Faith-based tattoo: as a result of one, did you ever talk with someone? (Poll included)

[farouk]

My former wife had tats when I met her and described her desire for more as being like an addiction. She liked the pain associated with it. That wasn't a healthy desire. She only added one while we were married, a large and masculine looking cross, but she went back to have old faded tats inked again. The woman had lots of issues.

@michaelvpardo Yes, well some Christians seem to desire to join the ranks of the inked up but are content with small amount of inking that can simply radiate gently a wholesome Godly contentment and modesty:

tattoo hyphen awe dot blogspot dot com

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.

As regards the pain, I read this from a medical doctor:

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.." From 'Controlling the pain with tattooing', https://tattoos.lovetoknow.com/Controlling_the_Pain

You must know about the past experiences in your household, of course.

 

[michaelvpardo]

@michaelvpardo Yes, well some Christians seem to desire to join the ranks of the inked up but are content with small amount of inking that can simply radiate gently a wholesome Godly contentment and modesty:

tattoo hyphen awe dot blogspot dot com

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.

As regards the pain, I read this from a medical doctor:

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.." From 'Controlling the pain with tattooing', https://tattoos.lovetoknow.com/Controlling_the_Pain

You must know about the past experiences in your household, of course.

You notice the mention of endorphin rush? Endorphins are the body's natural narcotic. They reduce pain in high stress activity or prolonged muscle fatigue. They are the source of the so called "runner's high, " and the compounds that excite the mental state of pagan practictioners of rituals involving piercings or wild prolonged dancing.

 

[farouk]

You notice the mention of endorphin rush? Endorphins are the body's natural narcotic. They reduce pain in high stress activity or prolonged muscle fatigue. They are the source of the so called "runner's high." They are also the compounds that excite the mental state of pagan practictioners of rituals involving piercings or wild prolonged dancing.

@michaelvpardo So this might have been the aspect that you were talking about, then.

While some Christians very strongly desire to use the tattoo parlor for a faith inking, sometimes it's minimal and all over very quickly, and so I guess the aspect that concerned you would presumably not even remotely apply:

inked-app dot com

 

[michaelvpardo]

@michaelvpardo So this might have been the aspect that you were talking about, then.

While some Christians very strongly desire to use the tattoo parlor for a faith inking, sometimes it's minimal and all over very quickly, and so I guess the aspect that concerned you would presumably not even remotely apply:

inked-app dot com

I try to avoid temptation to sin, because I forget what the Lord taught in the Lord's prayer for the disciples. We aren't all tempted by the same things, but when God singled out things as prohibitions under the law, don't you think such things would provide temptations even if there were no apparent moral transgression? God is all wise, people not so much.

 

[farouk]

I try to avoid temptation to sin, because I forget what the Lord taught in the Lord's prayer for the disciples. We aren't all tempted by the same things, but when God singled out things as prohibitions under the law, don't you think such things would provide temptations even if there were no apparent moral transgression? God is all wise, people not so much.

@michaelvpardo I suppose in some ways there is a comparison with circumcision. In Galatians Paul strongly goes against the idea of ppl being compulsorily circumcised. Yet also Paul circumcised Timothy, not as an obligation but as a witness tool in a sense that if Jews knew Timothy had been circumcised they would likely be more ready to listen to his Gospel testimony. There is a clear distinction: being circumcised as a regrettable means of avoiding the reproach of the Gospel; and being circumcised as a witness tool (albeit a somewhat painful one) that the wearer thinks will likely result in many more opportunities for testimony.

(If this comparison makes any sense?)

 

[farouk]

...she went back to have old faded tats inked again.

PS: @michaelvpardo I'm sure you know all about the various issues.

It's actually not unusual for ppl with tattoos to back and have existing work touched up where the ink has faded a little. (It's almost a fairly standard practice with a lot of veteran tattooees.)

All the young ppl with whom I have talked who have had Bible verses tattooed have seemed to have had them done as testimony tools, and I can see them going back in several years' time to the parlor to have some more pigmentation machined in so that the Bible verses can be more legible again.

Some ppl would say this is simply sensible.

 

[michaelvpardo]

PS: @michaelvpardo I'm sure you know all about the various issues.

It's actually not unusual for ppl with tattoos to back and have existing work touched up where the ink has faded a little. (It's almost a fairly standard practice with a lot of veteran tattooees.)

All the young ppl with whom I have talked who have had Bible verses tattooed have seemed to have had them done as testimony tools, and I can see them going back in several years' time to the parlor to have some more pigmentation machined in so that the Bible verses can be more legible again.

Some ppl would say this is simply sensible.

Perhaps, it just isn't relevant to me.

 

[farouk]

If they have a clear conscience concerning tattoo's by all means that's their choice.
If others are concerned or conflicted over getting a tattoo, then when in doubt don't.

PS: @Ziggy

It's interesting that DaveL even regrets NOT having gotten a faith-based tattoo, years back:

Dave L said:

I think when I was a young Christian, a scripture or Christian art Tattoo would have helped me stake a claim as a Christian and made people aware early on. It would have helped sort out friends from the start. So I regret not having that as an option during that time. .. If I found myself in a similar situation to when I was young, I'd probably have a tattoo.

People's individual experiences are going to differ, aren't they?

Some ppl regret their ink.

Some ppl definitely don't.

It's inevitable, I think, right?

 

[farouk]

Perhaps, it just isn't relevant to me.

