Poll: Respecting her tattoo wish

[farouk]

..

What I drew today came about mostly from playing around with my friends on the way to a concert.

questdriven:

Hope it was a good concert! (Musicians often are folk that have visible tatts.)

Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Well, the building was filled to capacity before I got in, so I didn't get to see the actual concert.

Since there were, at the very least, hundreds who couldn't get inside, they had some of the artists come out and sing for us, free of charge. We didn't get to hear all of the bands--I was looking forward to hearing Red in particular. But the most they could do was have a couple of Red's band members come out and talk for a minute.
Still, it was pretty generous of the people to try to compensate, anyway. It wasn't a wasted trip, that's for sure. I got to hear Matthew West, Jamie Grace, Capital Kings, OBB, and some others.

Next year, I'm going to try to catch a ride with someone who's leaving much earlier.

 

[farouk]

Well, the building was filled to capacity before I got in, so I didn't get to see the actual concert.

Since there were, at the very least, hundreds who couldn't get inside, they had some of the artists come out and sing for us, free of charge. We didn't get to hear all of the bands--I was looking forward to hearing Red in particular. But the most they could do was have a couple of Red's band members come out and talk for a minute.
Still, it was pretty generous of the people to try to compensate, anyway. It wasn't a wasted trip, that's for sure. I got to hear Matthew West, Jamie Grace, Capital Kings, OBB, and some others.

Next year, I'm going to try to catch a ride with someone who's leaving much earlier.

questdriven:

Sorry you didn't get in.

You really do like Red, don't you?

(And I guess you wouldn't have had opportunity to see if the Red guys or any of them had tattoos, either.)

Hope you're more successful another time.

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

This:
View attachment 3745

None of it is something I'd want on my skin permanently since none of it is important...well, except maybe the little celtic cross thing. If I did get a tattoo, it'd be something faith based like that.
..

questdriven:

Anyway, with absolutely no commitment necessary, it might be worthwhile for you to check out a local parlor or two, to get some more ideas of the sort of possibilities that you might be interested in. Fact is now, the whole thing about tattoos for women has come full circle. I read this: ' ..tattooing was quite popular in the late 1700s and early 1800s in Western cultures. Women in particular found tattoos to be quite in fashion for a brief time in the Victorian era, and tattoos were seen as something that the upper class would collect.' ( spiritgallery dot com 140-tattoos-on-women-in-the-1800s ) Then for decades it wasn't fashionable any more; but now tattoos have come back big time, with 60% to 70% of parlor clients in North America being women. So with your interest in such designs, you won't feel at all out of place when you visit a parlor.

(There's also a lot of potential for faith related designs, too.)

Blessings.

PS: Unless you would just prefer a temporary one.

 

[farouk]

PS:

..I cannot see a clear reason why I should condemn anyone (man or woman) for getting a tattoo.

As tatts become more and more common, I think they'll be incorporated into different ways Christians share the gospel, just as faith-based clothing or jewelry has been.

My brother-in-law is one scary looking dude. He's a biker and he can be sort of a dangerous guy, but he's also a very sweet, gentle man. We've prayed for him for a long time and, due to a biker preacher, he's now a Christian. The biker preacher has many faith based tattoos and has led many bikers to the Lord. My brother-in-law also married a wonderful woman who is also part of the biker society. She too, is a Christian, has faith based tattoos and also evangelizes to many people that "good Church-going Christian folks" would roll up their windows and lock their doors rather than speak to.

I'll never get a tattoo, at least from where I'm sitting now, I can't see myself getting one. ..

handy:

As usual, your comments are thoughtful.

When you say you'll never get one, at least from where you are sitting now, do you mean that you are really determined never to be in a frame of mind to get one? or that this is your current frame of mind not to?

Blessing to you and yours.

 

[farouk]

Not sure I quite follow, but will respond with what I believe you were trying to relay. So forgive me if I'm completely off target:D
I don't know that it's necessarily re-creating a neo-theocracy? Nor do we imitate Jewish customs for the sake of tradition.
Regarding using 'one of many means', this (to me) conjures up images of an "exterminate with extreme prejudice" mentality... A let's use all means necessary, regardless of limitations, in order to accomplish our goal?
I know that's not what you're saying... for some reason that's just what popped into my head.

I read a book by Mark Cahill entitled "The One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven". It really changed my perspectives on what is acceptable and not acceptable in sharing our gospel. He shattered my misconceptions of where we can witness, and how we should witness. A man willing to go to the bars, to the homeless, the prostitutes, the lost and the broken where ever he found them. And that when he spoke, it was with compassion for them, seeing the road they're on and loving them, not judging them.
So this could simply be a continuation of that.
Many of those passages in Lev 19 were re-affirmed by NT, some were not (including the one we are discussing) so I would say if it's being used as a means to spread the Gospel, then I'll take Christs advise:
Luke 9:50
"And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."

Hi [MENTION=90426]pdpilgrim78[/MENTION]:

I was checking back and see that this thread is still open. I guess what you are saying, more or less, in summary, as applied to the thread's subject:

"If your motive is to be an effective witness with a faith based tattoo, then go for it!"

