Do you think tattoos are sinful?

[Richard_yaash]

Richard, why would someone be uncomfortable witnessing to someone with a tattoo or visible body piercing?

Not everyone is. My apologies for it was not intended as a blanket statement.

For some of us, we may find it very distasteful. That being said, we most likely would not feel comfortable going amoung a large group who were covered by tattoos.

Picture a small nerdy looking guy who has been sheltered his whole life going amounst a rather rowdy crowd of large tatted guys. He would probably be most uncomfortable. That is what I had intended.

OTOH: Can you imagine the impact of his witness?

[Marnie]

Well, peer pressure isn't a good reason. But, realistically there is always a motivation behind what we do, or else we wouldn't do it. So, I'm still asking, what was the motivation behind it? You don't just do it without thinking or having a feeling about it.

You do when your then-boyfriend says a tattoo will make you hot. Or, hotter . What can I say, the two times I acquiesced to a man's wishes . 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 hot wife with tattoos. What goes around...

Romans 8:1...tattoo that in a prominent place.

[Richard_yaash]

Do you practice orthodox Judaism?

No Sir, <cough choke splutter>

I am a Christian. A simple follower of the Way, one of the Israel of God.

[Ddavid from NC]

Richard, why would someone be uncomfortable witnessing to someone with a tattoo or visible body piercing?

Not everyone is. My apologies for it was not intended as a blanket statement.

For some of us, we may find it very distasteful. That being said, we most likely would not feel comfortable going amoung a large group who were covered by tattoos.

Picture a small nerdy looking guy who has been sheltered his whole life going amounst a rather rowdy crowd of large tatted guys. He would probably be most uncomfortable. That is what I had intended.

OTOH: Can you imagine the impact of his witness?

You mean you might unconsciously be staring in unbelief. I witnessed to a guy at the beach one time, who had a nose piercing and an ear piercing and a gold chain connecting the two. I know I was staring at him, because I could think about how painful it would be in a fight if someone pulled his chain. Also one time I was talking to a guy with a fully involved tatoo over 50% of his face, I know my eyes were roaming his art.

[Richard_yaash]

However, that slave connotation is no longer accurate regarding ear piercings.

I have 2 in each ear. My daughter has five. (3 in one ear and 2 in another)

Our Master is Jesus.

Which is why in my original reply within this thread: It is not the act/item itself. It is the motives for which we do these things.

And again, I do not judge anyone for these things.

I realize you have as many here have their ears pierced. Now, how many of those with pierced ears are going to get those rings and keep stretching their ear lobes creating an ever larger hole?

I think many here might find that a little distasteful. Perhaps even you.

I am not speaking against these things.

When I was young, my life was not the best. In the verse that I quoted in my original reply, it says: "do not cut your bodies... for the dead".

I am sure many here have heard of the practice of 'cutting' in this day and age.

For myself, the pain of the cut, was almost comforting. For me, it was a form or mourning. Mourning my own life, for life was so painful, that the cuts were comforting.

However, thankfully the Blood of the Lamb is greater than all things and is able to cleanse us regardless.

[Richard_yaash]

Romans 8:1...

Amen

[Scarletprayers]

Do you practice orthodox Judaism?

No Ma'am.

I am a Christian. A simple follower of the Way, one of the Israel of God.

Ovedya might be surprised to find out HE was a ma'am!

[Richard_yaash]

You mean you might unconsciously be staring in unbelief. I witnessed to a guy at the beach one time, who had a nose piercing and an ear piercing and a gold chain connecting the two. I know I was staring at him, because I could think about how painful it would be in a fight if someone pulled his chain. Also one time I was talking to a guy with a fully involved tatoo over 50% of his face, I know my eyes were roaming his art.

That and more. Like yourself, I am able to speak within that environment, for it doesn't bother me.

Now, Janie, there was no way that she could speak within such an environment. It was utterly impossible for her. As it may be for some of us.

Since I opened the 'cutting' aspect up. For some of us, while we can minister to those involved in 'cutting', not all of us can.

[Richard_yaash]

Ovedya might be surprised to find out HE was a ma'am!

Thank you Miss Scarletprayers.

I do not know where my head was, for I already knew Ovedya was masculine in gender.

Oy vey...

[Ddavid from NC]

Please no one take offense at this comment it is just a subjective observation with no one in mind or any specific thread or any specific comment on this thread. I have been pretty heavily involved on the boards here for 2 months. It is interesting thinking back to watch overall trends and personalities. I think its ironic to watch people be adamantly conservative in one area and extremely open minded in other areas. It is unpredictable, somebody who thinks we shouldn't eat out on Sunday, may care less what anyone thinks about their consuming an alcholic beverage in public. Or they don't attend church anywhere, but insist Saturday is the Sabbath. Or have no problem with tatoos, but you had better wear a dress. Or its personal preference to smoke whatever, but don't go to a movie with a four letter word. Or Christian music better not sound like rock or hip hop, have you seen the latest slasher flick. Or vice versa on any of the preceding. I remember, when Christians used to say, I don's cuss, don't chew, & don't associate with them that do. Christians didn't dance, go to pool halls, the movies, or play cards. And I am not dismissing my personal contradictions in any of these areas. I am just making an observation thats all. Take it for what it is worth. Aren't you glad the basis of our faith is grace and progressive sancitification, and God expects us to respond to our genuine convicting of the Holy Spirit whether we are in the first grade of development or the 12th?