@Mayflower Let's face it, the tattoo parlor is all part of how song artists express themselves, right?
Poll: Tattoo art - Christian perspectives: Fight it? Ignore it? appreciate/embrace it?
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@Mayflower Let's face it, the tattoo parlor is all part of how song artists express themselves, right?
@Mayflower Yes; even beyond the music scene, it's really become something - as well as manly - that is so wholesomely a womanly thing to pursue, or can be, isn't it?
I'm surprised you haven't got a tattoo picture for your avatar. :)
I wouldn't want to give tattoos. The thought of sticking needles onto anyone makes me nervous. Hard enough giving the kids medicine.
I wouldn't want to give tattoos. The thought of sticking needles onto anyone makes me nervous. Hard enough giving the kids medicine.
@Mayflower Well, I reckon you are glad that someone worked the machine on yours. (Someone has to do it, right? I know you would be a bit reluctant but it first needs finding the confidence to do it, and once someone with artistic flair finds the confidence, it does open up a lot of possibilities.)
Perhaps it would be good if more Christians worked in tattoo parlors, given the scope for faith based designs...
Very relevant thread for myself, I actually came across it not too long ago, made me think much, just never responded.
A topic I have contemplated for much time since I returned to Christ. I have many tattoos and have actually repented of them to the Lord on several occasions. This is a personal decision, not one I feel every Christian who desires the grace of God needs to make.
I do believe it is against the will of God for man to mark his body in this way (Leviticus 19:28). Yes, this is Mosaic law, but in my heart I feel it may be better for us to keep our temples clean in this manner. I do believe tattoos and the like have pagan roots, do I believe all tattooed are pagans? Of course not. Just like I believe halloween is pagan in roots, not all who have fun with it are wicked and sinister in their intent. Ultimately, the LORD knows what is in our hearts, our intentions...He is the judge, not myself.
As it relates to me personally, most of my tattoos have a dark aesthetic to them and were done when I was lost in my faith. They do not have dark intentions, they all represent something to me that are not dark in nature, but to me they are a testimony of my former self. Even the designs that are not aesthetically dark are not clean in my sight, because they were done in a studio owned by and resided by artists very clearly against God and for the enemy. I certainly consider it would have been best for me not to give my money and mingle with such people.
The most important belief on this matter, as far as I'm concerned, is that God Almighty is on the judgment seat, not myself. If I had to give an answer on your poll it would be 'Don't know/rather not say' for the reason I just mentioned - I leave it to God. Although I would prefer people not to get tattoos, I will never condemn those who do. Although I've repented of mine for personal reasons, I will not say this is critical for all tattooed to do, not for me to decide...
Hi @runningwings
I see where you are coming from, thank-you. Your comment is appreciated.
Some ink designs may be bad, yes, with dubious origins; I guess one could take such an argument even further such as because Wednesday refers to Woden's Day, a Norse 'god', therefore one shouldn't advertise Bible studies on Wednesdays (I don't think anyone would take it that far, though...)
But I do see where you are coming from.
I have talked separately to a young man and a young woman, both of whom have painstakingly received the whole of the wording of John 3.16 onto their arm/wrist area; the fact that they evidently deeply desired to do this in order for people to think about the wording - and as conversation tools, these tattoos evidently worked and I'm sure continue to work - would probably make them say that although some tattoos are bad and regretted, it doesn't make all tattoos everywhere regrettable.
(I saw some quotes which show how widely it's done now.)
@Naomi25 You wrote the above post before your sister did after all pluck up the courage to have it done; but what you said about your sister not being 'avant garde or radical' does indeed illustrate a strong trend: it's conservative people who are indeed having it done very widely:
GodsGrace said: ↑
juliannenw said:
allnurses dot com
Obviously your sister, when you get to see her and her new tattoo, is no less conservative now than she has ever been...
I think so too. I think it's just another of those worldly fleshy things that people like to do. It won't condemn the Christian who does it, and the one who isn't a Christian is condemned already. But choosing to get inked . . . how to say this . . . it can change a person. The conservative person, the one who respects their body to keep it pristine, if pressed to get inked, there can come in a cognitive bias, as the novelty wears low, and they realize the gravity of their choice, and now they have to live with it.
