Poll: Tattoo art - Christian perspectives: Fight it? Ignore it? appreciate/embrace it?

[farouk]

I notice it is more the older generations that disagree.

@Mayflower If you've glanced at all at the most recent posts on this thread, it seems now to be something that young people - in fact, especially the under-50s - do really confidently which can be wholesome and witness-friendly, isn't it?

 

[farouk]

I have a tattoo I got when I was in my 20's.

@Ziggy Yes, at a certain time it became a kind of generational thing, didn't it?

Today, there is such a scope for faith based witness ink, it seems.

 

[farouk]

@WillTell FYI....another thread I started...

 

[farouk]

Although I dislike tattoos, that one's okay as far as they go.

@Wynona Whether Christians choose to have it done or not, all the young people with Bible verses tattooed that I have talked to seem to have theirs done for evangelistic reasons. This at least is worthy of respect, I reckon, don't you?

 

[Wynona]

@Wynona Whether Christians choose to have it done or not, all the young people with Bible verses tattooed that I have talked to seem to have theirs done for evangelistic reasons. This at least is worthy of respect, I reckon, don't you?

It depends on how much evangelism they've actually done from the tattoo.

 

[farouk]

It depends on how much evangelism they've actually done from the tattoo.

@Wynona You are right - I think by implication? - that the person himself or herself does ideally need to - and the fact that the person got it done would probably mean that it's likely - be motivated to use it in testimony; or in any case a verse of Scripture can be a silent witness in itself. My wife and I talked to a young lady with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; it evidently worked to start a conversation; and I'm sure many other conversations have started also as a result of her willingness to use the tattoo parlor in this way.

In the end it's simply one witness means among many others, right? but it is effective in bringing about witness conversations, or even in being a silent witness.

 

[farouk]

I used to have pierced ears but they been closed up for years. I have a tattoo

@Ziggy Well, at our small, conservative local church it has seemed that the boys and young men get earrings too. Like you, maybe eventually some of them will let theirs close up, too.

It's a phase that young ppl go through; sometimes it lasts a lifetime; sometimes not.

What I think matters not, but I think, If the young men as well as the young women, want to have their ears pierced, go for it; if they don't, then don't. Simple as that.

The earrings usually precede the tattoos. It's probably more unusual for ppl to get tattooed if they have not gotten earrings put in already, young men or women. Generally speaking, a certain stage comes and the earrings get put in. Then the tattoo stage comes. Many decades back it was the young men who got the tattoos and the young women who got the earrings. Now the young men get the earrings too and the young women get the tattoos too; and it's already been this way for decades. Sometimes the earrings can be at least obliquely faith based in design as are some tattoos.

(Sounds about right...? )

 

[farouk]

... if I was younger... I might even get a little one ...

@Addy Some very conservative ppl don't seem to be able to grasp that in fact - especially if, as you suggested, it's a Scripture tattoo that is contemplated - a rather joyful experience can be gotten in a tattoo parlor...right?

(cc @Heart2Soul )

 

[farouk]

It is lovely to see you and your tattoo advocacy back in full swing... LOL

PS: @Addy Well...I wasn't conscious of actually saying that ppl ought to get a tattoo.... (Did I ever exactly say that?)

I guess it's undeniable though that faith based tattoo designs are effective conversation-starters. All of the young people who have had Bible verses tattooed, with whom I have talked, seemed to have done it for evangelistic reasons, anyway...

 

[farouk]

Back

I'm sure tats are an icebreaker to start conversations with strangers.

@Taken I was just saying recently that all the young people with whom I have spoken who have had Bible verses tattooed seem to have had them done for evangelistic reasons.

It's become well beyond whether the aesthetics are good, bad or indifferent; those who have it done often are thinking evangelistically.

 

[Taken]

Back @Taken I was just saying recently that all the young people with whom I have spoken who have had Bible verses tattooed seem to have had them done for evangelistic reasons.

It's become well beyond whether the aesthetics are good, bad or indifferent; those who have it done often are thinking evangelistically.

