Faith-based tattoo: as a result of one, did you ever talk with someone? (Poll included)

[TLHKAJ]

@TLHKAJ Another way of stating it would be that a lot of ppl would say that the brief pain is really worth it.

So your dad had them. Seems like he had artistic flair; so did you inherit any of his artistic flair?

I was going to ask, Did your mom have tattoos also? which these days would be a very fair question to ask, because now in North America apparently 59%-70% or more of parlor clients are women, according to the industry statistics; although years ago it wasn't nearly as widespread for women to have it done confidently, it certainly is now.

She never mentioned the pain one way or the other... that I remember. lol

I did inherit the artist flair... but (long story) ... that kinda died over the last couple decades, although I taught art in a parochial school and did a few pieces several years ago. My teachers noticed a talent for art early on (2nd grade) ... and as a child, I wanted to grow up and become 3 things... an artist, a veterinarian, and a mom. :) I accomplished one of those. lol

My mom never had a tattoo and never showed an interest to have one.... neither do I. lol

 

[TLHKAJ]

Also, all of my children but one also inherited an artistic flair. My youngest didn't show an interest in art.... he was more mechanically inclined. (He went Home this past January... age 17.)

 

[farouk]

She never mentioned the pain one way or the other... that I remember. lol

I did inherit the artist flair... but (long story) ... that kinda died over the last couple decades, although I taught art in a parochial school and did a few pieces several years ago. My teachers noticed a talent for art early on (2nd grade) ... and as a child, I wanted to grow up and become 3 things... an artist, a veterinarian, and a mom. :) I accomplished one of those. lol

My mom never had a tattoo and never showed an interest to have one.... neither do I. lol

@TLHKAJ Great that you've inherited the artistic flair and have managed to put it to good use! :)

As regards your mom, it maybe wasn't as widespread in those days for ppl of your mom's probably generation to have it done, either.

Re. your female relative who did do it, when you suddenly saw it for the first time, you maybe instinctively thought (silently!): That must have hurt! :) right?

 

[farouk]

Also, all of my children but one also inherited an artistic flair. My youngest didn't show an interest in art.... he was more mechanically inclined. (He went Home this past January... age 17.)

@TLHKAJ Oh I'm so sorry for your loss. John 14.27.

 

[TLHKAJ]

@TLHKAJ Great that you've inherited the artistic flair and have managed to put it to good use! :)

As regards your mom, it maybe wasn't as widespread in those days for ppl of your mom's probably generation to have it done, either.

Re. your female relative who did do it, when you suddenly saw it for the first time, you maybe instinctively thought (silently!): That must have hurt! :) right?

No sir, lol .... I don't know why I didn't think about the pain. I just briefly processed my thoughts inside (none of them related to pain) and just listened to her relate her reason for getting it.... a very positive exchange, really.

 

[TLHKAJ]

@TLHKAJ Oh I'm so sorry for your loss. John 14.27.

Thank you .... it's been a rough journey. I know I've not really lost him ... he loved/loves the Lord and his faith was so strong. What we're experiencing is a temporary physical separation ... but we're still seated together with Christ in heavenly places. But yes .... I still cry... sometimes, a lot....

Maybe off topic, but ... his favorite song was "Hidden" by United Pursuit.

"Now I am hidden in the safety of Your love. I trust Your heart and Your intentions. Trust You completely. Listening intently. You'll guide me through these many shadows." <3

On rough days, when he knew I was having a hard time ... he'd put on his playlist of favorite worship songs... that song was first on the list. :)

 

[farouk]

No sir, lol .... I don't know why I didn't think about the pain. I just briefly processed my thoughts inside (none of them related to pain) and just listened to her relate her reason for getting it.... a very positive exchange, really.

@TLHKAJ Well, okay! sounds like you had a really good, positive discussion about what you were told were the reasons why your female relative felt she had to do it!

(I guess it's easy to forget that all that ink in the skin needs to go really fast through needles that puncture and inject, right? :) )

 

[TLHKAJ]

@TLHKAJ Well, okay! sounds like you had a really good, positive discussion about what you were told were the reasons why your female relative felt she had to do it!

(I guess it's easy to forget that all that ink in the skin needs to go really fast through needles that puncture and inject, right? :) )

I never thought of that... but I could probably ask her about the pain aspect now that I know. :)

 

[farouk]

I never thought of that... but I could probably ask her about the pain aspect now that I know. :)

@TLHKAJ Well....she'll probably tell you that she really thought the pain was worth it! :)

(Logically?)

 

[TLHKAJ]

@TLHKAJ Well....she'll probably tell you that she really thought the pain was worth it! :)

(Logically?)

I guess we'll see. Lol
I don't think she regrets getting it, so it's a good possibility. :)

 

[soul man]

No. I always associate tattoos with sailors or longshoremen, who hang out in bars, drink into the night, and get in fights. I also associate tattoos with those who are from the lower class, uneducated, unsophisticated, and lacking good judgment. I never imagined that a Christian might get a tattoo, on purpose, in order to witness.

