Tattoos

[LiberatedChick]

Ah it doesn't hurt....




.....(that much )

 

[DiscoFrank]

yeah i agree. Just get it on a good fleshy bit and you're fine. Me and my friend went to get ours done at the same time and the power cut out half way through hers! That was fun!

 

[JulySheMustFly]

I'm cool with tattoos. I have one on my upper thigh that is dedicated to my 2 daughters. It has a verse beneath it and all the imagery is specific to the meaning of my girls names.

I am getting one dedicated to my son after Christmas. I still am unsure of what I want it to be.

For our anniversary my husband and I want to get matching tatoos symbolizing our commitment and love.

I don't see anything wrong with them. I do think they should carry some greater meaning than just being decorative though. My best friend has 2 and they are a butterfly and a fairy. They're cute, but my though was why?

 

[LiberatedChick]

My best friend has 2 and they are a butterfly and a fairy. They're cute, but my though was why?

Sometimes tatts do symbolise things to the owner which are not apparent to others from just seeing the tatt. I have a butterfly tattoo...everyone besides me would take one look and not see anything besides a butterfly, though it does have a meaning for me. I suffered with social anxiety and worry/nerves (including a "butterflies-in-tummy" feeling ) stopped me doing things. The tattoo serves as a reminder that I could and should push past the anxiety and not let fear rule my life.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

Sometimes tatts do symbolise things to the owner which are not apparent to others from just seeing the tatt. I have a butterfly tattoo...everyone besides me would take one look and not see anything besides a butterfly, though it does have a meaning for me. I suffered with social anxiety and worry/nerves (including a "butterflies-in-tummy" feeling ) stopped me doing things. The tattoo serves as a reminder that I could and should push past the anxiety and not let fear rule my life.

That's cool. Her's really are just because she likes them, but its still all good, just not for me.

 

[Latreia]

There have been times in my life when tattoos on a man could frighten me, as old movies so often depicted mean brutes with tattoos. And I still dislike tattoos that are meant to symbolize bad things, skulls or knives, or bleeding, or power or obscenity.

Because I have a fondness for dragons and fantasy arts, tattoos with vivid colors and intricate designs are works of art to me. When the craftmanship is excellent, that is all that I judge.

Butterflies, tigers, dolphins, flowers, so many pretty things. I have always had a longing for a pretty red rose for myself. But I settled for the temporary, moisten and press on kind. I have to confess, it was so funny when my husband was startled by it.

Most of all, the tattoo matters less than the person who has it.

 

[Jesusfreak811]

I'v really been thinking about gettting a small tattoo. Maybe my son's name or my favorite bible verse (2nd Timothy 1:7). I think that as long as you do not feel convicted about getting a tatoo then you should go for it. If you feel that God is telling you not to... then you really shouldn't!! Just my opinion

 

[Audiomechanic]

Wow, I am in the minority here but I am against them too. Bible tells us that your body is a temple for Lord to dwell with you. I feel that if the Lord wanted your body to have certain designs (even if they are "good" designs), he would have included them on you at your creation. My point of view is that since your body is a temple, tatoos are like graffiti that doesn't wash off.

I know I am in the monority but that's ok. I guess the point is this, Love yourself the way God loves you: just the way he created you!

 

[KiriAshra]

I battle the Tattoo topic. My husband wants to get a tat of our "family tree" with a vine going off the tree that has our daughter' and son's name and also mine on it. It looks really cool on paper but I am not sure if it is right for him to get it on his skin. Thats up to him though, and if he does I will just have to live with it.

 

[GuidingStar]

I like the look of tattoos when done tastefully. I think it's an amazing form of self-expression. Of course, like others have said before me, it all really depends on the movtivation behind the design. Personally, though, I am more of a piercing person.

 

[sherri]

I don't know if this one's been mentioned already and I'm not going to read 15 pages to check but Lev 19:28 says 'you shall not make any gashes in your flesh for the dead or tattoo any marks upon you;

People might say 'oh thats old testament' but God is the same, 'yesterday, today and forever'. He doesn't change. And I don't think he makes up rules because he's bored.


That scripture is the reason I would personally never get a tattoo.

 

[InTheFlame]

Sherri - do you wear polycotton shirts? Rayon-elastane skirts? Wool-nylon jumpers?

 

[intricatic]

No problems here with tattoos or piercings. Everything in the OT regarding them was referencing the act of branding, which is a totally different concept.

 

[Audiomechanic]

I don't know if this one's been mentioned already and I'm not going to read 15 pages to check but Lev 19:28 says 'you shall not make any gashes in your flesh for the dead or tattoo any marks upon you;

People might say 'oh thats old testament' but God is the same, 'yesterday, today and forever'. He doesn't change. And I don't think he makes up rules because he's bored.


That scripture is the reason I would personally never get a tattoo.

Bingo. Well said.

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

So you follow all the levitical laws as well?

If you're going to follow that one about tattoos, then you should be following these as well:

* sacrifice the left over portions of your meal to God, before the 3rd day

* don't eat meat with blood still in it (so you'd have to be eating everything 'very well done')

* grow your hair long, and keep a beard

* never said something bad about your parents

* never sleep with your wife during her period, and send her out to be purified for a week after

* if you have a bodily discharge during the day, you may not touch anyone until you have cleaned yourself. Same if you have acne.

