Poll: Respecting her tattoo wish

[farouk]

Good morning, Farouk,

I have tried to come up with a way to state the following without sounding confrontational, but I’m afraid I will not succeed. Being confrontational is not my intent.

You have made the claim several times in this thread that it is a fact that a faith based tattoo is an effective witnessing tool, yet you have not submitted any empirical evidence to support your claim.

Because of the negative perceptions of many in the Christian faith and the natural world toward my tattoos, I keep them covered up until the people I meet get to know me. I suggest a tattoo of any type could be perceived as negative and could be a barrier to effective witnessing.

Note: I got all my tattoos before I became a Christian and I will not get any more.

Be blessed.

Toby

Hi Toby:

I'm sure I've mentioned somewhere or other that a while ago I talked with a young man with John 3.16 on his arm; our conversation was provoked by his tattoo. I'm sure that it was the cause of other conversations which he has had also.

It's an individual thing, I reckon.

Blessings.

PS: OneTruth, in one of these threads, has talked about similar experiences with her faith related tattoo.

 

[Davies]

Great post Davies. I agree with everything you said.

I have several tattoos that remind me everyday how much God has forgiven me.

Be blessed.

Toby

HI Toby,

I've known several people who have tattoos. The more tattoos they have, the longer their sleeves grow. Again, I reiterate that having them is not sinful in and of themselves, I just don't think it's wise. As farouk put it, it depends on the motivation for getting your tattoo. I'm sure there are a lot of people, young people who have lot of experience in the world, that would get a tattoo for the sole purpose of evangelizing. I haven't met any in my life time, but it's more likely they were covering up their tattoos for one reason or another. If I remember correctly, Abide alluded to the perceptions that people have in other countries. You cut yourself off if the idea ever were to enter your mind to go to those countries to witness, as the people would reject you outright. Don't we take care to cover up our tattoos when we go to a job interview? We want to make a good impression(I don't know where the idea came from that tattoos gave people a bad impression). We would take that much care in a job interview, but we wouldn't take care when representing Jesus when giving the Gospel? If we can't see that evangelism shouldn't serve as a rationalization for getting a tattoo, then I'll say the younger generation knows best.

Romans 12:1-2

New King James Version (NKJV)

Living Sacrifices to God

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. <sup class="versenum">2 </sup>And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.


- Davies

 

[farouk]

HI Toby,

I've known several people who have tattoos. The more tattoos they have, the longer their sleeves grow.

Actually, the sleeve is also a name for a type of tattoo design that goes either half way or the whole way along the arm.
(It used to be mainly men that got them, but they are getting popular with women also.)

Again, I reiterate that having them is not sinful in and of themselves, I just don't think it's wise. As farouk put it, it depends on the motivation for getting your tattoo. I'm sure there are a lot of people, young people who have lot of experience in the world, that would get a tattoo for the sole purpose of evangelizing. ...

Yes, I kind of agree.

A bit of irony there maybe , but actually it's true.

Blessings.

PS: So what do folks think of tattoo sleeves, down the arm?

 

[farouk]

... for where the grandmother's are that are getting tattoos... who are also very solid and well grounded spiritual women, wholly submissive to their husbands and wonderful examples in the church... well, a few of them are in Emmett, Idaho. ... perhaps if you actually met a godly woman who has a tattoo, you would hold back on making generalizations and assumptions about them. They have the freedom in Christ to get a tattoo if they want to... you cannot deny that they do.

Yes, well, re. this comment made back a bit, I really wouldn't have a problem with the idea of more mature Christian women wanting to participate in what they may simply see as a classy trend — especially if, as if often the case, the design is Scripture based in some way.

It has to be acknowledged that the more mature women want to do it, too.

 

[Igloo]

I'm fine with tattoos, so I'm fine with a woman having a tattoo. As for respecting them- if tattoos get you all worked up (in a bad way), you might want to check your priorities. There's a laundry list of more important things to be concerned with in the world than tattoos. If you're considering this person as a romantic interest and she mentions wanting to get a tattoo and you are against it, then look for another woman. Problem solved.

 

[farouk]

I'm fine with tattoos, so I'm fine with a woman having a tattoo. As for respecting them- if tattoos get you all worked up (in a bad way), you might want to check your priorities. There's a laundry list of more important things to be concerned with in the world than tattoos. If you're considering this person as a romantic interest and she mentions wanting to get a tattoo and you are against it, then look for another woman. Problem solved.

Igloo:

You're quite right. It's out there, anyway, and big time; and some women wish to participate in doing it, whatever some men might think (in fact, in North America, 60% of tattoos are now received by women).

I do think also that faith related designs have a lot of scope, don't you?

 

[Igloo]

Igloo:

You're quite right. It's out there, anyway, and big time; and some women wish to participate in doing it, whatever some men might think (in fact, in North America, 60% of tattoos are now received by women).

