Should Christians get tattoos?

[MomBlessedBy2]

What's your opinion on this?

Leviticus 19:28 says

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

 

[mikenet2006]

What's your opinion on this?

Leviticus 19:28 says

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

If you do you could go to hell just for that. It's like this get a tatto..... you go to hell, you do not pass go, you do not collect 200 dollars.

Im bad, im sorry, but I just find it unfortunate for people to believe a tatoo would be a deciding factor in the fate of their soul but I wasn't trying to make a mockery of the question. You want to hear my honest opinion?
If you want it get it hun. They look nice around the belt line on the back I think.

If you were asking theoreticly, then no I doubt if your a good person at heart that something like this would matter in the least. I'll no doubt hear a clashing opinion on that one though.

 

[MomBlessedBy2]

I don't think it's a deciding factor is whether you go to Heaven or Hell. I know I'm going to Heaven. I'm asking if you think it is a sin.

My husband and I have both been thinking about getting one. But, as I was searching for religious tattoos online, I came across an article like this.

 

[FadingWhispers3]

http://www.oca.org/QA.asp?ID=71&SID=3

"A few minutes later one of our Ethiopian parishioners walked by with his mother, an elderly woman with a cross tattooed on her forehead, as is often done among pious Ethiopian Christians. "

Also note:

The cutting of the flesh for the dead, etc, was of concern because of it's religious implications... eg, it is the same thing as idolatry in those days.

"So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one... But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do." 1 Corinthians 8: 4

Same principle.

 

[xroadrunnerx]

Furthermore, it is speculated that God said that to the israelites because he had just delivered them to the Egyptians who did so to worship thier gods, and He didn't want them to be as the people they were just delivered from.

Egyptians used it to show complete commitment and honour to thier gods, so I think, If you really want a tattoo, it should honour the Lord with what it says or shows.

 

[kangitanka]

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

Leviticus
Why do non-Jews (in the religious sense) keep bringing up the Tanakh over and over again in regards to the Mitvoh?
The Law does not (get this) apply to the Gentiles (except in certain specific instances such as the foreigner residing within the community).
The 613 Mitzvoh do not apply to anyone other than the hebrews under the covenants described in the Tanakh.

The demand for no markings on the skin is a "hebrew thing" (if you will) and applies to Gentiles just as much as the Sabbath does (ie- not at all).

Why do some people think that the entirety of the 613 Mitzvoh applies to everyone equally?

 

[xroadrunnerx]

Leviticus
Why do non-Jews (in the religious sense) keep bringing up the Tanakh over and over again in regards to the Mitvoh?
The Law does not (get this) apply to the Gentiles (except in certain specific instances such as the foreigner residing within the community).
The 613 Mitzvoh do not apply to anyone other than the hebrews under the covenants described in the Tanakh.

The demand for no markings on the skin is a "hebrew thing" (if you will) and applies to Gentiles just as much as the Sabbath does (ie- not at all).

Why do some people think that the entirety of the 613 Mitzvoh applies to everyone equally?

Great post.

perhaps a lot of people take scripture out of context.

 

[kangitanka]

Great post.

Thanks!

perhaps a lot of people take scripture out of context.

Happens all the time
Everytime a nonbeliever tries to hold the Gentile to the Hebrew Mitzvoh.
Everytime a Christian raises a question about the Mitzvoh applying to Gentiles (in regard to the overall Law).
Everytime anyone (Christian and non-Christian) confuses the Covenant with the Hebrews with the 7 Laws of the Gentiles....

Misunderstanding prevails, and rampantly so.

And one doesnt need a Theology PhD to "get it".

 

[flicka]

Should Christians get tattoos?

No. Nobody should. It's ridiculous to permanently brand your body with something you think is 'cool' at a given point in your life because as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow there will come a time when you regret it.

But I don't really care what other people do. I just silently mock them while pretending to be impressed with the artwork. LOL.

 

[mikenet2006]

No. Nobody should. It's ridiculous to permanently brand your body with something you think is 'cool' at a given point in your life because as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow there will come a time when you regret it.

