'Christian tattoos to start a conversation as the Lord leads.'

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll.

NB: If you have not yet voted in the poll, please vote now.

[farouk]

@Hopefully FYI, this is one Christian lady's thinking:

...there was thought, study, prayer and discernment involved-and I have always had complete peace about it. ..It’s on the inner part of my wrist and is not instantly visible, however it is a daily reminder of what the Lord has brought me through....

I felt good about it. ..I was 50 when I had mine done, and two of my sons had various tattoos long before me.. their mum, at the age of 50, ..getting a tattoo - they thought it was ' cool '..I made the decision with a mature head on my shoulders.

..shortly after getting my tattoo done .. the dentist ask me about it - it opened up a conversation that would not have come about at all..I honestly felt OK about getting the tattoo in the first place.( I had weighed everything up , talked to my pastor, reflected on scripture ) The conversation surprised me, and it did serve as an encouragment at the time. I have had quite a few conversations at work when people notice it.  christianityboard dot com

 

Every believer may end up applying Christian principles seen in God's Word in ways that are not exactly the same as others'.

 

[Hopefully]

8 hours ago, Hopefully said:

farouk you never answered, do you believe faith causes us to be what the law wants. Are you able to answer with just yes or no?

Thank you.

[Hopefully]

2 hours ago, farouk said:

Are his faith based in design, maybe?

Dear Farouk, truly imo there are no faith based tattoos. There are only what the sinful self wants tattoos imo. So I will bow out now. I have enjoyed speaking with you in this subject but it’s time for me to stop now. 

[farouk]

3 hours ago, Hopefully said:

Thank you.

@Hopefully So you see that rather than easily fitting a yes or no answer, "the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 5.24-25).

The law was changed (Hebrews 7.12).

Thanks for your various contributions.

[farouk]

@Tony the student FYI.........did you see the poll, above? (Can't remember if I already asked you....)

[Hopefully]

3 hours ago, farouk said:

So you see that rather than easily fitting a yes or no answer, "the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

I really just wanted yes or no answer. I feel like if I present any bible verse and ask a person if they agree with it the answer could be yes or no with nothing else added.

 I understand for some it’s not that simple.

 

[farouk]

1 hour ago, Hopefully said:

I really just wanted yes or no answer. I feel like if I present any bible verse and ask a person if they agree with it the answer could be yes or no with nothing else added.

 I understand for some it’s not that simple.

 

@Hopefully Thanks for your clarification. Reading a chapter such as Romans 14, one  sees that, with so many matters with which the believer has to face, individual responses to them are likely to be nuanced, and the Lord Himself may be in the nuanced response, which - as long as it does not deal directly with truth and doctrine - may vary distinctly between one believer and another.

When this does not happen in some Christian circles, this is how 'charismatic' leaders can emerge, who in their discourse can dominate their sincere followers who relish the supposed certainty they seem to bring to so many matters, not only to matters of truth and doctrine -where there is indeed 'the truth once delivered to the saints' (Jude) but also in the more subjective, personal matters described by Romans 14.

I found this quote interesting from an inked up Christian woman:

Angelina said: ↑

I'm not sure how I personally feel about tats. I have a couple of pre-believer tats but since becoming a believer, I have not had the inclination to add more....even those that may give God the glory. .. I am not really interested in changing my tats to depict something more palatable as a believer. When people ask, I tell them my story and then tell them my new story as a believer. This also is a good talking point. .. I have no opinion on others getting or changing tats as a witness for Christ.  christianityboard dot com

 

What she seems to be saying is, I'm an inked up woman; by God's grace I am in Christ, I have no particular interest in being pro-tattoo or anti-tattoo; it's what I am as a believer with my personal testimony that really counts.

[Hopefully]

1 hour ago, farouk said:

Thanks for your clarification.

This is a little lengthy don’t know if you have time or care to read but I wanted to share this commentary.

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/romans/3-31.htm

Do we then make void the law through faith?.... Which question is answered by way of detestatation, 

God forbid! and by asserting the contrary, 

yea, we establish the law. The law is not made void, neither by the grace nor doctrine of faith: not by the grace of faith; for that faith is not right which is not attended with works of righteousness; and those works are not right which do not flow from filth.
 

