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

[LTJMP14]

@LTJMP14 PS:

GodsGrace said: ↑


GodGrace 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?

I understand the peer excitement involved in coming of age, so to speak, and going to a tattoo parlor for the first time. I almost succumbed to peer pressure in my youth, which meant traveling out of state at the time. I praise God I did not. Many I know have, including my own children, and I was not pleased at their choices. However, when it comes right down to it, we are to honor and glorify the Lord and present our bodies (our very beings) as living sacrifices unto the Lord. Getting a tattoo profits us nothing. IMHO.

 

[farouk]

I understand the peer excitement involved in coming of age, so to speak, and going to a tattoo parlor for the first time. I almost succumbed to peer pressure in my youth, which meant traveling out of state at the time. I praise God I did not. Many I know have, including my own children, and I was not pleased at their choices. However, when it comes right down to it, we are to honor and glorify the Lord and present our bodies (our very beings) as living sacrifices unto the Lord. Getting a tattoo profits us nothing. IMHO.

@LTMP14 Thanks for your comment. You mentioned your own children's tattoos; so any of them faith based? or if they are not, would you have been more pleased if they had been faith based, such as in John 3.16 design that the young lady that my wife and I talked to, had?

I guess there are various perspectives and not only as peer excitement (which is of course in some measure true, but not necessarily the main motivation for Christians who get Bible verse designed inked).

 

[farouk]

@Mayflower A lot of ppl have posted in the past few hours. Do you see @LTJMP14 's reasoning at all? I guess the subject can be approached from various angles. (He raises the issue of peer excitement.)

 

[farouk]

@farouk … I am fearfully and wonderfully made ...

@jessiblue FYI:

pinterest

Bible verse tattoos are very widespread; and all the young people with Bible verses tattooed that I have talked to seem to have had them done for evangelistic reasons, anyway.

 

[Mantis]

Tattoos are vanity. That being said I am littered with them from my youth. I think the only one that would benefit me is one I received in a garage from a hells angel. He said if you ever go to prison show the inmates this tattoo and you’ll be protected lol. I hate my tattoos. If I can ever afford it I wouldn’t mind covering them up with quality tattoos of images of wildlife etc. or even images of our Lord.

 

[farouk]

Tattoos are vanity. That being said I am littered with them from my youth. I think the only one that would benefit me is one I received in a garage from a hells angel. He said if you ever go to prison show the inmates this tattoo and you’ll be protected lol. I hate my tattoos. If I can ever afford it I wouldn’t mind covering them up with quality tattoos of images of wildlife etc. or even images of our Lord.

Hi @Mantis Sometimes the urge to cover up can seem pressing. For example, a woman with the tattoo of an ex-bf's name, might, on being truly and soundly converted, strongly prefer to go back to the parlor for an artist to change what it says, e.g., 'BILL' to "BIBLE', etc., in order to reflect more fully her faith now, and not be reminded of the sort of memories about Bill in her unbelieving days. In those circumstance a modifying inking could become a joyful experience instead. (Just a thought...)

 

[LTJMP14]

@LTMP14 Thanks for your comment. You mentioned your own children's tattoos; so any of them faith based? or if they are not, would you have been more pleased if they had been faith based, such as in John 3.16 design that the young lady that my wife and I talked to, had?

I guess there are various perspectives and not only as peer excitement (which is of course in some measure true, but not necessarily the main motivation for Christians who get Bible verse designed inked).

My children's tats are not faith based. Regardless, I would have preferred they not stain ther bodies with ink that I'm certain one day they will regret. I just hope they are able to convince their own children not to do what they have done, but to love the Lord and foresake the things of the world.

 

[farouk]

My children's tats are not faith based. Regardless, I would have preferred they not stain ther bodies with ink that I'm certain one day they will regret. I just hope they are able to convince their own children not to do what they have done, but to love the Lord and foresake the things of the world.

Thanks, @LTJMP14 ; your thoughts appreciated.

It's interesting how other posters who are parents have said they relate to their own children's tattoos, FYI:

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.

Acolyte said: ↑

My son had 7 or 8 tattoos before I even thought about it. ... Those who get scripture must be overjoyed. The money and pain are outweighed by the message they witness to... No more ink for me. ... I do think they are fine for whoever wants one. It's just not something I would do again.

I guess it can all be a matter of perspective, right?

 

[jessiblue]

Well, the way I see it …. The Lord has specifically told us how to evangelize. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

Personally, I don’t need a tattoo to help me witness.

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

-jb

 

[farouk]

Well, the way I see it …. The Lord has specifically told us how to evangelize. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

Personally, I don’t need a tattoo to help me witness.

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

-jb

@jessiblue Great verse there; did you also see the 'fearfully and wonderfully made' Psalm tattoo, above? I guess that Psalm has become a talking point for both the young lady's friends and for strangers she meets, probably gotten in faith with a view to using it as an evangelistic tool, anyway.

 

[farouk]

Back

Maybe I should get John 3:16 tattooed on my wrist ...

@Josho Well it should always be a personal decision and initiative; no one should persuade someone else to do it. But all the young people with whom I have spoken who have gotten Bible verses tattooed have seemingly had them done for evangelistic reasons. (Even if you get 2 or 3 different quotes from different parlor artists, you only should go ahead when you are truly ready, out of conviction...)

 

[jessiblue]

I ain’t gettin’ no tattoo.

 

[farouk]

I ain’t gettin’ no tattoo.

@jessiblue Oh I know you won't! But I mentioned that particular one because of the verse from the Psalms which you quoted...

 

[Truman]

"This one belongs to the Lord." Hmmm.

 

[farouk]

"This one belongs to the Lord." Hmmm.

@Truman the Levite Thanks for the comment! so what were you referring to? (maybe I'm half asleep or something...)

 

[Truman]

It might make for a good first tattoo!
Y-Abba, D-Abba, Do! Lol

 

[farouk]

It might make for a good first tattoo!
Y-Abba, D-Abba, Do! Lol

@Truman the Levite Oh I see; you were referring to the wording of a potential tattoo design, kind of hypothetically, at least...

Thanks for clarification...!

 

[Truman]

No, for the first time in my life, I considered getting a tattoo!

 

[farouk]

No, for the first time in my life, I considered getting a tattoo!

@Truman the Levite Well, even so, don't rush into it; get some quotes from parlors; and even though you'd likely have lots of conversations with ppl if you have it done, make sure you do it at a time that you're ready for it, and not before...

But like I said, all the young people with Bible verses tattooed that I have talked to seem to have had it done for evangelistic reasons, anyhow.

 

[LTJMP14]

Thanks, @LTJMP14 ; your thoughts appreciated.

It's interesting how other posters who are parents have said they relate to their own children's tattoos, FYI:

Rita said: ↑


Acolyte said: ↑


I guess it can all be a matter of perspective, right?

Yes, Farouk, it is a matter of perspective. As Rupertus Meldenius said: "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity." So, re: tattoos, if you do get inked, do so for the glory of God and let it add to the light that is in you, and may it also be salt adding flavor to your proclamation of the gospel message. Amen.