tattoos?

sculpturegirl · Dec 15, 2004

The thing I am concerned about is that most tatoos will look silly when you are 60.

And the rebellion thing- just ensure that it is not an act of rebellion. Honestly, I want to get my nose pierced, but at 27 what do I have to rebel against? LOL Besides my fiance is Indian and his grandmother has a nose diamond.

Oblivious · Dec 15, 2004

sculpturegirl said:
The thing I am concerned about is that most tatoos will look silly when you are 60.

I wouldn't worry. The rest of you may very well look silly too by the age of 60.

GreenDragon · Dec 15, 2004

I don't know if I'd get a tattoo, maybe a piercing though. Those you can get rid of fairly easily though

I don't see a problem with it, it's just self expression in a pretty obvious fashion. Like wearing certain kinds of clothes, only more permanent.

ahman · Dec 15, 2004

zyklzy said:
God is more concerned about the condition of our hearts. If our hearts are right then I can't see why a Christian would want a tattoo.
Until a few months ago I went through a period where I would describe myself as having been backslidden. A couple of times I was close to going out and getting (another) tattoo. When I look back at the condition my heart was in at the time I know that I was a long way from God.
Any Christian who wants to get a tattoo really needs to pray about the issue and see what God says, after all our bodies are temples of God's Spirit (1 Cor.3/16-17). Would you go and scribble graffiti over God's temple?

why would you need to pray at all?

what would you say to a person who got "WWJD" or "Jesus saved me" tattooed on them...are they rebelling, and if so, against what?

you would not grafitti God's temple, but you might spruce it up a bit, put in some curtains, a bonsai tree, and maybe some artwork. so what is the problem getting a tasteful tattoo, if in your opinion, it makes your body look better?

zyklzy · Dec 15, 2004

ahman said:
why would you need to pray at all?

what would you say to a person who got "WWJD" or "Jesus saved me" tattooed on them...are they rebelling, and if so, against what?

you would not grafitti God's temple, but you might spruce it up a bit, put in some curtains, a bonsai tree, and maybe some artwork. so what is the problem getting a tasteful tattoo, if in your opinion, it makes your body look better?

Do you ever pray? Or read the Bible? If you do then I doubt you would want a tattoo.
Tell me where in the Bible it says we are to (or permitted) tattoo our bodies? Is it not friendship with the world spoken of by Paul in 1 Cor. 3/16? Who are you trying to please, God or man?

feral · Dec 15, 2004

I don't see anything wrong with getting a tattoo, spiritually speaking. Expressing yourself through body art is no different to me then how you apply makeup or what clothes you wear. Of course, I do think you ought to give it serious thought and not just get a tattoo when you're drunk or if you're not sure about it, since it is permanent. I like tattoos when done tastefully and when they have a lot of personal meaning or significance. This summer a friend of mine and I are getting tattoos done. He is getting an original piece of art done, and I am getting Bastet, cat-woman goddess of Egypt.

ahman · Dec 15, 2004

zyklzy said:
Do you ever pray? Or read the Bible? If you do then I doubt you would want a tattoo.
Tell me where in the Bible it says we are to (or permitted) tattoo our bodies? Is it not friendship with the world spoken of by Paul in 1 Cor. 3/16? Who are you trying to please, God or man?

how about if i do pray then that's between me and God, and saying that because i don't agree with you, surely i don't, is not really going to win you many friends. you strike me as somewhat of an elitist christian here buddy.
shouldn't we welcome those of all backgrounds rather than those who fit our pristine ideals?

tell me where in the bible it says you are not permitted to, and also tell me how on earth my spirit could be affected by getting a tatoo.

it's a piece of ink in a pattern on your skin. if you get your knickers in a knot about that, i'd say that you are the one with more troubles than me.

zyklzy · Dec 15, 2004

Jesus wasn't always out to make friends, he knew some people's hearts were too hard. I'm simply here as Christ's ambassador. If they crixcified Him, then I guess I wont be too popular either.

Of the 3 questions I asked you did not answer 1!

The issue here's not tattoos is it?

GreenDragon · Dec 16, 2004

zyklzy said:
Do you ever pray? Or read the Bible? If you do then I doubt you would want a tattoo.

