Tattoos

[circuitrider]

Because of my fear of needles I would never get a tattoo.

I don't like needles either. But, it doesn't feel like getting poked with a needle. It feels more like a needle scratching across your skin.

 

[sunshineforJesus]

That still doesnt sound too good to me.

 

[circuitrider]

That still doesnt sound too good to me.

You probably shouldn't get a tattoo then. I was just trying to say it absolutely doesn't feel like an injection.

 

[circuitrider]

This topic seems to be slowing down. But while we are on the topic, I know at least a half a dozen pastors who have tattoos. So obviously Christians have various opinions on the topic.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

Many people have a tattoo today, so it's become mainstream. It isn't considered a sign of rebellion or creativity as much anymore.

There isn't anything the Bible that says getting a tattoo is sinful, but what type you get is. Rebellious ones are considered sinful. Tattoos as outward adornment to call attention to oneself is sinful. The motivation for getting one could be sinful such as to fit in or to stand out. If there is a message sent by the tattoo, then it could be the wrong kind and sinful. I suppose a Christian has to be mindful when getting a tattoo. In the olde days it was a pagan practice, usually based on superstition, so it may have been forbidden, but times have changed.

So why is it not a pagan practice today? There is nothing new under the sun.

 

[Lulav]

Its funny how we pick and choose what we like out of the Old Testament. Several here argue for the Old Testament prohibitions against Tattoos but I doubt would argue against wearing mix fabrics, eating shrimp, eating rare meat, etc.

Many don't understand those prohibitions that you've listed. It's not about mixed fabrics, it's about mixing animal and plant of specific kinds, linen and wool, nothing else. And there's no prohibition of eating rare meat, just not eating meat with the life blood in it. That has been a rule since Noah's time and was also given to the new Gentiles coming into the faith in Act 15, yet I don't know of any Gentile Believers that keep those few starting laws today.
What it comes down to is wither or not you believe that your God is wise enough to know what His creation is and how it functions best to be able to determine that and want it for his people.

The Church lives in the promises of grace, not the law. Unless you are consistently following all the Old Testament laws (kosher rules and all) you don't have a lot of ground to stand on in requiring people to follow a Jewish rule about tattoos.

It's not a Jewish law, it's a law of the Sovereign, Holy Creator. And the only one 'requiring it' is the one who made it. Believe me Humans would not make up these rules to follow themselves.

This topic seems to be slowing down. But while we are on the topic, I know at least a half a dozen pastors who have tattoos. So obviously Christians have various opinions on the topic.

And I know of at least a dozen who have practiced adultery while in the pulpit, so what does that say?

 

[circuitrider]

So why is it not a pagan practice today? There is nothing new under the sun.

That isn't what the author of Ecclesiastes meant. There are lots of changes in our faith since King Solomon or whoever penned those words including Jesus starting the Christian faith. Since Ecclesiastes Holy Communion is new, Baptism is new, salvation by grace through faith is new, Salvation through Jesus Christ is new.

If you want to live by the Old Covenant instead of the New Covenant you certainly can try to do that. But Paul himself taught that the law existed to teach us that we can't keep the law or be saved by it.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

That isn't what the author of Ecclesiastes meant. There are lots of changes in our faith since King Solomon or whoever penned those words including Jesus starting the Christian faith. Since Ecclesiastes Holy Communion is new, Baptism is new, salvation by grace through faith is new, Salvation through Jesus Christ is new.

If you want to live by the Old Covenant instead of the New Covenant you certainly can try to do that. But Paul himself taught that the law existed to teach us that we can't keep the law or be saved by it.

Well, sure, we are under a new covenant. But while ceremonial practices have changed, moral law never does. All biblical principles remain true. Remember, Jesus came to fulfill the law, not eliminate it. So if tattooing had anything to do with pagan practices, it is not anything I would advocate doing today (not to mention the stabbing with needles part).

 

[circuitrider]

Well, sure, we are under a new covenant. But while ceremonial practices have changed, moral law never does. All biblical principles remain true. Remember, Jesus came to fulfill the law, not eliminate it. So if tattooing had anything to do with pagan practices, it is not anything I would advocate doing today (not to mention the stabbing with needles part).

Just because a non-Christian group practiced something doesn't make it right or wrong. Non-Christians used to have bonfires in some of the celebrations. Does that mean it is now wrong to have a campfire and roast marshmallows?

"Pagans" used to have parties on December 25th to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Rather than choose to to stop all celebrations on the 25th instead the church decided to turn those celebrations into Christian celebrations. There are a number of instances of the church taking what was a cultural practice and creating a Christian practice that was on the same date or mimicked it.

It seems like American conservative Christianity has turned into the "don't do" society. Its all about what you can't do, instead of the teaching of Christ about doing good, loving others, sharing grace.

The Church wasn't created by Jesus to be the morality police. Judaism and other faiths already had plenty of moral rules, some necessary, some cultural.

(As to the stabbing of needles part, not nearly as big a deal as people without tattoos think it is.)