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Hi, I'm really very new to this, I've only very recently started learning about religion and what it means to be a Christian... I don't know if my opinion matters but I think that everyone has a right to decide what is in their best interest and what will please our Lord... But to take into consideration both of those things, yes is it the right thing to do for yourself and will it please our Lord.. I don't really know enough about parts of the bible to say whether there is any part that says you're not allowed but I guess if your tattoo isnt saying bad things or offensive things then it shouldn't really be a problem...:blush: - Stacy
 
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Holdinfourth

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Same voice of God, differant covenant. The old covenent was put to rest when Christ diead on the cross for our sins.
I personally have a half sleave on my right arm (just finished last night). My tattoo's all hold a story behind each of them, the latest being the ichthus with Isaiah 28:16 centered in it. They are all a reminder of who I am now and the journey I have taken as a growing Christian. Also, in the ministry I am in, they give me so many oppertunities to witness to people. If you hold fast to the old covenent, you could be sturck dead for lying, cheating, impure thoughts, any type of sin against God. When Christ took that burden of our sins upon the cross, the old covenent was laid to rest, and the new began. I believe in Christ, and am a growing faithful servant. I highly doubt that Christ looks at my tattos (on the outside of my body) and says "you sinner you are now banashed frm my kingdom". We all make mistakes in our lives, and all make choices that either help or hurt us. But the biggest thing to think about is this, "will the decision I am making be helpful to others, and can the Kingdom of God benefit from this."

Remember Christ looks at the heart of a person, and not on the things they wear, or the markings on their bodies. If that was the case then he would not have gone anywhere near a lepper, or prositute (they were marked as such back in the day).

Differant strokes for differant folks I guess.
 
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alwayz_remember_Calvery

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I don't have a tatoo and i don't plan on getting one. I don't like needles and i don't like the idea that they don't go away. I'd much rather have a belly button ring. At the same time i think tatoos are fine. I don't care for the large ones that cover an person entire body, but i like to smaller ones. The people who have the large ones just seem to be doing it to be different and to draw attention to themselves. I know that they may not mean it like that, but thats just the impression i get from them. The smaller ones, and the ones that can be hidden if needed, seem to be more tasteful.
I think tatoos, body piercings, etc. can be a great witnessing tool. I'm sure a lot of kids are turned off by christianity because they think that we have to follow all of these rules and we never have any fun and we can't get tatoos, piercings, etc.
I think the decision to get one or not is between you and God. No one else.
 
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2LivIsChrist

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I don't really see the point in them. It's just something that you put on your body for life. We should wittness through our actions. Yet, i know some people who had tatoo's before they were christians, and now they regret it. Yet, through their tatoo't they are able to wittness through them. Yet, i don't see the point in getting a tatoo as a christian, what does it prove. Well that's just my thoughts on it.
 
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plum

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Inperfected said:
I want 2 tattoos. I want one that i will get on my honey moon like "DD.MM.YY.BB.CC:VV" around my finger under the ring. BB being bible book. CC being a chapter of a book, and vv being verse number.
that's a cool idea! what Scripture reference are you using?
 
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LiberatedChick

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I can't see them. If they're on your PC make sure you use the "manage attachments" button in the posting window...it's under the box you write your post in, in the additional options section. If you did that then it maybe they didn't get uploaded properly. :scratch:
 
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boilerblues

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Inperfected said:
uh we aren't sure of the verse yet...

The reason we are wanting that one is to remind us we cannot take off our marriage. No matter how much we want to because whether we like it, love it, or NOT, it's still there...

That's a really neat thought. I'm going to have to remember that.
 
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philemon4_7

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ive had to do a speech on the biblical aspects of tattoos. take the time to read it and make your own decision. God bless and Gods peace Philemon 1:4-7

