TATOO'S - for CHRISTIANS ????

[Nanopants]

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? -Gal 3:2,3

I think I'll just leave that there.

Does anyone here know about the tattoos traditionally worn by Coptic Christians? For them they're symbols of defiance against the authorities that have been martyring them for a very, very long time.

So if someone from America could kindly get up from his or her lay-z-boy and correct them about the errors of their ways I'm sure they'd appreciate the instruction.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? -Gal 3:2,3

I think I'll just leave that there.

Does anyone here know about the tattoos traditionally worn by Coptic Christians? For them they're symbols of defiance against the authorities that have been martyring them for a very, very long time.

So if someone from America could kindly get up from his or her lay-z-boy and correct them about the errors of their ways I'm sure they'd appreciate the instruction.

We are not talking about receiving salvation via the law. The law does not save us only faith does. That however, does not exclude us from still doing the things that God has instructed.

Regarding tatoos traditionally worn by Coptic Christians....it's a nice tradition, however, it still breaks Gods instruction to not have a tatoo. It does not matter to God what our intentions are in our disobedience (it's not disobedience if they did not know). It matters that when we have the choice and it is within our ability to do so, and we know what the right thing to do is that we choose to honor Him in obedience. "To obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) If they did not have a choice that's one thing but having the choice and then choosing what we know is wrong is another. No matter how much glitter we put on it, it's still disobedience.

I don't have a lay-z-boy and I would not dare to correct them on anything. I hope that I would stand up for my faith knowing that I'm going to die for doing so. I am in awe of such things. However, when being asked ahead of the action if it's ok, "no" it's not ok. God was honored by their standing in their faith, not by their tatoo's.

The Jews were being martyred too but instead of choosing to do things against God they came up with other ways to defy without breaking God's laws. Origin of the dreidel.

 

[chuck77]

Anyone here who is opposing tatoos put any fast food into the temple this week? How bout last week? The week before?

That seems a good place to start. After everyone has answered this, we'll move on to other things.

 

[FoundInGrace]

Seeing this reminded me of when I was in my 20's and before I got saved. My friends use to all go to the clubs and two of them turned up one day with tattoos. They were trying to convince me to get one done but I was having none of it (for the needle reason mentioned earlier ). Anyway had I given in and had one done I would have gone for some sort of flower on a stem.

We recently had a reunion a couple of months ago and of course with us being in our 40's our bodies had significantly changed.

I saw your above comment and had to thank the Lord because if I'd gone for that tattoo it would probably resemble a withered plant now.

lol.. i hear ya

 

[FoundInGrace]

The Leviticus verses talk about not cutting your flesh 'for the dead'

thats why it's difficult to say those verses can be used with reference for todays tattoos especially if that tattoo is seeking to highlight following Jesus to others. A tattoo done with a heart wanting to witness to others (others often ask about tattoos which is an easy opening to share your testimony or what you believe) or to remind yourself who you belong to etc those sort of tattoos are not 'for the dead'.

God looks at the heart first and although I wouldnt necessarily advocate someone should get one (because it is controversial in some circles and we dont want to cause one weaker in the faith to stumble plus it is very permanent). But I honestly dont see how we can judge whether someone getting a tattoo is right or wrong - if they have prayed about it and have good motives before God then you know.. i dont know if we can actually throw the Leviticus verse at them about an old custom they did to appease false Gods for the dead .. seems like it's a different situation altogether to what the verse is referring to.


Just let me say though that tattoos which depict demons or anything that glorifies the evil one are wrong - that is such a bad idea. Sometimes I think that is an open door to inviting the demonic into your life. really bad idea. I do think sometimes Tattooists can pass on spiritual stuff to the one they tattoo especially with Tribal Tattoos sometimes (the whole process of getting a tattoo can be for that purpose in some cultures.. a passing on of ancestral stuff etc) so if a Christian were to get a tattoo I would pray a lot about who you get to do it. If a Christian were to get a tattoo a whole lot of prayer has to go into it imo.

 

[LOCO]

I must admit, I cringe when I see men/women with their Jesus and Mary tattoos but I have seen some tasteful ones of rosary beads.

I'd rather that to the rosary beads becoming a fashion as they have recently.

My Jewish friend mentioned that according to their faith, they are not allowed to get tattoos which is part of the reason why Hitler tattooed them.

 

[FoundInGrace]

My Jewish friend mentioned that according to their faith, they are not allowed to get tattoos which is part of the reason why Hitler tattooed them.

thats interesting, i didnt know that, thanks for sharing that.

 

[lismore]

thats interesting, i didnt know that, thanks for sharing that.