Sure. Inking with a Scripture in agreement is obvious...inasmuch as someone inking with agreement in standing with satan is obvious.

Some people simply are not favorable to inking, regardless of the intent for one to showcase their personal STANDING FOR or AGAINST God.

 

[Taken]

Poll: Tattoo art - Christian perspectives: Fight it? Ignore it? appreciate/embrace it?
OP^

Personally, for myself I do not want or choose or do...ink on my flesh.

What others "choose" for themselves personally, is EXPRESSLY according to their own...wants, choices, doing.

What I think about what others DO..."RANGES"...based ON what I happen to SEE of any persons choices of tats.

The "RANGE" of my thoughts...
Is from talented beautiful artwork...
To eweee grotesque ...
To hysterical laughter.

There is no one conclusion fits all.
Ink is not for me, period.
Ink on others is their choice and does not positively or negatively affect my well being.

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[farouk]

Poll: Tattoo art - Christian perspectives: Fight it? Ignore it? appreciate/embrace it?
OP^

Personally, for myself I do not want or choose or do...ink on my flesh.

What others "choose" for themselves personally, is EXPRESSLY according to their own...wants, choices, doing.

What I think about what others DO..."RANGES"...based ON what I happen to SEE of any persons choices of tats.

The "RANGE" of my thoughts...
Is from talented beautiful artwork...
To eweee grotesque ...
To hysterical laughter.

There is no one conclusion fits all.
Ink is not for me, period.
Ink on others is their choice and does not positively or negatively affect my well being.

Glory to God,
Taken

@Taken Thanks indeed for those thoughtful comments. (Kind of exactly the sort of discussion contribution that the thread was designed to encourage.)

Seems like other posters see it as a meaningful, deliberate and maturely undertaken option:

Rita said: ↑

I have never regretted my tattoo.. I love the tattoo..the tattoo was not liberating - the tattoo represented the liberation and freedom that the Lord had brought me through..The tattoo in of itself was merely the means of expression and the reminder. .. I was 50 when I had mine done, and two of my sons had various tattoos long before me. I made the decision with a mature head on my shoulders.

FHII said: ↑

I got my first and only tattoo... I was told it was addictive, but for me it was not. .. I don't regret it.. .. Probably 75% of the congregation have tattoos, including myself and the Pastor .. I have a tattoo, I am not ashamed of it, but it has no bearing on my salvation. ..I also agree that it makes a statement of freedom in Christ.

By way of extension, would it be logical that it would be good if more Christians worked as tattoo artists / in tattoo parlors?

All the young Christians that I have talked to who have Scripture tattoos seem to have had it done for evangelistic reasons, anyway.

 

[farouk]

That is very interesting way of looking at skull tattoos Farouk. Never thought of that myself

@MatthewG So have you now given it a bit more thought to how others might be motivated with such a design? (maybe your motivation was different; IDK...)

 

[MatthewG]

@farouk thinking about it; some tattoos can be used as images to mean something ; just some design that you would know how to articulate when asked about it. When it comes to my own tattoos; they were all done really of just having something on my skin. There is a triforce which is from a video game that means, power, courage, wisdom. The skulls were something let a friend do, and a sonic also on my back which my friend done which means gotta go fast. Then there is the half way finished cross which was suppose to be an image of me hating God, when it was first conceived.

God knew what was being done and maybe that is why it never got finished in the first place only a half remaining remnant for a reminder of my old life.

Thank you for the question.

 

[farouk]

@farouk thinking about it; some tattoos can be used as images to mean something ; just some design that you would know how to articulate when asked about it. When it comes to my own tattoos; they were all done really of just having something on my skin. There is a triforce which is from a video game that means, power, courage, wisdom. The skulls were something let a friend do, and a sonic also on my back which my friend done which means gotta go fast. Then there is the half way finished cross which was suppose to be an image of me hating God, when it was first conceived.

Thank you for the question.

