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

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll!

NB: If you have not yet voted in the poll, please vote now! :)

 

[Bartholomew Jones]

@Bartholomew Jones If the Bible verse is inked on paper or on skin, both can be blessed, right?

My wife and I talked to a young lady with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; seems like a lot of young Christians are getting faith based designs inked in.

I think a tattoo expressive of the Christian Way is impossible; of Christianity yes. It's more of an infatuation I think than a living faith. Like die hard football fans. There's difference. Symbolic expression doesn't carry salvation power. The cross itself does. I don't say it to discourage anyone in their faith. I say it to discourage said infatuation.

 

[farouk]

@GentleDove71 FYI....did you see/vote in the poll?

 

[farouk]

Question:
If he had tattoos, more effective in his outreach ministry?

@Pathfinder7 So, what you think, now?

 

[farouk]

It's more of an infatuation I think than a living faith.

@Bartholomew Jones Do you think this would have applied to the young lady with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area that my wife and I talked to?

 

[farouk]

I know some in ministry that have sleeves done and so on.

@soul man So did they mention to you why they had them done? :)

 

[Bartholomew Jones]

@Bartholomew Jones Do you think this would have applied to the young lady with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area that my wife and I talked to?

I'm not going to judge that case. Instead I'll judge in my own experience. A former best friend is a pastor. He had difficulty however many years with his own son accumulating tattoos as years went by. One day he took time with his son as he explained all the story behind each one and the significance in each season of his son's life. So the experience was good for my friend and his son. Those kind of experiences are undeniably worthy.

I just wouldn't ever encourage someone to go get a tattoo or encourage the habit or inclination, and I think my friend would say the same.

 

[soul man]

@soul man So did they mention to you why they had them done? :)

No not really, I don't know if I ever asked. That would probably be a good question when I talk to them, I'll ask.

 

[farouk]

@MrBebe Did you see/vote in the poll, above?

 

[farouk]

@MrBebe PS: You're in the Philippines, right? I've heard it's often gang members that get tattooed. (In North America, in contrast, so many do it, including churchgoing moms and grandmothers.)

 

[farouk]

I'm not going to judge that case. Instead I'll judge in my own experience. A former best friend is a pastor. He had difficulty however many years with his own son accumulating tattoos as years went by. One day he took time with his son as he explained all the story behind each one and the significance in each season of his son's life. So the experience was good for my friend and his son. Those kind of experiences are undeniably worthy.

@Bartholomew Jones Thank-you for that interesting account.

Actually, likewise, I'll guess that for the young lady my wife and I talked to it was a deeply meaningful and moving experience for her to have John 3.16 injected into her wrist area.

Thanks again.

 

[farouk]

No not really, I don't know if I ever asked. That would probably be a good question when I talk to them, I'll ask.

@soul man Might be worth asking them, right? when you see them...

 

[soul man]

@soul man So did they mention to you why they had them done? :)

I thought you were asking about the dauthers, my mistake. The ones I know through the years most have came through the kind of lifestyle that did body work before Christianity. I do know those that had nothing and started when it got popular. I like alot of the work I see but I have never desired that for my body, just a personal thing. I had rather have a good hamburger lol or new tennies with my money js. I have a good friend who was like me never had any and he is all sleaved out and it looks good but just not my cup of tea. I had plenty of opportunities before if I wanted too. I don't really care what my body looks like, I try to take care of it, take a pill or two to keep it alive but not into dressing it up. Imo all the plastic surgery and glue on teeth mess up a person's natural look. I get some may need it for health purposes but just because you want a chicklet smile seems really vain to me is my opinion and a waste of money.

 

[farouk]

I thought you were asking about the dauthers, my mistake. The ones I know through the years most have came through the kind of lifestyle that did body work before Christianity. I do know those that had nothing and started when it got popular. I like alot of the work I see but I have never desired that for my body, just a personal thing. I had rather have a good hamburger lol or new tennies with my money js. I have a good friend who was like me never had any and he is all sleaved out and it looks good but just not my cup of tea. ....

@soul man

Thanks for your comment. It's so true that so many Christians really like doing it and and really appreciate the artform, anyway. Some of the comments made merely show how undeniable this is:

FHII said

Probably 75% of the congregation have tattoos, including myself and the Pastor

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

So many Christians do seem to find it so meaningful and worthwhile, anyway, don't they?

 

[soul man]

@soul man

Thanks for your comment. It's so true that so many Christians really like doing it and and really appreciate the artform, anyway. Some of the comments made merely show how undeniable this is:

FHII said

Rita said:

So many Christians do seem to find it so meaningful and worthwhile, anyway, don't they?

Yes and I think it is a good witness tool. My cousin is in a biker club for Jesus. What is so peculiar about it it is ran just like the hells angels or some other club and they have been able to share their message with alot of deep intrenched bikers because they are the real deal without the violence.

 

[farouk]

Yes and I think it is a good witness tool. My cousin is in a biker club for Jesus. What is so peculiar about it it is ran just like the hells angels or some other club and they have been able to share their message with alot of deep intrenched bikers because they are the real deal without the violence.

@soul man Yes I knew a man who belonged to a Christian biker's club.

So are they women as well as men in the Christian biker club? Tattoos used to be regarded as a man thing when mainly sailors and bikers did it; but now the proportion of women in the military that is tattooed is even higher than the proportion of men that do it; and of course there are many women bikers; not sure about the club you know? Tattoos do indeed seem to go with being a biker, anyway.

 

[farouk]

once upon a time I was legalistic with tatoo's, piercing etc.....

not anymore but its not for me and I do not condemn others who think differently since it has nothing to do with ones salvation.

@Christophany

FHII said

Probably 75% of the congregation have tattoos, including myself and the Pastor

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

So many Christians now seem to find it meaningful and worthwhile, don't they? judging by posts made.

 

[farouk]

He had difficulty however many years with his own son accumulating tattoos as years went by.

@Bartholomew Jones PS: Their artwork may differ enormously among their sons and daughters, but among the parents of young ppl there is indeed also some difficulty in admitting at first when the 18 year old gets his or her tattoo that the former child they knew so well is now a man or a woman.

 

[Josho]

The Pope has just had something to say about tattoos for those who are interested.

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/dont.fear.tattoos.pope.francis.tells.young.people/127709.htm

 

[farouk]

She's much more likely.. to just show up with them...surprise!

@Naomi25 Sounds like she would be decisive enough to go get inked, if she chose to.