I believe there's a scripture in Leviticus about not getting Tatoos

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Seeing this reminded me of when I was in my 20's and before I got saved. My friends use to all go to the clubs and two of them turned up one day with tattoos. They were trying to convince me to get one done but I was having none of it (for the needle reason mentioned earlier ). Anyway had I given in and had one done I would have gone for some sort of flower on a stem.

We recently had a reunion a couple of months ago and of course with us being in our 40's our bodies had significantly changed.

I saw your above comment and had to thank the Lord because if I'd gone for that tattoo it would probably resemble a withered plant now.

LOL One of the railroaders I work with tells me his grandmother told him that when she was younger she wanted to get a small rose tatooed on her breast. But then she realized that when she was older it would be a long-stemmed rose, so she decided to not do it.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Leviticus verses talk about not cutting your flesh 'for the dead'

Leviticus 19:28 "'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

 

[probinson]

How is it though that we can take two items from the list (shaving and tatooing) and say they don't matter but everything else on the list does? How are we coming to our conclusions as to what we can erase off the list of what God says "do not do"?

Your logic is flawed in that it presupposes that the list in Leviticus 19 is the baseline law by which we live our lives. IOW, you are disingenuously suggesting that the reason we don't prostitute our daughters is because Leviticus 19 says we shouldn't. But that's not even close to true, at least for me.

The reason I don't prostitute my daughter (and apparently we've completely abandoned any semblance of logic or common sense to even have to address this), is quite simply because I Love her. IOW, it is the Love of God that has been shed abroad in my heart that compels me to act the way I do. It is not a checklist of items found in Leviticus. As such, your assertion that I'm "picking and choosing" what I find palatable on the list is simply not true at all, because this list is not now, not has it ever been, my baseline for proper behavior.

Making sure I can check all the items off a list is not my goal. My goal is to have such an intimate relationship with God, where He instructs, leads and guides me in everything that I think, say or do.

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

LOL One of the railroaders I work with tells me his grandmother told him that when she was younger she wanted to get a small rose tatooed on her breast. But then she realized that when she was older it would be a long-stemmed rose, so she decided to not do it.

LOL! Exactly!

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Your logic is flawed in that it presupposes that the list in Leviticus 19 is the baseline law by which we live our lives. IOW, you are disingenuously suggesting that the reason we don't prostitute our daughters is because Leviticus 19 says we shouldn't. But that's not even close to true, at least for me.

The reason I don't prostitute my daughter (and apparently we've completely abandoned any semblance of logic or common sense to even have to address this), is quite simply because I Love her. IOW, it is the Love of God that has been shed abroad in my heart that compels me to act the way I do. It is not a checklist of items found in Leviticus. As such, your assertion that I'm "picking and choosing" what I find palatable on the list is simply not true at all, because this list is not now, not has it ever been, my baseline for proper behavior.

Making sure I can check all the items off a list is not my goal. My goal is to have such an intimate relationship with God, where He instructs, leads and guides me in everything that I think, say or do.

You have misunderstood my point and me entirely. I know that believers generally do not need a list to do what is right, however, when we have christians asking "is it ok to get a tatoo?" it is obvious that they do not know the right thing to do in that situation. Scripture is there to tell them. Instead we have others saying "oh you don't need to read scripture on the subject, it no longer applies and you can do whatever you want". That is a lie.

You tell me I'm disingenuous and you add a smiley face. I am sincere and I'm presupposing nothing....only wondering why we take God's word and what He said in certain places and say it's not applicable anymore, whether it applies to you personally or not.

I'm so tired of my intents and thoughts being misjudged. I am not judging your intents and thoughts.

 

[Nanopants]

You tell me I'm disingenuous and you add a smiley face. I am sincere and I'm presupposing nothing....only wondering why we take God's word and what He said in certain places and say it's not applicable anymore, whether it applies to you personally or not.

Is it right to obey a 25 mph school-zone speed limit on a freeway? Context is everything.

Was it written in the Jewish law that it is always wrong to get a tattoo? Chapter and verse please.

Is it always wrong to dabble in pagan worship? Yes (1 Cr 10:21).

Is getting a tattoo always part of pagan worship? No (Coptic cross - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).

Should we be quick to apply the law to every-day-questions without first taking time to understand it? No (1 Tim 1:5-11).

 

[LOCO]

Was it written in the Jewish law that it is always wrong to get a tattoo? Chapter and verse please.

(1 Tim 1:5-11).

RABBI HAGI

"One of the main texts Judaism follows is the Torah, or the first five books of the Old Testament. The Torah does not spend much time acknowledging tattoos and piercings, but is very clear on what it says. According to Leviticus 19:28, it says, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."

Orthodox, Reformed and Conservative Jews all follow this very closely. The Torah was very clear on any piercings and tattoos in Exodus 21:6, Genesis 35:4, Deuteronomy 14;1-2 and 1 Kings 18:28. All these versus specifically state that the Lord God did not approve of any type of markings for his chosen people.


