Christ in you, not ink

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Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 ESV)

Shan-Tai prayer month 2011, day 27

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The traditional method of tattooing in Burma

Tattooing has seen a resurgence in the west, while amongst Shan people the traditional practise is slowly dwindling. The Shan do not view tattoos as body art, but rather body armour.

Shan men get tattoos to help ward off evil and bring good fortune. The tattooist is a powerful person in the village and as he cuts the skin and injects ink he also chants and blows in a ‘spell’ which will protect the recipient from certain misfortunes or bring a particular good fortune in his life.

As Shan men migrate into places such as Thailand and encounter more western and secular forms of thought, the reliance upon tattoos for protection and blessing has waned. In its place is perhaps a more misplaced trust – that the United Nations or United States will save the Shan and bring good fortune to their people.

In many ways looking to the U.N. and U.S.A. for help from a corrupt military dictatorship is a logical thing to do. Both of these like to champion democracy and human rights so surely they would stand up for the persecuted Shan people against the genocide of the Burma Army. Unfortunately self interest, money, power and cowardice infest these human entities just as any other.

As with trusting in a special tattoo for help in desperate times is likely to disappoint, so trusting in any human solution is also likely to let the Shan people down. There is only One who is truly trustworthy, who will never let them down, who has the will and the power to save. Let us pray that the Shan turn to trust in Jesus Christ, that His Church rises up to seek justice for the Shan, and that God delivers them physically and spiritually.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
(Psalm 121:1-2 ESV)

Pray for

  • Shan to realize that the power for protection only comes from Christ (Psalm 91:14-16).
  • God to answer the cries of Shan in distress and for Shan to take refuge, spiritually and well as physically, in the Lord (Psalm 7:1-2).
  • For Shan men to trust in the Holy Spirit to be in them, protecting them, rather than ink (Romans 8:9-11).

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30 Days of Prayer for the Shan
Image credit: fabianfred