Tattoos 'just part of our society'; among Christians 'it is open'.

[farouk]

On the other thread, Debbie made some confident and clear statements about tattooing being 'just part of our society', and that among Christians 'it is open':

.. I work with parents with small children so they are a fairly young crowd and tattoos are common. It is just part of our society now. ..Some of the most devout people I know have tattoos-young and older.
.. Unless the behavior is directly in opposition to the word of God (like the commandments and the teachings of Christ) it is open.

I'm particularly aware of the potentials of faith based tattoos, if indeed it is 'open'. Comments?

 

[ColdBlooded]

The tattoo threads have been on the rise and I haven't been paying much attention to them. Is this a cause of split decision here? For and against tattoo's or another issue entirely, I'm not sure.

I wouldn't think that ink in your skin would have much to do with God or how he feels about you. I would assume it's just about being a good person, not lying, cheating, being gay, etc.

I never heard anything about tattoos but maybe someone has a passage about perversion of the body or a temple metaphor. It may be a no-no, I have no idea.

 

[Titusdrake]

I dont like seeing Believers using "its just part of our society" to justify doing something

Do we get our faith from Society?
Is it Society that we pledge our love and devotion?
Would you let Society teach your kids how to act and think?

Ultimately God and the Bible are what we need to follow. Not Society. Its hard, but Being a Christian isnt supposed to be easy.

I personally will never get a tattoo. God created us and God said it was good. Who are we to go and say our body would look better with mundane human art on it?

I dont believe people with tattoos are "evil" or anything. God loves everyone.

 

[farouk]

ColdB.:

We are not saved by being good; it is by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ and relying on what He did by dying at the Cross for sinners.

 

[farouk]

I dont like seeing Believers using "its just part of our society" to justify doing something

Do we get our faith from Society?
Is it Society that we pledge our love and devotion?
Would you let Society teach your kids how to act and think?

Ultimately God and the Bible are what we need to follow. Not Society. Its hard, but Being a Christian isnt supposed to be easy.

I personally will never get a tattoo. God created us and God said it was good. Who are we to go and say our body would look better with mundane human art on it?

I dont believe people with tattoos are "evil" or anything. God loves everyone.

Titusdrake:

I actually agree with quite a lot of your underlying meaning, I think.

What Debbie was saying — and I understand and appreciate it, too — was that it is open and permissible if there is no direct commandment against it, particularly in the New Testament.

I guess it's partly a question of Romans 14 giving believers Christian liberty where not contradicted elsewhere; and partly the sheer pragmatism of the fact that many people undeniably do get them, and — as the opening post said — there is therefore a lot of potential for faith related designs; e.g., a Bible ref. on a wrist may well provoke conversations with people.

Blessings.

 

[AirDancer]

As has been pointed out on other tattoo threads... there are many opportunities by which a faith-based tatt can reach out to in witness to others.

Should a Christian get inked with what I've referred to in the past as 'dark' designs. Absolutely not.

But there are faith-based designs that are modest, tasteful, and acceptable.

And it makes a big difference for the Christian seeking ink: is the motive for the tatt to blend in with society...or is the motive for the tatt to further his/her witness to others.

My 2-cents.....

 

[Mike]

Farouk,

I had a bit of an aha moment yesterday. I'm in Florida with my family, and we spent yesterday at Disney World Magic Kingdom. (Yes, we wait for the hottest time of the year, and then we go somewhere hotter. )

There was a guy in front of us with a tattoo on the back of his neck. He had a big (2 inch tall) tattoo of "666" and below it, (1 in tall words), "The love of my life". ed!

My son saw it first, and then our daughters saw it. It was unsettling, to say the least, and we dropped back in line so we didn't have to be looking at it the whole time. But I was moved by the meaning of his tattoo, more so than the mere fact that he had any tattoo. If a tattoo can evoke that kind of response in a negative way, I'd have to admit that a faith-based tattoo could elicit the same response in a positive way.

I'll still never consider getting one, but that was interesting for me.

 

[Mason]

Doesn't the Old Testament forbid tattoos anyway? (Lev 19:28)

 

[tandemcpl]

As has been pointed out on other tattoo threads... there are many opportunities by which a faith-based tatt can reach out to in witness to others.

Should a Christian get inked with what I've referred to in the past as 'dark' designs. Absolutely not.

But there are faith-based designs that are modest, tasteful, and acceptable.

And it makes a big difference for the Christian seeking ink: is the motive for the tatt to blend in with society...or is the motive for the tatt to further his/her witness to others.

My 2-cents.....

What she said.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

But I was moved by the meaning of his tattoo, more so than the mere fact that he had any tattoo. If a tattoo can evoke that kind of response in a negative way, I'd have to admit that a faith-based tattoo could elicit the same response in a positive way.

"8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” " (Galatians 5:9 NIV1984)

The ways of the world creep into the church like yeast in dough until the whole batch is polluted. I guess there will always be people ready and willing to bring 'yeast' beliefs and teachings into the church, ever so innocently at first, of course, until it has infiltrated the whole and the church is persuaded to accept it.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Doesn't the Old Testament forbid tattoos anyway? (Lev 19:28)

Yes, it does.

The passage deals with forbidding pagan rituals used in sorcery and divination, IOW, rituals used in the service of other gods. God repeatedly warned the Israelites not to do what the pagans do in the worship of their gods.

Unlike the clipping of hair spoken about there, tattoos are still very much the domain of pagans worshiping their 'gods', as Mike's testimony bears out. But the day will come, thanks to those who are pushing that agenda, that the pagan ritual of tattooing will become an accepted part of our worship of God (e.g. so-called faith based tattoos).