@michaelvpardo Like @Ziggy indicated, ppl's personal experiences are going to differ, right?

 

[farouk]

Christ called us to let our light shine. People should be able to see Christ in us without a neon sign (or tattoo) declaring it.

Matthew 5:14-16
[14]Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
[15]Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
[16]Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

@TLHKAJ For some Christians it's more as a personal reminder that they go get inked up with a faith based tattoo at the parlor. (This for example would be what @Ziggy recently stated would be her reason for doing it.)

For others it's for a witness tool; all the young ppl that I have talked to with Bible verses tattooed seem to have have had them done as witness tools. What you imply, of course, is true about the light of testimony itself that needs to shine the most strongly.

 

[farouk]

From back a bit:

As a purely practical matter, I doubt that anyone ever got hired for a job because of the exceptional quality of their ink work, but a lot of candidates never made it past the first interview because they had a visible tattoo.

@atpollard

source: shrm dot org

Well, actually, these days genteel people of a certain maturity in business may also be inked up; it really isn't unusual, is it?

 

[Goldie75]

Have just skimmed through the last few pages of this thread. I’d never given tattoos much thought. I personally don’t want any, but I don’t have an issue with those who do. I used to regularly walk my dog with a chap who’s …well..I don’t think there was an exposed part of him which wasn’t inked…his face, neck and hands were completely covered. I just quickly learnt to see passed those…I know this isn’t the type of thing being talked about here though.

I agree with others who’ve said whatever is not done in faith is sin. So I think the most important part over getting a tattoo is being fully persuaded with a clear conscience before God. Faith works by love…and love is the fulfilment of the law. So a faith based tattoo for the purpose of faith and witnessing surely can’t be a bad thing…

Also, a portion of scripture came to mind…

1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

1Co 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

1Co 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

1Co 9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

 

[farouk]

My oldest daughter has multiple tattoos. My wife has a butterfly on the top of her foot...My youngest daughter has no desire to get a tattoo...They had their tattoos for a few years before I got mine. I wasn't that interested in one at the time, and I wanted to do one that was meaningful and not one I would regret later...I got a tattoo back in '08. It's a cross on my forearm with a banner

@MetalMike From what you said a while back —and maybe the situation with all you guys has moved on from then— the urge to get tattooed affects different ppl at different times and in different ways.

For some ppl, getting faith-based inking is special, though.

 

[Jay Ross]

@MetalMike From what you said a while back —and maybe the situation with all you guys has moved on from then— the urge to get tattooed affects different ppl at different times and in different ways.

For some ppl, getting faith-based inking is special, though.

If I need to get faith based inking to remind me of God's promises and my special relationship with God in His eyes, then God's promises have not moved from my mind to my heart, where God tells us that he will put His statutes for us to know. A visible faith based inking does not necessarily reflect the devotion of the heart towards God.

Paul tells us to renew our minds and to put on the refurbished personhood that God intended us to become from the beginning of time itself. I am not sure that the refurbished personhood in God has bible based tattoos on its outside though. I thought that God's statutes would be impressed within our heart to keep us in our relationship with God.

Shalom

 

[farouk]

If I need to get faith based inking to remind me of God's promises and my special relationship with God in His eyes, then God's promises have not moved from my mind to my heart, where God tells us that he will put His statutes for us to know. A visible faith based inking does not necessarily reflect the devotion of the heart towards God.

Paul tells us to renew our minds and to put on the refurbished personhood that God intended us to become from the beginning of time itself. I am not sure that the refurbished personhood in God has bible based tattoos on its outside though. I thought that God's statutes would be impressed within our heart to keep us in our relationship with God.

Shalom

Good points there, indeed. Paul in Ephesians 3 speaks of the inner man, spiritually speaking.

A lot of Christians do get faith based tattoos; all the young ppl with whom I have spoken with Bible verses tattoos seem to have had them done for witness tool reasons.

 

[farouk]

If they have a clear conscience concerning tattoo's by all means that's their choice.

@Ziggy

Both GodsGrace and Heavenhome seem to point out how it is so widespread; how strongly ppl seem to want to do it. I guess this is also the background context for those who get faith based designs.

GodsGrace said: ↑

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

Heavenhome said:

My dear Dad had two tattoos but that was from his navy days.
I have noticed however that lots of young girls have them and what is really noticeable is a huge amount are women say around their sixties .

christianforums

 

[farouk]

Not sure I would judge someone who wanted to get ink. I would not personally do it. But to judge??

Hi @Eternally Grateful

Acolyte seems to refer to it as a potentially joyful experience, anyway:

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.

 

[farouk]

I am not really against tattoos...I just don't prefer it. I am sure there are those who don't prefer things I do prefer.

In that mix, I personally do not recommend tattoos if asked--or rhubarb. But it's just a choice, a preference.

@ScottA Interesting way of putting it.....

 

[farouk]

I am against tattoos but ...You cannot find a scripture that teaches blood that is shed during tattooing is why they are sin.

@Titus Whether or not they are suitable for every Christian, all the young ppl with Bible verses tattooed with whom I have spoken seem to have had them done as witness tools. There is the expectation that having them would lead to conversations with ppl. A passage which may be relevant is Romans 14, which speaks of Christian liberty.

 

[farouk]

My former wife had tats when I met her and described her desire for more as being like an addiction.

@michaelvpardo So do you think that some addictions can be more benign than others? (e.g., if the tattoos in question were faith based in design?)