Tattoo

[MelissaShae]

I believe that there is something wrong with in a person who feels that he or she needs a tattoo. God has already wrote down how He feels so this is all up to you.

Hosea6v6

I have tattoos and don't think that there is anything wrong with me, but thank you for making that judgement about me and all of us who have tattoos

 

[plum]

I can't believe how many christians profess to be bible-believing but then don't even read half of it because it's "old". that's like signing a contract without reading it. unreal...

i have to stop there or i'm going to bubble over

back to the topic!

I have a tattoo and I love it. It references Job 19:25-26 which speaks of the resurrection of the dead and (ironically) the destruction of the flesh. i find it to be the perfect tattoo.




btw, piercings are not against the Bible (any part of it, for my antinomian folks!)
Just check out what God gives to his beloved (quoting it in context because it's such a gorgeous passage!)

[FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]Ezekiel 16:6-14[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica] 6 "'I passed by and saw you there, wallowing in your own blood; and as you lay in your blood I said to you, "Live!" Yes, I said to you, as you lay in your blood, "Live! 7 I will increase your numbers just like plants growing in the field." And you did increase, you developed, you reached puberty, your breasts appeared, and your hair grew long; but you were naked and exposed. 8 "'Again I passed by you, looked at you and saw that your time had come, the time for love. So I spread my cloak over you to cover your private parts and entered into a covenant with you,' says Adonai ELOHIM, 'and you became mine. 9 Then I bathed you in water, washed the blood off you, and anointed you with oil. 10 I also clothed you with an embroidered gown, gave you fine leather sandals to wear, put a fine linen headband on your head and covered you with silk. 11 I gave you jewelry to wear, bracelets for your hands, a necklace for your neck, 12 a ring for your nose, earrings for your ears and a beautiful crown for your head. 13 Thus you were decked out in gold and silver; your clothing was of fine linen, silk and richly embroidered cloth; you ate the finest flour, honey and olive oil. You grew increasingly beautiful - you were fit to be queen. 14 Your fame spread among the nations because of your beauty, because it was perfect, due to my having bestowed my own splendor on you' says Adonai ELOHIM.[/FONT]

gosh, isn't that lovely? and not just because God has a thing for nose rings (and so do I)

anyway... if you feel convicted on the subject of tattoos, do not get one. if you lack self-control and do not think through your decisions, don't get one. if it would hinder your particular witness, don't get one. if it's "just so cool" then don't get one.

all the best, my family.

 

[GoodNewsJim]

if you lack self-control and do not think through your decisions, don't get one.

Now you tell me.

 

[Daave220]

Thank you very much eirene.

I do read the bible but right now Im reading more of the new testament and thats not because the OLD is stupid and old. I read Gen. and most of Job I just want to learn more about christian faith. I like how you posted that passage that Im sure a lot of people dont even know that book is in the bible.

Just so you all know Im not going to get it right when I turn 18 im going to wait a few months maybe years. And since the 1st time I posted I have changed my mind on what I want to get. Im now not sure what I want but I know I want a cross over my heart and maybe something with it.

 

[christianpunk20]

The passage in Leviticus is not talking about tattoos as they exist nowadays. What this is talking about is telling the people of the day to not mark on themselves in the way they were. Because they were getting various tattoos of cultic symbols and other such things. Twas not for the purpose of body art but rather was to show that they were in a cult or involved in witchcraft.
Well, hope this helped you a bit in this. If you need any more clarification feel free to pm me.

 

[Ave Maria]

I personally see nothing wrong with tattoos that are not anti-Christian or tattoos that are Christian. I believe we are free from the Old Testament law.

 

[mont974x4]

Go ahead and get the tat. Gentile beleivers are not under the levitical law.


I have 2 and would like more...I just have other things to do with my cash as an old married man now. LOL

 

[PaladinValer]

A lot of people are simply taking the Bible at face value without knowing the basis beyond what it talks about...unsurprising really unfortunately

Back in those days, many, if not most of the Pagan religions believed in ascribing their religious symbols onto the body, via various forms of shavings or body art. For example, Egyptian royalty and clergy shaved their heads except for a small lock of hair.

