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

[luigi]

3 minutes ago, farouk said:

@luigi Thanks for your comment. It's interesting that in the adjacent verse it seems to say about not trimming the corners of beards; do preachers shave? if indeed preachers shave, then maybe they are acknowledging that they are New Testament Christians under grace rather than Old Testament Jews, with bushy beards, under the law in the land.

A lot of Christians use Bible verse tattoos as witness tools. All the young ppl with Bible verses tattooed with whom I have spoken seem to have received them as witness tools, anyway.

Thanks again.

I don't know where in the Word it is located, but one can either keep their beard intact, or shave it completely. I think the purpose of not shaving the corners of ones beard is to not be enthralled with couture fashion. Same applies to tattoos.

[farouk]

1 minute ago, luigi said:

I don't know where in the Word it is located, but one can either keep their beard intact, or shave it completely. I think the purpose of not shaving the corners of ones beard is to not be enthralled with couture fashion. Same applies to tattoos.

@luigi Do you think that all preachers should have long, bushy beards or be completely clean-shaven?

[farouk]

@Renskedejonge PS: It's interesting also in the Reformatorisch Dagblad article tattoo artist Sabine Kiljan from Goes reports that she spent 5 1/2 hours injecting a long Bible quote into the skin of a client.

She would not be unusual among tattoo artists who receive such requests, in North America; you would know more about The Netherlands than me.

My wife and I talked to a young lady with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed onto her wrist area; it was her favorite Bible verse and mine also; and I'm sure more conversations have arisen as a result of her willingness to go into the tattoo parlor: I reckon she would indeed have done so joyfully.

(Even if some of her conservative family members might have been surprised. I guess it searches the heart as to how one would react if this happens within a Christian family which has not up to now had this custom, right?)

[luigi]

27 minutes ago, farouk said:

@luigi Do you think that all preachers should have long, bushy beards or be completely clean-shaven?

I think we need to not make beards a fashion statement. If appropriately trimmed, and not stylistically trimmed. The point is to not make body art a god/love.

[farouk]

3 minutes ago, luigi said:

I think we need to not make beards a fashion statement. If appropriately trimmed, and not stylistically trimmed. The point is to not make body art a god/love.

@luigi From the tattoo aspect, I think a lot of Christians regard getting a Bible verse - etc. - tattooed as more of a pragmatic witness tool that is proven to work, over and over, when bringing about conversations about God's Word.

An interesting aspect is that so many ppl who get tattooed would be described as rather conservative in their outlook.

 

GodsGrace said:

almost every young girl I know has some sort of tatoo.
Even those very conservative types.

source: christianityboard dot com

........................................

As @JasperWalls11 said:

 

Quote

I actually know more women than men with tattoos.  The tattoo parlors here are very well lit, very sanitary and don't have that dingy, "underground" or back alley image that most people think of.  They are rather reputable places.

Often tattoo parlors are regarded somewhat as places for clean enhancements, as Jasperwalls11 says, and when Christians use them it's often less a matter of subjectively to "feel good" than it is for the seizing of an opportunity to receive something faith based that is very likely to be witness-friendly, to be pumped in by an expert in a welcoming, clean environment that the most conservative of clients will be comfortable in.

[luigi]

1 minute ago, farouk said:

@luigi From the tattoo aspect, I think a lot of Christians regard getting a Bible verse - etc. - tattooed as more of a pragmatic witness tool that is proven to work, over and over, when bringing about conversations about God's Word.

An interesting aspect is that so many ppl who get tattooed would be described as rather conservative in their outlook.

 

GodsGrace said:

almost every young girl I know has some sort of tatoo.
Even those very conservative types.

source: christianityboard dot com

........................................

As @JasperWalls11 said:

 

Often tattoo parlors are regarded somewhat as places for clean enhancements, as Jasperwalls11 says, and when Christians use them it's often less a matter of subjectively to "feel good" than it is for the seizing of an opportunity to receive something faith based that is very likely to be witness-friendly, to be pumped in by an expert in a welcoming, clean environment that the most conservative of clients will be comfortable in.

I see tattoos and other body art as another god (love), that one has before God (Love), and I therefore do not believe it bringing anyone closer in true faith to believing in God/Love (1 John 4:8 & 16). 

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

[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]

3 minutes ago, luigi said:

I see tattoos and other body art as another god (love), that one has before God (Love), and I therefore do not believe it bringing anyone closer in true faith to believing in God/Love (1 John 4:8 & 16). 

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

@luigi Excellent Scriptures there. And a good general point about not letting anything take the place of God.

As regards Bible verse tattoos used pragmatically, all the young ppl with Bible verses tattooed with whom I have spoken seem to have received them as witness tools, anyway. The fact that such conversations arise may indeed prove that they definitely work, anyway. In the Reformatorisch Dagblad article link posted by @Renskedejonge there is mention of a young man who received a Scripture passage from a lady at a parlor which took 5 1/2 hours to complete: one can well imagine the motivation to display the Word of God and the expectation of many opportunities to testify.

[luigi]

4 minutes ago, farouk said:

@luigi Excellent Scriptures there. And a good general point about not letting anything take the place of God.

As regards Bible verse tattoos used pragmatically, all the young ppl with Bible verses tattooed with whom I have spoken seem to have received them as witness tools, anyway. The fact that such conversations arise may indeed prove that they definitely work, anyway. In the Reformatorisch Dagblad article link posted by @Renskedejonge there is mention of a young man who received a Scripture passage from a lady at a parlor which took 5 1/2 hours to complete: one can well imagine the motivation to display the Word of God and the expectation of many opportunities to testify.

You do realize that advocating for tattoos is to deny the Word in Leviticus 19:28?

Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.

[farouk]

18 minutes ago, luigi said:

You do realize that advocating for tattoos is to deny the Word in Leviticus 19:28?

Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.

Think of context; the adjacent verse seems to say about not trimming beards; and there are lots of things in Leviticus which seem to have as their context Old Testament Jews in the land under the law, as distinct from NT Christians. For example, the Sabbath is a strong idea in the OT, but it is not repeated in the NT as something binding for NT Christians. (As regards that particular verse also, some would see 'for the dead' as rather immediately relevant.)