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

[Car Guy]

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

Car Guy:

Oh I agree that there are tattoos and tattoos. Don't you think, though, that some designs are quite tasteful?

Also some designs are faith related, and some folk find them a useful means to bring about faith related conversations with people. But, yes, designs are very varied.

Re. women, did you know that a majority of parlor clients in North America is now female?

I can appreciate the effort it takes to ink an elaborate tattoo and there is obviously all levels of skill, but to me it's an activity that has far more negative connotations for believers than positive ones. There is just too much of being like the world in tattoos for me.

Just because something has a "Christian" label on it (eg a "Christian" tattoo) doesn't mean we can or should "check the box" making yet another worldly activity OK for believers. By the same logic I've seen some argue that pornography, if done "tastefully" for believers, (BTW "tasteful" pornography is an oxymoron) can be a positive experience for couples as well. I'm not buying it.

 

[farouk]

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

I can appreciate the effort it takes to ink an elaborate tattoo and there is obviously all levels of skill, but to me it's an activity that has far more negative connotations for believers than positive ones. There is just too much of being like the world in tattoos for me.

Just because something has a "Christian" label on it (eg a "Christian" tattoo) doesn't mean we can or should "check the box" making yet another worldly activity OK for believers. By the same logic I've seen some argue that pornography, if done "tastefully" for believers, (BTW "tasteful" pornography is an oxymoron) can be a positive experience for couples as well. I'm not buying it.

Car Guy:

I think, respectfully, we are talking about apples and oranges.

A pastor's wife (e.g.) who gets a discreet Bible ref. inked on her wrist can't be mentioned in the same breath as pornography.

There ARE bad tattoos around, but I hardly think every design is tarred with the same brush, so to speak.

Blessings.

 

[Car Guy]

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

Car Guy:

I think, respectfully, we are talking about apples and oranges.

A pastor's wife (e.g.) who gets a discreet Bible ref. inked on her wrist can't be mentioned in the same breath as pornography.

There ARE bad tattoos around, but I hardly think every design is tarred with the same brush, so to speak.

Blessings.

I agree tattoos are not inherently as bad as pornography (though some clearly are immoral and/or pornography). I was trying to illustrate how that logic is being stretched to justify about anything so long as someone can stamp "Christian" on it.

 

[farouk]

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

I agree tattoos are not inherently as bad as pornography (though some clearly are immoral and/or pornography). I was trying to illustrate how that logic is being stretched to justify about anything so long as someone can stamp "Christian" on it.

Car Guy:

I see. Well, I think that clearly, and particularly in the light of passages such as Romans 14, etc., some people do see the way forward for using means that they regard as sanctifiable.

For example, I saw a young guy with John 3.16 on his arm, and commended him for it. I'm sure that I have not been the only person who has talked to him as a result of him getting it done. Whether or not all Christians would choose to do similarly (and many wouldn't), I would not want to discount the possibility of God blessing a Bible ref. or verse which was drawn to someone's attention in such circumstances. (If you follow my thought, such as it is?)

Blessings.

 

[Stan53]

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

Tattoos are totally personal. Some people get saved AFTER they get their tats, and have them altered or removed. It is NOT an issue where we should have an issue. It's pretty much like piercing, hair colouring or breast implantations. It is between you and you maker, especially if you get saved AFTER you have these things done.

Make-up used to be a big no-no in the church when I got saved over 40 years ago. Billy Graham said it best. Once in his question and answer newspaper column a lady asked him if it was a sin for women to wear make-up. His answer was that he had never seen a barn that didn't look better with a coat of fresh paint.

Beauty if always in the eye of the beholder.

 

[farouk]

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

Tattoos are totally personal. Some people get saved AFTER they get their tatts, and have them altered or removed. It is NOT an issue where we should have an issue. It's pretty much like peircing, hair coloring or breast implantations. It is between you and you maker, especially if you get saved AFTER you have these things done.

Make-up used to be a big no-no in the church when I got saved over 40 years ago. Billy Graham said it best. Once in his question and answer newspaper column a lady asked him if it was a sin for women to wear make-up. His answer was that he had never seen a barn that didn’t look better with a coat of fresh paint.

Beauty if always in the eye of the beholder.

