Is Being Against Tatoos the Law?

[Rollo Tamasi]

the reason for which they can't necessarily explain

... the reason for which they can't necessarily explain to your complete and utter satisfaction maybe? Just a shrugestion.

Sparrowhawke: Oh it certainly does not revolve around what I might or might not think or understand.

What I guess I meant was, if getting a tattoo is essentially a taboo with some people, on a par with certain other things discussed on other threads, then rationally explaining the taboo in a convincing and clear way is sometimes secondary to maintaining the cultural taboo. As if culture (as opposed to Biblical doctrine) never changes.

(If this makes sense?)

Blessings.

[I deleted the @ sign...)

I never thought of a christian promoting tatoos as you do.
It just never occurred to me that someone would do so.

And yet why not?
It's no different than any thing else.
I guess in the back of my mind I thought of it as a Law thing (Deuteronomy?) and a worldly thing.
But again when I give it thought, it's no different than anything else.

I guess it's just not my cup of tea.

 

[farouk]

(If this makes sense?)

Blessings.

[I deleted the @ sign...)

Strangely it does indeed make perfect sense. And it's not that strange after all because you and I have the benefit of the history of our very specific conversations shared in recent past. Still, it is also strange because those guests who may stumble in and browse (no harm in that) would not have that benefit. As a moderator, I am constantly trying to keep in mind that this site attracts many, many, unregistered guests who just stop in, check out the place, and then go back to their many interests on the thing we call the internet.

lol - [MENTION=41474]farouk[/MENTION], thanks for deleting that mention, it really does get redundant for me, but only for me, as a moderator. Not as a friend. Not at all.

Sparrowhawke: YW. What it seems to be also - to some extent - is that there is something hermeneutic going on, with more implications than for tattoos only. While those of a Reformed persuasion would openly talk in terms of wanting to implement the law to the covenant community, or whatever, or similar discourse, yet there would be those of a dispensational background who would not in theory agree with such a hermeneutic approach to questions of law and grace.

Yet part of some professing dispensationalists mindset is such that imposing whatever their taboo is on others (whether Brother So-and-So is 'allowed' to partake of the Lord's Supper if he is known to smoke, or whether some preacher's wife 'ought' to paint her nails blue, or whether his daughter's 6" heels, wrist tattoo are appropriate, etc., etc., etc.) and it is so deep-seated with them that it seems to fulfil some inner need.

Even though dispensationalists are supposed to believe that we are under grace.

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

the reason for which they can't necessarily explain

... the reason for which they can't necessarily explain to your complete and utter satisfaction maybe? Just a shrugestion.

Sparrowhawke: Oh it certainly does not revolve around what I might or might not think or understand.

What I guess I meant was, if getting a tattoo is essentially a taboo with some people, on a par with certain other things discussed on other threads, then rationally explaining the taboo in a convincing and clear way is sometimes secondary to maintaining the cultural taboo. As if culture (as opposed to Biblical doctrine) never changes.

(If this makes sense?)

Blessings.

[I deleted the @ sign...)

I never thought of a christian promoting tatoos as you do.
It just never occurred to me that someone would do so.

And yet why not?
It's no different than any thing else.
I guess in the back of my mind I thought of it as a Law thing (Deuteronomy?) and a worldly thing.
But again when I give it thought, it's no different than anything else.

I guess it's just not my cup of tea.

Hi allenwynne:

Actually I don't see myself as saying that people ought to go get tattoos.

Just to point out that it's out there big time and that some people do find faith based designs effective in stimulating witness conversations.

Blessings.

 

[Deborah13]

Interesting that you establish the analogy between this and the wearing of faith based tattoos.

I would say that, whether one wears a cross, inks a tat, has a bumper sticker, carries a Bible big enough to choke a mule everywhere he/she goes, wears a sign on their back that says "I love Jesus", plays Christian music in their car with the windows rolled down,.... one should be faithfully using/doing what they are advertising.
And what is that something to me? "showing the love of the Savior"

Am I always good at that, absolutely Not.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Sparrowhawke: Oh it certainly does not revolve around what I might or might not think or understand.

What I guess I meant was, if getting a tattoo is essentially a taboo with some people, on a par with certain other things discussed on other threads, then rationally explaining the taboo in a convincing and clear way is sometimes secondary to maintaining the cultural taboo. As if culture (as opposed to Biblical doctrine) never changes.

