are there any Christians who dont believe in tatoos here

faroukfarouk said:

Ink quality in tattoo artists' ink has actually improved a lot:

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...and that changes the idea that graffiti is now ok for the Temple of God?

visionary said:

...and that changes the idea that graffiti is now ok for the Temple of God?

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When is graffiti art? and when is art a masterpiece? and when is art also a means of witness?

This is just my opinion... I have multiple tattoos on my body from before my time as a Christian. The largest one is on my right arm/chest and was never finished. I made the decision not to finish it because it was a prideful thing I was doing by getting the tattoos in the first place. I find them helpful sometimes, because when people look at me, they see a tattooed, grizzled veteran extolling the grace and mercy of God. However, this is only helpful when you're dealing with certain people. Some people see me as a scab on the face of Christianity.

I will say this, if you are considering getting a tattoo, be very careful to examine your reason for it. Saying "I'll get a tattoo to help me spark a conversation." is a quaint notion. But seriously ask yourself if that's the reason, or if you just want a tattoo. You ain't fooling God.

red bits said:

This is just my opinion... I have multiple tattoos on my body from before my time as a Christian. The largest one is on my right arm/chest and was never finished. I made the decision not to finish it because it was a prideful thing I was doing by getting the tattoos in the first place. I find them helpful sometimes, because when people look at me, they see a tattooed, grizzled veteran extolling the grace and mercy of God. However, this is only helpful when you're dealing with certain people. Some people see me as a scab on the face of Christianity.

I will say this, if you are considering getting a tattoo, be very careful to examine your reason for it. Saying "I'll get a tattoo to help me spark a conversation." is a quaint notion. But seriously ask yourself if that's the reason, or if you just want a tattoo. You ain't fooling God.

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I understand what you say. My wife and I talked to a young lady with the whole of John 3.16 inked on her wrist area; it was her favorite Bible verse and mine. I'm sure other conversations have arisen as a result of her decision to have it done.

I know that I'm certainly against the practice of defacing ones body particularly as the worst elements within the entertainment industry either have a tattoo or wear a cross to mock the Lord. In our day and age it seems that we need to increasingly presume that those who wear supposed 'faith' tatoos are merely mockers and little else.

Whenever you turn a TV show or a movie on where the character is in some manner displaying a cross, we can usually presume that he/she will be one of the bad guys.


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Edit: I see that the police in Texas are now arresting people with tattoos, though there is maybe a twist to it.

I must speak from the perspective of an older person. I grew up in a world where tattoos were seen almost exclusively on circus freaks, drunken sailors, and convicts. In other words, tattoos were not respectable. Now, I know that has changed in the minds and practices of younger people. I see it every day. But I am still effected by my upbringing to the extent that I don't like to see tattoos, and would not trust a tattooed person the same way I would trust someone else. So what I have to say is that if you're a younger person who cares what older people may think of you, don't get tattoos.

VegasGeorge said:

I must speak from the perspective of an older person. I grew up in a world where tattoos were seen almost exclusively on circus freaks, drunken sailors, and convicts. In other words, tattoos were not respectable. Now, I know that has changed in the minds and practices of younger people. I see it every day. But I am still effected by my upbringing to the extent that I don't like to see tattoos, and would not trust a tattooed person the same way I would trust someone else. So what I have to say is that if you're a younger person who cares what older people may think of you, don't get tattoos.

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Hi, Sir. (So you're in Vegas?)

I think I understand the point you are making. Fact is, today 59%-70% of parlor clients in North America are female; many of the designs acquired are faith based and today many Christians, including people such as preachers' sons or daughters going to college or grandmothers getting the dates of grandkids' birthdays inked around praying hands, etc., participate in getting tattooed.

My wife and I talked to a young lady with the whole of John 3.16 inked around her wrist area; it was her favorite Bible verse and mine also; and I'm sure other conversations have arisen as a result of her decision to become tattooed in this way, since it is a witness means that is proven effective.

VegasGeorge said:

I must speak from the perspective of an older person. I grew up in a world where tattoos were seen almost exclusively on circus freaks, drunken sailors, and convicts. In other words, tattoos were not respectable. Now, I know that has changed in the minds and practices of younger people. I see it every day. But I am still effected by my upbringing to the extent that I don't like to see tattoos, and would not trust a tattooed person the same way I would trust someone else. So what I have to say is that if you're a younger person who cares what older people may think of you, don't get tattoos.

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Here in Australia we thankfully haven't gone as far down the gurgler as our North American compatriots; at least when it comes to the apparent acceptence of things such as tattoos and now, sadly, even with homosexuality. I would be inclined to think that as most of our tattoo parlours are still being operated by criminal elements that most thoughtful Australians would not want to associate themselves with this type of criminal activity.

A few weeks back our media reported that a number of parlours that were owned by members of two outlaw bikie gangs were being fire bombed; this would hardly be a practice that most Christians would want to be associated with. But I have no doubt that our senses will be so dulled within a few years that even many Christians will display vulgar "faith" tatoos without any sense of shame - this type of behaviour is becoming a sign of the wickedness improprieties of our generation.

katyn said:

my step-daughter who is 18 and i am very very close to has a birth mom who brought her to a tattoo parlor ...i'm kinda torn because i know she is going to end up getting more because her mom is encouraging it, but i'm just grateful on the other hand that her mind is on the Lord while getting them...i'm just wondering if i should feel predominantly 'happy' because her tat is a cross or if i should feel predominantly upset that she may be on the road to covering her body and imo thus making some people less respectful of her...
however i do have one tattoo and think they are fine, as long as they are discreet, but on one's hand?

