What about tattoos & piercings?

[Daniel Marsh]

God's human master piece of design, does not need our poor aesthetic contribution.

Great works of art are complete when the master finishes. Nothing added by another person improves the original work.

Revelation 9:4 They were told not to damage the fields of grass or any plant or tree. They were to hurt only those who did not have God’s mark on their foreheads.

Revelation 13:16 The second beast also forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark put on their right hand or on their forehead.

If I remember correctly, Military and Slaves were marked in the Ancient World. Military were marked as loyalty to a leader, Slaves out of ownership.

 

[Daniel Marsh]

Never said it did.
I was just interested that ear piercing is mentioned in Scripture, and what it stood for. There is a Christian song "Pierce my ear, O Lord my God", which presumably refers to this passage.

I'm not saying that someone who has their ears pierced, for the sake of wearing jewellery, is showing that they belong to God, nor that we should all have this done; it was just a comment.

Thanks for the correction. Remember in this type of communication, we can not hear your voice or see facial expressions.

 

[JackRT]

There is a Christian song "Pierce my ear, O Lord my God", which presumably refers to this passage.

Rather than referring to an actual piercing the hymnist is using the word poetically as in "get your message through to me".

 

[d taylor]

Revelation 9:4 They were told not to damage the fields of grass or any plant or tree. They were to hurt only those who did not have God’s mark on their foreheads.

Revelation 13:16 The second beast also forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark put on their right hand or on their forehead.

If I remember correctly, Military and Slaves were marked in the Ancient World. Military were marked as loyalty to a leader, Slaves out of ownership.

If God want to mark someone He can it is His creation.

 

[d taylor]

I’ve never met a person who got a tat to improve God’s work my guy

I know because it does not

 

[Josheb]

"What positive examples of tattooing appear in the Bible?


How are we to understand this one prohibition against tattooing, which seems to contradict the positive biblical references you cited?"

Which modern tatto meets these standards?

 

[theoneandonlypencil]

God's human master piece of design, does not need our poor aesthetic contribution.

Great works of art are complete when the master finishes. Nothing added by another person improves the original work.

So...where do people with hideous birth defects/deformities fall here my guy?

Side note: that was sarcasm. Please consider that sometimes our 'aesthetic contribution' is fueled by creativity and individual self expression. I think God probably appreciates that aspect of us more than you do apparently

 

[JackRT]

There is a tattoo artist with a rather unique specialty. Women who have had mastectomies due to cancer of the breast frequently get implants to give their breasts a natural shape but many of them are very unhappy without the nipple. This artist takes care of that with an incredibly realistic tattoo.

 

[Strong in Him]

Thanks for the correction. Remember in this type of communication, we can not hear your voice or see facial expressions.

You're quite right; sorry.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Never said it did.
I was just interested that ear piercing is mentioned in Scripture, and what it stood for. There is a Christian song "Pierce my ear, O Lord my God", which presumably refers to this passage.

I'm not saying that someone who has their ears pierced, for the sake of wearing jewellery, is showing that they belong to God, nor that we should all have this done; it was just a comment.

Hi @Strong in Him Fact is, ear piercing is so widespread; at the very conservative local church that my wife and I attend, even a majority of the boys and young men probably would happen to wear earrings and it's so usual and customary these days in this part of North America that no one even comments, ever.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Hi @
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ; good to see you again; so did you see this recent thread?

 

[faroukfarouk]

There is a tattoo artist with a rather unique specialty. Women who have had mastectomies due to cancer of the breast frequently get implants to give their breasts a natural shape but many of them are very unhappy without the nipple. This artist takes care of that with an incredibly realistic tattoo.

I saw a report about a swimming pool management that tried to give a lady who had had a double mastectomy a hard time because she was topless, whereas she pointed out - not too difficult to do, I guess - that she didn't actually have a top to be 'less' of...

 

[faroukfarouk]

I think it is very fitting, and I can see why you got it.

Hi, @pdudgeon Recently you made this comment.

It used to be a man thing years ago (sailors; bikers); but more lately it's become deeply established as a very wholesome, womanly thing to do, in many cases, hasn't it?