I don't even see the connection here. Do you go out and buy clothes? Do you do your hair in the morning? Do you brush your teeth or put on makeup?

ahman · Dec 16, 2004

ok, in answer to your questions,
i pray, i read the bible, and im trying to please both.

you must have the most pristine life in existence if you think someone with a tatoo's heart is too hard.

morningstar2651 · Dec 16, 2004

Do you ever pray? Or read the Bible? If you do then I doubt you would want a tattoo.

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

fluffy_rainbow · Dec 16, 2004

Do you ever pray? Or read the Bible? If you do then I doubt you would want a tattoo.
Tell me where in the Bible it says we are to (or permitted) tattoo our bodies? Is it not friendship with the world spoken of by Paul in 1 Cor. 3/16? Who are you trying to please, God or man?

I am pretty open about the fact that I have a tattoo. I have never been chastized by my brothers and sisters in Christ about it. I pray, read my Bible, and have a very close and intimate relationship with Christ and He doesn't car that I have a tattoo on my shoulderblade.

David McKee · Dec 29, 2004

If you want a Justification of tatoos, and a few samples of christian tatoos as such then there are a few web sites with numerous bible verses both for and against the decision. if you want a few example the message me cos i can't post the web site yet. one is called xtats
My personal oppinion is that if it serves as a reminder or strengthener then it has a great point but if you get it cos it's fashion then not so sure about it

Saturn · Dec 29, 2004

I personally have always associated body ornamentation with primitive culture, while believing that an advanced culture should be more interested in technological and scientific advancement, with little focus on the psychological purpose of body ornamentation: to attract a mate or to show social status to attract a mate.

Regards.

John832 · Dec 30, 2004

5solas said:
The Lord Jesus certainly did not nullify the law - rather He said: Mt 5,17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
The point is: one cannot get saved by observing the law.

While I understand your sentiment, I think perhaps you are proof texting this verse.

Hebrews 8 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah...This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people By calling this covenant new, he has made the first one obsolete

Romans 13 he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not covet, and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Galatians 3 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law [Mosaic].

Romans 7 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Galatians 5 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

Galatians 4:21-31 gives a wonderful word picture about the covenants. The old covenant is pictured as slavery and the new covenant is pictured as freedom.

We, as Gentiles were never under the covenant with Israel. I would further contend, based on Hebrews 8 that the covenant with Israel has been replaced with a better one (the Law of the Spirit). I think the point is rather direct why place yourself under a limited written law when you have the dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit to reveal Gods law in your life. Under the law of the spirit, we are given a pretty simple (albeit, not easy) guideline Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. In doing so, you will have lived up to all of the law and the prophets.

Trying to find regulations under a covenant we were never under is a step backwards. In my opinion, this is precisely why it is not our job to point out how well people adhere to Gods law. Christ compelled us to not look at the outside of the cup but to look inside - a direct line against religion (a system of comparable deeds). Rather he asked us to look at our own hearts and to respond to our neighbor in love.

It would be inappropriate to use Australias laws in a US courtroom (even if there is similarity). I cannot tell another person that tattoos are wrong because I am pointing them to a law system neither of us is under. I can personally believe that tattoos are wrong therefore I should not get one. What another person does should be at the compelling of the Holy Spirit if they are under the Law of the Spirit. If they ask me, I can give them my personal conviction and the reasons why but there is little basis for answering who is right and who is wrong.

It should not be overlooked that God was the author of the Mosaic Law and I tend to believe every one of the commandments had a purpose. It is wise to try and understand that purpose to see if it still holds relevance today. It is always ironic to me that people will point to Mosaic law to declare tattoos as wrong but have no problem eating shrimp (or any other unclean food).

If you were to do some study, you will find that in every instance, an unclean animal has a higher percentage of toxins in the meat than in the blood. In the case of clean animals, the blood has more toxins than the meat. Is it conceivable that God designed some animals for consumption and others as, at least in part, planet filters (if you were to dump shellfish in polluted waters, they are very effective at cleaning the water).

I personally believe it is still unwise to eat unclean animals just as it was under Mosaic Law. Perhaps some will see it as unwise to risk infection or face the permanence of a tattoo but declaring it a sin would be more difficult to defend.

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