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There is a quiet and modest lady at a very conservative church in my area who happens to have a small tattoo on her hand. I guess it's an increasingly popular placement, anyway. I suppose re. getting a tattoo, since you have had it done and your daughter's birth mom has had it done also, it's maybe not unusual that your step-daughter has thought it would be nice to have it done also.

Blessings.

"The Most Rev Justin Welby claims the Cross, which symbolises the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, has lost its ability to shock and challenge people.

He said celebrities using it as a fashion statement are hanging a "tiny golden gallows" or an "electric chair" around their necks.
Sexy pop star Katy Perry is regularly spotted out and about with religious icons hanging off her body.
Other celebs like Madonna and Rita Ora are also serial cross rockers.
Writing the foreword to his first Lent book since taking office, Archbishop Welby says the Cross for Christians is "the moment of deepest encounter and radical change".


He wrote: "For those early Christians it was a badge of shame.
"Today it is more commonly seen as a symbol of beauty to hang around your neck. As a friend of mine used to say, you might as well hang a tiny golden gallows or an electric chair around your neck".

. . . . . .

This article is a pretty good reflection with how the world and particularly the humanist entertainmnet industry has polluted the image of the Cross. Whenever we see one of those supposed horrid "faith" tattoos we can at least probably assume that the wearer is most likely in dire need of the Gospel.

Some ppl think it's a good way to witness, anyway:

pinterest dot com

faroukfarouk said:

Some ppl think it's a good way to witness, anyway:

pinterest dot com

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That's true. Of course some also feel that if they get drunk with their friends, take drugs (which are now legal in some US states), swear and do essentially whatever else the world does, that these things are also a great wittnessing tool.

Maybe a few decades back even wearing a cross around our neck had some merit, but now, as the Cross has been used by the world and by many of the worst representatives of the music industry and even the criminal element, it is now a symbol of despair or mockery where we need to presume that the person who is brandishing a so called 'faith' tattoo is in need of both spiritual and emotional help.

As for those who had the misfortune of having a 'faith' tattoo placed on their body maybe 10 to 20 years back when it could have had some possible value as an effective witnessing tool within the fringe elements of society; as it is now more a symbol of despondency or mockery then I certainly feel sorry for these people.

Who knows, as the rainbow image has been turned into a symbol of hatred toward God by the homosexual lobby, will we one day see the cross being used as a declaration that someone hates both God and the morality that he stands for - this should be interesting as we are probably very close to this now.

Biblicist2 said:

Maybe a few decades back even wearing a cross around our neck had some merit, but now, as the Cross has been used by the world and by many of the worst representatives of the music industry and even the criminal element, it is now a symbol of despair or mockery where we need to presume that the person who is brandishing a so called 'faith' tattoo is in need of both spiritual and emotional help.

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That's pretty closed minded of you to assume that everyone who has a tattoo that symbolizes Christianity is mocking the faith. Did you ever stop and think that maybe someone decided to get a Bible verse tattooed on his or her shoulder because that verse brought the person comfort during a hard time in their lives? Or maybe, like in the case of one of my friends, she decided to get a tattoo of her daughter's footprints as a way to remember that special life which God gave her and her husband for a few hours? The point I'm making is that just as the most evil people in existence could dress in three piece suits and have no piercings or tats, there also exist honest and God-fearing people out there who decide to get a tattoo that has special meaning to them. Bottom line, is to act like I'm sure God would and get to know the person's heart instead of making a judgment that could be completely off base with who that person truly is.

SistrNChrist said:

Did you ever stop and think that maybe someone decided to get a Bible verse tattooed on his or her shoulder because that verse brought the person comfort during a hard time in their lives?

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SistrNChrist:

Often it's also a pragmatic thing among Christians, simply chosen as a means of testimony communication that is a proven conversation starter.

In the end it's not too different from what you are saying, though, because the person who has been encouraged or comforted by a particular Bible verse is more likely to want to take the opportunity to talk to others about it; the ink might act as a prompt.

Blessings.

visionary said:

The carrier solution used in tattoo inks contains harmful substances such as denatured alcohols, methanol, antifreeze, detergents, formaldehyde and toxic aldehydes.

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These days parlors are often more like salons, and the ink quality has improved a great deal from years ago, anyway.

Albion said:

What is to be expected here is civility, and it seems to me that both sides have tended to adhere to that.

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A bit like some talk shows; civility is sometimes lost by proponents of views about tattoos from opposite points of view, right?

Albion said:

I would not consider pierced ears a disfigurement..

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Albion: Nor would I. Putting rings or studs in ear piercings is something that both women and men can do acceptably, I reckon, and it need not be 'way out', right?

Well, my post was from 8 months ago. When I saw your comments, I didn't remember ever having posted on this thread.

I'm not a Jewish believer I am a gentile believer. Perhaps that makes a difference. I view tattoos as neutral. I don't have ink, at this time I'm not considering it. I've known a number of Catholic men who get tats of Our Lady of Fatima or Our Lady or Guadalupe as an act of devotion.

John The Recorder Player said:

I'm not a Jewish believer I am a gentile believer. Perhaps that makes a difference. I view tattoos as neutral. I don't have ink, at this time I'm not considering it. I've known a number of Catholic men who get tats of Our Lady of Fatima or Our Lady or Guadalupe as an act of devotion.

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You're married, right? so does your wife have any? or if she doesn't but wanted one, would it bother you?