Since these were either a cultural or religious practice of Gentiles, the Hebrew Jews were not allowed.

However, we are no longer under the Law (which is a fact many Christians here forget it seems) but under Grace. We're not Judaizer heretics but Christians. Ascribing a secular or Christian symbol I don't think is sinful.

Personally however, I am against the idea of religious tattoos. The body will perish and will be made completely whole again upon the Resurrection, ridding it of all defects and alterations that are not natural like tattoos. In addition, what's the point? Why go through pain that isn't persecutive? It is naturally painful. It also prohibits you from doing something that truly is a fruit of the faith: donating blood, for a full year I believe.

What will God smile upon more? You donating blood on your birthday to potentially save up to three lives or to label yourself with a symbol that you'll have covered up most of your life anyhow? Why waste money on yourself when you could so something far more worthy like save up to three peoples' lives...total strangers more than likely that you'll never know yet will thank God for your selflessness. If you get that tattoo, there's a chance they won't make it because you weren't able to donate blood because you got a tattoo.

Unless your ethnic origins have tattoo practices that are a part of your culture, I don't recommend getting a tattoo.

 

[Daave220]

That is a great point about donating blood. If I do get one I will never be able to donate or just for one year?

The reason I want to get a tattoo is not because I want to look cool but so I know God is always with me. I know what y'all say but I forget sometimes and I want to remember myself. If I'm ever in trouble and need help I can just look down at my chest. The last reason is if I start to forget Christ and lose faith, once again, I can look down at my chest.

 

[PaladinValer]

That is a great point about donating blood. If I do get one I will never be able to donate or just for one year?

You would not be able to for a full year. It is because the process gets into your bloodstream I believe, and it takes roughly a year before it is thoroughly removed.

The reason I want to get a tattoo is not because I want to look cool but so I know God is always with me.

Why not purchase or ask for a pendant? I received last Christmas Day a beautiful stirling silver cross from my folks. Of course, you don't need anything especially expensive or even anything truly elaborate. Plus it would be far cheaper than a tattoo.

I know what y'all say but I forget sometimes and I want to remember myself. If I'm ever in trouble and need help I can just look down at my chest. The last reason is if I start to forget Christ and lose faith, once again, I can look down at my chest.

Buy the pendant. When you need to be reminded, touch it. That is what crosses, icons, and statuary are for: to remind us of the holy and of God's Grace, Love, Majesty, and Power.

 

[harpcat]

I believe that there is something wrong with in a person who feels that he or she needs a tattoo. God has already wrote down how He feels so this is all up to you.

Hosea6v6

This is a mighty strong condemnation of people with Tattoos. I have a very dear friend who came back from going to Seminary in Scotland... a very consrvative reformation seminary, and came back with a tattoo of the five "solas" on his back... I know him too well to think that the quote above appllies to him... secondly, who says they think they "Need" a tattoo as opposed to just wanting one?

 

[MezzaMorta]

I'm not a Jew so what Lev says doesn't really apply to me. I got 9 tattoos, love them all and plan to get plenty more. You don't see temples that are just bare walls with nothing on them, they are paited, got statues, pictures.... ect...ect. my body is my temple and i'll decorate it how ever i see fit. I love all my tattoos and they will have the same meaning they do now in 20, 50 or 100 years and i'm sure i'll love them just the same then.

 

[PaladinValer]

Mezza, playing Devil's advocate, but what would God smile upon more: painting your body (which is neutral) or donating blood, which you don't have the chance to do if you get a tattoo (which is good)?

If you got extra money to burn, wouldn't it be better for the world to give it so that the less fortunate can have better lives?

 

[MezzaMorta]

Mezza, playing Devil's advocate, but what would God smile upon more: painting your body (which is neutral) or donating blood, which you don't have the chance to do if you get a tattoo (which is good)?

There are plenty of things that disqualify you from donating blood, if you have recently traveled to any number of foreign nations for example. But having a tattoo in itself doesn’t disqualify you, you just need to provide a blood test from after you got your tattoo. They screen all the blood they take now anyways so the need for that test is pretty much gone anyways.

If you got extra money to burn, wouldn't it be better for the world to give it so that the less fortunate can have better lives?

