The other day, I got a very friendly letter from somebody, urging me to accept Jesus into my heart. It’s not super common for me to get letters like this. Mostly I get a lot of letters from people asking me for tips on how to become an occult investigator, or offering me insights on something I wrote, or just clueing me into something they themselves are interested in. In any event, I thought this letter (and the response I wrote to it) was a very nice example of something. And certainly, it’s a lot nicer than the letter I got a few months back, from a woman who suggested that it was “people like me who keep people from coming to Jesus,” whatever that is supposed to mean…

Hello Mr. Boucher, my name is _____ _______ and I ran across your website a moment ago and saw your article about Christians & tattoos. A few years ago, my life changed when I received Jesus Christ as my personal savior. I was tired of running from the truth about him (that he died for my sin and paid my debt & I only had to receive him into my heart), and I found him to be everything the Bible says he is. I don’t care if you have a tattoo or not, I would just like to ask you to take a step toward God by asking Him, “If you’re out there, show me”. You’ll begin to have experiences in life of things about Jesus coming your way through personal contact, TV, radio, etc.. The important thing isn’t tattoos or any of the rest of the stuff, but the real issue is where will you spend eternity. Please don’t be offended by this email, I’m not trying to be mean, I’m sure you are a very good person, but the issure isn’t how good of a person are you ut what have you done about Jesus? Have a great day, _________

And my response:

hey dennis! thanks for your email. it was very thoughtful of you to send it, and kindly written, i might add. its always nice to see people looking out for one another, and spreading knowledge and love. i very much appreciate it. and i’m also very much into your views that the trappings arent what is important, but what you have in your heart really is. its a wonderful message, and i think truly reflects jesus’s own teachings.

that said, i do believe it really is about being a good person. and i believe that jesus and god go by many names, and that as long as you move forward with love and understanding towards god, yourself, and others, then you will have well at the end of the day.

thanks very much again for your letter.

tim boucher