Poll: Faith-based tattoo: Have you ever talked to someone with one?

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll.

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

[Guest maddy07]

11 minutes ago, farouk said:

@maddy07 Well...it's certainly not obligatory but:

In so many families when you're old enough it's almost expected, right?

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  Quote

..in the rural Bible Belt. Just about every person in three of the four sides of my family (bio parents, step parents) have multiple tattoos. Most of them are biblical (crosses between the shoulder blades are the most common ones) getting tattoos when your old enough is pretty much expected in the family.

source: reddit

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I mean not typically (at least where I’m from). My parents are definitely lenient and trusting (within reason they are still strict when it comes to my safety which I totally understand) so as long as I am open and honest they hear me out. Our other Christian family friends and stuff usually don’t see eye to eye with our more “liberal” mindset (liberal being in clothes, expression, tattoos, music, etc.) so I think it just depends on the person.

(coming from a more traditional Christian environment)

Edited April 8 by maddy07

[farouk]

Hi @Debp

Back I guess some people can become addicted to getting tattooed. 

Well, it's true that once a person gets one, it might eventually be followed up with another.

But then it could be said, If a first or second is faith-based, leading to witness opportunities, is this necessarily problematic?

(What do you think?)

[Debp]

27 minutes ago, farouk said:

Hi @Debp

Back I guess some people can become addicted to getting tattooed. 

Well, it's true that once a person gets one, it might eventually be followed up with another.

But then it could be said, If a first or second is faith-based, leading to witness opportunities, is this necessarily problematic?

(What do you think?)

People can do what they want about tattoos.   I'm just not interested in them.

[farouk]

Hi @NConly Back Im ignorant about quite a few things myself. Many who go for a tat are too. It does not take but one tat to learn that it does not hurt near as bad as some describe. Also it does not take long before one learns just how many conversations are started by tats. I am always asking people about their tats.

I guess for adolescents (and older), moving out of ignorance — which may bring a bit of anxiety about a first experience with a tattoo machine  — into reassuring knowledge of it, is for some ppl a part of growing up, right?

Not least if a tattoo design is faith-based and can be the cause of profitable conversations.

Edited April 8 by farouk

[farouk]

Hi @Edward429451 Thanks for your participation in the poll. So did the conversation that your poll vote indicated occur recently?

[NConly]

4 hours ago, farouk said:

Hi @NConly Back Im ignorant about quite a few things myself. Many who go for a tat are too. It does not take but one tat to learn that it does not hurt near as bad as some describe. Also it does not take long before one learns just how many conversations are started by tats. I am always asking people about their tats.

I guess for adolescents (and older), moving out of ignorance — which may bring a bit of anxiety about a first experience with a tattoo machine  — into reassuring knowledge of it, is for some ppl a part of growing up, right?

Not least if a tattoo design is faith-based and can be the cause of profitable conversations.

It is like that for anything one has no real knowledge of. Doing many things the first time brings anxiety then in many cases relief.

[angels4u]

17 hours ago, farouk said:

@angels4u back the tattoo from this lady was beautiful ( olive tree) we never know how God can use anything to draw some people closer to Him.

In these approaching warmer months (in the Northern Hemisphere, at least - respects to our fellow-believers Down Under) - it will soon become more and more apparent just how many ppl are tattooed, indeed including many Christians.

As @Scott Free says, a faith tattoo is not very daring.

Simply an extra opportunity for a believer to use one's tongue in witness if indeed it ever is commented upon.

Evidently why so many find it so straightforward quietly to go and have a suitable faith design pumped in.

So many people have tattoes  now, I'm not judging anybody ,they probably can be used for good,I'm just not a tattoo person :)

[unworthyservant]

I've seen them on occasion. Never knew anyone who had one. I figure that since God told the Israelites in Leviticus 19:28 "28Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD", He might not look kindly on them to this day. Some will say that the Old Testament Law isn't incumbent upon Christians today, but I always like to err on the side of caution. God surely won't judge us for refraining from something that He warned against, so, as for myself, I'll remain tattoo free.

[farouk]

2 hours ago, unworthyservant said:

I've seen them on occasion. Never knew anyone who had one. I figure that since God told the Israelites in Leviticus 19:28 "28Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD", He might not look kindly on them to this day. Some will say that the Old Testament Law isn't incumbent upon Christians today, but I always like to err on the side of caution. God surely won't judge us for refraining from something that He warned against, so, as for myself, I'll remain tattoo free.

Thanks, @unworthyservant, for your post.

It's interesting that in Isaiah 44.5 the KJV has: "One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord..."

ESV: "This one will say, ‘I am the Lord's,’ another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord's,..."

NASB: "This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; And that one will call on the name of Jacob; And another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the Lord,’ ..."

CSB: 'This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; another will use the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and take on the name of Israel.”

 

(I have restricted the quotations to versions which are more formal.)

It has been commented: 'Here a tattoo appears to be allowable as a sign of submission, not to a human master but to God.' (biblestudytools dot org)