your thoughts about tattoos

[staceylee67]

I remember watching a story on MTV about rock stars wives. This segment was about a well tattooed rocker and how his soon-to-be father in law saw him. The well spoken rocker asked him if he had any concerns about him marrying his daughter. (What a great question!). So the FIL said "well, if I am being honest I am a little concerned about the tattoos." So the rocker said, (and this sticks with me as a lesson we should ALL LEARN about judgment), "just give me some time and get to know me. Pretty soon you won't even see them."
Wow. "PRETTY SOON YOU WON'T EVEN SEE THEM". That statement lives in my mind and serves as an example for when I start to judge someone- all be it only a quick little start in my mind.
Personally I love tattoos. I LOVE bad boys-- I married a bad boy looking Christian
I am also reminded of the time I saw a fully tattooed dude with a shaved head and clothing that seemed to scream "racist skin head". In my mind as I stood in line with my black baby, super cute of course, I wondered what kind of evil thoughts he was thinking. Here in washington I almost NEVER have a race issue with my son. Anyway- he bent over and started to make baby talk, coo and make silly faces at my baby. Part of me felt so shameful at my thoughts. I rationalized by telling myself that I was a brand new white mother to a black baby. I read books and heard stories of how I may be treated at times and how I should react. I even fully believed that NOT every bad thing that happens is because of racism- that would be rediculous and a cop out really. But WOW, what a lesson I learned.
I hate judgment. And yet I too am sometimes guilty. So my point is, knowing that a lot of people are judged by their tattoos--- let these stories be a lesson on judging a book by its cover.

 

[BeeKind]

My husband and I both have tattoos. He has flames on his right arm that took 4 separate 6 hour sittings. He got them for a very personal reason. I have a visible tattoo on my inner forearm as well as others. Neither one of us got our tattoos to be hip, cool, or anything like that. We are both in our 40's, both Christians, and I got Baptised this morning at our church we have been attending with our daughter now for 9 months.
Our church is small (60-80) each Sunday. The membership is around 60% senior citizens, 20% 30-50, and the rest are our kids. Not once have we ever been anything but fully accepted and loved by everyone there.
Lot's here seem to be passing judgement and that seems strange to me on a Christian forum. You cannot possibly look at me, see tattoos and think you know all about me can you?
Have you walked in my shoes? I didn't grow up in church, actually I was very far away from God for most of my life. But I have found Him, and today I professed my love for him publicly.
Are we not here to love one another? Let's remember who Jesus spent his time on Earth with shall we? If we had went into that church and been condemned I don't know how we would have reacted, it could have driven us away from church all together. But we were immediately shown love and mercy. Thank you Jesus for our sweet little church! Our 7 year old daughter goes around singing hymns and asking us about Jesus.
Our tattoos are wonderful conversation starters and opportunities to invite folks to church.

 

[Alithis]

My husband and I both have tattoos. He has flames on his right arm that took 4 separate 6 hour sittings. He got them for a very personal reason. I have a visible tattoo on my inner forearm as well as others. Neither one of us got our tattoos to be hip, cool, or anything like that. We are both in our 40's, both Christians, and I got Baptised this morning at our church we have been attending with our daughter now for 9 months.
Our church is small (60-80) each Sunday. The membership is around 60% senior citizens, 20% 30-50, and the rest are our kids. Not once have we ever been anything but fully accepted and loved by everyone there.
Lot's here seem to be passing judgement and that seems strange to me on a Christian forum. You cannot possibly look at me, see tattoos and think you know all about me can you?
Have you walked in my shoes? I didn't grow up in church, actually I was very far away from God for most of my life. But I have found Him, and today I professed my love for him publicly.
Are we not here to love one another? Let's remember who Jesus spent his time on Earth with shall we? If we had went into that church and been condemned I don't know how we would have reacted, it could have driven us away from church all together. But we were immediately shown love and mercy. Thank you Jesus for our sweet little church! Our 7 year old daughter goes around singing hymns and asking us about Jesus.
Our tattoos are wonderful conversation starters and opportunities to invite folks to church.

awesome testimony God bless you.
http://www.christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=66301458&postcount=607

 

[wsmccurry]

I never thought my thread would get so many post. I wasn't trying to start a debate just get peoples opinions. Thank you all for replying. Just for the record I don't judge people because of tatoos as my grandfather and uncle had them I just personally don't like them although some of the work I have seen is incredible. Some of it not so much lol. As for it being a sin I don't know if it is or not. I won't claim to understand the scripture about the issue and as far as I am concerned it is between you and God. But I would tell anyone who wants one the same thing I told my daughter, think long and hard about it first because once you have it you can not easily get rid of it and you may find in the future when you are at a different place in life that you no longer like it.

 

[FreeSpirit74]

^^^ That's why I had my one tat put on my back/left shoulder. Just in case I do get tired of it (5 years and I haven't) I don't have to see it unless I turn my left side to the mirror.

I've wanted to get a second one, but can't seem to come up with an idea for a design.

 

[AirForceTeacher]

Morally neither for or against. Aesthetically, some are pretty, most turn me off.