Poll re. good tattoo artist career for a Christian woman

[Jethro Bodine]

Jethro: I think you are mocking the many women who want a faith based tattoo, and feel uncomfortable with a man at a parlor.

Blessings.

Tattoo parlors, like liquor stores, belong to the world.

 

[farouk]

Tattoo parlors, like liquor stores, belong to the world.

Jethro:

You've not explained why, as with apples and oranges, say, a Godly woman with a Bible verse ref. done tastefully on a wrist, has anything to do with liquor.

You present it as a given; you assume that others have got to share your ball-park.

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

These things were what the world does in the worship of idols. Tattooing continues to this day as a practice of idolaters.



Christian liberty that does harm to others is to be kept a secret. Christian liberty is not a license to arrogantly stick your freedom in someone else's face. Read the passage.

Also, if the tattoo you're getting is really just the service of an idol you have in your heart, then you will be guilty of condemning yourself by what you approve. The bottom line, just because we ourselves approve of something doesn't automatically make it right.

Jethro:

Again, it's you that are introducing the accusation of arrogance.

As mentioned previously, if a Godly Christian woman gets a Bible ref. on her wrist, for example, yet you seem to be saying her motive is idolatry. How do you know?

 

[Nick]

I voted no.

I mean, a woman (or a man, not sure why gender matters here) could work in a tattoo parlour, and I'm not questioning that. But I generally wouldn't consider it the best career for a Christian. You have to consider those that want tattoos in inappropriate places on their body for anyone but a spouse to see, let alone ink. And of course there are designs of tattoos that a Christian shouldn't in good conscious create. Those two issues would significantly compromise business.

Now if the said Christian working in a tattoo parlour was to not worry about it, say was more liberal in their faith, then they would have to compromise their faith at some point.

Either way you go - you either have to compromise your faith or your business. If you have to choose between the two, the answer is obvious but I don't think many Christians would put themselves in that situation in the first place.

Not saying it's impossible, but perhaps not the best idea. A Christian could do better in business in another type of business. (unless they really loved tattoos, like our good brother farouk :D)

 

[Nick]

Tattoo parlors, like liquor stores, belong to the world.

So does the internet, this forum software and the servers this database sits on, but here we are.

Tattoos can be associated with gangs, and generally non-Christian behaviour. There is also some great Christian ink.

The internet can be known as a massive network of pornography. But it's also home to Christian networks, like this one.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Tattoos can be associated with gangs, and generally non-Christian behaviour. There is also some great Christian ink.

AirDancer had a great suggestion. Why not just put it on a T-shirt?

It won't be permanent.

You'll never get a terminal illness like Hepatitis-C from a T-shirt.

You can where it, and many other messages, at your discretion according to the audience you want to influence.

Virtually no occasion for stumbling exists with owning a T-shirt.

And they still look great on you when you're seventy years old, lol.


Why does our witness have to be inked into our skin? I suggest Ms. Christian Business Woman open a Christian T-shirt shop. Many if not all of the problems brought up in this thread would be non-issues.

Who could reasonably argue with that?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

So does the internet, this forum software and the servers this database sits on, but here we are.

Everything is in the world...but not everything is of the world. Historically, everything about tattoos was of the world. But I know in another generation enough people will naively make it a regular part of being a Christian. Until then, we should not be found guilty of causing someone else to stumble in regard to the practice.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I voted no.

I mean, a woman (or a man, not sure why gender matters here)...

Yes, I wondered that, too.

Farouk, we can see there is clearly an agenda being served here beyond simply getting a tattoo.

 

[Nick]

AirDancer had a great suggestion. Why not just put it on a T-shirt?

It won't be permanent.

You'll never get a terminal illness like Hepatitis-C from a T-shirt.

You can where it, and many other messages, at your discretion according to the audience you want to influence.

Virtually no occasion for stumbling exists with owning a T-shirt.

And they still look great on you when you're seventy years old, lol.


Why does our witness have to be inked into our skin? I suggest Ms. Christian Business Woman open a Christian T-shirt shop. Many if not all of the problems brought up in this thread would be non-issues.

Who could reasonably argue with that?

Everything is in the world...but not everything is of the world. Historically, everything about tattoos was of the world. But I know in another generation enough people will naively make it a regular part of being a Christian. Until then, we should not be found guilty of causing someone else to stumble in regard to the practice.

I didn't get into this thread to argue tattoos per se, and I'm aware that there's a large thread that's focusing on just that.

But...I'm not arguing that there's no negative connotations or no negative side effects for tattoos. I never said that, and to an extent I agree with you. But that negative connotation is decreasing, and a faith-based tattoo is a faith-based tattoo. If one is convicted to tattoo a Bible verse or something like that then I'm not going to judge that person on doing that. That's their conviction, and I don't think it's a bad one necessarily.

 

[handy]

AirDancer had a great suggestion. Why not just put it on a T-shirt?

This is a great example of how different Christians react to different things. While I would never get a tattoo, I don't have a problem with the idea of a Christian woman getting one on her ankle, calf, shoulder or arms... just not that big a deal to me.

But, I never allow my daughter to wear t's with messages emblazoned on them. Shirts with the kind of stylized tattoo graphics (or flowers, hearts etc.) are OK as long as there are no words or specifically recognizable symbols.

I just don't like the idea of my daughter's chest being a message board. It seems highly inappropriate to me.

 

[Nick]

This is a great example of how different Christians react to different things. While I would never get a tattoo, I don't have a problem with the idea of a Christian woman getting one on her ankle, calf, shoulder or arms... just not that big a deal to me.

But, I never allow my daughter to wear t's with messages emblazoned on them. Shirts with the kind of stylized tattoo graphics (or flowers, hearts etc.) are OK as long as there are no words or specifically recognizable symbols.

