Addictions, bad and good........tattoos of Bible verses; thoughts?

[Roymond]

On 3/2/2023 at 7:11 AM, farouk said:

@TrueFollowerOfChrist

forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot com

I've mentioned a young lady - modest and a bit shy - with whom my wife and I talked, who with all the wording of John 3.16 shot into her wrist area seemed to have a quiet joy in having become a tattooed woman witnessing her faith in the message of the Bible in this way.

How many times have you written this same thing?  It takes a bit to get me irritated, but you've told about this almost as many times as there are pages in this thread -- don't you think people have the message by now?  That you keep repeating it suggests strongly that you have an agenda, which can easily be concluded to be "Tattoos are awesome!" if not "Go get one!"

[farouk]

1 hour ago, Roymond said:

That's the major reason I've thought of getting one; I can't think of any other reason to spend so much money on just some art.

 

@Roymond All the young ppl with Bible verses tattooed with whom I have spoken seem to have received them as witness tools, anyway......... What you say seems to be thinking that is shared by others..........

[NConly]

8 hours ago, Roymond said:

Not necessarily:  consider that some early Christians went to purchase slaves for the purpose of setting them free.  Being purchased says more about what you were than what you are.

In our case we are heirs who have been in bondage, and we were bought out of bondage into freedom.

It makes me think of when a Roman asked Paul how he became a citizen and then told Paul how he did:  Paul was born to it, the Roman had paid a great price.  We were born into a kingdom of bondage -- and we have been bought with a great price to make us citizens of a new Kingdom!

Thanks Roymond; Now I understand how it is used.

[Marathoner]

11 hours ago, Roymond said:

How many times have you written this same thing?  It takes a bit to get me irritated, but you've told about this almost as many times as there are pages in this thread -- don't you think people have the message by now?  That you keep repeating it suggests strongly that you have an agenda, which can easily be concluded to be "Tattoos are awesome!" if not "Go get one!"

Indeed. I stated my stance regarding tattoos, which is a nonchalant shrug. 

However, the agenda of the OP is what many of us find to be problematic, regardless of our stance about marking this flesh. Pulling members into this topic for their "input," only to repeat the same lines over and again, is indicative of that agenda. 

So @Marathoner, have any further wisdom to add to this subject?

"Why yes, I do": 

 

[Marathoner]

A long time ago, some brothers in a fellowship were swept away by the following passage of scripture:

“If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall leave as a free man without a payment to you. If he comes alone, he shall leave alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall leave with him. If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall leave alone. But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not leave as a free man,’ then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently."
(Exodus 21:2-6 NASB)

What did these brothers do? An elder pierced their ears in the manner described in the passage above. This was their definitive statement that they are slaves of the Lord, serving Him forever. Quite a few brothers followed suit and had this done to themselves, but I remained silent. Nah. 

Marking this flesh is not the spirit of His ordinance but rather, a life yielded willingly and joyfully to the Son of God: that is the spirit of this passage from Exodus. Indeed, this is the fruit of our salvation in Jesus Christ!

Not pierced ears. Ah, but this fad didn't persist for long. A few months later, studs were removed from earlobes from most who had it done. Hah! I had my left earlobe pierced as a teenager by my youngest sister. She was good at it. I wore something in that ear for a few months before I got over that fad. 

Been there, done that already. However... if that's what they wanted to do? Whatever. 

[Roymond]

11 hours ago, Marathoner said:

Indeed. I stated my stance regarding tattoos, which is a nonchalant shrug. 

However, the agenda of the OP is what many of us find to be problematic, regardless of our stance about marking this flesh. Pulling members into this topic for their "input," only to repeat the same lines over and again, is indicative of that agenda. 

So @Marathoner, have any further wisdom to add to this subject?

"Why yes, I do": 

 

Hey, I didn't get asked!

Like I need to be... sometimes I'm more than a little OCD about Christian forums.

[Roymond]

11 hours ago, Marathoner said:

A long time ago, some brothers in a fellowship were swept away by the following passage of scripture:

“If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall leave as a free man without a payment to you. If he comes alone, he shall leave alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall leave with him. If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall leave alone. But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not leave as a free man,’ then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently."
(Exodus 21:2-6 NASB)

What did these brothers do? An elder pierced their ears in the manner described in the passage above. This was their definitive statement that they are slaves of the Lord, serving Him forever. Quite a few brothers followed suit and had this done to themselves, but I remained silent. Nah. 

Marking this flesh is not the spirit of His ordinance but rather, a life yielded willingly and joyfully to the Son of God: that is the spirit of this passage from Exodus. Indeed, this is the fruit of our salvation in Jesus Christ!

Not pierced ears. Ah, but this fad didn't persist for long. A few months later, studs were removed from earlobes from most who had it done. Hah! I had my left earlobe pierced as a teenager by my youngest sister. She was good at it. I wore something in that ear for a few months before I got over that fad. 

Been there, done that already. However... if that's what they wanted to do? Whatever. 

I wanted to get emerald ear studs for several years, but I never found an emerald worthy of my ears.

[farouk]

On 3/11/2023 at 3:42 PM, Marathoner said:

Indeed. I stated my stance regarding tattoos, which is a nonchalant shrug. 

However, the agenda of the OP is what many of us find to be problematic, regardless of our stance about marking this flesh. Pulling members into this topic for their "input," only to repeat the same lines over and again, is indicative of that agenda. 

So @Marathoner, have any further wisdom to add to this subject?

"Why yes, I do": 

 

Thanks for your contributions, @Marathoner ; appreciated.

(Keep telling me if you think something I've written is not quite acceptable. I'm learning all the time.......)

[farouk]

On 3/11/2023 at 4:04 PM, HopeInHim said:

No,  I never really got past the thinking phase… I imagine the finger might be a painful spot, also. ...

I have thought about getting some sort of wedding ring type tattoo on my ring finger underneath my wedding ring so that something will always be there even if I weren’t wearing my rings for some reason. In that sense, it’s an outward symbol of something I wish to express as a never ending and permanent part of me.

@HopeInHim Although it sounds like you think it would be a really lovely idea for you to go do, seems like you've not set foot in a parlor, not least because of the pain.

Tattoo artists do of course use numbing agents, if desired; they would be able to tell you all about them.

But in the end it would likely revolve around just how compelling an idea you really think it is - 'never ending and permanent' - for your finger, after considering it very carefully.

[farouk]

@FJK

FYI....I read someplace about how a Hollywood producer decided to re-create a 1950s beach scene; but he couldn't easily enough young women who were not tattooed.

What seems to happen today among so many Christian young ppl is that they appear to pursue getting just a little ink naturally and confidently; and in a faith based design, such as a Bible ref. or short quote or Christian fish symbol <>< etc. on a wrist or finger or foot area, for example. Done in the almost certain knowledge that it will lead to many conversations with other young people during testimony opportunities.