Faith based tattoo question

[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]

On 2/19/2024 at 12:02 PM, Scott Free said:

I would be more impressed if it was obviously tattooed across her heart. .. A true honor to behold.

@Scott Free The essence is - or should be - the inward and spiritual transformation in Christ. My wife and I talked to a shy young lady with the wording of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area: her favorite Bible verse and mine.

My guess is that it was on her heart before it ever was rammed onto her wrist area in the tattoo parlor. Not a few young Christians would likely regard it as an honor to emerge from a parlor, inked up in that way.

But it's very much an individual conviction and step to take, right?

[farouk]

On 2/15/2024 at 4:24 PM, Renskedejonge said:

Ah yes I think so too.

@Renskedejonge Yes, it does go in families, particularly. As Willa indeed indicated a while ago:

 "My grand daughter has a verse tattooed on her forearm.  My daughter in law has one in pale turquoise that is a tiny bit better.  Both are strong Christians."

The likely thinking would have been that it was an honor to emerge from the parlor as tattooed Christian women. It seems to be a very widespread practice that is desired among serious-minded Christians. (But would be very much an individual thing also.)

[Scott Free]

21 minutes ago, farouk said:

But it's very much an individual conviction and step to take, right

In Christ do we have freedom or adherence to the Law? Why should we regard someone who judges us by appearance alone?

[TrueFollowerOfChrist]

2 hours ago, Scott Free said:

In Christ do we have freedom or adherence to the Law? Why should we regard someone who judges us by appearance alone?

We have freedom in Christ, but sadly many in the church have been taught legalism and volunteered to become enslaved again to the law. Anyone who judges by appearance only is passing a false judgement as Jesus doesn't judge that way and neither are we. 

[Scott Free]

10 minutes ago, TrueFollowerOfChrist said:

We have freedom in Christ, but sadly many in the church have been taught legalism and volunteered to become enslaved again to the law. Anyone who judges by appearance only is passing a false judgement as Jesus doesn't judge that way and neither are we.

Right on. Their offense is like gossamer that blows away, obscured then soon forgotten.

[farouk]

Hi @Jesus...my Lord and my God FYI................poll - above - started..............

[farouk]

I think you are correct in that it seems to be a new "right of passage" into adulthood.  I would so much rather look at a nature based or spiritual tattoo than a demonic tattoo on the skin of my grandchildren. 

@debrakay Yes and as grandma you would likely have been pleased to see them go get something wholesome /faith-based done; they seem to go get their parlor appointments for first or more ink so naturally now.

For families when they all prefer something wholesome / faith-based there's something nice about it and when hearing that they might get more, to have confidence it's will likely be something well thought out and tasteful.

[debrakay]

20 minutes ago, farouk said:

For families when they all prefer something wholesome / faith-based there's something nice about it and when hearing that they might get more, to have confidence it's will likely be something well thought out and tasteful.

Sometimes I wonder why more is better when it comes to tattoos.  For some that is.  I know there are some who get one or a few and then there are some who want to cover an entire arm, or leg or back or whole body.  Those are the people I wonder what they are trying to say to the world or to themselves.  God covered me in freckles so one tattoo was enough for me and now that I am old my freckles have held up, but the tattoo looks like an old flower smudge.  LOL! 

There are many people who see a whole body filled with tattoos and do not feel it is tasteful no matter what the design.  Same with piercings.  With human beings, judgement is sometimes made on outward appearances.  What is that scripture about not causing your bother to stumble?

[farouk]

3 minutes ago, debrakay said:

Sometimes I wonder why more is better when it comes to tattoos.  For some that is.  I know there are some who get one or a few and then there are some who want to cover an entire arm, or leg or back or whole body.  Those are the people I wonder what they are trying to say to the world or to themselves.  God covered me in freckles so one tattoo was enough for me and now that I am old my freckles have held up, but the tattoo looks like an old flower smudge.  LOL! 

There are many people who see a whole body filled with tattoos and do not feel it is tasteful no matter what the design.  Same with piercings.  With human beings, judgement is sometimes made on outward appearances.  What is that scripture about not causing your bother to stumble?

@debrakay Thoughtful post; thank-you.............I think you might be referring to Romans 14: this is the chapter all about Christian liberty. So a lot of Christians do feel the confidence to use the tattoo parlor in a fairly low key way. The chapter also does - like you say - exhort readers not to upset weaker brethren. I guess some would say, applied to tattoos, maybe not to go 'over the top'....

From what you just said, sounds like you, when you actively pursued it, would have been more inclined to be a "minimalist" tattooee, in practice.