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

[Heart2Soul]

@Heart2Soul I guess some ppl who are critical just don't realize simply how prevalent it was in the 19th century among the upper classes:

"...one of the major resurgences of interest in tattoos in Europe occurred among 19th century high society Victorian women (as well as men), after British explorers .. brought back the practice to Britain. .. [It] grew during the 19th century, and even Winston Churchill’s mother had a tattoo .. on her wrist. Queen Victoria was also believed to have had a tattoo of a Bengal tiger.. . From Victorian Europe, the craze spread to America. In 1897, (art critic, Margot) Miffin says that an estimated 75% of American society women were tattooed.."

(Black Fire: Women, Tattoos, and the Transformative Power of Body Art )

It's very widespread again now, of course. All the young Christians - male and female - with Bible verses tattooed with whom I have spoken seem to have had them done for evangelistic reasons, anyhow...

GodsGrace said: ↑


Since right down to the most conservative types - as GodsGrace says - it's now what they seem to do, it seems to be so widely what young Christians seem as well to use.

Interesting history...who would have thought women would be involved back in the early 1900's.

 

[Truman]

Well, I guess the point is that some Christians who have it done in faith based designs might not necessarily experience a great deal of exhilaration from the inking procedure as the chosen design takes shape, but they might receive an ongoing quiet satisfaction that the faith expression - Bible verse or phrase or Christians fish sign <>< - is being an effective talking point or matter for thought among other people on a regular or occasional basis.

This is what Dr. Beth S., MD, said: "Embracing the pain For many tattoo enthusiasts, the pain is an important part of the process. Controlling the pain is less important than feeling it, accepting it, and embracing the endorphin rush that pain brings.
If it's your first tattoo, the pain can be a rite of passage. Some people see it as a fair price to pay to wear permanent, beautiful, meaningful art. Some even enjoy it as an important part of the tattooing..l." From 'Controlling the pain with tattooing', https://tattoos.lovetoknow.com/Controlling_the_Pain

For that answer, I just put my hat on so I could tip it to you. Lol!

 

[farouk]

Interesting history...who would have thought women would be involved back in the early 1900's.

@Heart2Soul While for the believer the main aspect might be its potential for faith based expression (Bible verses, etc.), there's really nothing new about it and what we have been seeing in recent decades is a gentle coming round full circle of what not a few 19th century women were finding the confidence to do. (I think you mentioned that your daughters have embraced it quite enthusiastically, anyway.) Here's another quote I saw:

"By the 1870s the tattoo trend had taken hold in mainstream society and even touched the upper class.

Tattoo culture, boosted by naval experiences of working class and royal heirs alike, was popular in the United States starting in the 1850s and 1860s, in part because it served as a safeguard against anonymity during the Civil War. New York's first tattoo parlor is said to have opened in 1846 by Martin Hildebrandt. ... According to an 1893 article in the Sully County watchman, both women and men received tattoos... .
[A]bout the ladies who visited for body art:
“I am an electrician by profession,” said the man, “and it was while serving in the English army that I learned tattooing. I used to do odd jobs among the soldiers. Then when I left the army some gentlemen came to me to have certain designs tattooed on them, and I consented. My work developed into a business, and I have been here these years just as busy as I can be.”
“You have ladies also who come to you for this purpose?”
“Yes. Their designs are simple, however. Usually flowers, insects, or birds. I have in mind at present a lady much famed at court...who has a bee tattooed on her shoulder to represent the initial of her christian name.”
Tattoo Culture in the Victorian Era"

For them it became a means to express something confidently.

 

[farouk]

@Samara777 FYI....another thread I started...

 

[Samara777]

I wouldn't say fight it but I wouldn't say ignore it. The options seem a bit extreme. I don't support tattoos because long story short not only did God speak against it (there had to have been a reason) but also I read a testimony where Jesus showed someone hell and that people were there for reasons such as tattoos. Now I do believe if you have one and ask for forgiveness (repent) Jesus can and will forgive but I would never promote or ignore it.

Fighting tattoos can just as easily turn people away from Jesus so start with Jesus's Love and Mercy and importance for repentance and go from there. The Holy Spirit will convict you of the Truth He always does with me for sure.

Keep in mind I am someone who for a long time wanted scripture tattoos on my body and was super close to getting them. The testimony changed my mind and walk with Jesus forever now I am careful to tell people the truth, whether they accept it is up to them.

 

[farouk]

I wouldn't say fight it but I wouldn't say ignore it. The options seem a bit extreme. I don't support tattoos because long story short not only did God speak against it (there had to have been a reason) but also I read a testimony where Jesus showed someone hell and that people were there for reasons such as tattoos. Now I do believe if you have one and ask for forgiveness (repent) Jesus can and will forgive but I would never promote or ignore it.

