Is Being Against Tatoos the Law?

[farouk]

Well, maybe it is a sign of someone being honest about who they are. I mean, God is showing me some things about myself that I have always tried to hide. In a way, that is dishonest. For example, I have fits of anger, but I never let anyone know, or hadn't. I try to hide my worst side for fear I won't be liked, or I might even scare someone. I mean I am not homicidal or suicidal, but I get really angry sometimes at myself. I wait til I am all alone (well, God hears me) and I cuss and belly ache (been reading Job, that has helped me a lot). Job belly ached (who wouldn't in his shoes) but he never turned his back on God, he never lost his faith. I am so ashamed when I come unglued, like, I am going to lose God's love for me, untrue. People may freak and walk away from me, but God never does. But He is also teaching me more how to even praise Him in the hard times. Now when I get unglued, I hit my knees in tears, and just pour out my heart to Him, praising Him for all things, even the hardships which teach me so much more about Him.

So I guess particularly in the context of the thread what you're really saying is that for you an expressive tattoo could be a really authentic articulation of the way you feel?

Blessings.

 

[celebratejesus]

It could be, although I think more than that, God's Light shining through us speaks louder than anything else;) Again though, I am not against tatoos. The verse in Leviticus that was brought up was interesting, I hadn't heard it, but I wonder if read in context of the whole Word, if it is another example of the main thing God sees, and wants others to see, is our hearts.

 

[farouk]

It could be, although I think more than that, God's Light shining through us speaks louder than anything else;) Again though, I am not against tatoos. The verse in Leviticus that was brought up was interesting, I hadn't heard it, but I wonder if read in context of the whole Word, if it is another example of the main thing God sees, and wants others to see, is our hearts.

Ms celebratejesus :

Oh you're right about God shining through His redeemed people, in testimony.

The Leviticus verse also has a verse about men not trimming the corners of their beards; maybe applicable to Old Testament Jews in the land under the law?

Anyway, some people are hesitant about the tattoo artist profession; fair enough if this is what they think. This is fine. But some people would also see it as a means of expression, in an aesthetic and artistic way; and for Christians a quite vivid opportinity to express faith and conviction. If this makes sense?

There are bound to be various viewpoints, one way or the other, and this is healthy, too.

Blessings.

 

[celebratejesus]

Well, in my understanding, Jesus fulfilled the law because we cannot. God did that for us, but I don't believe we are to disregard the 10 commandments. Mostly, NT, tells us from Jesus own lips, that we are to love one another:

John 13:34
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

We know the bible tells us we all sin, and have all fallen short:

Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

so again, God looks at our hearts. I could never be one able to cast the first stone if someone "was" sinning, not to say anyone is.

There are other verses I know about people that are sinning in the church, and need to be confronted, although I truly have to let the Holy Spirit lead me in that situation. I have either been kept from that by God, or just haven't run into a place where I have felt Him leading me to "correct" someone. Well, I guess I have tried to show folks that are, imo, misunderstanding the Word. But then, I am quick to be taught where I am wrong as well. Just learning you know, I learn something new every day from God. Sometimes I conveniently forget it too though, but He has a way of reminding me;)

 

[celebratejesus]

Despite your own personal surety, the church is not ready for tattoos.

I can think of no quicker way to let someone know you are of the world than to get a tattoo. Now whether that's really true or not, is not the point. But if you want to make them think that, a tattoo is the quickest way to do that. They are worshiped and adored and prized by the world. You are speaking THEIR language when you get a tattoo, no matter what the content of the tattoo is, or how good your personal intentions are in getting one.

Just by virtue of trying to communicate something about God through a tattoo negates whatever good the God thing in the tattoo might be all by itself.

This being true is why it is not 'the law' to be in agreement with the law about not getting a tattoo.

Hi Jethro,

I respect your opinion, but I have to speak up here as I am part of the church, so "part" of the church may not be ready, but this part is. I think that for me, as I have mentioned a few times, I, as a follower of Christ, have to think about the insides, before I make a judgement on the outside of a person. Can I say what a christian looks like? Can I tell what is in their heart by their outsides? No, I can't. If God doesn't want to use folks with tatoos, why is He. I've met many, saved christians with tatoos (at least, imo, they were saved so I could be wrong). The Pharisees appeared to be very godly, but were they. They didn't even recognize Jesus.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Despite your own personal surety, the church is not ready for tattoos.

I can think of no quicker way to let someone know you are of the world than to get a tattoo. Now whether that's really true or not, is not the point. But if you want to make them think that, a tattoo is the quickest way to do that. They are worshiped and adored and prized by the world. You are speaking THEIR language when you get a tattoo, no matter what the content of the tattoo is, or how good your personal intentions are in getting one.