Ty for your comments, Stan53.

Some people also get a tattoo or more after they were converted, particularly if the design is faith related. A guy I was talking to had John 3.16 on his arm, which must have taken a while to do.

What handy in the comments, quoted at the beginning, particularly noted was that for several (middle aged) women in her conservative church it's no longer a source of inhibition.

Blessings.

 

[Stan53]

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

Ty for your comments, Stan53.

Some people also get a tattoo or more after they were converted, particularly if the design is faith related. A guy I was talking to had John 3.16 on his arm, which must have taken a while to do.

What handy in the comments, quoted at the beginning, particularly noted was that for several (middle aged) women in her conservative church it's no longer a source of inhibition.

Blessings.

Yes I have two sons, 23 & 25, and they both have the aforementioned Biblical content.

 

[farouk]

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

Yes I have two sons, 23 & 25, and they both have the aforementioned Biblical content.

Stan53:

Interesting! You must have been quietly satisfied when you heard that they were going to be permanently inked with a Bible verse for witness purposes, anyway.

You have two sons, then. (No daughters as well?)

Blessings.

 

[Stan53]

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

Stan53:

Interesting! You must have been quietly satisfied when you heard that they were going to be permanently inked with a Bible verse for witness purposes, anyway.

You have two sons, then. (No daughters as well?)

Blessings.

Not really, they weren't verses. One son has the word faith and a cross through it over his heart and the other has the Alpha & Omega symbols between his shoulder blades. They're OK, but as a parent you have to learn to let go and put them in God's hands. I have 3 sons and one daughter...she is the eldest. She has one on her lower back just above her butt. It is actually in Hebrew script and means FAITH. She also has one on her neck that reads HALAL which is Hebrew for "Worship clamorously" plus a flower on her right hip.
My eldest son has decided it is NOT in God's will for him to have one, which is just fine with me.

Check out this story about Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers MLB team. He is NOW a Christian. I think it is inspiring.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3740999

​

His tats are at this site;

http://www.google.ca/search?q=josh+...AW3uKWvCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CFgQsAQ&biw=1015&bih=767

​

 

[farouk]

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

Not really, they weren't verses. One son has the word faith and a cross through it over his heart and the other has the Alpha & Omega symbols between his shoulder blades. They're OK, but as a parent you have to learn to let go and put them in God's hands. I have 3 sons and one daughter...she is the eldest. She has one on her lower back just above her butt. It is actually in Hebrew script and means FAITH. She also has one on her neck that reads HALAL which is Hebrew for "Worship clamorously" plus a flower on her right hip.
My eldest son has decided it is NOT in God's will for him to have one, which is just fine with me.

Check out this story about Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers MLB team. He is NOW a Christian. I think it is inspiring.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3740999

​

His tats are at this site;

http://www.google.ca/search?q=josh+hamilton's+tattoos&hl=en&newwindow=1&prmd=imvnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=K23mT-HtFube2AW3uKWvCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CFgQsAQ&biw=1015&bih=767

​

Ty, Stan53, for the links.

So you have a daughter too and it so it sounds like it was your daughter who kind of blazed the tattoo trail first, before two of her brothers.

You sound like you were more or less okay with your sons' tatts; were you kind of satisfied, too, that your daughter was getting faith related designs done?

Blessings.

 

[Stan53]

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

Ty, Stan53, for the links.

So you have a daughter too and it so it sounds like it was your daughter who kind of blazed the tattoo trail first, before two of her brothers.

You sound like you were more or less okay with your sons' tatts; were you kind of satisfied, too, that your daughter was getting faith related designs done?

Blessings.

Yes, personally I was.
I am a diabetic and have been thinking about getting the Medic Alert symbol tattooed to my wrist. Then again, I am 58 so... not sure.

 

[Jman96]

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.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

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

Faith based tattoo?

That is like this girl I saw in the store with a cross incorporated into her "lower back" tattoo. I can tell you being in line behind her really had me thinking about Jesus

That's worse than Madonna strutting around seductively in her music videos with a cross around her neck.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

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

...it's not only young people that are going for their ink rite of passage at 18, but also older people. Including many middle aged women.