(If this makes sense?)

Blessings.

[I deleted the @ sign...)

I never thought of a christian promoting tatoos as you do.
It just never occurred to me that someone would do so.

And yet why not?
It's no different than any thing else.
I guess in the back of my mind I thought of it as a Law thing (Deuteronomy?) and a worldly thing.
But again when I give it thought, it's no different than anything else.

I guess it's just not my cup of tea.

Hi allenwynne:

Actually I don't see myself as saying that people ought to go get tattoos.

Just to point out that it's out there big time and that some people do find faith based designs effective in stimulating witness conversations.

Blessings.

That may very well be true, and if you say it is, I believe you.

But that's not the impression I get.

The more you talk about it, tell people it's okay to have one, complement tatoos that people have, and have running posts on it for months on end, one can't help but think that you are promoting them for whatever reason.

 

[farouk]

Sparrowhawke: Oh it certainly does not revolve around what I might or might not think or understand.

What I guess I meant was, if getting a tattoo is essentially a taboo with some people, on a par with certain other things discussed on other threads, then rationally explaining the taboo in a convincing and clear way is sometimes secondary to maintaining the cultural taboo. As if culture (as opposed to Biblical doctrine) never changes.

(If this makes sense?)

Blessings.

[I deleted the @ sign...)

I never thought of a christian promoting tatoos as you do.
It just never occurred to me that someone would do so.

And yet why not?
It's no different than any thing else.
I guess in the back of my mind I thought of it as a Law thing (Deuteronomy?) and a worldly thing.
But again when I give it thought, it's no different than anything else.

I guess it's just not my cup of tea.

Hi allenwynne:

Actually I don't see myself as saying that people ought to go get tattoos.

Just to point out that it's out there big time and that some people do find faith based designs effective in stimulating witness conversations.

Blessings.

That may very well be true, and if you say it is, I believe you.

But that's not the impression I get.

The more you talk about it, tell people it's okay to have one, complement tatoos that people have, and have running posts on it for months on end, one can't help but think that you are promoting them for whatever reason.

I've never said people ought to get tattoos. Like Warren Harding, I do bloviate....

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

Interesting that you establish the analogy between this and the wearing of faith based tattoos.

I would say that, whether one wears a cross, inks a tat, has a bumper sticker, carries a Bible big enough to choke a mule everywhere he/she goes, wears a sign on their back that says "I love Jesus", plays Christian music in their car with the windows rolled down,.... one should be faithfully using/doing what they are advertising.
And what is that something to me? "showing the love of the Savior"

Am I always good at that, absolutely Not.

[MENTION=93058]Deborah13[/MENTION]: You're absolutely right about what it is that we should be doing.

I guess you would see your daughters' daily worn crosses in that context also?

Blessings.

 

[Deborah13]

I guess you would see your daughters' daily worn crosses in that context also?

Absolutely.

 

[farouk]

I guess you would see your daughters' daily worn crosses in that context also?

Absolutely.

[MENTION=93058]Deborah13[/MENTION]

Well, it's nice they want to display the faith that they identify with around their necks, right?

(For others, getting inked is a rather different medium, but an ultimately similar idea, really.)

Blessings.

 

[fishbreath]

Tatoos are a big todo on the Forum these days.
Some for, some against.
And everyone has their reasons.
What do you say?

Most people use the scripture in Leviticus 19:28 to make their stand against tattoos, and others say that scripture is under the old law which is now done away with.
I have a tattoo which I got in my late 20's so there's nothing that can be done about it now. I don't see any reason for Christians to get tatts but I'm not sure exactly how the Lord looks at it.. I lean towards Him probably not wanting us to get them. hmmm. I need to look further into it.

 

[farouk]

Tatoos are a big todo on the Forum these days.
Some for, some against.
And everyone has their reasons.
What do you say?

Most people use the scripture in Leviticus 19:28 to make their stand against tattoos, and others say that scripture is under the old law which is now done away with.
I have a tattoo which I got in my late 20's so there's nothing that can be done about it now. I don't see any reason for Christians to get tatts but I'm not sure exactly how the Lord looks at it.. I lean towards Him probably not wanting us to get them. hmmm. I need to look further into it.

[MENTION=96902]FloatingAxeHead[/MENTION]:

Interesting; so is your tattoo design faith related, maybe? and if so, has it played a role with faith related conversations that you've had with people?

