Wanting a Tattoo

[Terene]

Do you eat kosher, honor the Sabbath (sundown Friday - sundown Saturday), avoid clothing made of blended materials, do a mikvah bath after your period, and keep the rest of the Law? Or not? Because if you're saying the Law is for Christians, that's what you have to do. You would also be running afoul of what the Holy Spirit told the believers in Acts 15, and what he spoke through Paul in Galatians 5.

You have totally misunderstood what I am saying when I refer to the Law. I am talking about the spiritual Law of God that Christ came not to abolish but to fulfill. Honoring the Sabbath carries a spiritual meaning behind it and thus ought to be obeyed in the spiritual sense. As for the clothing, mikvah vath and so on, they are God's commands to the Israelites to purify themselves as Christ has not yet come. But these are physical manifestations of what is going to come, and true purification came when Christ died for us on the Cross and shed blood for us. This is spiritual and not physical.

I have not run afoul of what the Holy Spirit said. I never forced anyone to go for circumcision as mentioned in Acts 15 and Galatians 5. I never forced anyone to carry a yoke upon their neck. All I'm saying is: Avoid evil and obey God. Tattooing is evil in its essence and God has clearly forbidden it even in the OT because it is spiritually evil and can lead us astray from God. The same pagan roots in old forms of tattooing have not changed in modern times. All tattoos (ancient or modern) are works of the devil and those who partake in them make themselves spiritual children of the devil. This is the truth I am saying. Freedom in Christ is freedom to obey Him and love Him, not freedom to go around chasing after our own sinful desires. Those who truly love God obey Him, and those who don't obey Him are not His children.

 

[Sketcher]

Tattooing is evil in its essence and God has clearly forbidden it even in the OT because it is spiritually evil and can lead us astray from God. The same pagan roots in old forms of tattooing have not changed in modern times. All tattoos (ancient or modern) are works of the devil and those who partake in them make themselves spiritual children of the devil.

The ban on tattooing was for Israel to keep itself different from the surrounding nations. Read Acts 15 and tell me where it says tattoos are banned. Since you won't find it in there, you don't have a good case for saying Christians shouldn't get any tattoos. It's just ink in skin, and no worse than a poor decision.

 

[Terene]

The ban on tattooing was for Israel to keep itself different from the surrounding nations. Read Acts 15 and tell me where it says tattoos are banned. Since you won't find it in there, you don't have a good case for saying Christians shouldn't get any tattoos. It's just ink in skin, and no worse than a poor decision.

Why do you not understand my words? I said that tattooing is spiritually evil and its essence is the same and has not changed since the time of ancient Israel. In the olden times tattooing is spiritually evil, so is it today. You cannot consciously go for a tattoo and deny that it has spiritual connotations to it. The fact is that it has spiritual evil, and unless you want to become a partaker of its evil, you would AVOID it.

 

[Sketcher]

Why do you not understand my words? I said that tattooing is spiritually evil and its essence is the same and has not changed since the time of ancient Israel. In the olden times tattooing is spiritually evil, so is it today. You cannot consciously go for a tattoo and deny that it has spiritual connotations to it. The fact is that it has spiritual evil, and unless you want to become a partaker of its evil, you would AVOID it.

On what Biblical basis is getting a tattoo spiritually evil? God told Israel not to get tattoos in order to keep them separate from their neighbors.

 

[arj1981]

On what Biblical basis is getting a tattoo spiritually evil? God told Israel not to get tattoos in order to keep them separate from their neighbors.

u just listed one principle. the main one in fact.

 

[Terene]

On what Biblical basis is getting a tattoo spiritually evil? God told Israel not to get tattoos in order to keep them separate from their neighbors.

Maybe you can examine the Word yourself and pray to God why He forbade tattooing during ancient times? Is it not obvious to you that God is telling Israel not to tattoo like their neighbors because tattooing is an evil practice done by their neighbors? I am not going to argue with you. Either you will accept the truth, or you will not.

 

[arj1981]

Maybe you can examine the Word yourself and pray to God why He forbade tattooing during ancient times? Is it not obvious to you that God is telling Israel not to tattoo like their neighbors because tattooing is an evil practice done by their neighbors? I am not going to argue with you. Either you will accept the truth, or you will not.

exactly.

 

[Sketcher]

Maybe you can examine the Word yourself and pray to God why He forbade tattooing during ancient times? Is it not obvious to you that God is telling Israel not to tattoo like their neighbors because tattooing is an evil practice done by their neighbors? I am not going to argue with you. Either you will accept the truth, or you will not.

It was forbidden because the Israelites were surrounded by pagan nations that practiced it, and God knew that they needed to be set apart in order to keep them away from the actual evil practices of their neighbors. That's the context, that's the order. As a Gentile believer, it was never intended for me.

 

[wayfaring man]

The New Testament teaches that we should abstain from emphasizing "outward adornment", for the sake of emphasizing "the inward".

And clearly, inking up one's flesh is an act of outward adorning.

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. <-----> 1st Peter 3:3

This was directed specifically towards women, because women were/are more prone to engage in outward adornment...but the principle is true for both men and women, as it is mentioned elsewhere also.

