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

[Ryan]

No probs. Should be an interesting conversation. As I said before, your playing hockey, I'm playing football. Only commonality is each sport is played with a ball. Oh wait, never mind. There must be some common ground. Oh right, Christ.

Till next time and God bless

 

[Ryan]

Okay so re. the Sabbath (and this is hyperbole, forgive me; you wouldn't really say this) but what about those Christians who go to Red Lobster after the church service and the preacher doesn't execute them for Sabbath breaking?

Maybe I shouldn't even phrase it like this, but I do reckon that what you and I practise on the Lord's Day is rather different from the Jewish observance of the Sabbath.

Today, we are in the good of what the Old Testament feast of firstfruits looked forward to: the Resurrection. 1 Cor. 15.20.

(Hey, Ryan, why don't we go to another thread, or start another thread, because this has nothing to do with the subject of the OP.)

Blessings.

Just you and I talking maybe? I have to say though after tonight, I am swamped for a couple of days, so may not respond back in a timely manner.

 

[reba]

Lets stay on topic...... reba

 

[farouk]

Well, she might have regretted it if it had been the name of an old boyfriend she had broken up with. . But with a Celtic cross you can't go wrong, IMO.

Speculative:

PS: No regrets then, I guess...

 

[Speculative]

Specilative:

PS: No regrets then, I guess...

Not at all. For her, it's an opportunity to celebrate her Christian faith and her Celtic heritage

 

[farouk]

Not at all. For her, it's an opportunity to celebrate her Christian faith and her Celtic heritage

Speculative: Yes, really, like with many Christian women (men also, as in former years, but it seems like in many Christian women now there has sort of blossomed a deeply felt desire for ink that's God honoring and tasteful). Like you say, if done with the intricate lines of Celtic patterns, this is one tasteful way of doing it. As you stated, once they've made up their minds, asking to receive the tattooist's needle is treated joyously as a celebration of Christian faith, really.

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

Carolyn:

Again, thanks for such a lovely, gracious post you wrote.

Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

QuestDriven and Farouk,

I am providing the flip side to the argument that is more weighted to not getting one. I have provided all of Levitucus 19 for all to read. Decide which one of these verses are for the believer today, and which one was for the Jew yesterday. Unfortunately, Christianity has removed itself so far from the Jewish origins of our faith, that the whole Levitical laws have no understanding for how they were interpreted by the sages of old. And that is unfortunate, because there is so much wisdom and knowledge from the origins of our faith.

Your theology implies that man gets to pick which ones are relevant. Why can we not conform to God's commandments, not God conform to ours. And yes, there are many laws that were solely given to the land, priesthood and what not. Mostly because they just cannot be practiced today, so they're out of service temporarily. But really think, which Law will be written on our hearts? It's the only law God has ever known, and the one that revealed his character to a redeemed people. I highlighted and underlined the ones that cannot be observed today.

Here's a video about why we no longer follow the Old Testament (Old Covenant): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_QACgqKtT8
It's addressed to non-Christians who use this to criticize Christianity, but I think it offers a good explanation here, too. There's three parts to the video. (Here is part two, which especially illustrates the point I'm trying to make: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpPYWUvez9c And part three: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMS4WNIP6ks )
Even doing a Google search on this subject could help you out, and explain the reasoning behind not following OT law.


Again, the Old Testament law had historical reasons behind it, much of which is no longer relevant to our day and time. It's not there for us to follow ourselves, but to help us understand what the law used to require before Jesus' sacrifice. This has nothing to do with "picking and choosing". I simply don't believe the OT is there for the same purpose as the NT, and this goes probably for the vast majority of Christians. Including theologians.
I believe God has logical reasons for the rules He gave us. He had logical reasons for the OT laws and practices. And there are logical reasons why many of those laws and practices are no longer necessary.
As the video points out, many of the OT laws reflect universal morals, that are still followed today (in some modern equivalent, where necessary), or should be.
Other parts of OT law reflect specific conditions in Israel and are simply not applicable today. Some of these did involve universal morals. Others didn't.
And then some are simply ceremonial, and as you said, do not need to be followed as that would be pretty much impossible.