I'm 49 years old, and I think probably the most disgusting looking thing I see women my age and older doing is getting a shoulder and/or calf tattoo. If they think they're making themselves more attractive in some way they are seriously deceived, IMO. Add a leathery looking sun tan to that and well...you get the picture.

Every woman needs to take a good look at a 60+ year old woman's tattooed flesh before they decide to get a tattoo for themselves. Inky blotches on wrinkled, leathery skin... What is going on inside the heads of these people? I'm thinking of the Proverbial gold ring in the snout of a pig, but tatts hardly compare to a gold ring! Sorry to be so blunt, but that's how's I sees it.

Sadly, coming to Christ doesn't remove these ugly stains middle aged woman put on their bodies, so it should not be something that solicits our judgment of them in regard to their place in the body of Christ.

Okay, done making friends for today in the forums, lol!

 

[joethemechanic]

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

I'm 49 years old, and I think probably the most disgusting looking thing I see women my age and older doing is getting a shoulder and/or calf tattoo. If they think they're making themselves more attractive in some way they are seriously deceived, IMO. Add a leathery looking sun tan to that and well...you get the picture.

Every woman needs to take a good look at a 60+ year old woman's tattooed flesh before they decide to get a tattoo for themselves. Inky blotches on wrinkled, leathery skin... What is going on inside the heads of these people? I'm thinking of the Proverbial gold ring in the snout of a pig, but tatts hardly compare to a gold ring! Sorry to be so blunt, but that's how's I sees it.

Sadly, coming to Christ doesn't remove these ugly stains middle aged woman put on their bodies, so it should not be something that solicits our judgment of them in regard to their place in the body of Christ.

Okay, done making friends for today in the forums, lol!

They never grew up

 

[Navigator]

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

I'm surprised there is so much backlash over such a superficial topic... :bigfrown

 

[Jethro Bodine]

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

I'm surprised there is so much backlash over such a superficial topic... :bigfrown

They're butt ugly! What's so surprising about 'dat?

 

[farouk]

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

They're butt ugly! What's so surprising about 'dat?

Jethro:

Thank you for you willingness to contribute to the thread. If I might say so, there is no need to introduce somewhat explicit references to the (female?) anatomy.

Let me just reiterate/state neutrally that, as others have said as well, some Christians do find that a faith related design (Bible ref., thought-provoking Scriptural word, etc.) can help to bring about witness conversations with people.

And there are other Christians that do not find it a useful thing to do. Which is fine, also.

The poll results, in a question quite benignly put, do indicate that most of the respondents do not find the matter in question surprising.

Blessings.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

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

Jethro:
If I might say so, there is no need to introduce somewhat explicit references to the (female?) anatomy.

You lost me. Where did I do that?

Let me just reiterate/state neutrally that, as others have said as well, some Christians do find that a faith related design (Bible ref., thought-provoking Scriptural word, etc.) can help to bring about witness conversations with people.

Sure...to a younger generation. But they are the ugliest things a middle aged person can put on their bodies...IMO. And, right or wrong, you can't escape what tattooing yourself generally represents to us middle aged folks. It's just plain near sighted to ignore cultural understandings.

To us, generally speaking, tattoos on a man mean he's a bad boy. Tatts on a gal means she likes to party. I didn't decide that. That's just the way it is. I know it's unfair to instantly categorize people that way...especially our young folk (my kids have tatts). But for the middle aged generation you just can't escape what they have meant to us. And like I say, they sure don't go away just because a person gets saved.

 

[Pard]

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

The Lord calls, for His flock, from all the peoples of the world, and that includes rockers, punks, rebels, bikers, etc., etc.. If my brother, int he pew next to me, is covered in tattoos, why should I have any different feelings for him than the brother on my other side dressed in his best three piece suit? The famous line from Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. comes to mind, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

So what if their skin is a mix of blues, greens, reds, and grays? All I care about is that they have a heart for Jesus.

Now it appears that the conversation has taken a turn towards the idea of Christians getting tattoos, to which I would say this: I would suggest against it, though it is truly between that Christian and God. I personally do not see the point in putting money into a tattoo when it could go to something for God's purpose, but again, it is between God and that Christian and no one else needs to concern themselves with such silly things.