"At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women"

[Jethro Bodine]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

In comes Officer Fife to buy a coffee. He is minding his own business until he spots the Harley riding skeleton on your left arm and remembers something about some bulletin he read last week ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

That fast you end up on the inside looking out.

Why do think Andy Taylor was widowed? His wife came waltzing into Mayberry Methodist Church one Sunday morning with a Sturgis tattoo on her arm, and by Tuesday she had gone missing, been declared dead and written out of the show.

Didn't know that did ya?

 

[Stan53]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Okay, true enough, butt let's keep the artistry on dried, leathery skins of paper, not dry, leathery skins of old people, lol.


Oh, and thanks for the little tidbit on Australian protocol. Ya never know when you'll be down under, aye mate? (That's the cue for all you real Aussies to roll your eyes, lol).

Oh sorry...it is New Zealand, NOT Australia. Don't know why I wrote that name?
It sucks to get old!

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Navigator:

I think also under the Old Covenant circumcision was symbolic of the unprofitability of the flesh.

The removal of the unprofiability of the flesh.

The mark is in the fact that the flesh is missing.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Oh sorry...it is New Zealand, NOT Australia. Don't know why I wrote that name?
It sucks to get old!

Lol, did one of our blessed Australian brothers or sisters PM you?

Don't know how Zealanders talk...so I have nothing.

 

[farouk]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

I thought it might be nice to share my perspective on the designated topic. My voice might not be viewed as the entire opinion of my generation, however I know many people of my generation that do understand my view and share a very similar outlook on the topic.

I believe that one or two tattoos are not a sinful nature or are in any way rebellious unless you do so in such manner where a child is told not while you live under my roof or are under 18. However I strongly believe there is no need to go out and get your entire arm, leg, face, chest, or body for that matter tattooed up. There is a border between acceptable and just plain crazy the way I look at it. I am not one to go out and get a tattoo. I grew up in with a very strict family for the beginning of my life to date where it was not acceptable. Now it is still not acceptable but I have my own opinion on the matter. I feel I do not need one, or for that reason have any need for one. I am a strong person and don't need any art on my body. I do not know or understand the reason for which those who get tattoos get them or need them, but as long as people's beliefs and opinions on viewing such things in different environments and locations are respected it is of no problem to me what people do with themselfs if it is in no way going to hurt me or anyone else for that matter.

Just my two cents.

Jman96:

You are right that under 18s particularly need to respect their parents' wishes. I agree also that no one should feel obliged or pressurized into getting one.

Taking responsibility for having it done or not having it done belongs to adulthood, and although some states allow it at 16 (Idaho, at 14, apparently) with parental permission, I think it's sensible to wait until 18 if the person is going to do it, because they are more likely to know their own mind then.

Re. rebellious or not, since some young people's parents have them, if they get one they are hardly rebelling against one's parents.

What handy (quoted in the OP) found particularly noticeable was the amount of older women from her conservative church that have had it done.

Blessings.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Re. rebellious or not, since some young people's parents have them, if they get one they are hardly rebelling against one's parents.

So if your parents jumped off a bridge you should too?

(Oh boy, so sorry. There's the parent coming out in me again)

 

[Stan53]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Lol, did one of our blessed Australian brothers or sisters PM you?

Don't know how Zealanders talk...so I have nothing.

Doh! No thank God, it was your response... I was thinking, "what the heck is he talking about?", then I looked at my post. I have a friend who I Skype with regularly in NZ.

 

[farouk]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

So if your parents jumped off a bridge you should too?

(Oh boy, so sorry. There's the parent coming out in me again)

Jethro:

Someone above mentioned that an older person (and the thread was prompted by the observation that several middle aged women in her conservative church have had it done) is more likely to do it with foresight.

You are saying that getting tattooed is like jumping off a bridge.

An act done with foresight versus jumping off a bridge...

(I'm not sure of your analogy, actually.)

Blessings.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

It sucks to get old!

Yeah it does.

Have you been caught dozing off in your favorite chair in the middle of the day with your head tilted back and your mouth hanging wide open yet? Bad sign...real bad, lol. Been there, done that...often.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

You are saying that getting tattooed is like jumping off a bridge.

An act done with foresight versus jumping off a bridge...

(I'm not sure of your analogy, actually.)

Blessings.

It was a joke. (And apparently a pretty bad one at that, lol.)

Don't cha remember when you wanted to do something crazy because so-and-so did it your mother came back with that famous rhetorical question, "so if so-and-so jumped off a bridge you should too?" (Or something like that).

 

[farouk]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

It was a joke. (And apparently a pretty bad one at that, lol.)

Don't cha remember when you wanted to do something crazy because so-and-so did it your mother came back with that famous rhetorical question, "so if so-and-so jumped off a bridge you should too?" (Or something like that).

Jethro:

Oh okay.

The removal of the unprofiability of the flesh.

The mark is in the fact that the flesh is missing.

Not sure I see a direct analogy between circumcision and tattoos, either...

Blessings.

 

[joethemechanic]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Hey, here is an Ed Hardy Christian Design

 

[farouk]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Hey, here is an Ed Hardy Christian Design

joe:

Well, I see.

Are you showing this because you like it?

Or because you don't?

(Or even because you are indifferent.)

Just wondered...

Blessings.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Not sure I see a direct analogy between circumcision and tattoos, either...

Blessings.

Just as the world marks themselves, identifying themselves with someone or something in the world special to them, so we the people of God are to have a distinguishing mark that says something about us and what we hold dear.

For Christians the mark in the flesh we are commanded to take is circumcision...not literal circumcision, but circumcision of the heart...the removal of the deeds of the flesh (envy, hatred, pride, etc.). THAT is how the Christian is to mark himself in the world.

