Getting a tattoo

HeatherJay said:

Secretdawn appears to be Christian, not Jewish. Seems she's covered by Christ, not holy code.

Love, Heather

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You go girl! I agree 100% We do not live under the old law, we live under the new law which Jesus established.

Secretdawn - I think that's a very cool idea.

Leviticus 19:28 "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD."

There was also a law forbidding bestiality and giving ones daughter into prostitution. Those surely aren't done away with too...? The law was fulfilled, made complete - not done away with.

Mt 5:17 ¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Lu 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Ro 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Ro 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

The body reference in Romans is about not giving it over to sin but making it as a living sacrifice to God with the members of it serving His will instead of the flesh and its vainities. The body belongs to God, and Tatoos have represented rebellion and witchcraft for too many years. A Tatoo will not honor God, but do the opposite, in my opinion, but each has to follow their own conscience towards Him.

secretdawn said:

the intent isn't cause it is cool or to be "sexy" or rebellious...the intent is to honor God, and i have thought a lot about it, and feel good about it...like i said, and i don't mean to be rude, but i don't want a discussion about right or wrong on the issue...i am sure there is another thread for that...i want verse suggestions...

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This a Christian advice and council forum and I assumed that is why you posted here and I honestly responded with the truth from scripture. My intent wasn't to be rude either, but to help and advise. As I said before, take or leave according to your own conscience and motive before God.

Secret Dawn -

Here is a good verse for you: "Let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." Galations 6:17

Supposedly the the greek word for "marks" is the same as tattoo - though I cannot confirm that. I learned that on the Christian Tattoo website - www.xtat.com - which is a good place for you to go to get more ideas and meet with Christian folks (like myself) who have tattoos. God bless.

roadie432002 said:

a christian is covered by grace.,and we are not under the law.however the old testment is still valid as Gods word and if God disapproves of tattoos that is a valid reason to not be tattooed.the mark of the beast 666 may be a visible tattoo.as we near the end of the church age tattoos are being accepted by all who are are walking in the flesh.

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This goes for you as well raphe: Both you and roadie quote the law at us. I not ask you if the corners of you beard are cut, if you wear tassles on the corners of your clothes, if you keep kosher, if you think that stoning is appropriate for a rebellious teenager? This is just the first list, I have around 400-450 left before we even get into ceremonial law.

Consider this:

Galations 3: 1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain-- if indeed it was in vain?
5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, " ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU."
9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."
11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, " THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--
14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

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To the OP. If you want a tat go right ahead, it's not a sin by any stretch. I have around 30 myself. Just remember that it is for life and they do hurt. Don't let these teachers of the Law bring you down. We need to pray for them, that they be released from bondage and shown the freedom bought with the blood of Christ. My favorite tat that I have is the word "FORGIVEN" done in old English on my lower back. I am currently planning pieces for my rib cage on either side. One is the cross with Christ on it, the depitcion should be right before the moment he said "It is finished" and the other side will be an empty tomb with the stone rolled away. I appluad you wanting a symbol of your faith forever on your body, and remember your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and some temples are more ornately decorated than others!

hey,

I have a tattoo above my right ankle with a purple rose with a japanse kanji saying "grace" I've been wanting one off and on for a long time...so I tied up my courage and got it done. I had it done during the State fair last summer, and got it $10 off. Plus, it is MY design...which the tat artist made it even better. If you have done your homework, and have made your OWN design, then I'd say it's worth it.

Just try NOT to have it placed where skin could possibly sag as you get older! A friend of mine told me this very funny story about a guy whose tat of a naked lady was etched on his right arm....but as he aged, the skin of his arm sagged, and so did the "nekkid" lady! So his wife had requested that *ahem* her "sagging parts" be covered in a bikini! Man, did I have tears of laughter after hearing that!

I may just have an angel tatted on my left shoulder one of those days.

Oh~ one other thing~ make sure that the tat artist had a clean place and sterile needles! When I had mine done, he wiped down my skin each time he lifted the needle. It's to keep it "clean" I think. And~ it also depends on WHERE you put the tat on your body...some parts of the body is more sensitive to pain, and depending on your tolerance for pain as well.

Hope that helps!

PS: If you say you have "peace" about getting your tattoo, then I'd say this is between you and God.

Oh~ one other thing~ make sure that the tat artist had a clean place and sterile needles!

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What you want is a "single use" shop. They should show you the needles in their packages and destory the needles in front of you when they are done. Accept nothing less!

When I had mine done, he wiped down my skin each time he lifted the needle. It's to keep it "clean" I think.

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Actually it is so the artist can see what they are doing. The cleansing is done before and after. The wiping during is so that the artist can see what the tattoo where. The needles are sterile, the tubes are sterils, the ink is sterile, and the artist wears gloves. This is how the area stays clean during the process.

And~ it also depends on WHERE you put the tat on your body...some parts of the body is more sensitive to pain, and depending on your tolerance for pain as well.