Blessings.

 

[pdpilgrim78]

I guess if you're intent on getting one, I'd rather it be one used to witness than some monstrosities I have seen.... lol

 

[farouk]

I guess if you're intent on getting one, I'd rather it be one used to witness than some monstrosities I have seen.... lol

[MENTION=90426]pdpilgrim78[/MENTION]:

So, like, you think it's kind of a legit. means of witness?

(Hopefully done in an aesthetically pleasing way.)

They are proven to be effective conversation-starters, anyway.

Blessings.

 

[pdpilgrim78]

If one is intent to get one, which I hope that decision is prayerfully sought, then at the least, make it something that you can use to witness.
I am still not sold on why someone would want one? In my opinion, we have become a society seeking to become different, and unique. And in so doing we have become the same. Eventually all fads will catch up with those who set it, if your goal is to stand out, or express individuality, eventually enough will follow suit to where that which made you unique, now marks you as one of the masses.

I'll be honest, I haven't followed this line of thinking too far, but it seems as if tattoos seem to fall into the same category as that of goth, emo, piercings, etc.

 

[farouk]

If one is intent to get one, which I hope that decision is prayerfully sought, then at the least, make it something that you can use to witness.
I am still not sold on why someone would want one? In my opinion, we have become a society seeking to become different, and unique. And in so doing we have become the same. Eventually all fads will catch up with those who set it, if your goal is to stand out, or express individuality, eventually enough will follow suit to where that which made you unique, now marks you as one of the masses.

I'll be honest, I haven't followed this line of thinking too far, but it seems as if tattoos seem to fall into the same category as that of goth, emo, piercings, etc.

[MENTION=90426]pdpilgrim78[/MENTION]: Interesting thoughts; thank-you!

Along similar lines, some years ago a Hollywood director wanted to re-create an authentic-seeming beach scene from the 1950s, but had difficulty in finding enough young women without tattoos (seeing as in the 1950s most women didn't get them). I take your point about 'being different' and 'being the same'. I guess if enough get a tattoo with the idea of being different, they might end up being the same...

There is in fact a great variety of tattoo designs (and placements, too). My thing is from a pragmatic point of view, they are proven to be good conversation-starters and thus they can have a lot of witness tool potential, if the design is faith based (Bible ref. or Christian fish sign on a wrist, etc.). I take your point about the numbers of people going under the needle; but just taking this fact as a given, I guess a whole set of pragmatic witness possibilities has arisen, too, right?

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

PS:
@pdpilgrim78 :

This is a quote I saw; I noted you mentioned about some people getting tattoos in order to 'be different'; well, it also seems that some people have it done precisely because they want to be 'the same' as others; they do precisely to 'fit in', and pursue its perceived appropriateness within a circle or age group:

(From Michelle Gallo-Kohlas: )

“’Most of my clients are in the older bracket,’ Gallo-Kohlas told The Huffington Post. ‘We see a lot of women in their sixties and seventies getting their first tattoos.’ Gallo-Kohlas recalls a woman in her sixties who got a tattoo because everyone in the golf clique at her gated community had one. It seemed like the thing to do in order to fit in.’ " source: huffingtonpost.com
<O:p</O< font>

(Two cents'.)

Blessings.

 

[pdpilgrim78]

I don't disagree with the premise that a tattoo has been known to be a conversation starter, but I guess in my mind, what method's were used prior to resorting to tattoos?

I could think of a hundred 'conversation starters' that are less painful, and less permanent.
I believe it to be a poorly disguised desire to have a tattoo, with the justification being that we will 'only use it for good'

Now, I do not condemn anyone with them.... I believe I wrote earlier, that I have a tattoo (prior to my salvation in Christ), but I would ask that they pray diligently for the will of God before getting one. If, having done so, who am I to condemn anyone?

 

[farouk]

I don't disagree with the premise that a tattoo has been known to be a conversation starter, but I guess in my mind, what method's were used prior to resorting to tattoos?

I could think of a hundred 'conversation starters' that are less painful, and less permanent.
I believe it to be a poorly disguised desire to have a tattoo, with the justification being that we will 'only use it for good'

Now, I do not condemn anyone with them.... I believe I wrote earlier, that I have a tattoo (prior to my salvation in Christ), but I would ask that they pray diligently for the will of God before getting one. If, having done so, who am I to condemn anyone?

@pdpilgrim78 :

I can see what you are saying: witness hardly stands or falls on account of whether one goes under the needle. Though they do work; I was talking to a guy a while back with John 3.16 on his arm (the whole verse!); the tattoo stimulated my speaking to him, and I'll guess that it's happened to him with others, too, which is presumably why he got it.

Of course, some people can look very positively at their tattoos in relation to their conversion: like if a woman has a tattoo of an unbelieving ex-bf which says, e.g., 'Bill', if she is converted to Christ, she may well feel it's far more God honoring to have the tattoo changed to read, e.g., 'Bible' instead of 'Bill'.

So I guess there are many different circumstances.

