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

[farouk]

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

Jethro:

You lost me. Where did I do that?

I think you used a word beginning with 'b', but we need not dwell there.

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 mean she parties. 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 our generation you just can't escape what they have meant to us.

Thanks for your thoughts. Since it's interesting that you say your kids have tatts, maybe some time you could ask a son or daughter whether someone, e.g., having a Bible ref. on a wrist, etc., suggests to them that they are a bad person? Because I don't reckon they would think so, and I don't really reckon that an older person would necessarily come to that conclusion, either.

(And maybe the response to the poll question, above, is just a little instructive, too? I don't know.)

Blessings.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

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

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...

Not to mention they look so terrible on aging, leathery, wrinkled skin.

Knowing that, why would someone purposely do that???????

You know the Holy Spirit is a pretty good 'mark in the flesh' for others to see...peace, patience, long suffering (okay, I feel convicted, lol!).

 

[Jethro Bodine]

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

(And maybe the response to the poll question, above, is just a little instructive, too? I don't know.)

Bear with my advanced age...what are you getting at?

 

[farouk]

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.

Pard:

Ty for your comments. For my part, I'm not personally saying that this is what ppl ought to go and do; not my point at all. I guess the point would, rather, be: it's out there, big time, including among Godly Christians, including from backgrounds and age brackets which would often be regarded as rather conservative; some of whom do find it useful to have a faith related design.

Blessings.

Bear with my advanced age...what are you getting at?

Jethro: What I mean is, few people seem to be surprised, in their responses to the question put. (Maybe this can even teach us something?) Blessings.

 

[Pard]

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

I was reading a post about tattoos in certain places, to which I must agree that in certain places (posterior, bosom, navel, hips, upper thigh) should not have a tattoo placed there, by a female Christian, if their intent is for it to be a means of sharing the gospel, because, and speaking from very personal experience, that leads almost exclusively to stumbling for many of us men. And I'd add that men should also refrain from putting tattoos, meant to be shared with a Christian message, on parts of the body that would lead a woman to stumble. Basically, I see only a few places acceptable for a tattoo of a Christian design, such as the neck, arms, upper back/shoulder blades, and lower leg/calf. Anywhere else would undoubtedly lead to stumbling because it would require parts of the body to be shown that ought remain covered in public.

 

[farouk]

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

I was reading a post about tattoos in certain places, to which I must agree that in certain places (posterior, bosom, navel, hips, upper thigh) should not have a tattoo placed there, by a female Christian, if their intent is for it to be a means of sharing the gospel, because, and speaking from very personal experience, that leads almost exclusively to stumbling for many of us men. And I'd add that men should also refrain from putting tattoos, meant to be shared with a Christian message, on parts of the body that would lead a woman to stumble. Basically, I see only a few places acceptable for a tattoo of a Christian design, such as the neck, arms, upper back/shoulder blades, and lower leg/calf. Anywhere else would undoubtedly lead to stumbling because it would require parts of the body to be shown that ought remain covered in public.

Pard:

Some useful comments here. These are all cultural considerations and it's good to be sensible and even understated sometimes. Of course, in some parts of the world, bare arms are almost universally seen in warm weather and regarded as quite benign; in others, there is a cultural predisposition against them. What Christian people need to do is just be sensible, including in the matter of their chosen tattoo placements, if they get them, e.g., for a faith related design.

So I agree, Pard, that 'neck, arms, upper back/shoulder blades, and lower leg/calf' would probably be some of the more sensible locations. Blessings.

 

[joethemechanic]

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

I personally wouldn't get a tattoo because it is an "identifying mark"

Suppose you are on the run from the authorities and you have a tatt of a skeleton riding a Harley, wearing a top hat and smoking a cigar tattooed on your left arm.

So you are in the middle of Idaho and you stop in a gas/mini market to buy a tuna sandwich and a Pepsi. 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.

You think it can't happen to you???????????

Do you really believe that the time will never come when the government will persecute/prosecute Christians for their beliefs/actions?

 

[evenifigoalone]

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

I personally wouldn't get a tattoo because it is an "identifying mark"

Suppose you are on the run from the authorities and you have a tatt of a skeleton riding a Harley, wearing a top hat and smoking a cigar tattooed on your left arm.

So you are in the middle of Idaho and you stop in a gas/mini market to buy a tuna sandwich and a Pepsi. 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.

You think it can't happen to you???????????

Do you really believe that the time will never come when the government will persecute/prosecute Christians for their beliefs/actions?

Interesting and good point. You're scaring me now. xD (Well, I don't have a tattoo, but still.)

 

[Pard]

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

I don't think that the parable you created is compatible with the Word. OK, so don't have a tattoo if you plan on being a criminal, sure. However, you should never refrain from sharing your faith because you are afraid of being persecuted. As a matter of fact, the Bible says that you WILL be persecuted, and the apostles who are persecuted find great joy in it, because it is all tot he glory of God. I am not about to stop wearing my cross necklace because of a fear of persecution. I will happily bear that cross, because, like Romans 1 says, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

 

[farouk]

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

I personally wouldn't get a tattoo because it is an "identifying mark"

Suppose you are on the run from the authorities and you have a tatt of a skeleton riding a Harley, wearing a top hat and smoking a cigar tattooed on your left arm.

So you are in the middle of Idaho and you stop in a gas/mini market to buy a tuna sandwich and a Pepsi. 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.

You think it can't happen to you???????????

Do you really believe that the time will never come when the government will persecute/prosecute Christians for their beliefs/actions?

joe:

Well, I see.

I suppose your point would be:

i) David Koresh and all his friends at Waco were supposedly nice, innocent people, whom the authorities had no business to worry about.

ii) Therefore, don't get a faith related tattoo in case the authorities think you are a Waco-style wacko, and then kill or imprison you.

