Liturgy: “Tattoos A-Go-Go and Other Things Worth Repeating”

That man, that scoundrel on that cursed tree, died to save people like me from myself, and people like you from me. Venit, vidit, vicit. He came. He saw. He conquered.

Veni Vidi Vici tattoo
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What is the King’s Liturgy? King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.

This Week’s Lectionary Readings
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Psalm 14
Luke 15:1-10
1 Timothy 1:12-17

This week’s liturgy is contributed by Dr. Dru Johnson, Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies:

A friend recently responded sarcastically to an email with “Veni, vidi, vici.” I couldn’t remember what this phrase referred to, so I Googled it:

I came. I saw. I conquered.

Per usual, a bunch of images showed up in the results, most of them body parts with this Latin phrase decoratively drilled into their pasty white arms, thighs, and—of course—chests. Apparently, this is a popular thing to tattoo into one’s bosom, the most sacred among the inky places.

I imagine that the irony of this tattoo probably did not sink into its happily inked victims. The tattoo itself scarrifically spells out who has actually been conquered: the tattoo-bearer herself. Dozens of folk proudly emblazon their motto of conquest onto their bodies seemingly unaware that a recent and prevalent tattoo fad has needled them into an ink slinger’s chair—socially pressuring them to shell out hundreds of dollars—all in order to participate in the culture of being “hip” (formerly called “cool”).

According to an ancient Jew named Paul, there is another saying that is worthy of repeating around the church, peppering in our prayers, mumbling in our masses:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Both sides of that sentence are equally important. Great sinners, even those whom Jeremiah describes as “wise in doing evil,” can be saved from themselves. EVEN MORE, Jesus came into the world precisely in order to save such pieces of societal trash.

I was fortunate enough to come into the church as a complete wreck, already tattooed with ridiculous sayings, buying into the underground cultures of cool from in my day. I was a drinker, a fighter, an insecure boy in a young man’s frame. When the God of the universe hunted me down and I finally relented, the second half of Paul’s saying was more real that the taste of sweat to me. I knew how to be wise in evil.

But when I relented to God, the first half overwhelmed me. That man, that scoundrel on that cursed tree, died to save people like me from myself, and people like you from me.

Venit, vidit, vicit.
He came. He saw. He conquered
(according to Google Translate).


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