 

[faroukfarouk]

One could be wearing, for one example, tight leather everywhere and be covered with tattoos and showing some skin because that's what makes them happy, but be far, far more modest in bearing than someone who dresses conservatively with the most expensive designer brands with the labels all in clear view for the purpose of making sure everyone knows how wealthy and superior they are. Of course, a different person could wear the exact same thing and be modest because they aren't doing it for the purpose of competing with their neighbors on climbing the social ladder.

Hi @bekkilyn ; a while ago you said this, above. (Did you see this more recent thread that someone started?)

Yes, stuff like denim or tattoos or leather vests, etc. have long become a sort of North American staple, haven't they?

 

[d taylor]

So...where do people with hideous birth defects/deformities fall here my guy?

Side note: that was sarcasm. Please consider that sometimes our 'aesthetic contribution' is fueled by creativity and individual self expression. I think God probably appreciates that aspect of us more than you do apparently

Sin and satan has brought many (not all we bring some on ourselves) hardships to humanity. That is why there will be a completely opposite way of life during the millennium when satan is bound.

Being that i make a living (a small one but i get the bills paid) as a teacher/visual artist (painting) i have a great appreciation for creativity.

And i remember scratching with a knife or a needle (as a little kid) some design on my arm. and peeling away the scab to have a scar of the design until it finally went away after a few years. But really did not feel the need to take that farther than that.

 

[Brightmoon]

It’s nobody’s business but the person who has the tattoo. My youngest wanted to get a tattoo and get his ears pierced around age 12. I told him that he had to wait until he was 15. I wanted him to have a better understanding of permanent mark on your skin. I also let him know that designs go in and out of style so he needed to get something timeless. He was about 25 when he picked his final design and got his tattoo. He got his ears pierced the weekend after his 15 th birthday , which I paid for.

 

[faroukfarouk]

It’s nobody’s business but the person who has the tattoo. My youngest wanted to get a tattoo and get his ears pierced around age 12. I told him that he had to wait until he was 15. I wanted him to have a better understanding of permanent mark on your skin. I also let him know that designs go in and out of style so he needed to get something timeless. He was about 25 when he picked his final design and got his tattoo. He got his ears pierced the weekend after his 15 th birthday , which I paid for.

Hi @Brightmoon At the small, conservative local church where my wife and I go probably a majority of the young men and boys would have earrings also. I think it's become an entirely unproblematic and wholesome thing for young men and boys to do if - like you say - they want to (and maybe their moms think so too).

Like you say also, ink ideally should be something meaningful and personally significant. FYI, saw this quote:

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. My hospital does not even have a policy on tattoos any longer; it's a total nonissue.
...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

 

[faroukfarouk]

i remember scratching with a knife or a needle (as a little kid) some design on my arm. and peeling away the scab to have a scar of the design until it finally went away after a few years. But really did not feel the need to take that farther than that.

@d taylor Today at 18 it seems to have become for many a sort of rite of passage to get a parlor appointment for first ink. A lot of Christians get faith based designs proven effective in witness conversations. It used to be a man thing; now probably even more women and men have the confidence to have it done.

 

[Oldmantook]

The day I got my tattoo I just happened to read Leviticus 19:28. I thought it was some kind of twisted sense of humor that I would read it after the fact and not before.

Leviticus 19:28
"You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD."​

Pretty plain. Blunt. Succinct.

Cr@p. Why'd He have to put that in there?

Later went on to get degrees in sociology and social psychology (with a little anthropology thrown in) to learn about ritual scarification and underlying significance of pagan practices during the Mosaic era.

The word "holy" literally means "separate." We are to be a separate people, not like all others. We are also to glorify God in all we think, say, and do. So I would ask any advocate of tattoos how scarring the body, especially if the tattoos symbolize and worldly conditions, glorifies God in a manner in which how separation for God is realized.

BINGO!

 

[faroukfarouk]

There is a tattoo artist with a rather unique specialty. Women who have had mastectomies due to cancer of the breast frequently get implants to give their breasts a natural shape but many of them are very unhappy without the nipple. This artist takes care of that with an incredibly realistic tattoo.

I think @blackribbon who is apparently a nurse commented similarly also, a while ago.