You and I are broadly of the same generation, I think, and the fact is that it's not unusual for people of our generation, men and women, to have been tattooed. (Years ago it would have been mainly men, but now as a tattooed woman you would be well aware that the participation of women in exercising tattoo equality, or whatever term one might use, is well established.) That being said, some Christians undoubtedly do find that a discreetly placed design that is faith based may well bring about opportunities to talk about their faith to people.

Blessings.

 

[fishbreath]

Interesting; so is your tattoo design faith related, maybe? and if so, has it played a role with faith related conversations that you've had with people?

You and I are broadly of the same generation, I think, and the fact is that it's not unusual for people of our generation, men and women, to have been tattooed. (Years ago it would have been mainly men, but now as a tattooed woman you would be well aware that the participation of women in exercising tattoo equality, or whatever term one might use, is well established.) That being said, some Christians undoubtedly do find that a discreetly placed design that is faith based may well bring about opportunities to talk about their faith to people

hi farouk,
No it's not faith related, but it's also not some sort of dark symbol either, it's just a flower. Even so, I'm not sure God would want us marking ourselves. I was not living as a believer in those years. I've heard of people wanting to use tatts as witnessing agents but I'm not sure yet what His stand on this would be. Surely there are other ways to be a witness..? I think He is using those who have come out of the world who already have tatts to reach those who would be interested in them.

 

[farouk]

hi farouk,
No it's not faith related, but it's also not some sort of dark symbol either, it's just a flower. Even so, I'm not sure God would want us marking ourselves. I was not living as a believer in those years. I've heard of people wanting to use tatts as witnessing agents but I'm not sure yet what His stand on this would be. Surely there are other ways to be a witness..? I think He is using those who have come out of the world who already have tatts to reach those who would be interested in them.

[MENTION=96902]FloatingAxeHead[/MENTION]: (great screen name, btw!)

Oh yes, there are many ways to witness, and it's the inward life that first and foremost manifests itself outwards, in testimony. "I believed; therefore have I spoken."

I've heard of the idea of a tasteful flower tattoo (say, rose) being interlaced with a Scripture ref. to the rose of Sharon, for example. Its effectiveness would depend on the placement, of course, to some extent. (Song of Solomon 2.1) Kind of preaches well, I guess.

What I struggle with, though, is the idea of a faith based tattoo as a taboo that needs to be supposedly policed out of sight and out of mind because someone doesn't like it.

You mentioned Leviticus 28; it's interesting that the adjacent verse to 'cutting for the dead' says about men not trimming the corners of their beards. (Do preachers shave? )

Blessings.

 

[Sparkey]

Interesting; so is your tattoo design faith related, maybe? and if so, has it played a role with faith related conversations that you've had with people?

You and I are broadly of the same generation, I think, and the fact is that it's not unusual for people of our generation, men and women, to have been tattooed. (Years ago it would have been mainly men, but now as a tattooed woman you would be well aware that the participation of women in exercising tattoo equality, or whatever term one might use, is well established.) That being said, some Christians undoubtedly do find that a discreetly placed design that is faith based may well bring about opportunities to talk about their faith to people

hi farouk,
No it's not faith related, but it's also not some sort of dark symbol either, it's just a flower. Even so, I'm not sure God would want us marking ourselves. I was not living as a believer in those years. I've heard of people wanting to use tatts as witnessing agents but I'm not sure yet what His stand on this would be. Surely there are other ways to be a witness..? I think He is using those who have come out of the world who already have tatts to reach those who would be interested in them.

How do we learn to be the salt of the earth? What does that mean, anyway? When I hear Jesus speak about it, I can only wonder about the impact of salt losing its saltiness and that opens a door to more questions. When I look around and scramble to find understanding another Scripture comes to me. For me, understanding is still "here a little, there a little, line upon line...." meaning that I too have need to be nourished by the pure milk of the Word of God.

The other line about salt, you may ask? Yes. It is found in Col 4:6.

That is similar to even other verses about the "long-suffering of God" as it is directed from Him toward us ---> and the need that we have to take that same quality that we love so dearly as to consider it part of our salvation ---> while speaking to each other to remember how sweet is our God.

We are salted in our conversations when we use His grace and keep OUR Father in mind at all times.

How might you receive me with grace (undeserved favor) if I am perfect and mature in all things? How may the love of your heart be rightly seen? It is rightly said that, "For those who are forgiven much, there is much love." That is the salt that you have for me, that same seasoning that I hope to greet you with, O ye son of God!

