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Is Being Against Tatoos the Law?

Should Christians Have Tatoos?

  • Yes

    Votes: 6 21.4%

  • No

    Votes: 16 57.1%

  • Pontius Pilate (I wash my hands)

    Votes: 3 10.7%

  • Don't be silly!

    Votes: 3 10.7%

  • It's not the Baptist thing to do!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • The Church of the Enlightened Path does it!

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    28
kevinmaynard said:
Oh I have, and it has changed my mind about it a lot. I have really softened my opinion quit a bit. The retail job I had before getting this new one was at whole foods. I still think being sleeved looks bad, but baby steps.
Click to expand...

Yes, well, supermarket staff and check out operators - some of them with several piercings and/or tattoos - have become almost standard; you can see how in some places the manager tries to make them keep them covered, but often if it's a battle undertaken it's a losing battle...
 
farouk said:
Angel:

... but this IS. (Thought I'd briefly reply here.)

I think moms eventually get accustomed to their daughters' tattoos. (Seeing as these days it's very much a ladies' thing as well.)

Blessings.
Click to expand...

PS: your frekle comparison is good!

Blessings.
 
allenwynne said:
Tatoos are a big todo on the Forum these days.

Some for, some against.

And everyone has their reasons.

What do you say?

I will offer a new poll to keep things simple.
Click to expand...

I would have to say that God looks at the heart of a person, I mean, if we dressed or wore jewelry, piercings, tatoos that were purposely against God, but I think things in the bible that are mentioned, like jewelry, are meant to teach us not to focus on "looking" good on the outside, but being submissive to God on the inside. I don't think God cares if we have a tatoo, or a hundred, as long as we don't think that is something that makes us more of a christian. I may see these verses differently than others so I hope no one gets offended by me using these. The first one I see God telling me that He doesn't look at our outsides, and He doesn't want me to either, but it is the way of "natural man/woman". The second verse is telling me that my nature is to be important when I have say, a great job and accumulate a lot materially, but God only cares for us, not our stuff. Also, everyone knows, I'm sure, that God doesn't want our stuff to ever be more important to us then Him. But He doesn't mind us having things. The third is about that, not having something of His creation that we worship more than Him. There is a lot more to Exodus 20:1-15 that I think, but I won't include it because this is getting long-winded, lol;)

The fourth verse tells me, again, don't fuss with the outside thinking it will make me closer to God or more of a Christian, but it doesn't tell me I can't wear jewelry or fix my hair (or have a tatoo). It's just about God looking at my heart again.

There are a couple of verses I think of:

“The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

“He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:15)


Exodus 20:1-15 ESV
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

1 Peter 3:3 ESV
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—
 
celebratejesus said:
I would have to say that God looks at the heart of a person, I mean, if we dressed or wore jewelry, piercings, tatoos that were purposely against God, but I think things in the bible that are mentioned, like jewelry, are meant to teach us not to focus on "looking" good on the outside, but being submissive to God on the inside. I don't think God cares if we have a tatoo, or a hundred, as long as we don't think that is something that makes us more of a christian. I may see these verses differently than others so I hope no one gets offended by me using these. The first one I see God telling me that He doesn't look at our outsides, and He doesn't want me to either, but it is the way of "natural man/woman". The second verse is telling me that my nature is to be important when I have say, a great job and accumulate a lot materially, but God only cares for us, not our stuff. Also, everyone knows, I'm sure, that God doesn't want our stuff to ever be more important to us then Him. But He doesn't mind us having things. The third is about that, not having something of His creation that we worship more than Him. There is a lot more to Exodus 20:1-15 that I think, but I won't include it because this is getting long-winded, lol;)

The fourth verse tells me, again, don't fuss with the outside thinking it will make me closer to God or more of a Christian, but it doesn't tell me I can't wear jewelry or fix my hair (or have a tatoo). It's just about God looking at my heart again.

There are a couple of verses I think of:

“The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

“He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:15)


Exodus 20:1-15 ESV
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

1 Peter 3:3 ESV
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—
Click to expand...

celebratejesus :

Hi Ms celebrate; good to see you on the forums.

Do you think that a faith based tattoo can help some Christians' witness?

Some people reckon they are effective conversation-starters.