Just by virtue of trying to communicate something about God through a tattoo negates whatever good the God thing in the tattoo might be all by itself.

This being true is why it is not 'the law' to be in agreement with the law about not getting a tattoo.

Sort of like pulling up in front of the church on Sunday morning in your new Lamborghini.

 

[celebratejesus]

But maybe the guy gave 95% of his fortune but wanted to keep his wheels so he could go to church;) LOL! I know, not likely, but isn't it about what we give, and share more than what we have. In comparison I mean. I see folks with beautiful homes but yet they are giving so much. I suppose they aren't giving all they have, and walking the world with a nap-sack. My truck looks like a train hit it, and I wonder sometimes if I would be set up better financially, if I'd started giving/sharing what I had in the past. New topic, I'm getting off track, sorry guys.

 

[farouk]

..I am part of the church, so "part" of the church may not be ready, but this part is..

Ms celebratejesus:

I can see that you don't regard tattooed men and women who are born again, as being unusual or contradictory.

So you are evidently 'ready', not necessarily to be tattooed but to see it on other Christians.

It used to be a more restricted male thing, particularly among sailors and bikers (bikers used to be almost exclusively men, though today if a group of leathered bikers pull off an Interstate to a Cracker Barrel, it may well be a group of deacons' wives off for a weekend)..

Gradually with more and more women in the military, it seems that a significant proportion of women in the military, and eventually the wives of men in the military, started to do it as well, often getting needled with designs that are either patriotic or faith based in character.

Now it's not even people with connections with the military that do it. For many 18 year olds, it's become a sort of rite of passage.

And obviously among them all, there will be not a few Christians, some of them specifically wanting faith based designs.

I think this state of affairs is basically how it is, fairly neutrally stated. (Good, bad or indifferent.) As a woman that says you are 'ready' for this state of affairs, do you think I've stated it fairly honestly?

 

[celebratejesus]

I think you state how you see God's way for you, your service, gifts, talents and how He may use them. If He is the Center of all things in our lives, I don't see a problem. The only problems I see in this world are when folks follow their own ideas, not Gods. God's Way is His Word, and in order to understand His Word, we have to have it interpreted by the Holy Spirit, since I believe He is the author. I will state it again just to be clear on where I stand, I am to love others as I love myself, I am to witness/carry the Good News to others not yet saved. Those things are first for me. If it's between taking some food to a needy family, and getting a tatoo that I think will help in my witness, the tatoo loses. I got into this discussion on my own accord but I feel there are much more important things we need to be about doing. The bottom line is this is personal choice for people, between them and God;)

 

[farouk]

... If it's between taking some food to a needy family, and getting a tatoo that I think will help in my witness, the tatoo loses. I got into this discussion on my own accord but I feel there are much more important things we need to be about doing.

Ms celebratejesus :

Yes, I can understand what you say. A matter of stewardship, as to how a witness may be effective, won't necessarily mean go with the tattoo. And I agree about what you say about things in the relative schemes of importance.

Some ppl do seem to regard it as vitally important to be 'against' tattoos, of course, even faith based ones...)

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

Sort of like pulling up in front of the church on Sunday morning in your new Lamborghini.

Well, you know, the chic lady in a leather pantsuit that drives the Lamborghini may be a humble Christian, full of good works.

And the little old lady that never misses a church service may be a spiteful thief.

God looks at the heart, always.

I do agree about not wasting money, though. It's not my call to decide what are other people's responsibilities.

(Including in the decision to get a tattoo. )

Blessings.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

It could be, although I think more than that, God's Light shining through us speaks louder than anything else;)

Have you read the testimony of tandemcpl of how his tattoos do not do that? He found they actually cloud and obscure God's light.

He's a born again Christian who has tattoos that he got while he was an unbeliever doing what unbelievers do. Now that he's a Christian he says unbelievers think he is one of them, and Christians think he's an unbeliever.

 

[jasoncran]

Have you read the testimony of tandemcpl of how his tattoos do not do that. He found they actually cloud and obscure God's light.

if I wouldn't get an infraction I could post a pic of my wife neice, she has one belly button piercings, two piercings in her back and 5 tats. the whole time I was looking at her(she aint ugly) I was thinking of this thread. now, let me be clear, if she came to Christ and looked like that I wouldn't call her lost but I would say ditch the piercings and cover the tats.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Well, you know, the chic lady in a leather pantsuit that drives the Lamborghini may be a humble Christian, full of good works.

...but doing nothing for her personal witness, and potentially causing other believers to stumble.

