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

[farouk]

A while back, @Marnie said this:

"When I first got saved, and when I first came to Worthy, I posed the always-reliable tattoo question because I was feeling guilty about them. My guilt-ridden conscience was assuaged by some of the more mature posters at that time. And since then my now-husband pokes fun about being the only presbyterian minister in the state to have a..wife with tattoos."

( cc @Hopefully ; @Roymond )

Edited April 9, 2023 by farouk

[Roymond]

My thought is that Bible verses probably aren't the best thing if they're identified as such because so many people these days will hear "Bible" and close their ears.

I like a shirt some of us made in university:  "God@Heaven.com" with a hand depicted as though it had just finished typing that.  I got asked about it so many times....  One that sticks in my mind was when I was headed up a river to a swimming hole and stopped at a little store to buy pop, ice, snacks, and beer.  I bumped into a guy who stopped, read the shirt, looked at the beer, and asked if I was a Christian, and if so how was it I was buying beer?  I told him yes, and I was buying beer to drink and perhaps to share. Turned out he'd been hounded by a church over drinking beer and had rejected Christianity and was curious how a Christian could drink beer.  I told him that generally it was done by opening the can and tipping it into the mouth.  That brought a laugh, and then he was peppering me with questions, and when we parted he said he was going to find a church where he could drink beer because I'd changed his image of God from someone with a set of rules and a notepad writing down every little infraction to someone who wants the best for His children and sent His Son to "repair" humanity.

Because of that shirt I ended up talking to all sorts of people who would have scoffed and gone on their way if it had had a Bible verse and reference.

As far as tattoos, I got into conversations because I didn't have any!  I got asked why, and said I hadn't found the design I wanted yet.  Of course they wanted to know what design I wanted, and I said a phoenix bird on each side, the left-hand a burning phoenix going down and on the right a triumphant phoenix rising up, and that led to the question why that design, which was a chance to tell how early Christians used the phoenix as an illustration of Christ.  [Unfortunately I was never able to afford even the black & white outline work, so I still tell about the tattoos I'd like to have.]

I also got questions about the necklace emblem I wore, which was usually an anchor with a hint of a cross at the top end -- pretty much this without the sharp points--

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b7/34/52/b734527548a93bf4a541c786effc4a8c--nautical-necklace-anchor-necklace.jpghttps://i.pinimg.com/736x/b7/34/52/b734527548a93bf4a541c786effc4a8c--nautical-necklace-anchor-necklace.jpg

[I hope the link will take people to the picture; I kept getting told the URL is not allowed even though I got the image from five different sources before giving up.]

Mostly I got asked if it meant I was a sailor, and I said "No, but I have a picture of me walking on water" (which was sort of true; in grad school we had a rainstorm in early spring when the lake was still frozen solid, enough rain to make little obvious waves and hide the ice, and my roommate sent me out to walk across the lake while he took pictures).  I'd tell the story and get a laugh, then tell the real reason that I wore it, that my life got jerked this way and that and I screwed things up and made stupid decisions, and I needed an anchor in my life -- and this wasn't it, it just stood for my actual anchor, which was Jesus -- and since I;d basically just confessed what a mess I was and needed a Savior, almost always they were willing to listen because they recognized their own need.

So for a tattoo, I'd say something that stands for Christ like an anchor or a boat (church as ship) or a lamb or a lion -- something that can stand for Jesus but isn't obvious and might draw questions -- and have a story about why you have that particular bit of art that ends up talking about Jesus.

Edited March 11, 2023 by Roymond
fixed image

[Roymond]

On 2/3/2023 at 3:38 PM, The_Patriot21 said:

So if you want a tattoo...fine. but, stop pretending it's for "witnessing" because its really not. 

 

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.

The other one I've thought of had to do with personal safety, but that's a rather personal story.

[Roymond]

On 2/3/2023 at 4:23 PM, Neighbor said:

Maybe one would be more spiritual if done in original languages,

 

. .

On a university campus where there are fraternities and sororities a tattoo of a short Greek word could work -- maybe

χάρις

(grace)

I can't think of a shorter word that would work.

Though if I were to get a Greek word tattoo, it would be:

τετέλεσται

 

Edited March 11, 2023 by Roymond

[Roymond]

On 2/16/2023 at 8:58 AM, Tristen said:

One of the Fruits of the Spirit is self-control (see Gal 5:22-23). Addictive (or "compelling") behaviors are contrary to self-control - and therefore contrary to the Holy Spirit.

Ultimately, by His grace, God can turn any negative into a positive. And God can use our past mistakes to help others.

 

"Fruit" -- not "fruits".  Part of the fruit of the Spirit -- it's all one.

[Roymond]

On 2/23/2023 at 9:23 AM, Sower said:

Going into a bar is wrong even if one doesn’t drink. 

That's a very Puritan attitude that doesn't fit with the Gospel, so this piece isn't off to a good start.

On 2/23/2023 at 9:23 AM, Sower said:

Going into a casino is wrong even if one doesn’t gamble.

Also a very Puritan attitude and also doesn't fit well with the Gospel.

Here's an example:  I met a Lutheran pastor who went to a casino two or three times a month.  He played blackjack and almost always came out ahead, but that wasn't why he was there:  he was watching for people in need.  Sometimes it was someone who suddenly realized she'd gambled away all her money and didn't even have a motel room and burst into tears; casino people would steer such a person out of the way and he would intercept.  Sometimes it was a look of desperation of someone who knew they were in too deep but kept hoping their luck would reverse.  Sometimes it was someone mindlessly putting token after token into a slot machine.  He never knew what he was going to see, but he rarely spent a late evening there without discovering someone who needed a turn-around and were ready to hear that.

