Rejecting the tattooed kid

God answered my prayer, much to my regret

I was a first-time counselor at a week-long Christian camp, almost 30 years ago (before tattoos were really common). I was nervous on camper check-in day, and especially more so when I saw a young man walking toward me with multiple tattoos showing peaking out of his tank top. I prayed, "Lord, please don't put him in my group."

God gave me what I asked for, but I missed out on a blessing of really getting to know him.

Later in the week, I learned that this young man was was a former gang-member who had recently become a Christian. As a way to honor God, he got the word "SAVED" tattooed in big, bold, ornate letters across his upper chest.

For him, the tattoo was a way to honor God in the best way he knew how. For most of his life, he used tattoos to proclaim what was important to him — power, girls, drugs, etc. So when he started following Jesus, he used the same media to let others know what had become of utmost importance in his life.

I’m glad I got to know his story, but I missed out on the blessing of fellowship, all because I had judged him on his appearance.

Suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? (James 2:2-4)