Tattoos

[faroukfarouk]

Some Christians get faith based tattoos with the specific desire to honor God in witness.

 

[Alithis]

Some Christians would look at it from the point of view of using the skin for a purpose to glorify God. My wife and I talked to a young lady with John 3.16 inked on her wrist area. It was her favorite verse and mine, too. I'm sure other conversations with ppl have resulted also.

lets be honest here .. for many months now..for the most part only a single individual is ever saying such things across CF .so i'm not sure who the "some" are your referring to .

again it is not about law or rule but precepts and love

God has displayed through his word that tattoos are not commissioned by Him and they displease him .
so it stands to reason that we who claim to love him would align ourselves to do what pleases him ..not what displeases him .

many do many good things for wrong motives .. like king Saul who did the good thing of sacrificing bulls to the lord .. but he did so to make up for the truth that he had ignored Gods instructions ..
a "motive" does not automatically excuse an error .
an admitting of the error and asking forgiveness (repenting) will right the situation .

oh that we all would seek the lord to hear and obey him in all things at all times .
and if we really feel to advertise our faith in written words .., as some one else pointed out ,... we can get a T-shirt printed

 

[faroukfarouk]

lets be honest here .. for many months now..for the most part only a single individual is ever saying such things across CF .so i'm not sure who the "some" are your referring to .

again it is not about law or rule but precepts and love

God has displayed through his word that tattoos are not commissioned by Him and they displease him .
so it stands to reason that we who claim to love him would align ourselves to do what pleases him ..not what displeases him .

many do many good things for wrong motives .. like king Saul who did the good thing of sacrificing bulls to the lord .. but he did so to make up for the truth that he had ignored Gods instructions ..
a "motive" does not automatically excuse an error .
an admitting of the error and asking forgiveness (repenting) will right the situation .

oh that we all would seek the lord to hear and obey him in all things at all times .
and if we really feel to advertise our faith in written words .., as some one else pointed out ,... we can get a T-shirt printed

Do you deny that many Christians have faith based tattoos which lead to conversations with people? (It's true in any case.)

Then, assuming hypothetically that those whom you seem to deny exist, do exist after all, on the grounds alone of their faith based tattoos do you deny their piety? (I'm sorry; the facts speak for themselves.)

Blessings.

 

[Fallior]

I can understand what you are saying in the first post on page 3, but at the same time God has asked us to glorify him in specific ways, and he never once mentioned tattoos as a way he wishes us to glorify him. Would you intentionally get a tattoo of your spouse's face even if they asked you not to because you love them so much? Probably not, because you would respect their wishes, correct? Why would you do that to God?

 

[Alithis]

I can understand what you are saying in the first post on page 3, but at the same time God has asked us to glorify him in specific ways, and he never once mentioned tattoos as a way he wishes us to glorify him. Would you intentionally get a tattoo of your spouse's face even if they asked you not to because you love them so much? Probably not, because you would respect their wishes, correct? Why would you do that to God?

its so simple isn't it glorify God the way in which His will directs ..not my will lord but THINE be done .

 

[faroukfarouk]

I can understand what you are saying in the first post on page 3, but at the same time God has asked us to glorify him in specific ways, and he never once mentioned tattoos as a way he wishes us to glorify him. Would you intentionally get a tattoo of your spouse's face even if they asked you not to because you love them so much? Probably not, because you would respect their wishes, correct? Why would you do that to God?

I think you are referring to the words: "Some Christians get faith based tattoos with the specific desire to honor God in witness."

Seeing as we cannot see other people's hearts, there is a sense in which Romans 14 Christian liberty now applies to New Testament believers who presumably are not under the law, but under grace in this Gospel era.

 

[Alithis]

and since we are under grace ,in love and gratitude towards him we do that which pleases the lord ..not that which he has declared displeases him .
tattoos are not pleasing to the lord ..the precepts of God are declared in the holy script which is inspired by the Spirit of God .

 

[faroukfarouk]

and since we are under grace ,in love and gratitude towards him we do that which pleases the lord ..not that which he has declared displeases him .
tattoos are not pleasing to the lord ..the precepts of God are declared in the holy script which is inspired by the Spirit of God .

Do preachers shave? (see the preceding verse in Leviticus prior to the 'cutting for the dead' verse.)

Are you going to beat up every preacher that shaves, with the same vehemence that you beat up (metaphorically) Christians with a cross or Bible verse inked on their wrists?

 

[Alithis]

Do preachers shave? (see the preceding verse in Leviticus prior to the 'cutting for the dead' verse.)

