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

[farouk]

i appreciate and lovingly observe when colors and life are incorporated into tats.

Love me some Sola Scriptura

@David in NJ Yes, you can see that the colors might initially be a reason why ppl might compliment the lady on her tattoo artwork, but really for her the colors are also a pragmatic tool for her immediately to be able to say to be people that according to the Bible, salvation is by Scripture alone, by faith alone, by grace alone, indeed, by Christ alone. Opportunities for testimony, over and over.

If there is a Mrs. @David in NJ , however, I realize this is not something that every Christian lady would necessarily choose to have done; it's very much an individual piece of motivation for the person to have strong feelings to use, as a witness tool.

 

[farouk]

Are they wanting it because their friends have one...

PS: @Heart2Soul

You're quite right; it's what they do at 18 now.

GodsGrace said: ↑

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

But also: All the young ppl tattooed with Bible verses that I have spoken with seem evidently to have had them done as an evangelistic tool.

It's easy to see how important it is to get Biblical faith issues sorted out by God's grace in faith while they are young.

(Whether or not they get a tattoo parlor appointment also. I just don't buy the 'not ladylike' stuff, though, anyway.)

 

[farouk]

PS: @David in NJ Per your comments earlier about color; I think the lady is really using color as seemingly the main reason for the artwork, but actually her motivation is likely to be in order to provoke thought about what the inscriptions say.

Some tattoo parlors seem to specialize in calligraphy, by way of artwork. (I saw a site from Las Vegas from a parlor that does make calligraphy a specialism.) One can see how this can apply well for Christians motivated to use Bible quote calligraphy in witness ink.

Actually, all the young ppl with Bible verses tattooed that I have spoken with seem to have had them done as evangelistic tools.

( @Lambano )

 

[farouk]

PS:

Everyone who gets one has to be convinced in his own mind that it's okay (Romans 14:5, Romans 14:22).

@Ferris Bueller That Romans 14 passage is very relevant, yes, right?

 

[farouk]

I'm wearing simple stud earrings, I have a nose stud.. I got my nose stud when I was 18..I refuse to take it out. Rebekah also had a nose ring and it was put there because she was chosen by God.

@FluffyYellowDuck And why should you take it out, right? Simple studs and a little ink can be nicely minimalist, can't they?

Can be kind of, a simple, straightforward stage in growing up, really.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

PS: @Ferris Bueller That Romans 14 passage is very relevant, yes, right?

That is what governs this issue.
That and 1 Corinthians 8:9-13.

 

[Lambano]

@FluffyYellowDuck And why should you take it out, right? Simple studs and a little ink can be nicely minimalist, can't they?

Can be kind of, a simple, straightforward stage in growing up, really.

My wife has a small opal nose stud to go with her butterfly tattoos. Looks good, even on an, um, mature woman such as herself. Of course, I think everything looks good on her.

Yes, she does use her tattoos as conversation starters. She’s an 18-year breast cancer survivor (one of her tattoos is the pink ribbon symbol), and she’ll praise God for it to whoever will listen.

 

[farouk]

It's a matter of conscience, IMO.

@Ferris Bueller Reminds me also of Romans 14.14: " I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean."

 

[Ferris Bueller]

@Ferris Bueller Reminds me also of Romans 14.14: " I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean."

This is where I would advise someone to be careful.

1) I think we can see from the context that Paul is not making a sweeping generalization that absolutely everything that exists and any and all behavior is clean in and of itself. Obviously, there are clear cut things like drunkenness and incest that are not. No debate necessary about those. And things like LSD and dog poo would not constitute something that any under any circumstances are, in and of themselves, spiritually clean for recreational consumption. This is a chapter about disputable matters. Things can become legitimately disputable because of cultural and generational differences. And that's where this chapter comes in.

2) Just because something is clean you can still be sinning by indulging it if it has adverse effects on someone else. And I'm of the opinion this is where one is most likely going to sin regarding disputable matters. A tattoo means something much different to my generation than it does to my children's and their children's generation. Especially on a woman. So until my generation passes, this is going to be a disputable matter. That's just the way it is.

3) Just because a person does decide that they are not sinning in regard to one and two above, something doesn't become not sinful just because we say it's not sinful. Paul warns us to not condemn ourselves by what we may (erroneously) approve of.

 

[farouk]

A tattoo means something much different to my generation than it does to my children's and their children's generation. Especially on a woman. So until my generation passes, this is going to be a disputable matter.

@Ferris Bueller Thanks for your comments. Obviously ppl are welcome to all sorts of differing individual views and preferences; this is part of the nature of things, indeed.

It may be significant, though, that historically tattooing was apparently very widespread among 19th century high society Victorian women:

...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)

So when reports today from the Bible Belt seem to indicate that it is widespread there among women, it would seem to have a good deal of historic precedent.

QueenCat said:

Around here (Bible Belt), it is common, especially among evangelical Christians, for the girls under about 40 to have religious tattoos. More do than don't, especially when you get to the under 30 crowd. I hardly know any female at church that is under 30 that does not have a tattoo.

forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot com

A lot of Christians do seem to have it done confidently in order to use tattoo artwork as a proven effective witness means, anyway. All the young ppl with Bible verses tattooed seem to have had them done for evangelistic reasons. A young lady with whom my wife and I spoke had the whole the wording of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area.