 

[farouk]

Yes, it does.

The passage deals with forbidding pagan rituals used in sorcery and divination, IOW, rituals used in the service of other gods. God repeatedly warned the Israelites not to do what the pagans do in the worship of their gods.

Unlike the clipping of hair spoken about there, tattoos are still very much the domain of pagans worshiping their 'gods', as Mike's testimony bears out. But the day will come, thanks to those who are pushing that agenda, that the pagan ritual of tattooing will become an accepted part of our worship of God (e.g. so-called faith based tattoos).

Jethro:

So I guess you would even deny any attempt a God-honoring design, even in this age of grace?

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

As has been pointed out on other tattoo threads... there are many opportunities by which a faith-based tatt can reach out to in witness to others.

Should a Christian get inked with what I've referred to in the past as 'dark' designs. Absolutely not.

But there are faith-based designs that are modest, tasteful, and acceptable.

And it makes a big difference for the Christian seeking ink: is the motive for the tatt to blend in with society...or is the motive for the tatt to further his/her witness to others.

My 2-cents.....

AirDancer:

In other words, I guess you would say that there is a vast difference between the 'dark' variety and those that you refer to a modest, tasteful and acceptable.

Blessings.

 

[AirDancer]

Hi, Farouk -

There is a vast difference between 'dark' tatts and the faith-based ones.

And I do not equate faith-based designs with pagan tatts. (Sorry, Jethro, this is one of the very few areas in which you & I disagree)

Not every Christian will want a tattoo. However, it is still up to the person, who must know his/her motive behind wanting a tatt. Therein shall be the difference.

 

[Nick]

Titusdrake:

I actually agree with quite a lot of your underlying meaning, I think.

What Debbie was saying — and I understand and appreciate it, too — was that it is open and permissible if there is no direct commandment against it, particularly in the New Testament.

I guess it's partly a question of Romans 14 giving believers Christian liberty where not contradicted elsewhere; and partly the sheer pragmatism of the fact that many people undeniably do get them, and — as the opening post said — there is therefore a lot of potential for faith related designs; e.g., a Bible ref. on a wrist may well provoke conversations with people.

Blessings.

I guess there is a sense of Christian liberty, but we mustn't get caught up in the view that just because there's not a verse the explicitly commands us to do or not to do something, that means that it's ok to do or not to do something. We must also consider what the Scriptures, as a whole body of work has to say., perhaps in terms of a theme through Scripture.

 

[farouk]

I guess there is a sense of Christian liberty, but we mustn't get caught up in the view that just because there's not a verse the explicitly commands us to do or not to do something, that means that it's ok to do or not to do something. We must also consider what the Scriptures, as a whole body of work has to say., perhaps in terms of a theme through Scripture.

Nick:

Yes, I agree with this as well, pretty much. Of course, Romans 14 does strongly suggest that the New Testament believer should not try to legislate for other believers, particularly if it is a matter of personal preferences, and so forth.

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

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Re. being ‘open’, she also meant the following: “Over time, and as any behavior is accepted by our society, we no longer see a problem with it. It is only when a behavior is in rebellion to God that it is wrong and that is something only God and the person with the behavior knows for sure.â€

This brings us back, really, to AirDancer’s comment about it being a matter of motive.


Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

My church is pretty "old fashioned" on many subjects and they seem okay with visitors and members having tattoos.
One of the pastor's granddaughters even has one. So you don't get the wrong idea: she's not a child. She's about my age, a little older.

 

[farouk]

My church is pretty "old fashioned" on many subjects and they seem okay with visitors and members having tattoos.
One of the pastor's granddaughters even has one. So you don't get the wrong idea: she's not a child. She's about my age, a little older.

questdriven:

Yes, well, it's not surprising if she does; so many men and women over 18 do, don't they? (and probably why many Christians get faith related ones done, as well, because it's such a widespread practice). She probably did it for her 18th, or a bit after. Ty for your comment.

 

[Psalm28:7]

Yes, it does.

The passage deals with forbidding pagan rituals used in sorcery and divination, IOW, rituals used in the service of other gods. God repeatedly warned the Israelites not to do what the pagans do in the worship of their gods.

Unlike the clipping of hair spoken about there, tattoos are still very much the domain of pagans worshiping their 'gods', as Mike's testimony bears out. But the day will come, thanks to those who are pushing that agenda, that the pagan ritual of tattooing will become an accepted part of our worship of God (e.g. so-called faith based tattoos).

I am not sure about the history of tattoos, but if it does have pagan origins, then a tattoo, even a godly one is wrong. It's just like Halloween. It is a Satanic holiday, and even if you dress up as a Bible character to go trick-or-treating, you are still participating in the holiday. Your motives might be good, but people might assume that you are just like everyone else in society. The Bible says that we need to be in the world but not of it (John 17:16).

I found this quote from an article http://www.bible.com/bibleanswers_result.php?id=230 that might be helpful. "Some Christians argue that they have the name Jesus or some Biblical word or sign tattooed on their body so they can witness by the tattoo. However, God is more concerned how we are living our lives than by displaying a religious mark on our body. That is not the highest way He would have us witness. The Lord would rather us witness to others by the character of Christ being demonstrated in our lives than display Christian slogans that many times are not matched by the life of Christ." (Under "Our Bodies are Our Temples") I think it brings up a good point. Our Christian character is more important than any displays of Christianity (a cross necklace, a T-shirt, etc.) That is what people remember most.