If this is your point, all I can say is that I'm not aware whether David Koresh, or any of his friends, or Attorney General Janet Reno, or anyone associated with those events, had a tattoo, faith related or otherwise.

And I also find your notional link between tattoos, Waco, and the idea of getting or not getting tattoos of whatever design, a rather obscure one.

But thanks for your thoughts, anyway. Blessings.

 

[joethemechanic]

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

OK, so don't have a tattoo if you plan on being a criminal, sure.

Why do you assume that anyone that the authorities are trying to apprehend is a "criminal"

For example, in Soviet Russia there were "underground" Christian Churches. The pastors would have been arrested had they been found out. Were those pastors "criminals"?

 

[farouk]

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

Why do you assume that anyone that the authorities are trying to apprehend is a "criminal"

For example, in Soviet Russia there were "underground" Christian Churches. The pastors would have been arrested had they been found out. Were those pastors "criminals"?

joe:

Many of these pastors in Soviet Russia were Godly men who suffered for the faith. But I don't see what this has to do with tattoos. I think it's getting off topic.

Personally I don't believe in using emotive language and comparisons to scare people, when in fact there is little link between the things being compared.

But thanks for your contributions.

 

[Pard]

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

Why do you assume that anyone that the authorities are trying to apprehend is a "criminal"

You are the one who made up some story about a biker with a skeleton tattoo who got caught by the police because the cop recognized the tattoo from his morning briefing. So why do you say this and then question me when I only reference what you have previously said?

 

[Navigator]

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

This is slightly different because it was purely meant as an identification between peoples (which isn't or wasn't always the purpose of tattoos), but what about circumcision? Purely a physical act of altering the body's appearance (and God's people were instructed to do so), but the new Christians following Jesus' death were not forced to be circumcised...why? Because outward appearances do not matter as long as that person has a love for Christ and realizes that Christ loves him/her. Pard seems to have a good take on that from what I've read, but too many are up in arms simply because they think "it looks ugly" or could be used to identify you in some way leading to persecution.

While I agree that tattoos aren't necessary, and I think one should make themselves stand out by the way they show love and not by what's marked on their skin, it's a harmless choice...regardless of the age of the person.

 

[Stan53]

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

Jethro:
I think you used a word beginning with 'b', but we need not dwell there.

I said butt Farouk, sorry if that offended anyone. Not a big deal here.
WARNING: Don't ever say FANNY if you visit New Zealand. It is a very base slang term for the female genitalia. :eeeekkk

 

[Stan53]

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.

Is that a half calf, moca with cream? ;)
I think suntans are the worse thing a woman can do to her skin. Far more dangerous than tats and yes they do end up looking pretty leathery when they get older. Tats on older women don't look nearly as bad to me, but who uses that much forsight when deciding to do something to their body in their youth?
I can tell you that personally I really DON'T like Picasso, but some tats look great as far as I'm concerned. Real artistry. Kate Von D does really life like tats.

 

[farouk]

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

Stan53: No prob.

Anyway, I think there are some ppl around who would have preferred that 'men only' got tattoos, but the fact that, as well as your sons, your daughter and a huge numbers of women have gotten them — faith designs or otherwise — means that men can expect that many women legitimately want to have it done. Blessings.

Is that a half calf, moca with cream? ;)
I think suntans are the worse thing a woman can do to her skin. Far more dangerous than tats and yes they do end up looking pretty leathery when they get older. Tats on older women don't look nearly as bad to me, but who uses that much forsight when deciding to do something to their body in their youth?
I can tell you that personally I really DON'T like Picasso, but some tats look great as fars as I'm concerned. Real artistry. Kate Von D does really life like tats.

Actually I think you are probably right about older women who get them. Seems to me that at a later stage of life there is likely to be more foresight exercised about the tattoo desired (and often it's older women that have the strongest Christian convictions, too); and with the older person that does it, it's unlikely to be 'on a whim', as may be the case with some younger people. The more foresight, the better, I reckon.

Yes, like, you say, some tatts are real artistry; a lot of skill has evidently gone into some designs and I think the industry is probably getting more and more professional all the time; less and less people are likely to be willing to put up with some of the poorly executed work that was done years ago.

I agree also that Kat von D is a real professional with huge talent.

Blessings.

 

[mygraine]

The area in which I live, >16000 people, has five tattoo shops. Of the five, three are owned by women, of those three, two are owned and operated by Christians. So the thought of Christian women with tattoos is just how it is. My wife is no longer intimidated by the whole dark alley tat shop scene. When the artist is a Christian woman, it makes it more accessible for other Christian women.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[Jethro Bodine]

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

I can tell you that personally I really DON'T like Picasso, but some tats look great as fars as I'm concerned. Real artistry. Kate Von D does really life like tats.

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).

 

[farouk]

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

This is slightly different because it was purely meant as an identification between peoples (which isn't or wasn't always the purpose of tattoos), but what about circumcision? Purely a physical act of altering the body's appearance (and God's people were instructed to do so), but the new Christians following Jesus' death were not forced to be circumcised...why? Because outward appearances do not matter as long as that person has a love for Christ and realizes that Christ loves him/her. Pard seems to have a good take on that from what I've read, but too many are up in arms simply because they think "it looks ugly" or could be used to identify you in some way leading to persecution.

While I agree that tattoos aren't necessary, and I think one should make themselves stand out by the way they show love and not by what's marked on their skin, it's a harmless choice...regardless of the age of the person.

Navigator:

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

Yes, if tattooing done in a clean and hygienic environment, it can be quite harmless for a lot of folk, and — for over 18s — something not limited to particular age groups. (In some states it's 16, with parental approval, but usually 18.)