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit..." (Ephesians 1:13 NIV1984)


THAT is the mark of faith that testifies to the world. In fact, when I used to do a lot witnessing in the workplace at a former job, whenever the subject of tatts came up, and whether or not they're okay to have, I used it to tell people how God wants us to mark ourselves in the flesh with the mark of the Holy Spirit--the fruit of the Spirit and the absence of the deeds of the flesh.

For me, having a tatt and thinking it somehow brings me into a closer, more influential place to share the gospel with an unbeliever is the same as bellying up to a bar with a shot of whiskey with an unbeliever thinking that I'm making a valuable inroad to bring them to the faith. Unbelievers are not dumb. IMO (and let me stress, IMO), you lose credibility when you do things like that. You're really showing them that they really aren't so bad off with God and can stay largely the way they presently are. Then, being assured of that by our hypocrisy, they bring that corruption into the church. I'm speaking very generally and broadly here, so don't get upset at me.

 

[Stan53]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Yeah it does.

Have you been caught dozing off in your favorite chair in the middle of the day with your head tilted back and your mouth hanging wide open yet? Bad sign...real bad, lol. Been there, done that...often.

Yeh...every day. I'm 58 and retired. That lazyboy is meant to make you fall asleep!

 

[farouk]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Just as the world marks themselves, identifying themselves with someone or something in the world special to them, so we the people of God are to have a distinguishing mark that says something about us and what we hold dear.

For Christians the mark in the flesh we are commanded to take is circumcision...not literal circumcision, but circumcision of the heart...the removal of the deeds of the flesh (envy, hatred, pride, etc.). THAT is how the Christian is to mark himself in the world.

THAT is the mark of faith that testifies to the world. In fact, when I used to do a lot witnessing in the workplace at a former job, whenever the subject of tatts came up, and whether or not they're okay to have, I used it to tell people how God wants us to mark ourselves in the flesh with the mark of the Holy Spirit--the fruit of the Spirit and the absence of the deeds of the flesh.

For me, having a tatt and thinking it somehow brings me into a closer, more influential place to share the gospel with an unbeliever is the same as bellying up to a bar with a shot of whiskey with an unbeliever thinking that I'm making a valuable inroad to bring them to the faith. Unbelievers are not dumb. IMO (and let me stress, IMO), you lose credibility when you do things like that. You're really showing them that they really aren't so bad off with God and can stay largely the way they presently are. Then, being assured of that by our hypocrisy, they bring that corruption into the church. I'm speaking very generally and broadly here, so don't get upset at me.

Jethro:

Very good; this is well explained. I like it.

I can see the comparison now. Thank-you.

Re. what else you said, I guess I'm concluding that you don't want a tattoo ... Fine.

 

[Stan53]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Just as the world marks themselves, identifying themselves with someone or something in the world special to them, so we the people of God are to have a distinguishing mark that says something about us and what we hold dear.

For Christians the mark in the flesh we are commanded to take is circumcision...not literal circumcision, but circumcision of the heart...the removal of the deeds of the flesh (envy, hatred, pride, etc.). THAT is how the Christian is to mark himself in the world.

THAT is the mark of faith that testifies to the world. In fact, when I used to do a lot witnessing in the workplace at a former job, whenever the subject of tatts came up, and whether or not they're okay to have, I used it to tell people how God wants us to mark ourselves in the flesh with the mark of the Holy Spirit--the fruit of the Spirit and the absence of the deeds of the flesh.

For me, having a tatt and thinking it somehow brings me into a closer, more influential place to share the gospel with an unbeliever is the same as bellying up to a bar with a shot of whiskey with an unbeliever thinking that I'm making a valuable inroad to bring them to the faith. Unbelievers are not dumb. IMO (and let me stress, IMO), you lose credibility when you do things like that. You're really showing them that they really aren't so bad off with God and can stay largely the way they presently are. Then, being assured of that by our hypocrisy, they bring that corruption into the church. I'm speaking very generally and broadly here, so don't get upset at me.

Well all I can saying is apparently bellying up to the food trough with unbelievers was the very style Jesus exemplified.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Jethro:

Very good; this is well explained. I like it.

I can see the comparison now. Thank-you.

And thank you for showing your appreciation of this beautiful truth God has given his people. I glanced at your bio but didn't see your age. Are you a young person?

Re. what else you said, I guess I'm concluding that you don't want a tattoo ... Fine.

By reason of Romans 14 it would be impossible for me to get a tatt. It just has no pure motive attached to it for me (and let stress 'for me'). Perhaps that explains my general resistance to the idea of someone in my generation, saved or unsaved, getting a tattoo.

 

[farouk]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

And thank you for showing your appreciation of this beautiful truth God has given his people. I glanced at your bio but didn't see your age. Are you a young person?

Jethro:

Neither real young, nor real old ...

By reason of Romans 14 it would be impossible for me to get a tatt. It just has no pure motive attached to it for me (and let stress 'for me'). Perhaps that explains my general resistance to the idea of someone in my generation, saved or unsaved, getting a tattoo.

Interesting, v. interesting.

Because of the very same passage I find it hard to be against Christians who choose to have a faith related tattoo for witness purposes. It's all about letting everyone be 'fully persuaded' in his or her own mind, I guess.

Blessings.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Re: "At our church, there are several with tatts, including several middle aged women

Well all I can saying is apparently bellying up to the food trough with unbelievers was the very style Jesus exemplified.

Yes, the idea of mixing it up with unbelievers in the hope of breaking down the barriers between believers and unbelievers and being friendly with them is entirely legitimate. I try to do that myself. I just think there are things that even unbelievers know a Christian should not indulge in their attempt to do that.

It's dangerous to do things that really do more to show you're not any different than them in their sinful state than shows them we are not as condescending and self righteous and judgmental and standoffish as unbelievers perceive us to be.