(2c....)

(cc @Lambano )

 

[Reggie Belafonte]

My Sisters daughter got a tattoo and it's in regards to my Dad after he died.
I said nothing. but I know for a fact that my Dad would have a total fit, he would go ballistic if I was to even mention Tattoos, you have lowered yourself as soon as it's done. There is no excuse ! to deface yourself.
Questions can be asked as to why, have you done such to yourself ? who do you think you are ? what is wrong with you ? what do you think you do ? Their is no excuse ! you are out of the Will directly, get out We are not common trash ! don't you ever try and lower yourself ! I can hear it all. We are not common we are the people of God ! for @%&* sake. Not them !
That was my fathers generation and before them full on ! within every Church as well, that I went to as a young fella, it was adamant !

Jews can not be buried in a Jewish grave yard, who have got themselves Tattoo. all them Laws do have foundations you know, Christianity did not toss the OT Laws of Moses out the window at all and any so called Christian who claims that Christianity did, is of Satan.
The OT Laws are the foundations of Christianity but they are under "Grace" now and that dominates the living words of the Law and brings it all to life.
Were before the OT Law had no Life, but like an Egg, she has hatched and brought forth Life, as what Jesus says, he came to give you Life in abundance ! ? Spiritually, of the Holy Spirit and so if one offends such it is to the determent.

There is nothing in Tattooing ones self that honours God. Tell me of just one ?

 

[farouk]

My wife has a small opal nose stud to go with her butterfly tattoos. Looks good...

@Lambano

Yes, nose rings are thoroughly Scriptural (Genesis 24.47; Ezekiel 16.12).

Yes, she does use her tattoos as conversation starters. She’s an 18-year breast cancer survivor (one of her tattoos is the pink ribbon symbol), and she’ll praise God for it to whoever will listen.

Glad your dw is doing well now.

Ink is so well established as a way so many ppl express their personalities and for some ppl such as Nancy here, it's so matter of fact and part of the scene that they don't pay any attention:

I personally just do not have any interest in this subject. .. Pretty much every one I know, and that includes Christians and myself, have a tattoo so...I am not criticizing anybody here or anywhere....

A lot of ppl do use them as conversation-starters; and some demographics such as nurses seem to have embraced them wholeheartedly, anyway:

grinnurse said:

I have 4. .. They are usually great conversation starters with old and young alike. If I have a patient with tattoos I always comment and then they want to see .. In the hospital that I work at you would be hard pressed to find employees without tattoos.. We even have significantly older nurses that .. have tattoos.

allnurses dot com

Some Christians shrink from them and are hesitant; others seem to think that a Scripture/faith tattoo is a thoroughly proven and very effective tool and just go for it... Some young Christians seemingly can't wait to turn 18 and go to the parlor for the first inking; significantly, perhaps, all the young people with Bible verses tattooed that I have talked to seem to have had them done for evangelistic reasons; as if to say: I'm an adult man / woman and I'm confidently tattooed showing my priorities for the Gospel.

 

[farouk]

@FluffyYellowDuck So did you have any skin reaction when you first came home from the tattoo parlor? or maybe it was all right from the start. (Different ppl's skin can react in quite different ways.)

 

[farouk]

I used to get the temporary tattoos

@Cassandra Some ppl stick with the temporary ones only - faith based or not, as the case may be. For others the temp. ones seem to be a stepping stone for an appointment at the tattoo parlor.

 

[Lambano]

As a cautionary tale - my wife picked up an infection on her last tattoo, which is why it was the last one. I gotta wonder how clean they keep those needles.

 

[farouk]

As a cautionary tale - my wife picked up an infection on her last tattoo, which is why it was the last one. I gotta wonder how clean they keep those needles.

@Lambano So, she has several tattoos, does she?

(I think the parlors are better inspected places; there was a time when there was relatively little inspection.)

 

[farouk]

My wife has a small opal nose stud to go with her butterfly tattoos.

PS: @Lambano Some tattoo establishments offer piercing also; driven by a strong demand for both.

 

[Lambano]

PS: @Lambano Some tattoo establishments offer piercing also; driven by a strong demand for both.

She got her nose stud in a different parlor, in a rough part of town. I went with her, and I carried a snub-nosed .38 in my pocket. We’re not going back for another piercing.

 

[farouk]

She got her nose stud in a different parlor, in a rough part of town. I went with her, and I carried a snub-nosed .38 in my pocket. We’re not going back for another piercing.

@Lambano You're right that parlors sometimes were formerly identified with dimly lit, industrial sections, sometimes open only at night when the tattoo artist had clocked off from other work. Years ago, the image of a tattoo parlor was in rough areas of San Diego or Tijuana, for a mainly sailor clientele.

Now a lot of tattoo parlors are more like salons (especially give the sheer proportion of women who require tattoo and piercing services).

I can understand your wife not wanting to go back to the parlor you mentioned, whether or not for her it's actually a matter of having gotten pierced jewelry put in enough times yet.

 

[farouk]

I'm going to have to look closer too, farouk. But I think the pastor's wife has a faith tattoo also. I think I saw one...

@Mayflower So did you happen to confirm that she does...?