Bible does not directly condemn the issue, but that does not mean it’s wise. Young adults crave independence. For example, this movement of individualism that everyone is following is often coupled with an appearance of ingenious and decorative apparel. In an effort to break away from mainstream culture, many students have found comfort in creating their own image both physically and socially.

Tattoos not favorable to many businesses

But is the pursuit of temporary social acceptance worth the possibility of limiting your career options for the future? More and more companies are enacting strict regulations for body art — including tattoos and piercings — that are visible outside standard clothing and not limited to long sleeves only.

Knott’s Berry Farm would not hire male employees if they had any piercings that were visible, gauged or not, and any tattoos past a standard short sleeve would render employees unqualified as well, according to Knott’s Berry Farm human resources. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Bank of America strongly discourage visible piercings and tattoos for managerial positions and Bank of America has expressed that their agenda for completely restricting them is currently being drafted, according to their human resource offices respectively.

Now before one merely scratches Wal-Mart and Bank of America off of their potential employers, one must consider that these are only two of many corporations who have legislated their policies opposing this type of art.

For those who are pursuing a non-conventional vocation that will likely have more liberal parameters, I would encourage them to acknowledge the current economy. In our pre-recession days it was reasonable to assume that a degree could land you a decent job on the outside. However, our current economic state has made the job market unfavorable for recent college graduates. Therefore, it is imperative that we present ourselves to be beyond adequate in as many capacities as we can when being sought after by an employer.

An urge to think about the future

Am I suggesting that we consider our society when making personal decisions? Well, yes I am. I am not saying that we have to alter our identity to become more molded to our society, but rather I am challenging my readers to think about setting aside a small bit of self in concern for their future, and in most cases, the future of your beloveds. This is a season where we are supposed to be cultivating our careers and doing our part to ensure we can provide for our future families, but excessive body art is reducing the ability to do so.

I would argue that often times these decisions are a matter of impulsivity. The idea that we should be instantly gratified is unhealthy and unfortunately practiced too often. Men and women go through significant changes in ideologies between the ages of 18 and 22; if you think you have it figured out at 22, think again. What you desire now, whether a tattoo or career, may not be what you want later, and unfortunately the decisions we make now may incur heavy consequences in the future.

I understand this may be a strong drink for some, but better they drink it responsibly now then reap possible adversity later.