But I don't really care what other people do. I just silently mock them while pretending to be impressed with the artwork. LOL.

That you shoud have refraised """" No, I shouldnt, because I would personaly find it degrading to do that to myself """

A tattoo is a symbol and nothing more. What the symbol stands for is more important than wether or not you have one.

If you and your husband are getting one together it could have special meaning between the two of you, or even you and god.

One tip. Lots of people say you will regret it later on when you are older. The obvious way around that is to keep it simple, and mabee even out of sight.

 

[meebs]

What's your opinion on this?

Leviticus 19:28 says

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

Well if you beleive that the "old law" was done away with on Jesus's death then im sure its fine.

im not mocking - its just ive heard this before so i thought what could be a good responce to a christian on that matter.

Really i think that its up to the person to ask themselves "does it feel right for me?" If the answer is "no" then dont do it, if the answer is "yes" then go for it. If the answer is "i dont know" then think on it and read on it.

 

[LienShen]

No. Nobody should. It's ridiculous to permanently brand your body with something you think is 'cool' at a given point in your life because as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow there will come a time when you regret it.

But I don't really care what other people do. I just silently mock them while pretending to be impressed with the artwork. LOL.

You obviously do care, since you look down your nose at them and laugh. All the while lying to their face.

Who looks foolish? The person who feels strongly enough about something to make it part of their permanent life story, or the person who judges others based on a feeling of superiority and lies?

Hmm.

I think I'll go with the person who holds fast to their convictions and is honest about themselves.

 

[tcampen]

What's your opinion on this?

Leviticus 19:28 says

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

I can assure you that there are dozens and dozens of prohibitions in Leviticus you take part in all the time. This prohibition against tats was gone with the new convenent, if you are a Christian.

If you are an orthodox Jew, you probably should stay away from it.

 

[armyman_83]

If man cannot tell that you are "Christian" by your actions, then why should he be told by your skin? Your actions should speak not your flesh. (If you plan on getting a cross, or something Christian)

 

[flicka]

You obviously do care, since you look down your nose at them and laugh. All the while lying to their face.

Who looks foolish? The person who feels strongly enough about something to make it part of their permanent life story, or the person who judges others based on a feeling of superiority and lies?

Hmm.

I think I'll go with the person who holds fast to their convictions and is honest about themselves.

No, I don't care. And I don't have feeling of superiority and everyone lies to be polite (you do too so don't lie about it). I just think if someone has questions about doing it (what the OP is about) they shouldn't.

Why does anyone consider PERMANENT INK ON THEIR BODY special? It's a fashion fad...nothing more. Please don't kid yourself into thinking anything else.


BTW...my daughter does have a tatoo, in a place no body can easily see. 3 years after the fact she knows she wouldn't do it again. Maybe not exactly regret but what she got no longer holds any special meaning in her life. And my cousin did regret it when she went from activist hippy to corporate lawyer over a 20 year time span. Life happens folks, permanent markings ARE NOT to be taken lightly!

And to the person who suggests a husband and wife getting one together holding special meaning...yeah, real special if a divorce happens down the road. Whats wrong with matching wedding bands or something?

As for things like crosses...well every fricking 20 yr old Jesus freak I know is covered in them so join the crowd! Nothing says Christianity like doing what everyone else is doing....and I'm sure Jesus would be proud. Besides, it's not about showing your faith, you can do that in a million wonderful ways, it's a fashion statement and a way to call attention to yourself.

I'm not saying EVERYONE will regret a tatoo but enough do to make it a questionable thing to do, especially since most people who get them are quite young and no doubt will go through stages of emotional growth that could alter their views on whatever it is they put on themselves.

Tatoo removal is a booming business, I just wish I could get in on that action and take advantage of it.

 

[Im_A]

What's your opinion on this?

