Poll: Tattoo art - Christian perspectives: Fight it? Ignore it? appreciate/embrace it?

[farouk]

Yes, Farouk, it is a matter of perspective. As Rupertus Meldenius said: "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity." So, re: tattoos, if you do get inked, do so for the glory of God and let it add to the light that is in you, and may it also be salt adding flavor to your proclamation of the gospel message. Amen.

@LTJMP14 Oh the way you expressed that seems like because of the evident maturity of your Christian experience you have quite an eloquent way of expressing Godly sentiment in a quotable way...

 

[Truman]

@Truman the Levite Well, even so, don't rush into it; get some quotes from parlors; and even though you'd likely have lots of conversations with ppl if you have it done, make sure you do it at a time that you're ready for it, and not before...

But like I said, all the young people with Bible verses tattooed that I have talked to seem to have had it done for evangelistic reasons, anyhow.

In a week, I'll be 63. If I ever get at tat, it'll be this. It was part of a prophecy that was sung to me by the Lord the night He anointed me for leading worship. I can almost smell the flowers now.

 

[Ziggy]

@Ziggy Well, at our small, conservative local church it has seemed that the boys and young men get earrings too. Like you, maybe eventually some of them will let theirs close up, too.

It's a phase that young ppl go through; sometimes it lasts a lifetime; sometimes not.

What I think matters not, but I think, If the young men as well as the young women, want to have their ears pierced, go for it; if they don't, then don't. Simple as that.

The earrings usually precede the tattoos. It's probably more unusual for ppl to get tattooed if they have not gotten earrings put in already, young men or women. Generally speaking, a certain stage comes and the earrings get put in. Then the tattoo stage comes. Many decades back it was the young men who got the tattoos and the young women who got the earrings. Now the young men get the earrings too and the young women get the tattoos too; and it's already been this way for decades. Sometimes the earrings can be at least obliquely faith based in design as are some tattoos.

(Sounds about right...? )

I let mine close because they kept getting infected. I found I am alergic to metals and even plastics rubbing against my skin, whether ears, neck, wrists.
Every individual has an individual reason for getting their ears pierced or getting tattoos.
I don't know if "faith" based symbols matter much, faith is based on what we don't see, not what we wear.
Although I also believe that some symbols can stimulate conversation concerning faith, I personally never had this experience.
People are going to do what they do.
The more your against it, the more they drive towards it.
So... it's a personal choice. I believe in personal choice.
And some will maintain their style and others will change.
People are amazing creatures aren't they :)
Hugs

 

[LTJMP14]

@LTJMP14 Oh the way you expressed that seems like because of the evident maturity of your Christian experience you have quite an eloquent way of expressing Godly sentiment in a quotable way...

To God be the glory.

 

[farouk]

In a week, I'll be 63. If I ever get at tat, it'll be this....

@Truman the Levite You mean, it's likely now or never?

Well, anyway, like I said, get some quotes (don't just go with one).

(Another thing: you may be surprised at how young some of the tattoo artists seem. You know, a Bible verse can even become a first talking point with a tattoo artist though don't count on it... :) )

You should find a parlor not too far from you (unless you live someplace really isolated).

 

[Truman]

The Lord's tat on my forehead is all I need!

 

[farouk]

To God be the glory.

@LTJMP14 Indeed so...

 

[farouk]

I let mine close because they kept getting infected. I found I am alergic to metals and even plastics rubbing against my skin, whether ears, neck, wrists.
Every individual has an individual reason for getting their ears pierced or getting tattoos.
I don't know if "faith" based symbols matter much, faith is based on what we don't see, not what we wear.
Although I also believe that some symbols can stimulate conversation concerning faith, I personally never had this experience.
People are going to do what they do.
The more your against it, the more they drive towards it.
So... it's a personal choice. I believe in personal choice.
And some will maintain their style and others will change.
People are amazing creatures aren't they :)
Hugs

@Ziggy Some true statements there, indeed...

There's not a need for rocket science to figure why young people get earrings put in; it's simply what they do, really.

Similarly, ink now at 18 is more to do with reaching a stage of life, really.

GodsGrace said: ↑

almost every young girl I know has some sort of tatoo.
Even those very conservative types.

GodsGrace is absolutely right there. It includes the shy, modest conservative types.

 

[Taken]

@\

By way of extension, would it be logical that it would be good if more Christians worked as tattoo artists / in tattoo parlors?

That sort of gets into, a personal choice, or perhaps encouragement.

We saw a fiasco of some Christians who opened a Public Bakery, and wanted to Provide a Service for Christians by Christians, and the fiasco of a homosexual couple that got blown way out of "unnecessary" proportion, and unfavorable "consequences".

 

[farouk]

:) Well, the way I see it …. The Lord has specifically told us how to evangelize. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

Personally, I don’t need a tattoo to help me witness.