Ye have been the power to become a Son of God, as have I. Meet me on that road and introduce me to your savior and I too shall do the very same to introduce you to my Healer divine. His name is Christ Jesus and it is He who has declared that our battle is not against flesh and blood, not about this and tat, but it is about the prayer and reward that comes, from the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, asked of His Father and delivered to Him in response.

We are the fruit of the earth and none of us are worthy. WE are adorned in more glory than solomon in all his splendor. Are we worth more than two assarions? To our Redeemer we are. Praise HIM.

You, who are here and being planted among your brothers and sisters are a flower. You have been transplanted into a garden cared for by God Almighty for He has said that you are too valuable for Him to entrust His care into any other. Your shepherd is here along with others who earnestly desire him, set to guard both the sheep and the goats in their pursuit of all things, knowing that the precious time of the season where that fragrance will be found is here, even now, lifted from each flower to fill the earth.

 

[farouk]

[MENTION=96902]FloatingAxeHead[/MENTION]:

PS: It's interesting that the Song of Solomon 2.1 reference also refers to another flower, the lily. I guess there are various Scriptural flowers that could in theory be referred to in an inked design by the addition of a small reference. 'S.ofS 2.1', etc.

Blessings.

 

[Sparkey]

I was thinking about spikenard and you're right about that lilly (among thorns) too. Good insight there. The Song contains many mysteries, expanded into other parts of the Word of Truth.

Where is the tatt that might say this?

The Bride

1"I am the rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys."
2"Like a lily among the thorns, So is my darling among the maidens."…​

Cross References
1 Chronicles 5:16
The Gadites lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its outlying villages, and on all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as they extended.

Song of Solomon 5:13
His cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh.

Song of Solomon 6:2
My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies.

Isaiah 33:9
The land dries up and wastes away, Lebanon is ashamed and withers; Sharon is like the Arabah, and Bashan and Carmel drop their leaves.

Isaiah 35:1
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus,

Isaiah 35:2
it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Hosea 14:5
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots;
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

rose

Psalm 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look …
Isaiah 35:1,2 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and …

If my name may be inscribed "onto the palms of the hand of God" may this not be inscribed into the fleshly regions of my heart?

 

[farouk]

I was thinking about spikenard and you're right about that lilly (among thorns) too. Good insight there. The Song contains many mysteries, expanded into other parts of the Word of Truth.

Sparrowhawke:

When tattoo art coalesces with Biblical word studies and imagery, there is so much that can be instructive, yes.

Blessings.

 

[Sparkey]

Songs 6:3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feeds among the lilies.

We, as servants to the master, shall be given a task, by the Holy Spirit, to prepare in one another a meal.
Then, we are asked, "What servant, upon preparing a meal, sits immediately to dine? Does he not wait for his master to eat? And then after that one is satisfied and has eaten his fill, and when invited, he does sit with him and begins to eat."

Shall we be servants, be blessed by the one that we seek approval from?
That is my hope. I do thank you for the work that you have done, but I also know that it is not your work, but the work of another. That's good too, because I want all things good to endure for all time.

A brother, yesterday, was heard to say, "God bless you." Then he added, with a sweeping gesture of his hand, a more expansive blessing, "But not just today, also all week..."

What was the whisper to him? It continued his offering of thanks and blessing. "... and not just this week, but all year, and not just this year, but all your lifetime, and not just here on this earth but also throughout eternity." Such is the loaf of bread offered by that boy, the one offered to Jesus who blessed it, and used it to feed the multitude. That gift from that boy was all he had. It was enuf.

 

[farouk]

Songs 6:3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feeds among the lilies.

Another great reference, yes. Might be a good ref. to put on a lily tattoo.

Blessings.

 

[jasoncran]

its called being of a higher standard. case in point I as an mp cant have any felonies and also cant have any reckless driving tickets. yet any other soldier can have the later and yet be called to do what I do as an mp overseas. but that lunacy is another topic. an mp trainee wanted to show his hate associated tattoo on his calve. the army won that one. he was investigated for any crimes and was cleared and told to remove the tattoo and also cover it if not. he did the later.

@jasoncran :

Well, interesting!

remember even with bible verses and shirts. someone will get offended and I can see that with the cross and bible verses while in uniform and or off duty. trust me I can see that in the army.