But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, <-----> Matthew 23:5

Another verse stressing the inward over the outward -

For as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. <-----> 2nd Corinthians 3:3

And yes, this principle also includes disesteeming the practice of giving oneself over to things like wearing jewelry, makeup, hair color, trendy clothes or faddish styles of dress, etc.

May The Lord Be Pleased !

wm

 

[Terene]

It was forbidden because the Israelites were surrounded by pagan nations that practiced it, and God knew that they needed to be set apart in order to keep them away from the actual evil practices of their neighbors. That's the context, that's the order. As a Gentile believer, it was never intended for me.

You just won't admit that it is evil, would you? May the Lord judge here whether what I speak is right. EVERYTHING that the pagan countries did were in essence spiritually evil, and this INCLUDED tattooing. The Lord forbade Israel to partake in such evil practice like tattooing, because Israel was His chosen people. By saying that it doesn't apply to you, you yourself admit that you are not God's chosen. Now think what are the consequences of you coming to such a conclusion about yourself. Only those chosen by God will inherit eternal life, not false professors of Lord Yeshua who show no love for God by their disobedience.

Do you not fear God when you try to deny the evil of tattooing and make it an occasion for stumbling to many true children of God?

 

[jcp988]

Please read my earlier posts brother, and don't come to conclusions so quickly. If you really think that tattooing today is not like in the ancient times, you ought to think carefully again.

Many modern religions came from ancient religions that were also false. Do you mean to say that we can now go after these religions because they are different from the ancient religions that they originated from? Clearly not. Pagan worship is not a modern invention, but a religion that could well be traced to the time when God forbade idolatry. The same applies to modern tattooing, its roots are evil and has not changed.

If what you said is indeed true, your church needs to REPENT and so do you and all those who have partaken in such evil. Please, why are you risking your salvation for a tattoing that has no other benefits but instead expose you to health problems like AIDS, Hepatitis and so on? Even these health risks should have shunned you away, not to say that God Himself forbade us from tattooing ourselves!

My brother you are so off. If you want to go by that logic well we can't celebrate Christmas and Easter because both of those were originally pagan holidays. And really evil ones at that! That is a faulty logic.

Please brother, do not accuse me of sinning! I have not and I have no need to repent! (Atleast not for my tattoos) You should check your facts too, getting a tattoo from a sterile and clean place is perfectly safe! I do not appreciate what you are saying and how you are saying it. What you are saying is out of legalism not love. With an ounce of contextual study of the Bible it is easy to see that modern tattoos are not forbidden! I am in no way "risking" my salvation! I do not serve a God that is petty about things, especially since my tattoos are about Him!

Please stop my friend... You are only hurting the body of Christ by making these accusations. I know hundreds of young men and women going into full time ministry that tattoos... And you know what? They love Jesus so much, they would give up everything in pursuit of Him... They are doing great things for God's Kingdom. All this with Tattoos.

 

[arj1981]

You just won't admit that it is evil, would you? May the Lord judge here whether what I speak is right. EVERYTHING that the pagan countries did were in essence spiritually evil, and this INCLUDED tattooing. The Lord forbade Israel to partake in such evil practice like tattooing, because Israel was His chosen people. By saying that it doesn't apply to you, you yourself admit that you are not God's chosen. Now think what are the consequences of you coming to such a conclusion about yourself. Only those chosen by God will inherit eternal life, not false professors of Lord Yeshua who show no love for God by their disobedience.

Do you not fear God when you try to deny the evil of tattooing and make it an occasion for stumbling to many true children of God?

Two-Decader, I think ur gonna frustrate urself into oblivion if u don't realize something crucial here. Many people who don't put in the work like u've been doing for the past 5 years just DON'T know their BIBLES too well. It is just a lot of regurgitated gibberish that they are spittin' - I got of the phone with a caller the other day who admitted this in fact. 'AJ, I thought this was right and that was right and u were wrong! Then I went to look this stuff up in the Word of GOD and I said Holy crap I really didn't know what I was talking about this entire time! She was right and I was wrong.' That's how it typically goes, TD. It is like a late reaction or delayed response type of thing. That's what I was saying about Bella. That girl's KNOWS that pic aint right. She just doesn't want to acknowledge it in front of all of us. She'll change her mind and take it down eventually. That's what I mean about relax some. Y they keep justifying tattooing IS bc they don't know their bibles too well. They really do think that GOD is saying this stuff just applied to the Israelites. NOT to the Christians of today. I know this is incorrect but he's not making ANY of it up to be difficult. In fact it is a common misconception that MANY Christians use to justify their sins. The next line will always be well I'm saved and I'm a Christian so that means Christ loves me no matter what. That same caller I spoke of earlier, found out he was wrong about that part too and he learned this lesson the hard way. He learned later that the Lord Jesus Christ will indeed convict us for our bad behavior and actions no matter how grave or small the sin. So ur on the right path and u recognize others aren't but don't work urself up into a tissy. It will all resolve itself in time.

