Tattoos

[CapitalLancer]

I dont mind tats as long as they arent prominent, though I would never get one myself, simply based on the premise that it would be permanent. I don't mind a few piercings either, just not alot. Ones like a nose stud... <3 <3<3...

 

[sherri]

ok - just to throw another concept in the ring. There were several cases of people getting aids from tatoos from tatoo parlours not steralising their needles properly. I don't know how many cases were reported but it was quite a few.

If people got aids from that - how many 1000's just got generic veneral diseases the same way. AIDS is the only one that the media focused on because it's deadly. For a bunch of people to get AIDS then there must have been a heck of a lot more who got the others.

On top of that. If tatoos are completely innocent, has anyone ever wondered why in your average tattoo parlour, around 85% of the images are either derogative of women or have demonic themes?

 

[intricatic]

ok - just to throw another concept in the ring. There were several cases of people getting aids from tatoos from tatoo parlours not steralising their needles properly. I don't know how many cases were reported but it was quite a few.

If people got aids from that - how many 1000's just got generic veneral diseases the same way. AIDS is the only one that the media focused on because it's deadly. For a bunch of people to get AIDS then there must have been a heck of a lot more who got the others.

On top of that. If tatoos are completely innocent, has anyone ever wondered why in your average tattoo parlour, around 85% of the images are either derogative of women or have demonic themes?

Depends on which tattoo parlor you go to. I only go to ones that have more Christian themes anymore. But then again, I only really go for piercings.

http://www.tattooartist.com/health.html

 

[Doubledb]

i dont really think people should get tatoos.. to me its like dying your hair a different color or getting plastic surgery - that might sound extreme BUT i belive we should stay how God made us.

with that said i wouldnt ever judge someone who had tatoos before they were a christian (since they werent even following Jesus then) - and i wouldnt judge anyone who had tatoos - i would discourage it but seriously.. after you get a tatoo there is no way to get it off... are you gonna hate someone for a choice they made once... i dont think one should ever do that.

 

[intricatic]

When you go to the CDC and read their latest issue for HCV and related diseases, they don't even mention tattoos in the list of transmission methods. Except to mention that there is no corelation between most healthservice work including tattooing, to venereal diseases..

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr4719.PDF

 

[Irascible]

I understand that you were addressing the safety issue. But to make a case based on that issue is to knock down a straw horse. A lot of otherwise bad behaviors can be made safe by the world's standards.

If you are a Bible believing Christian then you understand that we are called to a higher standard. The standard for the temple was spelled out in exacting detail in the OT. The standard for our human temples is spelled out pretty clearly too in DNA. Tattoos, sexual perversion, drugs that are gateways to hardcore addiction and the like didn't make the cut.

Alleging legalism is a diversionary argument. As Paul says, many things are allowed but that doesn't make them beneficial. Even if a tattoo is allowable, clearly it is not beneficial. It affects your testimony and is a stumbling block for your brother. Not engaging in that which you know is a stumbling block is also a Biblical command. Or is that command just more quaint Biblical legalism? I think not.

 

[patienceisavirtue]

I don't get how tatoos affect your testimony and are a stumbling block for your brother ... I can see how this is POSSIBLE... but is this always the case? I can't agree with that...

 

[Irascible]

I don't get how tatoos affect your testimony and are a stumbling block for your brother ... I can see how this is POSSIBLE... but is this always the case? I can't agree with that...

So we are only to avoid stumbling blocks when they're always a stumbling block? Nothing is always a stumbling block. And clearly there is a LOT of division over the subject. Some Christians and non-Christians alike point to them as sin. Whether they're right or wrong, so what? It's a stumbling block that has no benefit. Why would a Christian willfully engage in something that benefits him in no way and is to the detriment of others in many ways? Such actions make no sense.

 

[intricatic]

I understand that you were addressing the safety issue. But to make a case based on that issue is to knock down a straw horse. A lot of otherwise bad behaviors can be made safe by the world's standards.