Such a connection there is between faith and works; and so much do the one depend upon the other. Moreover, none but believers are capable of performing good works aright, and they do them, and they ought to do them: besides, faith, as a grace, looks to Christ, as the end of the law for righteousness, and therefore do not make it void. Nor is it made void by the doctrine of faith, and by the particular doctrine of a sinner's justification by faith in Christ's righteousness, which is here more especially intended; for though it is made void by it, as to any use of it for justification by the deeds thereof; yet its use in other respects is not set aside, such as to inform us of the mind and will of God, to discover and convince of sin, to show believers their deformity and imperfection, to render Christ and his righteousness more valuable, and to be a rule of walk and conversation to them; and it still remains a cursing and condemning law to Christless sinners, though justified ones are delivered from it as such: yea, the law is so far from being made void, that it is established by this doctrine; for by it the perpetuity of it is asserted, the spirituality of it is acknowledged, the perfect righteousness of it is secured: according to this doctrine all its demands are answered; whatever it requires it has, such as holiness of nature, perfect obedience to its precepts, and its full penalty borne: it is placed in the best hands, where it will ever remain; and a regard to it is enforced under the best influence, by the best of motives, and from the best of principles.

 

It is indeed abolished as a covenant of works, and in this sense is made void to believers; and it is done away as to the form of administration of it by Moses; and it is destroyed as a yoke of bondage; and the people of God are free from the malediction of it, and condemnation by it, and so from its terror; yet it remains unalterable and unchangeable in the hands of Christ; the matter of it is always the same, and ever obligatory on believers, who, though they are freed from the curse of it, are not exempted from obedience to it: wherefore the law is not made void, so as to be destroyed and abolished in every sense, or to be rendered idle, inactive, useless, and insignificant; but, on the contrary, is made to stand, is placed on a sure basis and firm foundation, as the words used signify.

[farouk]

9 minutes ago, Hopefully said:

This is a little lengthy don’t know if you have time or care to read but I wanted to share this commentary.

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/romans/3-31.htm

Do we then make void the law through faith?.... Which question is answered by way of detestatation, 

God forbid! and by asserting the contrary, 

yea, we establish the law. The law is not made void, neither by the grace nor doctrine of faith: not by the grace of faith; for that faith is not right which is not attended with works of righteousness; and those works are not right which do not flow from filth.
 

Such a connection there is between faith and works; and so much do the one depend upon the other. Moreover, none but believers are capable of performing good works aright, and they do them, and they ought to do them: besides, faith, as a grace, looks to Christ, as the end of the law for righteousness, and therefore do not make it void. Nor is it made void by the doctrine of faith, and by the particular doctrine of a sinner's justification by faith in Christ's righteousness, which is here more especially intended; for though it is made void by it, as to any use of it for justification by the deeds thereof; yet its use in other respects is not set aside, such as to inform us of the mind and will of God, to discover and convince of sin, to show believers their deformity and imperfection, to render Christ and his righteousness more valuable, and to be a rule of walk and conversation to them; and it still remains a cursing and condemning law to Christless sinners, though justified ones are delivered from it as such: yea, the law is so far from being made void, that it is established by this doctrine; for by it the perpetuity of it is asserted, the spirituality of it is acknowledged, the perfect righteousness of it is secured: according to this doctrine all its demands are answered; whatever it requires it has, such as holiness of nature, perfect obedience to its precepts, and its full penalty borne: it is placed in the best hands, where it will ever remain; and a regard to it is enforced under the best influence, by the best of motives, and from the best of principles.

 

It is indeed abolished as a covenant of works, and in this sense is made void to believers; and it is done away as to the form of administration of it by Moses; and it is destroyed as a yoke of bondage; and the people of God are free from the malediction of it, and condemnation by it, and so from its terror; yet it remains unalterable and unchangeable in the hands of Christ; the matter of it is always the same, and ever obligatory on believers, who, though they are freed from the curse of it, are not exempted from obedience to it: wherefore the law is not made void, so as to be destroyed and abolished in every sense, or to be rendered idle, inactive, useless, and insignificant; but, on the contrary, is made to stand, is placed on a sure basis and firm foundation, as the words used signify.

@Hopefully Thanks for this. I looked up the source page; I couldn't quite see which of the commentators was responsible for the quote.