The New Testament specifically amends some of the OT laws. For example: circumcision. This is mentioned in the NT where there was a dispute among believers over whether circumcision was necessary or not. Paul confirmed that it's no longer necessary. It also says we are no longer under the law, but under grace. (If I could remember the reference, I'd name it here.)



All of that said, I do not wish to debate.

 

[farouk]

... If I came up with something totally awesome, then maybe...


Tattoos do seem to be largely accepted now, in any case. Some of my friends and even some of the people at my church have a tattoo or two.

questdriven:

Just to add that it would probably be good for you to do two things, which is to consider really seriously and carefully if you do eventually wish to use some tasteful ink to proclaim your faith joyously. Only you can know the answer to this. And then also, when you do come across a 'totally awesome' design, like you say, make tentative plans: but then wait a whole year, at the end of which you will have a better idea of coming to terms with its permanence.

(Makes some sense, I hope?)

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

PS: from back a bit:

. the grandmother's .. that are getting tattoos... who are also very solid and well grounded spiritual women, wholly submissive to their husbands and wonderful examples in the church... well, a few of them are in Emmett, Idaho. ..They have the freedom in Christ to get a tattoo if they want to,..you cannot deny that they do.

handy:

Well, this doesn't surprise me that tattoo equality between men and women is now confidently perceived among more mature Christian women as extending to them, anyway. Blessings.

 

[Speculative]

Speculative: Yes, really, like with many Christian women (men also, as in former years, but it seems like in many Christian women now there has sort of blossomed a deeply felt desire for ink that's God honoring and tasteful). Like you say, if done with the intricate lines of Celtic patterns, this is one tasteful way of doing it. As you stated, once they've made up their minds, asking to receive the tattooist's needle is treated joyously as a celebration of Christian faith, really.

Blessings.

I completely agree

 

[farouk]

I completely agree

Speculative: Yes, well I think it's now hard to deny that many Christian women do keenly receive the tattooing needle joyously, because they want a sort of radiant testimony to burst forth from tastefully injected ink. (Now that women can confidently participate in tattoos on a par with men, anyway.) Blessings.

 

[farouk]

...



The New Testament specifically amends some of the OT laws. For example: circumcision. This is mentioned in the NT where there was a dispute among believers over whether circumcision was necessary or not. Paul confirmed that it's no longer necessary. It also says we are no longer under the law, but under grace. (If I could remember the reference, I'd name it here.)
...

questdriven: On another thread, active today, a suggestion made by handy that circumcision may be compared with tattooing, is discussed, actually.

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

PS: I read this again:

Heh. My mom would probably flip if I got one.

questdriven:

Would she still? especially if it was a nice faith based design.

Blessings.

 

[abide]

PS: I have been giving this some thought and my attention has been drawn, or I have caused myself to focus on, whether my posts seem to be saying that people should go get faith based tattoo designs.

This is not my intention for this impression to be given. (I guess it's hard to deny that there might be some positive aspects to them, though.)

Farouk what is your ethnicity? just curious

 

[evenifigoalone]

PS: I read this again:



questdriven:

Would she still? especially if it was a nice faith based design.

Blessings.

Yeah, I think she likely would. But I could be wrong.

 

[farouk]

Yeah, I think she likely would. But I could be wrong.

questdriven:

Well, no need to antagonize her, right?

But then also, you are an adult.

Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

questdriven:

Well, no need to antagonize her, right?

But then also, you are an adult.

Blessings.

Yeah. But since I still live with her I don't want to give her any more reasons than necessary to worry about me. xD
I'm not really interested in a tattoo, anyway. I might change my mind sometime in the future, but not now.

 

[farouk]

[MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION] :

BTW, a while back you referred to folk at your church with tattoos.

My church is also very conservative, and I know that at least a couple of members/past members have tattoos, and probably more than that..

This was of course your previous church, right? I guess that you haven't figured whether men and women at the new church have them as well?

In our area men and women working in banks have visible tattoos, so I'm not sure how feasible it is to expect all tattoos to be covered in church.

Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

[MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION] :

BTW, a while back you referred to folk at your church with tattoos.

This was of course your previous church, right? I guess that you haven't figured whether men and women at the new church have them as well?

In our area men and women working in banks have visible tattoos, so I'm not sure how feasible it is to expect all tattoos to be covered in church.

Blessings.

I saw at least one person with tattoos at my current church.