Blessings.
 
farouk said:
[MENTION=96216]cherovis[/MENTION]:

I can appreciate much of what you say, indeed.

There is the aspect that some Christians honestly think that, say, a Christian fish sign <>< on a wrist, for example, can help them witness to others; I guess for some Christians this is not an irrelevant consideration.

Also I guess it can be hard to draw the line if necessarily tattoos are to be regarded as vain: otherwise, it might be also supposedly necessary for Christian women to wear only short, plain haircuts, plain pants and flat heels always, and only one small pair of earrings (if at all), on the ground that anything more would be vain.

I guess for matters of attire and personal style, moderation is the key, really. You would probably agree.

Blessings.
Click to expand...

I agreed with much of what Tog said, and their own preference is between them and God, same as for me. I also like what you said about the fish sign because recently, I was working a temp job, and I wondered if I should take my Nook Reader (which all I read on it, most of the time, is the bible) and read it during breaks etc. I might be able to witness to someone, but then I think God reminded me that my behavior was a witness, which can either be Christ-like or denise-like (ouch on that last one, lol).
 
celebratejesus said:
I agreed with much of what Tog said, and their own preference is between them and God, same as for me. I also like what you said about the fish sign because recently, I was working a temp job, and I wondered if I should take my Nook Reader (which all I read on it, most of the time, is the bible) and read it during breaks etc. I might be able to witness to someone, but then I think God reminded me that my behavior was a witness, which can either be Christ-like or denise-like (ouch on that last one, lol).
Click to expand...

Ms celebratejesus :

Your comments are interesting; the Christian fish sign <>< is also a popular design for tattoos, e.g., wrist, ankle. Sounds like you recognize its useful application to witness situations (whether or not for actually inking into skin, anyway), right?

Blessings.
 
farouk said:
celebratejesus :

Hi Ms celebrate; good to see you on the forums.

Do you think that a faith based tattoo can help some Christians' witness?

Some people reckon they are effective conversation-starters.

Blessings.
Click to expand...

Hi Farouk, I just addressed that on one of your posts, but happy to mention my thoughts here as well:) Thank you for the welcome by the way:)

I believe God can use us in many ways, I think someone having a tatoo could reach another person better than a sort of "white collar" dude, or gal, in some cases. I can tell you I am more drawn to christians that I can tell have led a hard life (which may or may not include a tatoo) because I feel I relate better to them. Hope that makes sense:) edit: I wanted to say I love folks that are much different than I as well though:) I'm just saying it is comforting to meet folks that have been where I have (more or less) ;)
 
farouk said:
Ms celebratejesus :

Your comments are interesting; the Christian fish sign <>< is also a popular design for tattoos, e.g., wrist, ankle. Sounds like you recognize its useful application to witness situations (whether or not for actually inking into skin, anyway), right?

Blessings.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are right. I believe God can and does use us, whether we have tatoos or not;)
 
I don't have the time to read long posts.

So, celebrateJesus,
Is Being Against Tatoos the Law?
Meaning, does being against tattoos mean you are being legalistic about having tattoos? That is, not understanding why they are prohibited in the law and just accepting it as a hard and fast requirement of God not to have them.

Of course the answer to that is 'no', because it's entirely possible to believe you should not have tattoos because it's written in the law without having a legalistic attitude about it.
 
celebratejesus said:
I think someone having a tatoo could reach another person better than a sort of "white collar" dude, or gal, in some cases. I can tell you I am more drawn to christians that I can tell have led a hard life (which may or may not include a tatoo) because I feel I relate better to them. ...
Click to expand...

Ms celebratejesus :

Yes, I know what you mean; hard to describe, but there's something rather rugged and spontaneous about some of the men and women who have it done, right.

Blessings.
 
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.
 
Why o Why is ToS 2.4 coming to mind?...

2.4: No Trolling. Do not make an inflammatory remark just to get a response. Address issues not personalities. Respect where people are in their spiritual walk, and respect all others in general. Respect where others are in their spiritual walk, do not disrupt the flow of discussion or act in a way that affects others negatively including when debating doctrinal issues, in the defense of the Christian faith, and in offering unwelcome spiritual advice.
 
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.
 
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