I do think also that faith related designs have a lot of scope, don't you?

I have heard of people getting words/sayings written in Hebrew on their arms (like part of Scripture, or the word Love, or w/e), and since weird funky symbols tend to perk people's interest, I can definitely see these kind of tattoos being conversation starters.

 

[farouk]

I have heard of people getting words/sayings written in Hebrew on their arms (like part of Scripture, or the word Love, or w/e), and since weird funky symbols tend to perk people's interest, I can definitely see these kind of tattoos being conversation starters.

Igloo:

Well, exactly! and this is precisely why some Christians do it, because they know it is likely to be a conversation-starter.

I talked with a guy a while back with John 3.16 on his arm. Without doubt I wasn't the only person who talked about it with him. Presumably the discussions it would give rise to was his motive for getting it done in the first place.

It used to be that if women got tattoos it would be probably ankle or lower back, but now that many women as well as men are getting half- or full-sleeves done, the fact that these are widespread now, kind of helps some Christian women if they are thinking to get something Scripture-related on an arm or wrist, which are placements that particularly lend themselves to witness-type conversations.

Like you say, it can really be a conversation-starter.

 

[farouk]

Would you now wear a T-shirt that had say a Cross and Jesus written across the front?

Deborah13

PS: I was thinking: ppl don't seem to think it controversial to wear a t-shirt referring to some state university or other, or the Marines, or whatever.

There are all sorts of subjective impressions and views of course, but for me the more objective aspect of Scripture related tattoo designs is its witness conversation potential, anyway, if this makes sense?

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

Hi there Tri Unity:

Maybe instead of on the other thread, we could talk about the topic you raised there, on this thread, instead, which you mentioned, if it's okay with you:

... I am not condemning your view or of those who have tattoos. I think I have mentioned in the past that my wife has 2.5 tattoos; one of them has been half removed by laser treatment. She would now remove all of them if it was an option (I think). There is a great deal of pain in removing tattoos. I don't care about her tattoos. It was something she did when she was young and clueless. I have never asked her to remove them. The one on her back is a cross. I have my own opinion which is valid for me. You have your own opinion which is valid for you. I do not mean to project my views as though everyone should adopt them. My objection to your thread was only based on what I thought you were "recommending" about 'faith based tattoos'. It is a touchy subject; that is why I bailed out. You are a smart guy... I do not mean to offend you.

God Bless

Yes, I'm sure that some people do get tattoos without careful thought. I guess some would also say that even if they might not, years later, have done the same again if they were deciding afresh, yet it's kind of all part of their personal history, so to speak.

So, yes, some folk do get them and later conclude that they didn't put enough thought into doing it, or else have different thoughts compared with what they previously had.

It's also the case that some people, including some Christians, do put a lot of thought into it, and feel they are doing so out of conviction, as a personal exercise of liberty (Romans 14, etc) as a matter of witness, e.g., a Bible ref. on a wrist, etc.

You talked about your wife's regrets. Maybe she regrets both her tattoos equally, or maybe she regrets one of her tattoos more than the other, or maybe she would have regretted less (for example) a Bible ref. wrist tattoo than others, but I can't possibly guess her thoughts accurately.

Great to talk with you. God bless you both richly.

 

[Davies]

Tri Unity,

I've talked with farouk many times. It's ok if you say he's wrong. farouk won't be offended. I tell him he's wrong all the time, but we still love each other. lol

- Davies

 

[Tri Unity]

Hi there Tri Unity:

Maybe instead of on the other thread, we could talk about the topic you raised there, on this thread, instead, which you mentioned, if it's okay with you:



Yes, I'm sure that some people do get tattoos without careful thought. I guess some would also say that even if they might not, years later, have done the same again if they were deciding afresh, yet it's kind of all part of their personal history, so to speak.

So, yes, some folk do get them and later conclude that they didn't put enough thought into doing it, or else have different thoughts compared with what they previously had.

It's also the case that some people, including some Christians, do put a lot of thought into it, and feel they are doing so out of conviction, as a personal exercise of liberty (Romans 14, etc) as a matter of witness, e.g., a Bible ref. on a wrist, etc.

You talked about your wife's regrets. Maybe she regrets both her tattoos equally, or maybe she regrets one of her tattoos more than the other, or maybe she would have regretted less (for example) a Bible ref. wrist tattoo than others, but I can't possibly guess her thoughts accurately.

Great to talk with you. God bless you both richly.

Thanks. We really don't think about them at all. It's obvious that they are there - we see them every day - but they don't really get a mention. They become part of the furniture. Now her son and daughter have tattoos too, although none of my kids have. it is one of those things. People are heavily influenced by their environment. Nature-nurture. I notice that Israel's children had ear-rings too... a product of the Egyptian culture rubbing off on them. These are tough choices for people.

