Tattoo artist believes Christians can get inked

Keenan Wilson, a 28-year-old tattoo artist and owner of Fine Art Inkks, is challenging the conventional views of faith and having tattoos.

Wilson remains unapologetically passionate about tattoos--both on himself and his clients. Although he carries the moniker 'Man of God', Wilson explained that he is not a Christian.

"But I am a strong believer in Christ," Wilson shared. "I pray regularly, and I'm trying to understand the full story of the Lord Jesus Christ by reading the Bible a lot." Wilson's journey into tattoo artistry began during his years at Bridgeport High School, where he sketched designs on his classmates' hands, despite warnings from teachers.

"My dean of discipline used to scold me, but we would still hide and do it," he said with a laugh. "I love the idea of tattooing from then. I loved the feeling it gave when they looked at it and they love it and show it off. When it rub off, the next day them come and pay me $50 and get a next drawing done. It was like an addiction and that is when I decided that I would be a tattoo artist in the future."

By 2014, Wilson launched his tattoo business and quickly attracted a wide variety of clients, including Christians who were conflicted.

"Most people love the idea of tattoos but are afraid of the pain," he explained. "Some will say it's not the right thing to do, but for me, it's art. Some people choose to hang their art on walls, others wear it on their skin." When asked how he reconciles his profession with Biblical teachings, he referenced Leviticus 19:28 which states " You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead or incise any marks on yourselves."

"But that was about the Canaanites doing ritualistic practices to gain favour from idols, not all tattoos are forbidden," he reasoned. "I think it's about the intention behind the tattoo. If you're doing it to honour the dead or false gods, then that's something you shouldn't do. But for me, it's art, and my relationship with God is personal." Wilson estimated that he has about 33 tattoos.

"I got another one just the other day, so I probably have more by now. My neck is almost covered, my left hand is filled, my chest and stomach are covered, and my legs and feet have tattoos too. But I still have a lot more space left to fill," he said.

Among his ideas is to do an intricate back piece that reflects his spiritual journey.

"Not a Jesus face because I don't think we have the right image of God or Jesus, but something like angel wings or scripture," he shared. "It's just art, and I love to wear it." Wilson admitted that he's faced criticism, particularly from churchgoers.

"They'll ask why I tattoo myself, saying it's wrong or that it gives me a certain look," he said. "You cannot judge a person by the way he looks. It's just a form of artwork. It's nothing demonic. It's nothing going against God. It's nothing blasphemous. And the body is just a vessel. Our soul is going to Heaven or Hell; it is what will be judged not our flesh."

Wilson remains unfazed by the comments as "It's an honest bread for me".

"Regular I would be at home not getting any clients and I would go on my knees and say a word of prayer. I will talk to God and say 'God right now, I'm a broke' and the next day, sometimes the same day, I would get a call for a large piece to be done so I wouldn't say it's a bad thing."