Leviticus 19:28 says

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

i'll try to state my views simple.

the choice is up to us i believe.

if your going to base the reason to not tattoo based on one verse in the Levitical Law, that thinking is severely hypocritical because if you are going to hold to the Old Law, you can't just hold to one law such as this. you to hold to ALL of the Levitical Law. that means no more eating at Long John Silvers(Leviticus 11:9-12), do you celebrate Yom Kippur? (Leviticus 16), if you have children did you do the ritulaistic cleansing? (Leviticus 12) do you wear things of mixed fabrics from hybrid breeding? (Leviticus 19:19).

this isn't to say that getting a tattoo is ok, but if your going to quote the scripture, you must be sure that you are upholding the rest of the Levitical Law.

but i think you are seeing my point. these things are part of the Levitical Law. i'm not saying Christ died so i can get tattoos, eat at Long John Silvers, and wear polyester clothing. i believe if there are any Levitical Jews around, they would have to follow these rules, even if they were Christians. cause these laws are set in stone...forever. but they are the laws of the Levites.

and yes at the time, we read that pagans were using this practice to their pagan gods. we see references of this in Leviticus 21:5, Jeremiah 16:6, Deuteronomy 14:1. and we know that tattoos were used by pagans for rites of passage, to be seen as worthy to their pagan gods. yes, i'm glad God didn't want that to happen...i wouldn't even do that for God, let alone some pagan God. i have tattoos, two of them Christian symbols, but i gurantee you, i don't feel worthy in God's eyes because i paid some tattoo artist to ink me. i have never meant one Christian who gets tattoos (a friend of mine is a pastor and has opened up a parlor) that makes them feel worthy of God. if they do feel worthy to God because they get inked, they shouldn't be tattooing and should transform their thinking. i think in our modern day it is clearly seen that tattoos are not looked at in the same light as they were back then, nothing of pagan type of thinking that was similiar back to the times that this verse in Leviticus was written.

so to answer your question...i can't. i'm not you or other Christians. there are more issues to think about with tattooing than some religious take on it.

is one ready to have art on their body for the rest of their lives? are people ready to accept sometimes the scrutiny that comes with this, just as scrutiny comes with every area of life? if one is a Christian, does one feel at peace with this? bcause that Christian is going to get both sides equally in this and they have to be prepared for it. is that person prepared to live a life that will disprove the criticism one gets? (kind of the same criticism non-Christians give of Christians, or that Christians give to non-Christians. shows you how good labels are eh?)

so to answer your question, i believe there is no set answer. quoting one verse out of the Bible means nothing in a discussion about this. to quote one part, you would need to look at other parts of that law before criticizing tattoos.

so i say the choice is up to the person.

 

[Im_A]

No, I don't care. And I don't have feeling of superiority and everyone lies to be polite (you do too so don't lie about it). I just think if someone has questions about doing it (what the OP is about) they shouldn't.

if you didn't care, you wouldn't have strong opinions either way right?

Why does anyone consider PERMANENT INK ON THEIR BODY special? It's a fashion fad...nothing more. Please don't kid yourself into thinking anything else.

it has special meaning for the individual. if your judging tattooing based on hot-topic crap, or fashion, you have truly missed the whole point of tattooing. some just like the art on their body. some use it for very special meaning. no sense to get your panties in a ruffle over something you dont' care about

BTW...my daughter does have a tatoo, in a place no body can easily see. 3 years after the fact she knows she wouldn't do it again. Maybe not exactly regret but what she got no longer holds any special meaning in her life. And my cousin did regret it when she went from activist hippy to corporate lawyer over a 20 year time span. Life happens folks, permanent markings ARE NOT to be taken lightly!

point is? i agree permanent markings are not to be taken lightly. i just think people have to realize there are people who are very serious about tattoos, instead of your child or your cousin, or the horror stories you read of young people doing something cause it's cool, cause they were drunk or stoned or whatever story you read.

And to the person who suggests a husband and wife getting one together holding special meaning...yeah, real special if a divorce happens down the road. Whats wrong with matching wedding bands or something?

i agree with this. it is considered bad luck when someone gets their significant other tattooed on them. i listened to a long story at a parlor once where a man gave situations where it happened like clockwork. a marriage of long years ending right after the tattoo. i'm not saying i believe the tattoo screwed over the marriage, but at least in the tattoo world, there are cautions with it. but i don't believe one needs to be so negative. so what if a divorce could happen? why marry for that matter geez.