You could apply that logic to just about anything that we in the western world have. One can donate as much or little as they feel they want to, seems odd to single out tattoos in western society when there are so many other things we commonly do that waste money.

 

[Daave220]

I believe you said if I get a tattoo I will not be able to give blood for a year, that doesn't matter to me. I take meds Everyday which changes my blood so I will not be able to give any ways? I really wish I could because I'm type-O and that’s good I hear to give. And I don’t think I will get a tattoo in September, I'll probable want to wait till January. Maybe even years later because I don’t know what I want yet and it'll be there forever so I want to be sure forever. And if it takes me 2 years to pick it out then I’ll wait two years.

Right now I’m leaning towards a cross, but I want to add on to the cross with a heart or a rose. I also want to get Galatians 2:20 on me or maybe Psalms 23. There’s just so much to chose from I don’t know what I want so I’m going to wait. Maybe to two different ones, who knows?

Now I don’t think anyone answered this or maybe I didn’t ask, what is “Your body is a temple about?” Is it about ruining you body with marks (tattoos/burnings) or is it about Corinthian being sexual immoral.

Anyone want to add options to this…

 

[christiangal522]

Mezza, playing Devil's advocate, but what would God smile upon more: painting your body (which is neutral) or donating blood, which you don't have the chance to do if you get a tattoo (which is good)?

If you got extra money to burn, wouldn't it be better for the world to give it so that the less fortunate can have better lives?

I have to say that for me getting a tattoo (I have a chi-rho on my inner left wrist) was a wise decision.

My tattoo glorifies God in so many ways. Not only is it a reminder of who I belong to and who my life is about, but it has been an amazing testimony to others. I am constantly haveing non-believers (and believers) asking what it means. It gives me an opportunity to share the Gospel with people. I bet I have people asking me on a VERY regular basis. I will NEVER regret it. God is being glorified.

 

[Teufelhund]

I don't think that anyone who doesn't drain the blood from their meat can really complain about Old Testament laws. I'd get it, although your heart seems a really odd place for a cross it'd be kind of asymmetrical so I doubt it would look very even, although if that's the effect your going after. I have recently got a St. Micheal Tat, and I think it's probably one of the better things I could spend my money on, and the pain is very little compared to the coolness of that tattoo itself.

 

[brimac]

Hi,

I turn 18 in September and I want to get a tattoo of a cross over my heart. I also know it's there forever so Im going to think about it for the next few months and prob. wont get it in September. But there's one thing, the bible says not to in 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.

But i got something out of Revelation 19:16
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

So i dont know if the name on his thigh is 1st on his leg or on his vesture

So I would just like some thoughts about what people believe the bible says about it and/or what you believe on your own.

The verse you are referring to in Leviticus is not speaking about the same type of tatoo that you are speaking of! It is referring to those who cut themselves for the "gods". In the day that Leviticus was written, it was a very common pagan practice to mark yourself for your God, and that marking became synomonous with paganism in the same way that cutting your hair was synonomous with prostitution for women. The tattoo you are speaking of does not violate the word of God! It was cultural!

 

[Divinah]

IT IS A DEFILEMENT OF THE FLESH.

BUT THAT ASIDE, I don't know anyone who get's a tatoo and doesn't regret it when their older.

If for no other reason, they look really ugly.

I don't want to sound corny...Brand the cross on the tablet of your heart and let it shine through your life.

It's sounds good to want to make it a God Thing...but tatoos aren't a God thing.

I honestly believe your asking because...you feel it's wrong and want validation.

Here's a thought, think of something else to celebrate your 18th with and save that for your 21st.

You're just a Baby! Do you know what I think when I see kids running around with tats especially all tagged up...That kid's that desperate for approval. Not impressed or intimidated at all.

 

[Teufelhund]

I don't know about desperate for approval, you can't even see mine, and I don't show it off. I think the key is to pick something for a tat so fundamental that is part of you forever, my father has my mother's name tattooed on his shoulder, I have St. Micheal tattooed on my back. If you pick something like a skull wrapped in snakes, which seems pretty cool, that would be far less so at 40, but some religious imagery I doubt I would be later unconfortable with. A defilement of the flesh? I think there are far worse things done that most people accept.