 

[jcp988]

Two-Decader, I think ur gonna frustrate urself into oblivion if u don't realize something crucial here. Many people who don't put in the work like u've been doing for the past 5 years just DON'T know their BIBLES too well. It is just a lot of regurgitated gibberish that they are spittin' - I got of the phone with a caller the other day who admitted this in fact. 'AJ, I thought this was right and that was right and u were wrong! Then I went to look this stuff up in the Word of GOD and I said Holy crap I really didn't know what I was talking about this entire time! She was right and I was wrong.' That's how it typically goes, TD. It is like a late reaction or delayed response type of thing. That's what I was saying about Bella. That girl's KNOWS that pic aint right. She just doesn't want to acknowledge it in front of all of us. She'll change her mind and take it down eventually. That's what I mean about relax some. Y they keep justifying tattooing IS bc they don't know their bibles too well. They really do think that GOD is saying this stuff just applied to the Israelites. NOT to the Christians of today. I know this is incorrect but he's not making ANY of it up to be difficult. In fact it is a common misconception that MANY Christians use to justify their sins. The next line will always be well I'm saved and I'm a Christian so that means Christ loves me no matter what. That same caller I spoke of earlier, found out he was wrong about that part too and he learned this lesson the hard way. He learned later that the Lord Jesus Christ will indeed convict us for our bad behavior and actions no matter how grave or small the sin. So ur on the right path and u recognize others aren't but don't work urself up into a tissy. It will all resolve itself in time.

Excuse me? That is maybe the most passive aggressive attack I've seen! Don't make assumptions about me and the others on here! You don't even know me! I have been studying the Bible both personally and academically for well over the past 5 years! Don't think for a second that I am not chasing after Jesus and His truth! You are making dangerous assumptions, and coming off like you are better then others... Careful where you walk my friend. Don't make such hard, condemning accusations about people you don't even know!

 

[arj1981]

It actually wasn't passive aggressive at all. There was NO attack either. Just stating the facts. It was meant for TD. Don't take it personal either. I wasn't just referring to Christians in this thread or on this forum. I'm talking to her about Christians she will run into in everyday life so it needed to be said bc she exhibits a lot of passion through her posts. I was giving her advice on how and why she should tone it down some. So it was addressed to her about her specific tendencies. Not so much about tattooing and whatnot bc she will come to find out these circumstances often repeat themselves.

And u can put in work, like the caller I mentioned above, but some do an exceptional job whereas others not so much (like Bella and that pic). So it is all about the quality of work I was addressing with that statement. She's of higher quality IMO bc she's 19, knows the Bible, and doesn't compromise the Word of God. Again, this girl is only 19. She's light years ahead of her time. She's not posting photos of herself online in skimpy clothing and trying to pass that off as a Christianly deed. Everyone's at different levels in their walks with Christ. So we aren't all on equal ground here so don't dismiss her credibility simply bc u can say u've been saved for 5 years too. To me, it is apparent one of u has more knowledge and wisdom than the other and age doesn't play a factor.

 

[Bella Vita]

just don't do it. u'll regret it later. I saw a gangsta with a drama faced tattoo. That's an epic fail. Or how about the girl who fell asleep in the chair and woke up with 100 stars on the side of her face.

Look at mike tyson. Those big hooped earrings. No thank u.

You are not serious I mean really?? These photos are of the most extreme cases of tattooing that go into obsession and addiction. This is not your average persons tattoo.

These are my husbands 2 tattoos this is what a normal persons tattoo experience is like...

 

[Bella Vita]

As for the picture it was a joke lighten up... =]

 

[jcp988]

You are not serious I mean really?? These photos are of the most extreme cases of tattooing that go into obsession and addiction. This is not your average persons tattoo.

These are my husbands 2 tattoos this is what a normal persons tattoo experience is like...

Agreed, the average person isn't stupid enough to do something like that. Just because somebody abuses something doesn't mean that everyone else avoids it.

BTW I dig those tattoos on your husband!

 

[arj1981]

No one is going to lighten up about that photo Bella. See what I mean JC? That post was just a reality check not an insult or a crime. Bella, u must not take anyone's feedback seriously bc we are all trying to tell u that NOTHING about the image u've posted up is a joke. This is a Christian forum. Ur actions have negatively impacted other people's faith and their walk with Christ and u continue to jeopardize their salvation intentionally. None of this is becoming of a proverbs 31 woman or a true ambassador of Christ. So JC get it? Just bc u can say u've been saved for 5 years doesn't mean u were doing a good job at it in all of that time bc Bella certainly isn't.

 

[thegospelisgoodnews]

I think every christian should conform themselves to look as much like the rest of the world as possible, since many people don't tell you tattoos are addicting and most don't stop with just one, I personally think you should go extreme and have a Jesus face tattooed right over your face, NOW THAT WOULD BE MAKING A STATEMENT! just make sure you go to a reputable tattoo parlor, dirty needles are a nasty thing these days........while your in the tattoo place you will have a great opportunity to use your God given Spiritual Discernment......look around the room does the art work reflect godliness or things of the demonic, take a look in the tattoo book what is a popular tat these days........Oh an just so you understand, demons are alot like gang members they always tag their turf!

 

[arj1981]

Lol