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Tattoos

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Phoenix92885

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So I'm curious about what others on here think of tattoos. I'll tell you now that I do have one tattoo and plan on getting some others. I know some believe it's a sin to get a tattoo and others do not. I have heard from a pastor before that Jesus himself has a tattoo (or will have a tattoo) In the book of Revelations it says something about Jesus having words on his thiegh. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

So tattoos. For it? Against it? Is it or is it not a sin? Discuss

Phoenix
 
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Amber the Duskbringer

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I don't think it's a sin then again I have no idea where it would be located in the bible. Anyway, I want to get a tattoo myself on my shoulder, a paw print if I can with my alt name under it. Also wanna get a tattoo on my lower back with some design I'll scribble up later :3 I will have it wrap around to the front. I would also like to get one just above my breast under the bra :3 dunno what that'll be yet :3

So ya I am all for ink
 
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ElizabethGould

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I think for the Christian it will ultimately be a question of conscience. There are those who choose tattoos for immoral reasons (such as gang signs) and those who use body art as a form of showing their devotion.

The typical verse of Leviticus that gets trotted out is based on faulty logic- that particular verse of the Bible is ceremonial law, which as we know was abolished by Jesus' coming as He fufilled the goal of those Laws, whilst the other rules on morality were not abolished and remain within Christian belief and practice.

On the pro-tattoo side, there are those who argue that with the pain of a tattoo, particularly if it is a religiously themed one, could be considered a form of devotion. Others see tattoos as a positive way to assert their Christian faith in a permanent way.

On the anti-tattoo side are the arguments that tattoos are a misuse of the body given to us by God, and that because we are created in His image, we should be careful not to do anything that will ultimately upset or change this.

I personally believe it is entirely up to the person themselves, but that it should be well-thought out before being done.

I personally plan to get tattoos at some time in the future, likely something in Greek from the Bible.
 
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Lord Herdsetk

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Well considering that Phillip baptized a eunuch in Acts, I don't think tattoos are inherently bad. Phillip, a Jewish man who raised to look down upon people who had thrown away their sexuality by castrating themselves, baptized and befriended a eunuch.

Now, you read that in the Bible, and then worry about getting a picture of something personal or meaningful engraved on your skin? Which is really worse, and does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? I probably used an extreme example, but my point remains, I don't think tattoos are bad. Its what you do with them that matters.

For the record I have a friend who has a tattoo of a cross on her left wrist. She's one of the nicest people you could ever meet.
 
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Sketcher

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Acts 15 tells it all. If you're not Jewish, getting a tattoo isn't a sin. Of course, that isn't to say that getting a tattoo is a good idea. I personally don't like them because they're overdone, and for the most part, they don't look very good.
 
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Matariki

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I have tattoos, for me they are an expression of character. I don't see them as evil, I portray them as art. I have one on my forearm which inspires me and others around me including non Christians, its 2 Timothy 1:7. In a way, its a silent testimony and sometimes thats the best way to talk about God and the bible. I believe that tattoos can be God glorifying.

So yes, go get a tattoo (if you want to) and enjoy it.
 
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chaoticfirefly

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I don't find anything wrong with tattoos, as someone said before me, as long as it's done tastefully and not something inappropriate.

All three of my brothers have a cross on their shoulders, two of them with dog tags around said crosses as a sign that they are soldiers and that they are Christians. And my other brother has praying hands with the cross.

I plan on getting 'Faith, Hope, Love' tattooed around my upper arm in Greek around my upper arm...
 
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explodingboy

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Phoenix92885 said:
I have heard from a pastor before that Jesus himself has a tattoo (or will have a tattoo) In the book of Revelations it says something about Jesus having words on his thiegh.
Click to expand...

Not to be rude, but surely revelations is the worst place to start such a discussion, I'll admit I'm rusty on the description, but I seem to recall swords protruding from the face, and all sort of descriptive language that can only really relate to a bad acid trip.

As to Tattoo's depends how old school your thinking, Deuteronomy is pretty clear on the no-no, as it was seen as a pagan practice. New testament, don't believe it comes up at all.

In regards to my worldly opinion, a good tattoo can be a work of art, a bad tattoo... is little more than a bumper sticker for people (anything mostly text is almost always guilty of this. That and maybe it's me getting old, but I can rarely make heads or tails of that swirly script it's always done in.. for no obvious reason but to be pretentious.)
 
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elenore

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Lev 19:28 "'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

The reason I've never had peace about this one being an absolute is because of the word 'or' in the middle and the context.

It could mean - you must not make cuts or tattoos on your flesh for the dead.

Or - you must not make cuts in your flesh for the dead, or get any tattoos.

I don't know enough about hebrew to know for sure. Nor do I have access (or the knowledge) to the tools to find out.
From the context - the verse structures. It seems to be one verse mostly covering one subject in that area of scripture. Which makes me lean towards the first more then the second.

I've prayed about it, and I feel that God has given the all clear, that it is in regards to remembering the dead (and I could see why he would say that.) It would also make more sense, since there isn't anything inheritantly wrong that I can see in getting a tattoo. Many tattoos have pretty ungodly messages, but in our culture they've been seen as a sign of rebellion in the past and traditionally.
Toxic inks and the risk of infection to blood diseases aside - I can't see how it would be a sin, and God doesn't make up laws because he gets bored. He has a reason for everything he does.

I would pray about it first though.
 
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elenore

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PPS. I've always been against them in the past (although I was honest enough to admit I couldn't prove that scripture either way) which is why it's so important to pray.

Even if I'm wrong about Gods leading, he doesn't judge you for mistakes, and I'm sure he'd stop me before I did it if it wasn't him.

I also never liked them because I've seen so many ugly ones. And it can make people look a bit thuggy. But not always. Some are quite beautiful.

I think it can be used to commerate something really special, and some are just artworks. (But on beautiful, unblemished skin, it can make you cringe a bit sometimes. Like someones just graffitied across a beautiful surface.) Our bodies are the temple of the holy spirit, and some people have nicer ones then others. On a really good looking person - it can almost be like sacrilege.
 
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