In our little town the tats, the metal, the shaved heads and mohawks and brilliantly dyed hair are part of a culture that says two basic things: one is gang id, the other is the idea that "I am worthless, less than nothing, a drag on the world, and I'm gonna let that show."
Generally when a person gets saved the tats either get covered or else medical treatment is sought if they are really offensive. Metal tends to go away, and hair tends to normalize.
See, when I think I am no better than demons from the pits of hell, and think the world sees me as of absolutely no value, it shows. When the God of the universe accepts me and gives me value, it also shows.
When I see those demonized looking folks my heart breaks for them, because they seem to be so very lost.
Your mileage may vary according to your culture.
I think there might be a couple issues involved in something like this, where low self esteem is certainly one of those.
Had a helper once who, when he showed up, had tats all the way up his arms, piercings, those earrings that make the big holes...the whole shebang. But he turned out to be one of the nicest kids I've ever met, lol. Great attitude. My boss at the time, on the other hand...didn't like him at all, and gave him a hard time. Finally, he told me, "Man, I like working with you, but I just can't take (the boss)." I did my best to convince him not to worry about him, he was mostly mouth, but, he had decided. So I asked him, "Well, what is it you want to do?"
He looks me in the eye, and says, "I'd really like to work with kids."
All I could do not to bust out laughing, because that career was doubtful in light of his appearance. But that was his heart, to work with kids.
Moral of the story? Best not to try to read the heart from external appearance. As mentioned by a few the opposite can be, and oftentimes is, just as bad. A suit and tie doesn't dress the heart, but the outside of the cup.
Just a theory of mine, but many who get involved in those cultures have low self esteem, and could probably be found to have been outcasts much of their lives. Sometimes people are accepted in these cultures and the dressings are nominal in regards to why they go full tilt, the larger picture just a matter of most people wanting to fit in somewhere.
Went on a missions trip with a group, and heard about some guy who, because of his zeal for Christ...had a very large tattoo of what is supposed to represent Christ on his arm. His motivation was simply to publicly declare his faith in Christ, and it was accepted by some, ridiculed by others. I don't have an opinion on it, really, because I am not the one that has it, lol.
I guess all of this to say sometimes there are circumstances we are not aware of, and when someone like that comes into our sphere, how should we treat them? The same way Christ treated all of us? That we had no tattoos doesn't elevate us above other sinners. So I would agree, I think the culture will give way to the new culture one is associated with after being saved, but, those cultures vary.
Almost forgot one thing I was going to throw in for consideration. It is said of Marylin Manson, hailed by many evangelicals as a devil worshipper )never looked into it myself to validate or invalidate), that when he was a kid he was made fun of by church kids. This is the reason why he rejected God, so they say. Think it was a camp of some sort. The point being, while he is ultimately responsible, would we want to end up in a story of people who drove someone away from fellowship, rather than seeking to bring them in?
God bless.