A couple of the elders at his church started doing the same, though by then the pastor didn't need to watch very hard; security would recognize someone they would normally ease out of the building but instead come and say quietly, "We've got one for you" and he would wrap up his game and go.

I don't know how many members his church had that were there because he'd been there when they needed a rescue but my bet is it was a lot.  And it wasn't just rescue-ees; a few dealers had been impressed by his quiet patience and gentle assistance and came to see what kind of church this pastor ran, and they stuck; a couple of security guys had recognized what he was doing and come to him in his office to spill their own problems, and they got saved and stuck there.

Word spread on the street, too, first that here was a pastor who deserved the title, later that here was a church that cared enough to come into the places where people all too often hit bottom, and so people who were hitting bottom somewhere other than a casino recognized there would be a welcome for them, too.

And more than a few people from out of town who'd been helped by his "rescues" kept in touch, often with steady contributions to the ministry.

Jesus went where people were hurting and He didn't care what it looked like; those who needed what He brought got word and understood.

So no, going to a casino isn't always wrong -- but forbidding it is.

 

On 2/23/2023 at 9:23 AM, Sower said:

What about tattoo parlors? Generally speaking, they have very seedy reputations.

That's no longer really true.  I've seen names such as "Living Art" (which was a pun since it was run by a guy named "Art", but also a message because he refused to do anything dark or sinister, "In Living Color" (which had a unique thing going in that they asked each customer to visualize their oldest relative and then imagine their tattoo on their own old body), "Body Gems" (they specialized in tattoos featuring gemstones, including what looked really painful to me:  tattoos on the earlobes to complement whatever a person was wearing there), "Casey's Colors" (Casey only did bright 'happy' tattoos), "Adorn", "Paramount", "Rosewater" (run by Rose), "Gold Sparrow", and -- okay, this one is weird -- "ThoughtCrime Tattoo".  Some are in former barber shops and have art samples on the walls like barbers would have haircut pictures, some are in malls; none of the ones I mentioned are dark dusky or seedy.

On 2/23/2023 at 9:23 AM, Sower said:

Do tattoos communicate godliness?

That's a good question.  By themselves?  No -- in fact very few tattoos communicate much at all as far as I can see (except in a lot of cases "I was so in a hurry to get a tattoo that I actually paid for this trash").  Tattoos can attract, but that means getting something unique and not more than one or two; it's once someone is interested that godliness can come into play, and that's a matter of the person wearing the tattoo.

 

On 2/23/2023 at 9:23 AM, Sower said:

 

"Remember there are many very ungodly people who have tattoos. Having a tattoo of a cross is not necessarily going to set you apart. In fact, having a tattoo is going to make you more like them. What does it say about you as a Christian when you have a tattoo?

Crosses are too popular to be a useful tattoo if you're aiming to use it form a witness starter. 

What it says about you as a Christian depends on how much thought you put into the design.  If it's out of a book of standard designs, I'd say it says you're lazy about not just choosing a tattoo but about witnessing.  If it's something you found in an art exhibit or museum that practically jumped out at you, well, see above though it's a notch up from that.  If it's something so special and unique and isn't obviously about Jesus but can serve to get a conversation to Him, that says something positive.

On 2/23/2023 at 9:23 AM, Sower said:

Hope we both have shed some light.

I'd say you have -- hope I've added some.

[Roymond]

On 2/23/2023 at 10:23 AM, Heleadethme said:

Kind of horrifying and depressing to me that the finer points of how to be tattooed and pierced is being discussed on a Christian forum.  Doesn't seem appropriate at all. 

That depends on whether you think you'll ever be in a position to be telling people with tattoos about Jesus.

[Roymond]

On 2/23/2023 at 2:53 PM, Sower said:

... not realizing how an average  lost person associates tattoos with the counter culture, not Christ.

 

This gave me a chuckle since just today I finished reading a history of how Christianity came to dominate the Roman Empire and one major part was that it provided a counter-culture.\

How things change!

[Roymond]

On 2/25/2023 at 6:18 AM, Heleadethme said:

This thread is not just discussion, it is actively encouraging young people to do what is contrary to the word of God and holiness.....and that is evil! 

Contrary to the Word?  Plainly that's not so certain as you declare it to be.

It may not in your view be edifying, but to be contrary to the Word is a different thing -- and it starts with these:

Quote

abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.

At least those are what the Holy Spirit told us.

On 2/25/2023 at 6:18 AM, Heleadethme said:

God doesn't need or want our worldly, fleshly, dubious gimmicks to try and win souls.  Our weapons are not carnal but spiritual.  Why don't you use your efforts to encourage people in things like that, things that are profitable and edifying to help people grow and mature in Christ?

Anything we take captive for Christ can be edifying.  Though this makes me think:  I don't recall having noticed anyone point out this with regard to tattoos:

Quote

Let all things be done in moderation.

 

Edited March 11, 2023 by Roymond

[Roymond]

On 2/26/2023 at 5:38 PM, NConly said:

I hear others say this. it sounds wrong but maybe I misunderstand.

If I am bought then I am a slave not and inheritor

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!