Making poor choices can send someone on a path of more poor choices.
I'm not saying this describes everyone. I've known plenty of people who were just fine with their tattoos. But I've likewise know those to whom it was part of their path towards destruction. I don't believe in coloring tattoos as anything other than a pagan practice continued today.
Much love!
Maybe and maybe not.
Getting inked can lead people in directions they would not have gone otherwise, not good directions, as I've seen. Making poor choices can lead to more poor choices.
Much love!
I can personally attest to this. Getting my first tat was one of the first steps of rebellion against God and my family I made as a young man. Although done with somewhat noble intentions, it was packaged with a chain of moral violations that led me to destruction. Of course, this will not apply to everyone, but I would implore all who desire tattoos to, not think, but feel in their hearts if it is good for them. Ultimately, it’s between them and the Lord. I respect those who condemn it as well as those who carry them out with good intentions…
I know Christians who have tattoos all over themself, and continue to get more, and the thing is, it's like they don't really care what they are getting, it's all about the process.
As I've learned about behavioral addictions, I've discovered that the trauma of tattooing one's flesh is to the brain just like cutting one's self. There is an endorphine release in the brain as a biological reaction to the pain, which, for someone who may have lower endorphines, can quickly become a behaviorally induced chemical addiction.
Like you said, this isn't everyone. But I'm going to be the Last person to try to nudge anyone in that direction. To me it's like offering a drug to someone. You just never know.
Much love!
Naomi25
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@marks I'm not sure it's always an addiction, not by a long shot. (Though I suppose it can become that way with some ppl...)
Angelina said, back a bit:
I've talked to young people, male and female, with the whole of the wording of John 3.16 tattooed on their arm / wrist area. I guess I would say that they likely did it, not because they were addicted but because they wanted to witness.
@Mayflower Maybe you are right, yes, although also they probably don't realize that it was established in the Victorian Era, including among socially prominent women as well as men:
............
'By the 1870s the tattoo trend had taken hold in mainstream society and even touched the upper class.
Tattoo culture, boosted by naval experiences of working class and royal heirs alike, was popular in the United States starting in the 1850s and 1860s, in part because it served as a safeguard against anonymity during the Civil War. New York's first tattoo parlor is said to have opened in 1846 by Martin Hildebrandt. ... According to an 1893 article in the Sully County watchman, both women and men received tattoos... .
[A]bout the ladies who visited for body art:
“I am an electrician by profession,” said the man, “and it was while serving in the English army that I learned tattooing. I used to do odd jobs among the soldiers. Then when I left the army some gentlemen came to me to have certain designs tattooed on them, and I consented. My work developed into a business, and I have been here these years just as busy as I can be.”
“You have ladies also who come to you for this purpose?”
“Yes. Their designs are simple, however. Usually flowers, insects, or birds. I have in mind at present a lady much famed at court...who has a bee tattooed on her shoulder to represent the initial of her christian name.” '
Tattoo Culture in the Victorian Era
..............
Thought you would find this interesting, @Mayflower.
David in NJ
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*** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING ***
“’Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:28
Tattoos are not the will of God for us, by themselves they will not condemn us.
WARNING: There is a Tattoo coming that will Condemn all who take it.
The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. Revelations 13:15-17
WARNING
“’Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:28
Tattoos are not the will of God for us, by themselves they will not condemn us.
WARNING: There is a Tattoo coming that will Condemn all who take it.
The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. Revelations 13:15-17
WARNING
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Off topic, in my humble opinion, because the events of Matthew 24 and Luke 21 seems to be about the period after the church has gone in any case.
David in NJ
Well-Known Member
This is the reason why God commanded not to mark your bodies
Where in the Bible does it say the church is gone???
Matthew 24 - Jesus is speaking to His Elect - Do you know who the Elect of God is?
Where in the Bible does it say the church is gone???
Matthew 24 - Jesus is speaking to His Elect - Do you know who the Elect of God is?
There is a strong Jewish background to Matthew's Gospel and to Luke 21; in Luke 22, the Lord Jesus is at first speaking of the passover; only afterwards is He speaking of the Lord's Supper, which is for the church, which will be in a new era until the church is taken.
Again, we are getting off topic.
