Tatoos

[Rollo Tamasi]

Is getting a tatoo a sin against God?
What does the Bible say one way or the other?
Don't conform to this world?
Join in and get tatooed like everyone else?
Stand apart from the world?
Don't mark up your body?
Be free to do as you like?

Where do you stand on this issue?

 

[Eugene]

.
Lev 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
You're all going to die!!
Wait; there's hope.
Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ.
Gal 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
The law, that ministration of death slew me, and I am alive forever more in Jesus. Well, some of us believe we are.
.

 

[KevinK]

They get mentioned in NDEs all the time. They're considered an affront to God's creation in Man.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

.
Lev 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
You're all going to die!!
Wait; there's hope.
Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ.
Gal 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
The law, that ministration of death slew me, and I am alive forever more in Jesus. Well, some of us believe we are.
.

Can I steal, and murder, and commit adultery because the people of God are not 'under' the law of Moses anymore?

 

[Eugene]

Can I steal, and murder, and commit adultery because the people of God are not 'under' the law of Moses anymore?

Of course. I reckon I could ask the destination of the thief on the cross (Luk 23:43), the man living with his father's wife (1 Co 5:1 & Cor 5:5), or even Peter denying our Lord three times (Mat 26:72 & Mat 26:75).

As to works of the flesh such as fornication, what are we told?
1 Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication . .
Is there consequence? I can near guarantee it, but here again forgiveness is available to regain our standing or place we will spend eternity. All these things are that part of judgment of Rev 2 & 3 that we're to repent of.

Brought back into the fold? The man having his father's wife is said to have had sufficient punishment, and brought back and comforted (2 Cor 2:6-7). What's this Lord? He didn't go to hell?

 

[tandemcpl]

I believe tattoos are still a pagan worldly practice that Christians should avoid.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2, ESV)

My story:

I have several large tattoos that I acquired before I was saved. I have quarter sleeve tattoos on both my upper arms, and a quarter sleeve tattoo on my right forearm along with a half calf tattoo on my right leg. Even when I was unsaved, I knew enough to make sure all the tattoos I got could be covered up while at a job interview. Even today in the world, tattoos are looked at in a negative way by many.

Below is a portion of a post I posted in a long dead thread:

Imagine if you will that each one of us is a large window made up of many smaller panes of glass. On one side of the window is the glorious light of Jesus, and on the other side the darkness of the world. I would like to believe that all my panes are crystal clear and the light of Jesus shining through is blindingly strong; however, unfortunately that is not the case. At times I struggle in my walk, and that clouds some of the smaller pieces of glass and blocks some of God’s light. However, I know that as God sanctifies me my window will grow clearer.

There are, however, several small panes that will never be completely clear, and those are the panes that have been painted over with tattoos. Tattoos are of the world and will always be seen that way. Non-believers that see my tattoos automatically think I am one of them and act accordingly around me. The same thing happens with fellow Christians. They see my tattoos and think I am of the world. With both groups I have to scrape away at the paint to let God’s light shine through to reveal the new creation I have become. This is an ongoing process because once I encounter new individuals; I have to start scraping all over again.

Be blessed.

Toby

 

[Obadiah]

There is no scripture, when considered within it's intended context, that tells us we can't have tattoos.

Where's Farouk? He used to be our resident expert on this subject. :yes

 

[Roro1972]

They get mentioned in NDEs all the time. They're considered an affront to God's creation in Man.

when we loose things we tend to look in all the wrong places for it. Same holds true if we are lost we tend to look in all the wrong places for salvation. I read many nde and have not seen tatoo's mentioned. thats not to say they haven't just I have not seen them mentioned. and I believe most get tatoo's before they find Jesus Christ so they are forgiven and if forgiven they would not be an affront. imho

 

[Obadiah]

when we loose things we tend to look in all the wrong places for it. Same holds true if we are lost we tend to look in all the wrong places for salvation. I read many nde and have not seen tatoo's mentioned. thats not to say they haven't just I have not seen them mentioned. and I believe most get tatoo's before they find Jesus Christ so they are forgiven and if forgiven they would not be an affront. imho

I also think we look in the wrong places when we look to human (and sometimes questionable) accounts of things like Near Death Experiences instead of directly to the context of God's word to try to determine what God has to say to us.

 

[Knotical]

Uh oh, a tattoo thread? I smell farouk lurking somewhere nearby.