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

-jb

@jessiblue Oh exactly right; you don't need a tattoo to witness!

In an era where it's become for young people a sort of norm, a lot of young Christians choose it as a tool to help them witness.

Heart2Soul said

I have no problems with others choices to get a tattoo....I really like some of them. .. it is becoming a norm with health professionals.

GodsGrace said: ↑

almost every young girl I know has some sort of tatoo.
Even those very conservative types.

All the young people with Bible verses tattooed that I have talked to seem to have had them done for evangelistic reasons, anyway...

The fact that for young people it seems to have become a sort of norm is clear; and so the fact also that some young Christians use it for witness purposes really comes as no surprise, either...

 

[farouk]

@Taga Chan FYI....another thread I started...

 

[farouk]

Didn't Paul say "I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some"?

@prism All the young ppl that I have talked to with Bible verses tattooed seem to have had it done as an evangelical tool, anyway...

In the context of what GodsGrace rightly says:

GodsGrace said: ↑

almost every young girl I know has some sort of tatoo.
Even those very conservative types.

it seems to have become a sought after tool to use, by young Christians.

 

[farouk]

@Mantis Thanks for the 'like'. In some circumstances the tattoo parlor can provide a joyful experience but the Christian wearer of a faith design needs to want it. It's recognized potentially as a wholesome, joyful experience, anyway.

Acolyte said: ↑

My son had 7 or 8 tattoos before I even thought about it. ... Those who get scripture must be overjoyed. The money and pain are outweighed by the message they witness to... No more ink for me. ... I do think they are fine for whoever wants one. It's just not something I would do again.

 

[farouk]

It depends on how much evangelism they've actually done from the tattoo.

PS: @Wynona
You are absolutely right indeed to highlight the use to which the Bible verse tattoos are going to be put.

The tattoo parlor can in some circumstances provide a joyful experience for the motivated believer.

But the wearer must in the first place want the joyful Bible verse inking experience.

Rita said: ↑

I have never regretted my tattoo.. I love the tattoo..the tattoo was not liberating - the tattoo represented the liberation and freedom that the Lord had brought me through..The tattoo in of itself was merely the means of expression and the reminder. .. I was 50 when I had mine done, and two of my sons had various tattoos long before me. I made the decision with a mature head on my shoulders.

Acolyte said: ↑

My son had 7 or 8 tattoos before I even thought about it. ... Those who get scripture must be overjoyed. The money and pain are outweighed by the message they witness to... No more ink for me. ... I do think they are fine for whoever wants one. It's just not something I would do again. :)

So yes, yours is a wise observation.

 

[farouk]

When it comes to my own tattoos; they were all done really of just having something on my skin.....
Thank you for the question.

@MatthewG I guess it hinges on whether you ideally would want any ink in future to have a real meaning there that related to your faith and could be a talking point. If there's a parlor near you, a ball park quote could at least crystalize in your mind and intention whether you would eventually want to go ahead for more, that is faith based instead.

Like I said recently, all the young ppl with Bible verses tattooed that I have talked to seem to have had it done with evangelistic use in mind.

 

[prism]

@prism All the young ppl that I have talked to with Bible verses tattooed seem to have had it done as an evangelical tool, anyway...

In the context of what GodsGrace rightly says:

GodsGrace said: ↑


it seems to have become a sought after tool to use, by young Christians.

I've never been a 'monkey see / monkey do' kind of person.

 

[amadeus]

I've never been a 'monkey see / monkey do' kind of person.

Even so...!

"But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead." Matt 8:22

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." I Cor 11:1

 

[farouk]

I am littered with them from my youth.

@Mantis Some ppl find them addictive; others not. It's so often done at around 18 when girls become women and boys become men - a transition to adulthood thing - but it doesn't necessarily mean that they will keep going back for more.


FHII said: ↑

I got my first and only tattoo... I was told it was addictive, but for me it was not. .. I don't regret it.. .. Probably 75% of the congregation have tattoos, including myself and the Pastor .. I have a tattoo, I am not ashamed of it, but it has no bearing on my salvation. ..I also agree that it makes a statement of freedom in Christ.

On the other hand, there are conservative people who do indeed go back for more:

juliannenw said:

I am a nurse in a cardiac ICU. I am also pretty heavily tattooed. I am a well educated, well rounded nurse, and was raised with strong morals and manners. .. I am an extremely traditional person. I've always worn long sleeves .. I love having a professional persona as well as a unique one while I'm not working

allnurses dot com

 

[farouk]

Back

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. ~Philippians 4:8-12

@Addy

Sublime words indeed that you cite! :)

nl dot pinterest

 

[Addy]

Good morning my DEAR BROTHER @farouk ... Blessings on you.