According to Judaism and the Old Testament, God did not want the Jewish people to mark their bodies. Tattoos were used in Pagan rituals and worship, and they were also used to mark slaves. In Leviticus 19:28, we find the following verse: "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." Many people take this to refer to piercings ("cuttings in your flesh") and tattoos ("print any marks upon you"). This is the main verse and one of the only ones in the Old Testament that refer to committing such acts on one's body. However, another reason many Jewish people despise tattoos is because the victims of the Holocaust were marked by tattoos to identify them. As a result, many Jews feel that tattoos are a reminder of this horrific time in the culture's history."

 

[Nanopants]

According to Judaism and the Old Testament, God did not want the Jewish people to mark their bodies. Tattoos were used in Pagan rituals and worship, and they were also used to mark slaves. In Leviticus 19:28, we find the following verse: "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." Many people take this to refer to piercings ("cuttings in your flesh") and tattoos ("print any marks upon you"). This is the main verse and one of the only ones in the Old Testament that refer to committing such acts on one's body. However, another reason many Jewish people despise tattoos is because the victims of the Holocaust were marked by tattoos to identify them. As a result, many Jews feel that tattoos are a reminder of this horrific time in the culture's history."

That is truly tragic, and if some Jews have an aversion to tattoos for that reason it's understandable, but it has no bearing on objective morality.

RABBI HAGI

"One of the main texts Judaism follows is the Torah, or the first five books of the Old Testament. The Torah does not spend much time acknowledging tattoos and piercings, but is very clear on what it says. According to Leviticus 19:28, it says, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."

Orthodox, Reformed and Conservative Jews all follow this very closely. The Torah was very clear on any piercings and tattoos in Exodus 21:6, Genesis 35:4, Deuteronomy 14;1-2 and 1 Kings 18:28. All these versus specifically state that the Lord God did not approve of any type of markings for his chosen people.

While it may be true that markings on the body for reasons that are offensive to God (as in idolatrous pagan worship) are immoral, it's not entirely true that God was against all markings on the body .

Exd 21:5,6 shows us clearly that the Israelites were to pierce the ear of a bondservant who chose to remain with his master, and this is very possibly Paul's own motivation for referring to himself as a "bondservant" of God (Titus 1:1).

So to say that "no marks on the body" is a universally applicable moral statute is inconsistent. Rather, it appears that the real message is more along the lines of "it's okay to be a bondservant of the Lord, not to some pagan god". In the latter case, marks on the body for that reason are definitely immoral.

 

[LOCO]

That is truly tragic, and if some Jews have an aversion to tattoos for that reason it's understandable, but it has no bearing on objective morality.

While it may be true that markings on the body for reasons that are offensive to God (as in idolatrous pagan worship) are immoral, it's not entirely true that God was against all markings on the body .

Exd 21:5,6 shows us clearly that the Israelites were to pierce the ear of a bondservant who chose to remain with his master, and this is very possibly Paul's own motivation for referring to himself as a "bondservant" of God (Titus 1:1).

So to say that "no marks on the body" is a universally applicable moral statute is inconsistent. Rather, it appears that the real message is more along the lines of "it's okay to be a bondservant of the Lord, not to some pagan god". In the latter case, marks on the body for that reason are definitely immoral.

Your question was about where in Jewish scripture is tattooing banned. I provided you their beliefs. Just because you don't agree with their views, does not make their beliefs invalid. They are Jewish, you are not. You cannot enforce your particular interpretation of Scripture onto Jews.

The Jewish view I posted does not reflect my own views. My own view is that Pacific Islanders invented tattooing, it had spiritual and artistic roots. I think tattoos look silly on people who are not Islanders, but that is just my personal opinion.

 

[lismore]

My own view is that Pacific Islanders invented tattooing, it had spiritual and artistic roots. I think tattoos look silly on people who are not Islanders, but that is just my personal opinion.

The 'Picts', 'painted ones' Celtic tribesmen who inhabited Scotland 2,000 years ago also tatooed themselves. The practice died out when the Celtic monks converted Scotland to Christianity, now we are going back to pagansim tatoos are returning.

 

[LOCO]

The 'Picts', 'painted ones' Celtic tribesmen who inhabited Scotland 2,000 years ago also tatooed themselves. The practice died out when the Celtic monks converted Scotland to Christianity, now we are going back to pagansim tatoos are returning.

Really? That is interesting.

 

[lismore]

Really? That is interesting.

The name the Picts called themselves is unknown.[4] The Latin word Picti first occurs in a panegyric written by Eumenius in AD 297 and is taken to mean "painted or tattooed people" (from Latin pingere "to paint",;[5] pictus, "painted", cf. Greek "πυκτίς" - puktis, "picture").

Picts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

God Bless