God Bless

 

[farouk]

Thanks. We really don't think about them at all. It's obvious that they are there - we see them every day - but they don't really get a mention. They become part of the furniture. Now her son and daughter have tattoos too, although none of my kids have. it is one of those things. People are heavily influenced by their environment. Nature-nurture. I notice that Israel's children had ear-rings too... a product of the Egyptian culture rubbing off on them. These are tough choices for people.

God Bless

Hi Tri Unity:

Yes, I'm sure that you guys can successfully proceed without thinking about them. Like you say, they become part of the furniture; kind of phrase I would have used as well, really. They are there, and you don't even think about them. (Now some Christians do also actually want to use a little tatt to cause people's thoughts to be provoked Godward, Bible ref. on wrist, or whatever.) But like you say, they become part of the furniture, and like with some furniture some people grow to dislike it, or become bored with it, or cease even to think about it; it's just there.

Re. 'her son and daughter have tattoos too': well, it doesn't surprise me that because mom is tattooed, they have also done it; but, then, it wouldn't even necessarily be because mom had it done, that they have also: it's simply a very widespread thing that young people do, not unusually for their 18th b-day as a rite of passage. Again, whether or not you might have noticed these ink developments with some private regret at first, in time they will probably become like your wife's tattoos: you'll probably not think about them at all; they'll simply be part of their personal furniture, so to speak.

Earrings; well, I'm sure some designs might have reflected Egyptian earring designs. But then again, in a passage such as Ezekiel 16, in verse 12, the Lord Himself gives Zion earrings (and even a nose ring), as part of her clothing and imputing of righteousness ('perfect through my comeliness which I had put on thee'). I guess the Lord there is using a widespread practice and applying it to teach the truth of imputed righteousness to the undeserving: in the New Testament, justification by faith; Romans 5.1, etc.

Yes, the nature/nurture thing is interesting.

Have a great Lord's Day, you guys.

 

[tim-from-pa]

:toofunny

Regarding this topic, all I can think of is "tramp stamp".

 

[Davies]

Having taken the liberty to get a tattoo, I suppose she will have to respect, that as the skin gets wrinkly, the image will become some kind of ink blot. I don't think she'll be evangelizing with it very much especially with an image of a cross on her back. I suppose it can be enjoyed for a season, a temporary pleasure. What do you think farouk?

- Davies

 

[farouk]

Having taken the liberty to get a tattoo, I suppose she will have to respect, that as the skin gets wrinkly, the image will become some kind of ink blot. I don't think she'll be evangelizing with it very much especially with an image of a cross on her back. I suppose it can be enjoyed for a season, a temporary pleasure. What do you think farouk?

- Davies

Davies: well, if you'll forgive me, I'm not even going to go as far as respond to your question directly about 'enjoying' Tri Unity's wife's tattoo. (I'll leave the matter for them to figure.)

Simply that some people do wish to identify with their beliefs by such a means.

(BTW, as a general point, often people with tattoos after a few years, if the ink has become less clear, will go back to get ink touch ups as they are called in the trade: a little extra ink into enhance the lines that may have become indistinct. This is a frequent practice.)

Blessings.

 

[Davies]

Davies: well, if you'll forgive me, I'm not even going to go as far as respond to your question directly about 'enjoying' Tri Unity's wife's tattoo. (I'll leave the matter for them to figure.)

Simply that some people do wish to identify with their beliefs by such a means.

(BTW, as a general point, often people with tattoos after a few years, if the ink has become less clear, will go back to get ink touch ups as they are called in the trade: a little extra ink into enhance the lines that may have become indistinct. This is a frequent practice.)

Blessings.

Sounds like a good business to be involved. The customer needs to keep coming back.

Maybe Tri Unity's wife was evangelizing him.

- Davies

 

[farouk]

Sounds like a good business to be involved. The customer needs to keep coming back.

Maybe Tri Unity's wife was evangelizing him.

- Davies

Davies: Well, we'll leave Tri Unity's good wife to coalesce her own thoughts on the matter. I'd rather not say too much.

Blessings.

 

[Davies]

farouk,

I would suggest to you that evagelism is likely the last thing on a person's mind when getting a tattoo on the back. A temporary pleasure to say the least. I suppose you would agree with me that having a tattoo business would lend itself to repeat customers. Good for business.

- Davies

 

[farouk]

farouk,

I would suggest to you that evagelism is likely the last thing on a person's mind when getting a tattoo on the back. A temporary pleasure to say the least. I suppose you would agree with me that having a tattoo business would lend itself to repeat customers. Good for business.

- Davies

Davies: I'm not going to get real specific about Tri Unity's wife's placement.

But more generally, such as a Bible ref. on a wrist, etc, I would submit that some Christians might have an evangelistic motive there.

There is as much a practicality side as there is a business side, too.

Blessings.