I just don't like the idea of my daughter's chest being a message board. It seems highly inappropriate to me.

That's something I had not considered.

 

[farouk]

Yes, I wondered that, too.

Farouk, we can see there is clearly an agenda being served here beyond simply getting a tattoo.

Jethro:

On the OP, this was quoted from 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. ..
My wife had tatts before Christ.. She states that she prefers the idea of an artist with a set of morals similar to our own. We are friends with two female tattoo artists .. For my wife it seems to come down to the money, she may get more later, as the finances become available."

What it says is fairly straightforward.

So, Jethro, my dear brother, what agenda am I, or mygraine, supposedly talking about? (if indeed you were referring to one, or both, of us?)

Jethro, if you and I met and had a Bible study together; I would suspect that you and I would get along well and be in quite a lot of agreement.

That being said, I probably don't move in local church circles that you possibly move in; but let's not get int0 that.

The fact is that some Christians identify very strongly with a conservative culture of 50 to 100 years ago, and find it hard to see the difference between theological and Biblical absolutes, and the more subjective cultural customs that have always been on the move, in one way or another; this comment might not apply to you personally, but it does to some people.

Blessings.

 

[Nick]

Jethro:

On the OP, this was quoted from 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. ..
My wife had tatts before Christ.. She states that she prefers the idea of an artist with a set of morals similar to our own. We are friends with two female tattoo artists .. For my wife it seems to come down to the money, she may get more later, as the finances become available."

What it says is fairly straightforward.

So, Jethro, my dear brother, what agenda am I, or mygraine, supposedly talking about? (if indeed you were referring to one, or both, of us?)

Jethro, if you and I met and had a Bible study together; I would suspect that you and I would get along well and be in quite a lot of agreement.

That being said, I probably don't move in local church circles that you possibly move in; but let's not get int0 that.

The fact is that some Christians identify very strongly with a conservative culture of 50 to 100 years ago, and find it hard to see the difference between theological and Biblical absolutes, and the more subjective cultural customs that have always been on the move, in one way or another; this comment might not apply to you personally, but it does to some people.

Blessings.

I guess the point of the question raised was that why does it matter if it is a woman or a man working in a tattoo parlour?

 

[farouk]

I guess the point of the question raised was that why does it matter if it is a woman or a man working in a tattoo parlour?

Nick:

I am quoting mygraine, first of all.

Secondly, given the fact that in North America 60% of parlor clients are women, it is doubtless the case that many women, including Christian women, would if possible prefer the tattooist to be a woman, for all sorts of reasons. Here I am pontificating, but the sensibilities and preferences of women in this matter do need to be respected, I guess it's fair to say.

Blessings.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I just don't like the idea of my daughter's chest being a message board. It seems highly inappropriate to me.

Why does it have to go on the front of the shirt?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

So, Jethro, my dear brother, what agenda am I, or mygraine, supposedly talking about? (if indeed you were referring to one, or both, of us?)

I don't know. That's why I brought it up.


There are other things you've posted worthy of discussion, but I'm back on the clock...brain surgeries just keep stacking up it seems these days.


Posting as I can...

 

[handy]

I guess I wouldn't mind if it were on the sleeve or back... I've never seen a message printed on the back of a shirt and the only time I've ever seen one on the sleeve was a delightful sweatshirt of the Scarecrow with "If I only had a brain." written on the sleeves.

Frankly, I just don't want people "reading" my daughter's clothing. It seems to violate the principles of modesty in my opinion.

 

[Nick]

Nick:

I am quoting mygraine, first of all.

Secondly, given the fact that in North America 60% of parlor clients are women, it is doubtless the case that many women, including Christian women, would if possible prefer the tattooist to be a woman, for all sorts of reasons. Here I am pontificating, but the sensibilities and preferences of women in this matter do need to be respected, I guess it's fair to say.

Blessings.

Ok, but as a man I might prefer to have my tattoo done by a male. I would therefore consider your line of reasoning a given and am still wondering why this discussion focuses on women. Is there another point you wish to discuss relating to specifically women in tattoo parlours?

 

[for_his_glory]

for his glory:

Yes, it's a very personal thing, isn't it? the personal responsibility goes with the client hiring the tattoo artist.

I guess the tattoo artist is kind of in the situation of the lawyer, in that s/he is doing it on the basis of: 'my client intructs me..(etc.)'. But s/he can also give a lot of advice, while the ultimate responsibility rest with the client.

The sort of art that parlor owners like to display is of course something that they do have a lot of discretion over.

Anyway, part of the emphasis of the original post, prompted by mygraine's thoughtful comments, was about whether Christian women could find the work particularly suitable, satisfying for both client and tattooist, etc. Though you've not particularly commented on this gender aspect, yet in the course of your slight reservations you've not at all challenged this assumption about this gender aspect.

(I guess, since I'm basically sympathetic to mygraine's idea that it's particularly good and suitable work for a Christian woman to undertake, I would tend to view the fact that any reservations that you may have don't lie in the gender aspect, as a positive sign.)

Blessings.

The gender aspect should be the same for a women or a man, but since you did say a women then I would have no problem with that of a women owning her own parlor, but needs to be discreet.

 

[farouk]

The gender aspect should be the same for a women or a man, but since you did say a women then I would have no problem with that of a women owning her own parlor, but needs to be discreet.

for his glory:

Oh I agree with you!

Men and women should be able to receive and give tattoos equally.

Traditionally under-represented among parlor owners, the number of women is increasing and I guess mygraine's point which prompted the thread is that for many women clients it can be especially useful if the tattooist is a Christian woman.

Blessings.


Nick:

Like I said, women are traditionally under-represented, but as the original quote says this is changing and it can be a good thing.

Blessings.