Don't get me wrong. Although I have grown up making these associations, I never treat anyone according to my preconceptions. I always look past the tattoo(s) giving such a person the full love and attention they deserve. But I must say, to be honest, if I had a daughter I would strongly caution her against dating a man with a tat. Just sayin'

I think alot of people did, the craze has busted that stereotype wide open :-)

 

[CadyandZoe]

I think alot of people did, the craze has busted that stereotype wide open :)

Has anyone considered Leviticus 19:28?

 

[TLHKAJ]

Has anyone considered Leviticus 19:28?

Yes, actually ...that's the main reason I am.not a fan of them. It was too late for me to bring that up after my loved one had already gotten a tattoo...and she already knew that verse anyway.

 

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll!

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

 

[farouk]

Yes, actually ...that's the main reason I am.not a fan of them. It was too late for me to bring that up after my loved one had already gotten a tattoo...and she already knew that verse anyway.

@TLHKAJ Interesting that an adjacent verse also seems to say about not trimming beards; I guess a lot of Christians might say that being an Old Testament Jew in the land under the law, and being a New Testament Christian under grace - for who the Gospel rather than the law is their rule of life - distinct; and for many Christians a faith based tattoo is a proven effective witness means.

I would not go as far as to say that Christians ought to get tattoos. But it's undeniable that so many do get them. So many Christians would at any rate likely conclude that enduring 30-45 minutes of 'Oh! ouch!' at a clean and regularly inspected parlor for a Scripture/faith-based design is a small price to pay for a really effective witnessing tool.

 

[farouk]

I think alot of people did, the craze has busted that stereotype wide open :)

@soul man

As @Heart2Soul said,

it is becoming a norm with health professionals.

FYI:

More of the nurses that I work with have tattoos than do not. On my shift, only three don't have them (of 13 nurses). We have several nurses (including myself) who have visible tattoos; one gal has them on her wrists. ...I've had a few wives tell me of their husbands' tattoos after seeing mine. It's such a sweet, intimate, bonding moment, and I feel so privileged

source: allnurses dot com

I have 4. .. They are usually great conversation starters with old and young alike. If I have a patient with tattoos I always comment and then they want to see .. In the hospital that I work at you would be hard pressed to find employees without tattoos.. We even have significantly older nurses that .. have tattoos.

allnurses dot com

Whether by young nurses right from the start of their careers, or by older nurses now getting tattooed belatedly; it's indeed becoming the norm.

Likewise, among Christians that feel that they have something really worthwhile to express through the medium of faith based ink, they seem to be hesitating less and less before going ahead and using the tattoo parlor for something that is already becoming a norm in any case among demographics such as health professionals.

 

[farouk]

I guess we'll see. Lol
I don't think she regrets getting it, so it's a good possibility. :)

@TLHKAJ Indeed, she probably doesn't regret it at all.

Jar said:

I do believe that it's excellent for a Christian to get a mark of their faith. .. The reason I got this tattoo is because, as a lady from my church said, it's my cheat sheet. It's a reminder, a promise, a rebuke and it's my solace. I put it in a visible spot, so that I could read it. And it's in an incredibly painful spot to get a tattoo and the pain of it resonates within me.. This is a permanent mark, one that will never, ever go away and I don't ever want it to. I also think that this is a statement for those who do see it and it's a reminder to myself that this is an incredibly visible tattoo and that I should conduct myself as a proper Christian when sometimes it's easy to forget.

Your relative probably thinks something similar; and likely doesn't regret the pain especially if it is combined with joy in the truth expressed in the design.

 

[soul man]

Whether by young nurses right from the start of their careers, or by older nurses now getting tattooed belatedly; it's indeed becoming the norm.

I think I told you about my wife's nurse? The scriptures on the inside of her forearms, looked nice and did start a conversation.

 

[TLHKAJ]

I'm sure that a tattoo might be something that would start a conversation that could springboard into discussion about Christ. And although I have no condemnation for those who have tattoos, I would never go as far as recommending someone get a tattoo in order to be a more effective witness. I think there are plenty of other ways to point others back to God, one being... good works which are rooted in love.

John 13 (KJV) ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Matthew 5 (KJV) ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

[farouk]

I'm sure that a tattoo might be something that would start a conversation that could springboard into discussion about Christ. And although I have no condemnation for those who have tattoos, I would never go as far as recommending someone get a tattoo in order to be a more effective witness. I think there are plenty of other ways to point others back to God, one being... good works which are rooted in love.

John 13 (KJV) ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Matthew 5 (KJV) ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

@TLHKAJ Great verses there! and I do indeed think and know that the inward and spiritual always should supersede the outward.

I do agree with everything you said.

At an individual level it is something that is done widely by Christians and many would probably testify it can be a deeply joyful experience to receive Scripture ink. Did you see @soul man 's post in #427 immediately above yours?