As for things like crosses...well every fricking 20 yr old Jesus freak I know is covered in them so join the crowd! Nothing says Christianity like doing what everyone else is doing....and I'm sure Jesus would be proud. Besides, it's not about showing your faith, you can do that in a million wonderful ways, it's a fashion statement and a way to call attention to yourself.

please. come on, use more common sense than that, than to attack a religion...lol.

I'm not saying EVERYONE will regret a tatoo but enough do to make it a questionable thing to do, especially since most people who get them are quite young and no doubt will go through stages of emotional growth that could alter their views on whatever it is they put on themselves.

Tatoo removal is a booming business, I just wish I could get in on that action and take advantage of it.

well if you want to get in the action then do it and yes i agree that people really need to be careful and be sure they are ready to accept it on their bodies all their lives. i think it's funny the ones that do regret it, are the ones that do it for stupid reasons, and no one dares get all emotional over the ones that do it for good reason, or because they like body artwork cause they find it beautiful. instead many people get tattooed cause they think its sexy (i personally don't get turned on by women with tattoos. i'm glad my fiancee doesn't have them), they get it because it's cool (ie the hot-topic nonsense), they get it cause they are drunk or stoned (enough said there).

if you dont' care about it, i'd just advice to really look at the possibility that not everyone is an idiot with getting tattoos, and that there are people out there who do it for good reasons, put immense thought into it. hopefully you didn't mind my polite puns in this

God Bless you! <><

 

[flicka]

if you didn't care, you wouldn't have strong opinions either way right?



it has special meaning for the individual. if your judging tattooing based on hot-topic crap, or fashion, you have truly missed the whole point of tattooing. some just like the art on their body. some use it for very special meaning. no sense to get your panties in a ruffle over something you dont' care about


point is? i agree permanent markings are not to be taken lightly. i just think people have to realize there are people who are very serious about tattoos, instead of your child or your cousin, or the horror stories you read of young people doing something cause it's cool, cause they were drunk or stoned or whatever story you read.


i agree with this. it is considered bad luck when someone gets their significant other tattooed on them. i listened to a long story at a parlor once where a man gave situations where it happened like clockwork. a marriage of long years ending right after the tattoo. i'm not saying i believe the tattoo screwed over the marriage, but at least in the tattoo world, there are cautions with it. but i don't believe one needs to be so negative. so what if a divorce could happen? why marry for that matter geez.


please. come on, use more common sense than that, than to attack a religion...lol.



well if you want to get in the action then do it and yes i agree that people really need to be careful and be sure they are ready to accept it on their bodies all their lives. i think it's funny the ones that do regret it, are the ones that do it for stupid reasons, and no one dares get all emotional over the ones that do it for good reason, or because they like body artwork cause they find it beautiful. instead many people get tattooed cause they think its sexy (i personally don't get turned on by women with tattoos. i'm glad my fiancee doesn't have them), they get it because it's cool (ie the hot-topic nonsense), they get it cause they are drunk or stoned (enough said there).

if you dont' care about it, i'd just advice to really look at the possibility that not everyone is an idiot with getting tattoos, and that there are people out there who do it for good reasons, put immense thought into it. hopefully you didn't mind my polite puns in this

God Bless you! <><

((emphasis mine))

Not at all! I actually appreciated and agree with most of what you posted. I feel everyone has a right to do what they want with their body (haha really, I DON'T CARE. I just like posting opinions that make people think about things). I just see that tattoos have become the 'fad of the moment' amongst the highschool/college crowd. I mean fads come and go but ink is forever. And I did read somewhere that 50% of the people who get them consider getting them removed at some point so this is no small number I'm talking about.

People just need to think about it. There will come a time when their tattoos aren't considered cool or hip or fashionable, or are not accepted in a particular environment (perhaps one you never considered you'd want to be part of). A time when having that tribal symbol brands you forever as a slave to fashion, or that cross on your ankle isn't being admired by everyone in youth group. But you cant change it, like you can a hair style/color or even a piercing that can be removed.