* do not wear clothes that are made from two different fabrics (ie cotton/polyester mixes).

If you are going to quote Levitical law about tattoos, then you should also be making sure you're doing the rest of this too.



Sasch

 

[intricatic]

So you follow all the levitical laws as well?

If you're going to follow that one about tattoos, then you should be following these as well:

* sacrifice the left over portions of your meal to God, before the 3rd day

* don't eat meat with blood still in it (so you'd have to be eating everything 'very well done')

* grow your hair long, and keep a beard

* never said something bad about your parents

* never sleep with your wife during her period, and send her out to be purified for a week after

* if you have a bodily discharge during the day, you may not touch anyone until you have cleaned yourself. Same if you have acne.

* do not wear clothes that are made from two different fabrics (ie cotton/polyester mixes).

If you are going to quote Levitical law about tattoos, then you should also be making sure you're doing the rest of this too.



Sasch

Well, I think that specific Levitical law is good. I mean, afterall, I hardly think that being branded as a rite to a pagan god would be wise for a Christian. But, provided that you're not doing it for worship of a pagan god, I see no reason to think that it's unbiblical.

 

[plum]

Sherri - do you wear polycotton shirts? Rayon-elastane skirts? Wool-nylon jumpers?

I want to point out two common misconceptions about some of the mitzvot (commands) in the Torah.

1) to call it the "levitical law" means it was for the tribe of Levi, the Levites. So unless you're part of that tribe, what you follow is not "the Levitical Law"... I really don't understand why people use this title since it's never used in the entire Bible anyway.

2) the commandment about mixed fabrics does not mean you cannot wear cotton polyester blends. It means you cannot wear flax linen and sheep wool together. That's it. This specific combination is called "shatnez" and is the only combination G-d did not want some people wearing because it was set aside for a certain purpose for the priests, I believe.

This is one of those popular misunderstandings that comes from a lot of here-say. So yeah, even the Jews could wear cotton poly blends if they existed at the time.

Just wanted to clear that up since it's kinda... frustrating to hear it misunderstood so widely.


you can get back to that "if you believe tatts are bad then you should stone your brother" type arguments now

 

[sherri]

I still stick to the statement that God doesn't make up laws because he's bored. Every law he instates is there for a purpose. Although some laws obviously don't apply to the new covenant - I would prefer to keep a law that I know God set unless I know for sure the original reason he put it in place is no longer relevent; because I believe he makes every law he does for a reason and all his laws are 'perfect, just and good' as the bible states. And I can't see any reason why this law particular would no longer apply.


Intricatic - I've never heard that one about this scripture being specificly about branding yourself for a particular god, and I can't find it in the scriptures around it. Do you have a reference for that as I would be interested in having a look. Thanks

 

[intricatic]

I still stick to the statement that God doesn't make up laws because he's bored. Every law he instates is there for a purpose. Although some laws obviously don't apply to the new covenant - I would prefer to keep a law that I know God set unless I know for sure the original reason he put it in place is no longer relevent; because I believe he makes every law he does for a reason and all his laws are 'perfect, just and good' as the bible states. And I can't see any reason why this law particular would no longer apply.


Intricatic - I've never heard that one about this scripture being specificly about branding yourself for a particular god, and I can't find it in the scriptures around it. Do you have a reference for that as I would be interested in having a look. Thanks

You have to look into the customs of the cultures involved to get a clear picture of the idea. In ancient times, tattoos [more commonly, branding] were symbols of devotion to pagan gods.

"Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord."

When you consider this verse, what do you think 'marks for the dead' refers to? I always found that kind of curious. I liked this article as it works into the cultural themes of the days when Leviticus was writen: http://christianteens.about.com/cs/christianadvice/a/tattoo.htm

The book of Leviticus contained several laws that were made to keep the children of Israel healthy and holy for God. Tattoos in those days were extremely dangerous and could result in injury, disease, or death. The verse also is referring to a pagan ritual of putting tattoo marks on oneself for the dead, in order to protect oneself from the spirit world and the wrath of other gods.

Of course, this is no longer the case. 90% of people don't go to a tattoo parlor to get a tattoo for the protection of some esoteric god. Nor is it anywhere near as dangerous anymore.

 

[Irascible]

Although some laws obviously don't apply to the new covenant - I would prefer to keep a law that I know God set unless I know for sure the original reason he put it in place is no longer relevent

Sounds right to me. While we have been freed from the law the Holy Spirit never instructs us to do anything contrary to it. Christ's fulfillment of the law released us from some Old Testament practices. But as for the rest: If the Ten Commandments still apply then it stands to reason that many others do as well.

Personally I look at tattoos in light of the New Testament. In the OT God gave specific instructions on how His temple was to be built. In the NT we are now the temple. The plan for that temple was laid out in DNA. I've never heard of a tattoo gene. Those plans have been corrupted by sin. So it's entirely proper that we pursue ethical medical science to restore what was lost. But that's a far cry from permanently altering the body for fashion's sake.

Having said that, I don't put tattoos or people that have them on some lower level as Christians. Any habit or practice that is blatantly destructive to the temple is sinful. Tattoos, morbid obesity, fornication, slothfulness, drug addiction, smoking and the like are all sins against the body.