If you are a Bible believing Christian then you understand that we are called to a higher standard. The standard for the temple was spelled out in exacting detail in the OT. The standard for our human temples is spelled out pretty clearly too in DNA. Tattoos, sexual perversion, drugs that are gateways to hardcore addiction and the like didn't make the cut.

Alleging legalism is a diversionary argument. As Paul says, many things are allowed but that doesn't make them beneficial. Even if a tattoo is allowable, clearly it is not beneficial. It affects your testimony and is a stumbling block for your brother. Not engaging in that which you know is a stumbling block is also a Biblical command. Or is that command just more quaint Biblical legalism? I think not.

You have a very strict standard for what God's Temple refers to, I see it as more of a spiritual thing. I can actually have more of an impact with my testimony while having a tattoo than without, I would have thought that would be obvious.

But still, dental hygeine is just as necessary as a tattoo. It serves, mostly, to allow us our vanity. The practical applications are temporal on any account.

I'm not saying you're being legalistic, but I am saying that you are looking at a spiritual matter as a physical one.

 

[Irascible]

I am saying that you are looking at a spiritual matter as a physical one.

The spirit world and the physical world are joined at the hip.

As far as the temple goes 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is pretty clear:
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
It doesn't say that the spirit is the temple and therefore honor God with your spirit. Clearly it is the body that the Holy Spirit inhabits. Unless you studied the original text and care to debunk the translation, there's nothing to debate.

But alas there never was anything really to debate that would have been fruitful. There are those who take the Bible at its word. We may look for where human translation is flawed. And we may look for where commonly held church doctrine isn't supported by the Bible. But that's about it. We definitely have different paths when it comes to Bible study.

 

[intricatic]

The spirit world and the physical world are joined at the hip.

As far as the temple goes 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is pretty clear:
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
It doesn't say that the spirit is the temple and therefore honor God with your spirit. Clearly it is the body that the Holy Spirit inhabits. Unless you studied the original text and care to debunk the translation, there's nothing to debate.

But alas there never was anything really to debate that would have been fruitful. There are those who take the Bible at its word. We may look for where human translation is flawed. And we may look for where commonly held church doctrine isn't supported by the Bible. But that's about it. We definitely have different paths when it comes to Bible study.

Well, I'm glad you're not judgemental at all about these things, and I can tell you have much experience to speak from.

The two spectrums are joined, but at the same time, the spiritual is a different thing from the physical. This holier-than-thou attitude never got anyone anywhere, other than spiritual pride.

Anyhow, this takes us right back to where I was before we started our conversation here.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

The reason that tattoos and branding were prohibited via OT law was because it was dangerous, and often spread diseases. The perspective taken in the NT was through the lense of that knowledge. Do you not consider tattoos to honor God?

 

[Irascible]

The body is the Holy Spirit's temple. The text is unambiguous about that. Christ commanded us to obey man's law except when they conflict with God's. There's no wiggle room there either. If that's prideful judgementalism in your eyes then so be it. But your argument is with the Holy Spirit. In His hands I leave you.

 

[intricatic]

The body is the Holy Spirit's temple. The text is unambiguous about that. Christ commanded us to obey man's law except when they conflict with God's. There's no wiggle room there either. If that's prideful judgementalism in your eyes then so be it. But your argument is with the Holy Spirit. In His hands I leave you.

I've had no argument with the Holy Spirit.

Besides, the text is ambiguous about the dirrect meaning implied. One could see it as saying the body should be cared for and not harmed. You could also argue that tattoos do not harm the body since the health risks are greatly removed in modern tattoo arts.

You could also look at it as saying that the body is the temple of the soul, which dwells with God. The things we do to our souls dirrectly effect the relationship between us and God.

Either way, both of those things do not speak towards tattoos in any sense.