Fighting tattoos can just as easily turn people away from Jesus so start with Jesus's Love and Mercy and importance for repentance and go from there. The Holy Spirit will convict you of the Truth He always does with me for sure.

Keep in mind I am someone who for a long time wanted scripture tattoos on my body and was super close to getting them. The testimony changed my mind and walk with Jesus forever now I am careful to tell people the truth, whether they accept it is up to them.

@Samara777 Thanks for your thoughtful post.

So was the claim about the Lord Jesus supposedly telling someone about tattoos in hell really a Scriptural one? (hunch? 'vision', etc.?)

All the young people with whom I have spoken who had Bible verses tattooed seem to have had them done for evangelistic reasons. (Never once did I think that despite their seeming evangelistic motives they would instead land up in hell. ...)

 

[Samara777]

I know it's hard to believe and I had a hard time believing it too. I think you could compare it to people saying they can have sex before marriage because they love their partner and are treating them as if they are married.

What I'm saying is that if something is wrong it is wrong despite intention of doing it. If you break a command to evangelize I would still view it as breaking a command.

"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."
Proverbs 14:12

"Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:19

 

[farouk]

I know it's hard to believe and I had a hard time believing it too. I think you could compare it to people saying they can have sex before marriage because they love their partner and are treating them as if they are married.

What I'm saying is that if something is wrong it is wrong despite intention of doing it. If you break a command to evangelize I would still view it as breaking a command.

"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."
Proverbs 14:12

"Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:19

@Samara777 If the person meant that he or she (often it is a she who gets tattooed) had a conviction not to get tattooed, then I could understand the terminology more. As regards Leviticus 19.28, the adjacent verse seems to say about not trimming one's beard; do preachers shave? if they do indeed shave, are they not thus acknowledging that they are New Testament believers under grace rather than Old Testament Jews in the land under the law?

My wife and I talked with a young lady with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; she seemed quite shy and modest, but with an inner confidence and John 3.16 was her favorite Bible verse. It's not a question of having either to agree or to disagree with her. But I would not call her a fornicator. Such young people can rather be usefully encouraged in the Scriptures, whatever people's private views might be of the suitability of their ink medium of communication.

 

[Addy]

I know it's hard to believe and I had a hard time believing it too. I think you could compare it to people saying they can have sex before marriage because they love their partner and are treating them as if they are married.

Are you actually comparing a tattoo with the excuse for pre-marital sex???

 

[farouk]

Are you actually comparing a tattoo with the excuse for pre-marital sex???

@Addy Yes, I found the comparison between getting a tattoo ......................................

FHII said: ↑

I got my first and only tattoo when I was 25. I was told it was addictive, but for me it was not. .. I don't regret it.. But it isn't an accurate representation of me today. .. 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.

GodsGrace said: ↑

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

soul man said: ↑

my girls love the ink .. Tattooing in our day is big, if you need or want a tattoo, that is what you should have written in the biggest boldest lettering you can get. Stare at it daily, study it daily, it never gets old. It is the only message you need that flows from scripture in full depth of understanding for anyone that will pick it up and want to know something about it.

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.

.........................................

...and...umm, the other....rather a strange one...

Grateful anyway to @Samara777 for his willingness to contribute.

 

[Addy]

Grateful anyway to @Samara777 for his willingness to contribute.

Grateful for this view is NOT how I would state it... but you are far more patient and tolerant than I when it comes to legalism.

 

[farouk]

Grateful for this view is NOT how I would state it... but you are far more patient and tolerant than I when it comes to legalism.

@Addy Well, I can empathize with Acolyte when she 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...

The young lady with whom my wife and I talked who had received the full wording of John 3.16 on her wrist area seemed to have had it done with testimony in mind: motive has a lot to do with it, I think, right?

I can quite imagine her having gone to the tattoo parlor and having felt overjoyed at the prospect of conversations being stimulated as a result of her receiving inking in a Gospel-effective verse: I can imagine that she would have felt it to have been a thoroughly wholesome and encouraging experience.

 

[Samara777]

@Samara777 If the person meant that he or she (often it is a she who gets tattooed) had a conviction not to get tattooed, then I could understand the terminology more. As regards Leviticus 19.28, the adjacent verse seems to say about not trimming one's beard; do preachers shave? if they do indeed shave, are they not thus acknowledging that they are New Testament believers under grace rather than Old Testament Jews in the land under the law?