 

[KevinK]

NDEs should definitely be questioned. That said, I must note that if it weren't for my own closely-related OBE, I wouldn't even be here.

 

[Roro1972]

I think we also look in the wrong places when we look to human (and sometimes questionable) accounts of things like Near Death Experiences instead of directly to the context of God's word to try to determine what God has to say to us.

I agree and I was trying to imply nde are the wrong place to look. many of them sound so right but if one looks closely they may find one sentence that does not jive and if one sentence is wrong the whole is wrong sorry I didnt say it right.

 

[Obadiah]

I agree and I was trying to imply nde are the wrong place to look. many of them sound so right but if one looks closely they may find one sentence that does not jive and if one sentence is wrong the whole is wrong sorry I didnt say it right.

Nah, you said it right and you caught my mistake. I WAS agreeing with you but typed it wrong. Didn't realize until I saw your post and looked closer at mine! I fixed it now. Where I originally typed "I think we also look..." I meant "I also think we look...", meaning I also think the same way you do on this. Sorry for the confusion. I need to proofread more carefully! :yes

 

[smaller]

They get mentioned in NDEs all the time. They're considered an affront to God's creation in Man.

I've never heard an NDE account mention tats.

 

[smaller]

There is no scripture, when considered within it's intended context, that tells us we can't have tattoos.

Or wear red, jewelry or heavy makeup.

Jeremiah 4:30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair;

 

[smaller]

NDEs should definitely be questioned. That said, I must note that if it weren't for my own closely-related OBE, I wouldn't even be here.

I had a couple OBE's when I was a kid. High fevers. Floated up to the ceiling. Could hear people talking at the other end of the house.

Knew I could just fly off and never come back if I wanted to.

 

[smaller]

I also think we look in the wrong places when we look to human (and sometimes questionable) accounts of things like Near Death Experiences instead of directly to the context of God's word to try to determine what God has to say to us.

There seems to be a lot of malarkey bad doctrines that come back with the near dead for some odd reason.

 

[smaller]

I believe tattoos are still a pagan worldly practice that Christians should avoid.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2, ESV)

My story:

I have several large tattoos that I acquired before I was saved. I have quarter sleeve tattoos on both my upper arms, and a quarter sleeve tattoo on my right forearm along with a half calf tattoo on my right leg. Even when I was unsaved, I knew enough to make sure all the tattoos I got could be covered up while at a job interview. Even today in the world, tattoos are looked at in a negative way by many.

Below is a portion of a post I posted in a long dead thread:

Imagine if you will that each one of us is a large window made up of many smaller panes of glass. On one side of the window is the glorious light of Jesus, and on the other side the darkness of the world. I would like to believe that all my panes are crystal clear and the light of Jesus shining through is blindingly strong; however, unfortunately that is not the case. At times I struggle in my walk, and that clouds some of the smaller pieces of glass and blocks some of God’s light. However, I know that as God sanctifies me my window will grow clearer.

There are, however, several small panes that will never be completely clear, and those are the panes that have been painted over with tattoos. Tattoos are of the world and will always be seen that way. Non-believers that see my tattoos automatically think I am one of them and act accordingly around me. The same thing happens with fellow Christians. They see my tattoos and think I am of the world. With both groups I have to scrape away at the paint to let God’s light shine through to reveal the new creation I have become. This is an ongoing process because once I encounter new individuals; I have to start scraping all over again.

Be blessed.

Toby

I have so many friends with tats I don't even think of it. A a few of them believers, pre-salvation for the most part.

I really don't think the flesh is any better or worse for them myself, other than I warned my wife to never get one because I didn't want to have to look at some old worn out, faded sagging piece of bad art when she grew old. Neither of us have tats. Absolutely refused to let my kids even consider it and the advice stuck. I didn't tell them on the basis of christian law, but how some people would go into the auto-judge mode and nobody really needs that kind of attention. Out of 5 kids we only had to deal with 1 small side of the nose ring at age 18 from one of my daughters, long since departed after adulthood.

 

[KevinK]

I've never heard an NDE account mention tats.

I'll try to find some.

 

[Corn Pop]

I have tatoos but I would not get any more. I dont see the point in drawing on skin when you can draw on paper. Its like, having a tattoo on your back you cannot see, its stupid, obviously there is no other reason but to try look good and impress people with it.