 

[patienceisavirtue]

So we are only to avoid stumbling blocks when they're always a stumbling block? Nothing is always a stumbling block. And clearly there is a LOT of division over the subject. Some Christians and non-Christians alike point to them as sin. Whether they're right or wrong, so what? It's a stumbling block that has no benefit. Why would a Christian willfully engage in something that benefits him in no way and is to the detriment of others in many ways? Such actions make no sense.

Seems like you have a pretty strict point of view. I can see how having a tattoo could be a stumbling block, depending upon the content of the tattoo. In other cases, I think it could actually be a GOOD thing. What's wrong with a tattoo that shows the world your love for Jesus? A tattoo is just a way to express yourself, just like the way you dress or the way you wear your hair. Sure, there are stumbling ways to go about it -- dressing in skimpy clothing would serve to stumble others, but there are perfectly good and wholesome ways of dressing as well. I think the same applies for tattoos.

 

[intricatic]

Seems like you have a pretty strict point of view. I can see how having a tattoo could be a stumbling block, depending upon the content of the tattoo. In other cases, I think it could actually be a GOOD thing. What's wrong with a tattoo that shows the world your love for Jesus? A tattoo is just a way to express yourself, just like the way you dress or the way you wear your hair. Sure, there are stumbling ways to go about it -- dressing in skimpy clothing would serve to stumble others, but there are perfectly good and wholesome ways of dressing as well. I think the same applies for tattoos.

Thank you.

 

[sherri]

The bible says 'obey the laws of the land'.

You're claiming (and please don't think i"m attacking you here because I'm not - I'm simply disagreeing with your post )

that a) tatoos don't spread venerial diseases, when I mentioned in my post a scare in the national papers that traced aids (several cases) directly to it.

 

[God Child]

I personally would never get a tatoo. in my mind, my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and a tattoo seems like grafitti Not too mention, idk if i would want it in 20 years

 

[Audiomechanic]

Seems like you have a pretty strict point of view. I can see how having a tattoo could be a stumbling block, depending upon the content of the tattoo. In other cases, I think it could actually be a GOOD thing. What's wrong with a tattoo that shows the world your love for Jesus? A tattoo is just a way to express yourself, just like the way you dress or the way you wear your hair. Sure, there are stumbling ways to go about it -- dressing in skimpy clothing would serve to stumble others, but there are perfectly good and wholesome ways of dressing as well. I think the same applies for tattoos.

Getting a tatoo and dressing is skimpy clothing have one fundemental difference: perminence. You can change your clothes. Once a tat is on your skin, it's there for life. Even if you have it "removed," a scar is still left.

1st Chorinthians is pretty clear. Do you not agree that God's judgment is perfect? Do you not agree that human judgement is flawed? Ok, follow me on this. God created each and every one of us in HIS image. He created us with specific trates, with specific characteristics that make us unique. God marvels in His magnificance at every piece of work that he produces.

Since God's judgement is perfect, do you not agree that at birth, we already include all of the physical characteristics that God so desired for us to have? Therefore, thinking of yourself as a blank canvas is flawed judgement because God thinks of you as his completed physical work at birth (besides the growing part ).

 

[Audiomechanic]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

[BIBLE]Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.[/BIBLE]

One other thing that I would like to expand on is whats bold and underline above. Pretty clear to me. Your body does not belong to you to do as you want with it, but to take care of it. Keep it healthy. If I gave a friend a car to use for a specific purpose, I wouldn't appreaciate if my friend brought that car back to me spray painted, holes put in it, oil not changed, etc.

 

[intricatic]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

[bible]Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.[/bible]

One other thing that I would like to expand on is whats bold and underline above. Pretty clear to me. Your body does not belong to you to do as you want with it, but to take care of it. Keep it healthy. If I gave a friend a car to use for a specific purpose, I wouldn't appreaciate if my friend brought that car back to me spray painted, holes put in it, oil not changed, etc.

Perhaps you should start living a puritan life and not taking any artificial chemicals, or exposing yourself to UV rays of the sun, then.