The mournful gray dragon etched onto Betsy Welander's right shoulder is not a symbol of Norse mythology or Asian mysticism. It represents her faith in God and his ability to transform his followers' selfishness to humility.

"The story of Eustace as the dragon in 'Voyage of the Dawn Treader' is one of the most powerful redemption stories in literature, in my opinion," Welander said, referencing the third installment of the Chronicles of Narnia series, by C.S. Lewis. "It reminds me that redemption is painful but so incredibly worth it."

Tattoos have long been taboo in the Christian community, but many young believers now choose to get inked as an outward symbol of their faith. Unlike previous generations, which saw the permanent marks as a violation of Scripture, as well a sign of youth rebellion or gang activity, today's young adults consider tattoos a cultural norm. Some even think of their artwork as a witnessing tool, although critics question the real motivation behind the practice.

Last week, teen pop star and professed Christian Justin Bieber made news for getting a large tattoo of Jesus' face - reminiscent of a Renaissance painting - on his left calf.

Bieber's tattoo makes a statement, but the tattoo does not make the Christian, said Welander, a 2011 Wheaton College graduate.

"Personally, I sincerely do not believe that a celebrity who doesn't already have a strong Christian message can really be taken seriously as 'witnessing' by having a Jesus tattoo," she said.

Welander sports four tattoos, one of which reads, "What's lost is nothing to what is found," quoted from Frederick Beuchner's "Godric."

"This quote reminds me that no matter what we feel like we are missing out on, God's plans are always going to be so much better than anything we can imagine for ourselves," she said.

Although several of her tattoos are based on Christian messages, Welander does not believe that a Christian tattoo is a particularly strong method of sharing the Gospel. But she also does not view the colorful symbols that decorate her body as violating scripture.

In 2008, the Journal of Psychology and Christianity published the results of a survey of Christian college students, who were asked about their perceptions of tattoos. The majority of the small group questioned - just 24 students - said they thought Old Testament references to tattooing either did not apply in today's culture or were dispensationally irrelevant.

Welander agreed.

Although Leviticus 19:28 says, "You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord," Welander does not think the prohibition applies to Jesus' followers, seeing the Old Testament command as no longer applicable in a modern context.

"I believe that tattoos are in the same boat as women wearing pants, eating pork and head coverings," she said.

But Chris Vlachos, a New Testament professor at Wheaton College, says all the justifications for Christians getting tattoos mask the real reason behind the trend - the age-old attempt to fit in.

"I saw a middle to late aged pastor recently whose arms were covered with recent tattoos and who had an earring and what was obviously a long hair wig. It makes you wonder what is going on. Why is he trying to look 'cool'?" Vlachos said.

While Vlachos does not find it morally wrong for Christians to get tattoos, he cautions emphasizing the external. Vlachos had a tattoo before he became a Christian but said he removed it when he learned that character was what really offered witness. Believers should be concerned about what's on the inside, not what's on the outside, he said. Although Bieber and other pop stars are finding new ways to flash their faith to the world, the ink means nothing without the other convictions, Vlachos said.

"I sometime wonder what is on the inside that would lead a person to permanently tattoo a fashion or design on themselves," he said. "If there is any imprint on our bodies that would have lasting meaning and significance I think it should be the 'brand marks of Christ' that Paul himself bore."