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This is very true. I have seen delicate little women take a lower back tattoo and talk on their cell phone and watched my brother nearly cry from one in the same place. I have a tat on my breastbone and that was not a fun piece to get, but the pieces on my pecs were not a problem.

flesh99 said:

This is very true. I have seen delicate little women take a lower back tattoo and talk on their cell phone and watched my brother nearly cry from one in the same place. I have a tat on my breastbone and that was not a fun piece to get, but the pieces on my pecs were not a problem.

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When it was done above my ankle, the tat artist could see that I was in pain...and holding my breath. "BREATHE, lady, BREATHE!" hehehe the coloring in wasn't too bad, though~it's the outlining part that kinda hurts. After a while, it hurts like a bad sunburn, and I slathered on that ointment for two weeks and let it peel off on its own.

My friend, who is also a Christian, had hers done on her back, and it didn't phase her at all. Some people can handle pain better than others I guess.

When it was done above my ankle, the tat artist could see that I was in pain...and holding my breath. "BREATHE, lady, BREATHE!" hehehe the coloring in wasn't too bad, though~it's the outlining part that kinda hurts. After a while, it hurts like a bad sunburn, and I slathered on that ointment for two weeks and let it peel off on its own.

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I had mine done on my ankle... the pain I felt was not from the needle.. it was from the awkward position he had me in.. I have had 4 knee surgeries so the way he had me sitting was not very comfortable considering my knee was all twisted.. but the needle didn't hurt much at all and I have nothing around my ankle.

I have 3 tattoos from my B.C. (Before Christ) days, including an Egyptian symbol of an ankh, a black panther with flames on its back and red eyes (yea I know ) and a heart with bandaids and stitches and bruises with a Chinese symbol for peace in the middle.

Now that I am a Christian and have learned more of the Word of God, I regret having my panther and ankh.

I wish to get the ankh covered in a tattoo.. and I just want that panther removed... Everytime I look at it, I feel so bad cause it looks so MEAN and evil.. I thank God for His forgiveness.

In your tattoo decision, seek God on it. If you have to ask if it is okay, then chances are you are already feeling a small bit of guilt and/or conviction.

If you do decide to get something, MAKE SURE it is something you can live with for the REST OF YOUR GIVEN DAYS !

I didn't read all the replies so here is my 2 cents. I have a huge tattoo on by back from BC days. I thought about converting it to something to witness for Christ but decided to not waste the money. It's not bad as is. It's just decoration. I see tattoos as clothing. Just permenent. God told Israel not to take marks upon there bodies so that they would be different/set apart from the pagans. It was all about the flesh and physical in the old testament.
Like I said, it's just like clothes, just permenent. No body who wears clothes can really deny this unless they dress extremely generic like the Amish families.

In Christ

Marc

PS one thing good about a bible verse is that people will ask what it means and you have an opportunity to witness. But, if you write say "God is love" then you won't have to explain it, everyone will see it.

The best way to have no problems about having tattoos is abstinance. It's God's way and it works.

I myself am getting a tattoo that includes Galatians 6:17 "From now on, bear me no trouble for I bear on my body the marks of Christ" Now I know contextually Paul was refering to scars he had recieved from beatings but I believe a religious themed tattoo is basically a colored scar so why not. This tattoo would glorify God and could be used as an oppurtunity to witness when someone asks about it! Oooh, also you might want to check out 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 "...like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well" I think that's pretty!

1 Cor. 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

1 Cor. 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

If you do a quick dictionary study of the words in these two scriptures, you will see that God is interested in our motives, our heart, not our actions.
When we resort to following the letter of the law, we allow ourselves to be in bondage to the law again.
We are just conforming to actions and giving no consideration to what's in our hearts.

But the other side of the issue is that we should check our motives as to why we choose the things we want to do.
In the free realm of grace, we freely choose to follow God's laws.
It boils down to compliance or desire to follow God.

The new life is not about following rigid laws that bind, but to freely follow God's will and leading for our personal life with Him
In everything we do, we should check to see what God says we , as individuals, are allowed or not allowed to do.

Grace is not a law or a principle we apply to our lives.
It is a part of our deep and loving relationship with our Heavenly Father.
The tattoo is not the issue God wants to address, but the motive to want a tattoo.
If our motive is to honour God and he says it's okay, by speaking into our hearts and confirming it in His word, then it is okay.
Note that it is a blend of all three not just one.

Of course we must also take into account our relationship with God.
Is it open and honest and are we totally sold out to god's will and not our own.
Relationship cannot be simplified down to yes and no adherance to laws.
As it states in the Word.

2 Cor. 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Plus Romans goes into great detail of the transition from law to grace.
Yet so many of our brothers and sisters prefer to stay bound in law.

Am I for or against tattoos ? That is irrelivant.
What's relevant is each person's relationship of grace with God.

And as for Levitcus 19:28..the legalistic approach to that also logically means we shouldn't eat seafood either. Go figure..