Are you going to beat up every preacher that shaves, with the same vehemence that you beat up (metaphorically) Christians with a cross or Bible verse inked on their wrists?

should we sleep with daughters?no .. but why not ?we are not under the law- .. because its flesh, carnal ,sinful and displeasing to God .
do you realize it was cutting the beard to mimic the shape of the moon as a form of worship of celestial bodies ..ie sun and moon . and nothing to do with having a shave to appear clean and tidy .
our personal carnal preference does not and cannot cancel the righteous precepts and principles of God . no where does the word of God direct any one to get a tattoo ..its only direct unambiguous mention is God declaring hes opposed to it .. accept it .It has nothing to do with life in the Holy Spirit .

 

[faroukfarouk]

... nothing to do with having a shave to appear clean and tidy .
...

Do you really think that Old Testament Jews shaved daily?

Do you think I am an Old Testament Jew?

 

[Alithis]

do you think im going to be so easily distrated from the direct topic ?
there simply is no defense for promoting an activity that god has declared is displeasing to him.
I reiterate .its not about rules and laws ..its about love and love does not seek to please itself. but the one whom it claims to love that is who it seeks to please .

 

[faroukfarouk]

do you think im going to be so easily distrated from the direct topic ?
there simply is no defense for promoting an activity that god has declared is displeasing to him.
I reiterate .its not about rules and laws ..its about love and love does not seek to please itself. but the one whom it claims to love that is who it seeks to please .

Some Christians would even say that love for the Lord is their motive for getting faith based tattoos.

In other words they would share your basic view although come to the opposite conclusion.

 

[Alithis]

But you cant speak for some others and as others on this very thread
have said ..do we do what the one we love has told us displeases them?
Of course not. Thats not love .

 

[faroukfarouk]

Motive does count for something.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Never heard of a problem with people having tattoos in the Pentecostal church. I have been to 3 Pentecostal churches. God bless.

I don't think Pentecostal churches tend to be as strong on restrictive dress codes as some churches. My guess is that they would try to make a young woman welcome whether or not she happened to be tattooed.

 

[bushinoki]

To the OP, if there's nothing indecent about the tattoos, I see no reason to worry. In fact, if you are dressed decently, and members of the church in question are making a fuss about you having some art, I wouldn't bother going back.

I already have two, and I'm planning at least one more, though I haven't decided exactly what form it's going to take, although I'm leaning toward "Faith, Hope, Love" in Japanese. I feel no conviction whatsoever over getting another tattoo.

For those throwing the Leviticus verse out there, that is more ceremonial law, applying to the Israelites, and part of the prohibition on pagan worship. I'm not doing anything that is pagan in nature, especially not in the modern sense, as there aren't that many groups that actually use tattoos to mark their priesthood anymore (some Hindu sects are the only ones I can think of). Since I'm trying to convey a message, and not elevate myself as an elite priest/magus, I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.

 

[faroukfarouk]

To the OP, if there's nothing indecent about the tattoos, I see no reason to worry. In fact, if you are dressed decently, and members of the church in question are making a fuss about you having some art, I wouldn't bother going back.

I already have two, and I'm planning at least one more, though I haven't decided exactly what form it's going to take, although I'm leaning toward "Faith, Hope, Love" in Japanese. I feel no conviction whatsoever over getting another tattoo.

For those throwing the Leviticus verse out there, that is more ceremonial law, applying to the Israelites, and part of the prohibition on pagan worship. I'm not doing anything that is pagan in nature, especially not in the modern sense, as there aren't that many groups that actually use tattoos to mark their priesthood anymore (some Hindu sects are the only ones I can think of). Since I'm trying to convey a message, and not elevate myself as an elite priest/magus, I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.

So are you looking forward to testifying to Japanese people via your next tattoo?

Many Christians find faith based tattoos to be effective in witness conversations. (I think very few churches would turn people away with tattoos.)

 

[bushinoki]

farouk, predominantly yes, upon completion of my Biblical Studies degree, I will be going to Japan as a missionary. It does also make great conversation starters, especially when people find out I do know a fair amount of Japanese.

 

[faroukfarouk]

farouk, predominantly yes, upon completion of my Biblical Studies degree, I will be going to Japan as a missionary. It does also make great conversation starters, especially when people find out I do know a fair amount of Japanese.

Interesting! so are either of your current tattoos faith based also, and if so, do you already get into witness conversations with them?

(All I can say in Japanese is: "Nihon-go ka wakarimasen." )

Blessings.

 

[bushinoki]

Not so much faith-based, but personal history based. One is already in Japanese, I got Amerika-no-Heishi in kana/kanji (American Soldier). I was originally planning on Pro Deo et Patria on my right arm, then I was thinking maybe Kami-sama to Kokoku no tabe ni (literally, for the sake of God and Country), and I've been leaning toward dropping the patriotic reference in favor of a more faith based approach, having done my time and ready to be done. Beside, (needing to check my conjugation) Shinje, Kibou and Ai are all single kanji, the more patriotice phrase is almost a full sentence.