Blessings.

 

[pdpilgrim78]

PS:
@pdpilgrim78 :

This is a quote I saw; I noted you mentioned about some people getting tattoos in order to 'be different'; well, it also seems that some people have it done precisely because they want to be 'the same' as others; they do precisely to 'fit in', and pursue its perceived appropriateness within a circle or age group:

(From Michelle Gallo-Kohlas: )

“’Most of my clients are in the older bracket,’ Gallo-Kohlas told The Huffington Post. ‘We see a lot of women in their sixties and seventies getting their first tattoos.’ Gallo-Kohlas recalls a woman in her sixties who got a tattoo because everyone in the golf clique at her gated community had one. It seemed like the thing to do in order to fit in.’ " source: huffingtonpost.com
<O:p</O< font>

(Two cents'.)

Blessings.

Interesting!
Either way, for solidarity or acceptance, I don't recommend one getting one for inclusion any more than I would recommend one for exclusion.

 

[farouk]

PS:
@pdpilgrim78 :

This is a quote I saw; I noted you mentioned about some people getting tattoos in order to 'be different'; well, it also seems that some people have it done precisely because they want to be 'the same' as others; they do precisely to 'fit in', and pursue its perceived appropriateness within a circle or age group:

(From Michelle Gallo-Kohlas: )

“’Most of my clients are in the older bracket,’ Gallo-Kohlas told The Huffington Post. ‘We see a lot of women in their sixties and seventies getting their first tattoos.’ Gallo-Kohlas recalls a woman in her sixties who got a tattoo because everyone in the golf clique at her gated community had one. It seemed like the thing to do in order to fit in.’ " source: huffingtonpost.com
<O:p</O< font>

(Two cents'.)

Blessings.

Interesting!
Either way, for solidarity or acceptance, I don't recommend one getting one for inclusion any more than I would recommend one for exclusion.

@pdpilgrim78 :

In any case, for the people mentioned in the quote, above, older women conforming with other older women, it's almost become a rather conservative thing, in a sense. If this makes sense?

(It's an age and gender bracket which also tends to be more 'religious', too; so I'll reckon that faith based designs will be on the rise in this sector, too.)

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

PS: @pdpilgrim78 : I think I would actually agree with you about not necessarily just doing it because a lot of other people are doing it.

From the point of view of that fact that many women, not only young, but older or middle aged women, are doing it, people posting here have kind of expressed a general acknowledgment that it's really all part of women's equality and sense of personal freedom and dignity if they want to do it (especially, for the Christian, if it's faith based, in any case); @for_his_glory expressed her view that

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

and [MENTION=4376]handy[/MENTION] mentioned that several middle aged women from her church have had it done. This is also another perspective, and it's also legitimate, I would suggest, if you see what I mean? (But we don't need to prolong what other people have contributed, but who now may not wish to contribute more.)

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

Farouk, I absolutely agree that it is all about the intent of the heart. I'm simply looking for Christians to respond to this issue Biblically, but no one has addressed the point I've brought up. Instead, you hear things like "A Christian shouldn't get tattooed because they are associated with punks" or "Tattoo parlors just look evil!" as if those with tattoos are less than human. I wish people could hear what is coming out of their own hearts when they make comments like that.

It's an issue that is left between each Christian and God, but there will never be a shortage of Christians found condemning other Christians concerning any issue. Any Christian who is strong enough to get a tattoo, is also strong enough to bless and pray for those who condemn them, though.

@theLords :

(I'll respond here since this thread is more recent: )

Yes, one can soon get accustomed to the inside of a tattoo parlor - and also to the often nice folk who work there! - especially if the motive is to research design possibilities for faith based ink that may prove to be an effective conversation-starter.

In any case, it would be unreasonable to expect that tattoo artists in a parlor would not themselves be quite heavily tattooed.

It's all about motive, right?

Blessings.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

It's all about motive, right?

Blessings.

No.

You don't have to agree, but it was made plain to you that tattooing isn't just about you.

Jesus prophesied about the corrupting of the kingdom, like leaven in bread, and it's going to happen, but we each have a responsibility to not be one who aided the process. The witness you are sure tattooing is to the kingdom is actually just showing the world how much like it we are.

"<sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Do not conform to the pattern of this world..." (Romans 12:2 NASB)

 

[hhh]

.

Nay
Mt. 5:37

Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
Lev. 19:28

.

 

[farouk]

It's all about motive, right?

Blessings.

No.

You don't have to agree, but it was made plain to you that tattooing isn't just about you.

Jesus prophesied about the corrupting of the kingdom, like leaven in bread, and it's going to happen, but we each have a responsibility to not be one who aided the process. The witness you are sure tattooing is to the kingdom is actually just showing the world how much like it we are.

"<sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Do not conform to the pattern of this world..." (Romans 12:2 NASB)

[MENTION=88699]Jethro Bodine[/MENTION]:

By 'it was made plain' I think you mean this is your interpretation.

Romans 14 was also written by Paul as well as Romans 12; in neither does he specifically mention tattoos.

Blessings.