Overly Tatted Christians

[bèlla]

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Many people have an antithesis to holiness. We seek likemindedness in the wrong places. Because we haven’t put the old man to death and maintain connections that validate the areas we’re unwilling to relinquish.

It doesn’t matter what we think or feel. What matters is God’s perspective. If He calls it wrong or sinful that’s the answer. Irrespective of personal beliefs, experiences, or attractions.

The Christian life is a life of discipline and denial. It isn’t anything goes or making the faith fit our philosophy. He already established the parameters. We can’t rewrite them.

When we compromise in one area we’ll bend in another. Heed the psalmist’s words.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.

Walking is the first step. That’s how it starts. Then you’re following their footsteps and mimicking the same.

Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened.

If you understood the crucifixion this wouldn’t be a topic of debate. It eradicates the former and the new is the standard. The template. The norm.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

We love what Christ loved. We despise what He despised. We embrace what He embraced. We rebuke what He rebuked. We fellowship the way He did.

Christ broke bread with sinners to share the gospel. They weren’t His running buddies nor did He validate their sin or condone it. The people in His presence were transformed. He didn’t wallow in the muck.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

ETA…

If markings were received before salvation or our awareness of the bible’s teachings on the subject that can’t be changed. But when we know the truth we must walk in that light.

We can’t regard things as a badge of honor God forbids us from possessing or engaging in. We must surrender former beliefs in deference to His. Nor should we minimize the error when ministering to the lost and giving the impression its acceptable. Christ didn’t waffle on sin nor should we.

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

 

[Vinter]

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[Lost4words]

Outward appearances mean nothing to God.

God sees the heart, the soul. He sees deep within us.

And yes, i have several tattoos! But, my fur covers them! Woof!

 

[Sketcher]

Tatoos tend to be a symptom of vanity I tend to put that in with plastic surgery and other things that change ones body to look better to someone else. I don't like tatoos at all on skin and tend to look down on people covered with them as wanting to fit in.... susceptible to peer pressure etc. I think that they can be a stumbling block in life for some people and some relationships and that many regret having them later in life. I find most tatoos distracting and people who are overly tatooed I wonder if they have mental health issues along the lines of cutting oneself etc that in the end tatoos won't fix the issue at all.
I don't judge people for their tatoos but often they are a sign of problems with the person that comes from needing to cover their skin to get attention from others. I know some tatoos are a sign of allegiance with certain groups that can be trouble at times also. I think what concerns me is there is not a huge amount of logical spiritual sense for a Christian to get all tatooed up as the Bible never equates people getting tatoos favorably and too often places and groups that are ungodly are origins of tatoos like prison, bikers clubs, gang members and such. I've even heard that prostitutes get certain tatoos by their Johns to identify them as their "property" not sure if that is true or not though.

Even though tatoos get attention I tend to stereotype people negatively that have them by default.... I prepare myself for someone that is possibly a problem if I don't know them especially when they have an excess of them.
In other words (to me) they are a sort of stumbling block as I've seen women that ruin their beauty with ugly tatoos and often end up hanging around men and others that tend to be more wild and loose in nature.

You can call me shallow or a snob if you want to, but there are several things that turn me off about women is smoking, drinking excessively and tatoos.... plus wearing clothes that makes them look like a prostitute on top of that. Also I'm turned off by people with such a limited vocabulary that they have to cuss in almost every sentence they speak as it gets tiring to talk to people that often seem to be irritated because you don't do the "cool" stuff they do.

Sounds like you do judge people for their tattoos after all.

 

[ThisIsMe123]

Sounds like you do judge people for their tattoos after all.

Everyone judges at one time or another in their lives. Usually silently.

 

[Sketcher]

Everyone judges at one time or another in their lives. Usually silently.

This I agree with. Might as well say, "I do judge people with ____ because . . ." rather than "I don't judge people with ____ but . . ." while judging them in multiple ways.

 

[Sophrosyne]

Sounds like you do judge people for their tattoos after all.

I judge people with excessive tatoos as a possible problem and look for signs related to groups that encourage excessive tatoos to be sure that they aren't involved or influenced by troublemakers. Once I'm sure that they are "safe" then I treat them like anyone else. I don't go around condemning or trying to convince people one way or another about tatoos but if I had children I would not allow them to get a tatoo till they were an adult because there are a lot of people that get them and later regret it.

 

[bèlla]

The bible addresses appearance. If you prefer to ignore them that’s your choice. But to say it was never uttered is false.

You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.

A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.

Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.

 

[VMaeLove]

Once I'm sure that they are "safe" then I treat them like anyone else.

There are wonderful people with tattoos and truly evil people with none. Your guide for judging people sounds very flawed.

Evil requires intent. Most tattoos are just tattoos.

How many wonderful people you all could have in your life if not for this shallow thoughts?
The next time you want to look down on someone with tattoos try asking for the story behind them instead.
You may be surprised. You may find a friend.
You may have an opportunity to share His LOVE to someone who needs it.

The message I get from my Bible is not to coward behind it pointing a finger of ugliness, but to get out there and work your butt off to show that there is a place where EVERYONE can belong and find peace and find love and find acceptance and find understanding.

 

[VMaeLove]

Leviticus 19:28

The line right before this one seems to say if you have shaved your face or cut your hair you are just as evil as those of us with tattoos.

Should we make a separate thread for over shaved Christians?

 

[.Mikha'el.]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Try reading the entire passage instead of tearing it brutally out of context to suit your own purposes. That is a teaching about proper sexual practices, not tattooing.

 

[linux.poet]

Leviticus 19:28

The bible addresses appearance. If you prefer to ignore them that’s your choice. But to say it was never uttered is false.

You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.

A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.

Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.

May I remind you two that the Mosaic law has been fulfilled by Christ and that we don’t have to follow the practices in Leviticus anymore?

Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had a heated argument and debate with them, the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. Therefore, after being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all the brothers and sisters. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.” The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “ Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Since this is the case, why are you putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”


Therefore, it is my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols, from acts of sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

 

[Lost4words]

Would Jesus not heal a devout Christian with tattoos? Would He turn them away from His kingdom?

I think not.

 

[ThisIsMe123]

I judge people with excessive tatoos as a possible problem and look for signs related to groups that encourage excessive tatoos to be sure that they aren't involved or influenced by troublemakers. Once I'm sure that they are "safe" then I treat them like anyone else. I don't go around condemning or trying to convince people one way or another about tatoos but if I had children I would not allow them to get a tatoo till they were an adult because there are a lot of people that get them and later regret it.

Right, I mean I don't mind ink on a lady, but when it' excessive, it's like putting a bunch of bumper stickers on a Mercedes lol Makes an otherwise attractive person unattractive.

 

[bèlla]

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[Lost4words]

God indeed knows the heart of a true Christian. He knows their true feelings. That is within the heart, not on their skin.

 

[John_Brown]

God indeed knows the heart of a true Christian. He knows their true feelings. That is within the heart, not on their skin.

No one with a Christiaan heart would put that on their skin.

 

[Vinter]

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[Lost4words]

No one with a Christiaan heart would put that on their skin.

Put what on their skin?

 

[VMaeLove]

That could be a very interesting thread, considering I shave my head and the sides of my face.

What would you do if as a young Christian you were outcast and treated different by other Christians as soon as anyone saw your shaved?
They point Leviticus 19:27 at you with an attitude of condiscendence?
Judging you and worrying if you are safe.

Because you shave.

How are we any different?