My wife and I talked with a young lady with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; she seemed quite shy and modest, but with an inner confidence and John 3.16 was her favorite Bible verse. It's not a question of having either to agree or to disagree with her. But I would not call her a fornicator. Such young people can rather be usefully encouraged in the Scriptures, whatever people's private views might be of the suitability of their ink medium of communication.

That's a common excuse to break the command about tattoos, but keep in mind it also is a command not to steal, not to murder, do we still follow those? We could nitpick at what we should and should not do I am only telling you the testimony I read. Whether you choose to believe it is up to you. I believe the testimony and would not encourage others to get tattoos. That is all.

 

[Samara777]

Are you actually comparing a tattoo with the excuse for pre-marital sex???

Why are you so mad? Sin is equally sin in God's eyes, there is no greater or lesser sin it is all bad to God, and we should ask forgiveness for it whatever it is.

 

[farouk]

That's a common excuse to break the command about tattoos, but keep in mind it also is a command not to steal, not to murder, do we still follow those? We could nitpick at what we should and should not do I am only telling you the testimony I read. Whether you choose to believe it is up to you. I believe the testimony and would not encourage others to get tattoos. That is all.

@Samara777 Thanks for your comment; and if what you heard was his or her personal conviction, that is fine. What I don't see it trying to attach the authority of God to any idea that all tattoo wearers must go to hell, irrespective of what they actually believe — which is what it almost sounded like, even if it was not the intention of the person saying it.

 

[Addy]

Why are you so mad? Sin is equally sin in God's eyes, there is no greater or lesser sin it is all bad to God, and we should ask forgiveness for it whatever it is.

I'm not mad... I am disgusted with what people have done to the Gospel.
Comparing a tattoo to an act of sin is lunacy... but hey ... you are joined by many others... so... ENJOY the condemnation.

 

[farouk]

I'm not mad... I am disgusted with what people have done to the Gospel.
Comparing a tattoo to an act of sin is lunacy... but hey ... you are joined by many others... so... ENJOY the condemnation.

@Addy Paul said:

"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." (1 Corinthians 6.12). Paul circumcised Timothy, not because there was any inherent value to it but because if he had it, then Timothy might be able to witness more effectively to Jews. Similarly I can understand young people wanting to witness to their friends having a comparable thought process, can't you?

 

[Samara777]

I'm not mad... I am disgusted with what people have done to the Gospel.
Comparing a tattoo to an act of sin is lunacy... but hey ... you are joined by many others... so... ENJOY the condemnation.

@Samara777 Thanks for your comment; and if what you heard was his or her personal conviction, that is fine. What I don't see it trying to attach the authority of God to any idea that all tattoo wearers must go to hell, irrespective of what they actually believe — which is what it almost sounded like, even if it was not the intention of the person saying it.

What would you do if you were in my shoes and read such a testimony, and what would you do if it was true? Would you not share? It's not easy for me to share such an unpopular opinion I could've much easier said nothing at all but this thread asked so I answered. I'm not saying Jesus can't be merciful I just don't want to encourage something I believe is wrong.

 

[farouk]

What would you do if you were in my shoes and read such a testimony, and what would you do if it was true? Would you not share? It's not easy for me to share such an unpopular opinion I could've much easier said nothing at all but this thread asked so I answered. I'm not saying Jesus can't be merciful I just don't want to encourage something I believe is wrong.

@Samara777 My question is, Where does the authority come from to say that those with tattoos will be in hell? this is my question, really.

Another question that ppl ask is, What of the context of the Leviticus 19 verse, 'for the dead'?

I appreciate your willingness to discuss. (My point is not that people should get tattooed...although so many Christians do get witness Bible verses, etc., done, and they often find them very effective conversation-starters.)

 

[Addy]

What would you do if you were in my shoes and read such a testimony, and what would you do if it was true? Would you not share? It's not easy for me to share such an unpopular opinion I could've much easier said nothing at all but this thread asked so I answered. I'm not saying Jesus can't be merciful I just don't want to encourage something I believe is wrong.

This is not my thread and out of respect for @farouk... I will make this my last comment.
For starters... I would not be watching/reading anyone's opinions on tattoos. therefore I would never be in your shoes.
Secondly... I am secure in my salvation...and I understand that Christ is concerned about the heart.

If you want to stand by the tattoo scripture in Leviticus... you had better be prepared to follow the ENTIRE law... Sadly... many Christians have come to pick and choose what they want to proclaim as right and wrong.

Your comparison of tattoos and pre-marital sex is absolutely incorrect in my opinion... but welcome to the forums... the place where everyone and their dog gets to have a say.

Farouk is a most patient man... I on the other hand lack the finesse of dealing with/tolerating legalistic views.

@farouk... sorry for the harshness... I haven't had my morning coffee yet.