I am credible to speak on the biblical aspects of tattooing because of the research I have done. Robert Haley of Professional journal medicine said ‘people with tattoos are 90% more likely to be infected with Hepatitis C’. With the desire of getting a tattoo, come the risks of Hepatitis, and possibly aids if the needles aren’t sterile. When considering a tattoo of any form people should always look into the place they are going to get the tattoo from. Tattoos were one taboo in the Christian culture and in some cases they still are. Although you can find many Christians with some tattoos. Sometimes the tattoos were prior to being save. They might be tribal designs, a in memory of children , or even just something symbolic only to the person who got the tattoo. Other times, a Christian have gotten a tattoo to declare there faith. Some Christians get tattoos that are bible verse, symbols that are a reminder of their savior. Sometimes they are in Greek, or perhaps just a cross. You can get various images to find the perfect tattoo, you could even design you own, with a cross, threaded with a bible verse. Tattoos are always about your preference and what the tattoo means to you. Christians say, having a tattoo of that nature is used as a witness. (Stefanovsky) When having a ’religious’ tattoo, it gives Christians an opportunity to share their faith, relating with someone that has tattoos. People with the Jesus tattoo get to share what it means, perhaps even share what God has done, and is doing in their life. All by a person seen the tattoo on the arm of a Christian. That could be a seed, planted in someone’s heart. You might gain an opportunity to talk to a person you wouldn’t normally have anything else in common with.
Just by someone seeing you live their faith in the way of a tattoo isn’t necessarily wrong. Everything is permissibly but not always beneficial. Getting a tattoo, might in some way be a stumbling block for another believer. You should think about how other people might perceive the tattoo. When deciding on what kind of tattoos you want, you have to keep in mind that is going to be apart of you body for the rest of your life, unless of course you go through a painful process of removing it by laser. Even If you try and get it removed, they basically only fade the tattoos, rather then removing it.
People constantly dwell on if tattoos are right, or if they are wrong. Even if they don’t argue if the tattoo is right or wrong some people argue that you shouldn’t need something such as a tattoo to use as a witnessing tool, when you life itself it a tool. Many things can be a tool when witnessing about Jesus. Wearing a shirt with some quick witted saying on it. Maybe an icthus on the back of your car. Or even music could be a tool to witness as worship music. Then again music could be a stumbling block, you could make satanic music to worship Satan.
No matter what if you consider a tattoo to be right or wrong, You will happen to see preachers with tattoos as well as teenagers. Sometimes people embrace this new generation of tattooed believers, but unfortunately people still get condemned for having a tattoo. ‘Christians spit out the verse Leviticus 19:28 "Never cut your bodies in mourning for the dead or mark your skin with tattoos, for I am the LORD.” In the context God gave this to the Israelites telling them to be separate from pagans. This was rooted in worshiping other gods (Ba’al) (Kartina 6) People also would shave their hand beards in worship Ba’al . When people defend the idea of worshiping Ba’al other people counter the point with saying they should have learned from the pagans and not do something that would blend you with people who did what was evil.
Even though the bible just said clearly not to get one. So why do some Christians still get tattoos? They say the verse was in context of the ‘old Law’. The Old Law, with its severe punishments and earthly rewards, was necessary for an obstinate people who were both carnal and unspiritual. (Gennaro 05). The old law was given because Jesus had not yet died on the cross. The law was given to Jews whom even know continue to follow the laws even today.
Nothing itself is good or bad, but what you do with it. Like a tattoo, you can use it to worship the Ba’al of your life, or use it to glorify God. You can use dancing for good or bad. You can use words, for good or bad. All depends on how you choose to use them. On the other hand people say that people with tattoos are more likely to be rebellious, homosexual and considered to be very troubled people.
Going back to the verse in Leviticus, it said ’Only for the dead’. The phrase mourning for the dead opens another can of worms. Since they say its not a Rest In Peace tattoos its fine. People also use that as justification to get tattoos.
People use the idea of when , when solders would put a ‘mark’ of a cross on there hand saying they wanted a Christian burial. (Maddox 1996) . They would go into battle with the mark on their hand, hoping when they were killed they would be give the burial they wanted because of the mark on their hand.
There is another verse that has to do with making a mark on your hand for God. Its Isaiah 49:16. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; These cuts or wound would remind that God saved them. Tattoos are strongly related to scarification, people treat scarification just as a tattoo, the process is similar. Instead of using a small needle to put ink in the skin, they will you instruments to cut deep gashes, and let them form a scar. Even though they don’t apply ink into the wound they are still cutting there body. Which can form a design of any type. Then this becomes the argument of Blood letting. Blood Letting is a satanic ritual where they would cut themselves with knifes, to release blood. They thought this produced a supernatural power.
In conclusion, when it comes down to it, I think Paul had it right in Titus 3:9. But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. If you are debating the idea of getting a tattoo, you need to carefully dwell on scriptures and talk to God. If you really listen God will tell you what to do.

having a tattoo of that nature is used as a witness. (Stefanovsky)

This was rooted in worshiping other gods (Ba’al) (Kartina 6)

The Old Law, with its severe punishments and earthly rewards, was necessary for an obstinate people who were both carnal and unspiritual. (Gennaro 05).

when solders would put a ‘mark’ of a cross on there hand saying they wanted a Christian burial. (Maddox 1996)

Isaiah 49:16. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; Isaiah 49:16
 
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DiscoFrank

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Good post!
I have a tatoo, a small cross on my shoulder blade and I see nothing wrong with it. It's not visible to anyone unless I take my top off. For me it's a permenant reminder of my commitment to God. It really annoys me when Christians judge me when I tell them that I have a tat. You always hear the Leviticus laws being thrown out at you, and yes, that part of Leviticus is known as the "moral code" and were instructions to the Israelites on how to live differently to the surrounding pagan tribes, and as such is useful for Christians because we are not of the world etc.

However, these laws were given to the Israelites before Jesus. They were designed to try and keep them as pure as possible because they were sinful and by keeping these rituals they could approach Yahweh and Yahweh could approach them. Jesus came and fulfilled these laws. He died and because of His blood we are free from the ritualistic cleansing and sacrifices defined in Leviticus. That is not to say that he "cancelled the Law out"! The laws were more than just about religion. Israel went from a wandering tribe of nomads to a nation - albeit with a bit of anarchy in between: Judges - because of the mosaic laws. The law set out criminal, economic and social laws as well as the religious code. It gave bias to the poor (cf. Ruth) and down-and-outs. Yahweh was the God of the Hebrews. Hebrew in Egypt was not an ethnic term, but a class. The Hebrews were the poor and the downtrodden and Yahweh was their God. The laws were about social justice as much as about religion which is why the prophets like Amos and Hosea later railed against the kings because they forgot about the social side and were too concerned with the religious side! Sometimes we are like that. We look at the Old Testament las and we only see the "thou shalt not" but not reason behind it.

Also, a lot of people shout the "the body is a temple of the Lord, don't defile it with your disgusting graven images" thing at me. Like come on! I wouldn't mind if they got it in context! Corinth was a huge cosmopolitan city and there was a temple to the the Roman godess of Love, Aphrodite. There were over 1000 ritual prostitutes there as priestesses and sex was part of the ritual worship. Obviously some of the christians were getting involved and Paul was instructing them to "Flee from sexual immorality", not tatoos!

Wow, sorry about that rant! It just gets on my nerves when people judge me without knowing me! I'll get down off my sopbox now!:preach:
 
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