YW @MatthewG

All the young Christians that I have talked to who have Scripture tattoos seem to have had it done for evangelistic reasons, anyway.

I guess that now you are really at a different stage of life from the 18 year old young Christians that plan their tattoos in faith based designs such as Bible verses and references.

From your vantage point, I wonder if in hindsight you might think there is a case - at least for young Christians at around 16/17, ready for their 18th b-day, for example - to be taken to a tattoo parlor by parents as more mature Christians so that they can at least consider and think through the faith potentials of faith based / witness tattoo art?

(Now that you are at a different stage yourself, that is...)

 

[farouk]

God knew what was being done and maybe that is why it never got finished in the first place only a half remaining remnant for a reminder of my old life.

@MatthewG Or maybe had you ever thought that now you believe something totally different, it could in fact be a design that could be added to/ completed to reflect what you now believe? (perhaps you already thought of that but dismissed it?)

 

[MatthewG]

Farouk,

From my lifestyle of growing up Farouk even at this stage in my life. The freedom, choices, and experience that can come from life should be in even that of a Child's life to be a choice that they do and experience. Of course in the realities sake of understanding danger that exist out there in the world should be found out, seen, and heard about.

My experience in life has been a cultivated experience of all kind of good and all kind of evil, and has made me who am today especially with finding out about God and starting to learn and be taught about Him and Jesus the Son of God.

That is the only response can think of. All people including myself will have to live with every experience they have done; including the good and evil that we have done from even that of hating, murmuring about others, and all of those things.

There will be only one life changing factor is that of letting God come into your life which God can be seen through all the good and bad in my opinion through this life; and God is good, just look at Jesus Christ in his life that he lived in humbleness, lowly, gentleness, forgiveness, mercy, and also spoke the truth even it cost him the loss of his popularity.

That change is not an easy change but is done by and through faith; being renewed and changed in our mind of the things in earth towards the things of the Heavenly; setting our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ as our author and finisher our faith.

So that we may die with Jesus to sin in the grave, and be raised again to new life by the spirit and living in devotion towards God.

In my best estimation.

 

[farouk]

Farouk,

From my lifestyle of growing up Farouk even at this stage in my life. The freedom, choices, and experience that can come from life should be in even that of a Child's life to be a choice that they do and experience. Of course in the realities sake of understanding danger that exist out there in the world should be found out, seen, and heard.

My experience in life has been a cultivated experience of all kind of good and all kind of evil, and has made me who am today especially with finding out about God and starting to learn and be taught about Him and Jesus the Son of God.

That is the only response can think of. All people including myself will have to live with every experience they have done; including the good and evil that we have done from even that of hating, murmuring about others, and all of those things.

There will be only one life changing factor is that of letting God come into your life which God can be seen through all the good and bad in my opinion through this life; and God is good, just look at Jesus Christ in his life that he lived in humbleness, lowly, gentleness, forgiveness, mercy, and also spoke the truth even it cost him the loss of his popularity.

That change is not an easy change but is done by and through faith; being renewed and changed in our mind of the things in earth towards the things of the Heavenly; setting our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ as our author and finisher our faith.

So that we may die with Jesus to sin in the grave, and be raised again to new life by the spirit and living in devotion towards God.

In my best estimation.

@MatthewG Thanks a lot for your general thoughts that are indeed Christ-focused. They are indeed borne of conviction, I can see clearly.

(You might prefer then not to be specific about Christian 16/17 year olds being introduced to the potentials of faith based tattoo artwork by Christian parents, i.e., at least in part so that they might perhaps avoid some artwork that they might later regret..)

 

[farouk]

Hopefully that young lady is able to give a defense to everyone who asks her the reason for the hope that is in her. John 3:16 is a fine place to start...

@LTJMP14 PS:

GodsGrace said: ↑

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

GodsGrace is right about just how widely it's done — it seems to go with the territory at that stage of life, so to speak — and so some would say that because she really wanted to have hers done with John 3.16 is all to her credit, if you see the reasoning?