There are many Christians who don't buy into (pun intended) the prosperity gospel. You may be one of them. In the case of the prosperity gospel it's easy to see how people who agree with it, but know most Christians do not, should heed Paul's teaching in Romans 14 and keep it under wraps. This exact responsibility applies to this matter of tattoos.

And the little old lady that never misses a church service may be a spiteful thief.

But she's not carelessly causing others to stumble in regard to the things she does right.

God looks at the heart, always.

This is about what other people see when they see a tattooed person. It isn't about what's in the heart. It's about Christians potentially bringing reproach on the body of Christ. God takes this much more seriously than we do.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

if I wouldn't get an infraction I could post a pic of my wife neice, she has one belly button piercings, two piercings in her back and 5 tats. the whole time I was looking at her(she aint ugly) I was thinking of this thread. now, let me be clear, if she came to Christ and looked like that I wouldn't call her lost but I would say ditch the piercings and cover the tats.

I for one definitely do not think 'Christian' when I see a tattooed person. It's nothing personal (my kids have tatts).

I'm with you, I know it doesn't mean they aren't. But I just don't think 'Christian' right off the bat when I see a lifestyle of tattooing--even 'religious' tattoos. I'm at a loss as to how that can be an effective witness for Christ.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

if I wouldn't get an infraction I could post a pic of my wife neice...

Is that what you call getting beat senseless by Reba's metal folding chair, lol?

 

[farouk]

If God doesn't want to use folks with tatoos, why is He. I've met many, saved christians with tatoos (at least, imo, they were saved so I could be wrong). The Pharisees appeared to be very godly, but were they. They didn't even recognize Jesus.

celebratejesus :

Actually, I agree. Seems undeniable to me, at any rate.

Blessings.

 

[celebratejesus]

Have you read the testimony of tandemcpl of how his tattoos do not do that? He found they actually cloud and obscure God's light.

He's a born again Christian who has tattoos that he got while he was an unbeliever doing what unbelievers do. Now that he's a Christian he says unbelievers think he is one of them, and Christians think he's an unbeliever.

I don't see the post by tandem? I looked so I could read it first, but I if God orchestrates it for us to witness, He will open doors, no matter what our past is. I don't know Tandem's situation, but I would ask does that always happen to him. People are not always going to be open to a christian sharing Christ with them, not matter how they "look". For me, it is about walking as close as possible to God, and I work on that by reading His Word (first asking the Holy Spirit to teach me, not try to read it with my own understanding), fellowshipping, and prayer is becoming a top priority, finally.

I'm going to bow out of this thread because we are talking more about tatoos then God here. All I wanted to say was that people look all kinds of ways, it is more about our actions that God is concerned with, our motives. If my motive in wanting or buying an expensive ring is to show others how worldly successful I am, that doesn't show others Jesus. If I buy an expensive ring to try and show people how good God treats me, that doesn't show them Jesus. If farouk or any of us thinks that what we are doing is showing people Jesus, He will let us know if He approves or not, I'm sure of it.

 

[farouk]

I don't see the post by tandem? I looked so I could read it first, but I if God orchestrates it for us to witness, He will open doors, no matter what our past is. I don't know Tandem's situation, but I would ask does that always happen to him. People are not always going to be open to a christian sharing Christ with them, not matter how they "look". For me, it is about walking as close as possible to God, and I work on that by reading His Word (first asking the Holy Spirit to teach me, not try to read it with my own understanding), fellowshipping, and prayer is becoming a top priority, finally.

I'm going to bow out of this thread because we are talking more about tatoos then God here. All I wanted to say was that people look all kinds of ways, it is more about our actions that God is concerned with, our motives. If my motive in wanting or buying an expensive ring is to show others how worldly successful I am, that doesn't show others Jesus. If I buy an expensive ring to try and show people how good God treats me, that doesn't show them Jesus. If farouk or any of us thinks that what we are doing is showing people Jesus, He will let us know if He approves or not, I'm sure of it.

celebratejesus :

Thanks for all your helpful contributions; looking forward to seeing your posts on other threads.

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

my ears are pierced. Maybe that is wrong too? ...
Or maybe I am just too old to be in this discussion? I guess I come from a time when no-one had tattoos. Interesting that my children never got any either. No roads are barred to them, which might be the case to those with excessive tattooing. Like it or not!

MysticalJourney:

Hi there; good to see you again!

Very, very few Christians would begrudge a lady her pierced ears.

Re. tattoos in the past, they may have been principally a male thing years; sailors and bikers that went to dingy parlors in dimly lit industrial sections at night.

While there are still some of these around, yet today some parlors are actually more like salons; a bright and airy waiting room will resemble a place where you go for a new hairstyle or makeover, and its staff might seem to fit into this category of establishment also. A fair description, maybe?

Blessings.