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

[farouk]

When I was in my younger years I never gave it any thought.
I'm a lot older now, and I don't feel a need.
I am not opposed to those who choose this way or that.
.....

Thanks, @Ziggy

I saw this interesting quote:

M.B. said:

My youngest son wanted a tattoo, the night of the day he turned 18 he went and got tattoo, one he designed and paid for. Now 3 of4 of my children have tatoos, the oldest daughter was the first, she now has four... My oldest son, her twin brother has a tattoo also that he designed as did the youngest design his own - both are crosses with three circles intertwined depicting the Trinity.

source: mamapedia dot com

Seems like a lot of young ppl at around 18 don't hesitate now if they have a Christian message in ink they want to be identified with as adults....

I guess stage of life is part of it.

Though I did see a quote from Heavenhome who was struck by the amount of older ppl in her area - older women - who have had it done.

 

[farouk]

I don't believe in judging another person's liberty in Christ Jesus, but prefer to simply attempt to keep a clean conscience about my own deeds. There is no personal benefit in judging others, but there is great benefit in judging yourself.

Thanks, @michaelvpardo

 

[farouk]

PS: @Ziggy

Here is the quote I referred to:

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

Seems like it now has such widespread social acceptance (which does not necessarily prove anything, of course), so now such a lot of older as well as younger women are having it done.

GodsGrace commented on the amount of younger ones that have it done.

All the young ppl with Bible verses tattooed with whom I have talked seem to have had them done as a witness tool, anyway.

 

[farouk]

Someone at the drug store asked my wife about her tattoos last Friday.

@Lambano I reckon at times like that, especially, she does not regret having had them done, right?

 

[Lambano]

@Lambano I reckon at times like that, especially, she does not regret having had them done, right?

 

[farouk]

@Lambano I wonder if the person regrets the typo in the tattoo....?

 

[Lambano]

@Lambano I wonder if the person regrets the typo in the tattoo....?

Maybe it's an ad for antacids?

 

[farouk]

Maybe it's an ad for antacids?

@Lambano Anyway, all the young people with Bible verses tattooed with whom I have spoken seem to have had them done for witness tool reasons.

My wife and I talked to a young woman with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; she seemed quite shy, but also must have had a quiet, inner determination to go through with having all those letters machined in. If the person has a reason for doing it, witness-wise, it can give them the determination to endure the parlor appointment.

Anyhow, I guess your wife reckons that having it done works in terms of opportunities to tell ppl why, right?

 

[michaelvpardo]

@michaelvpardo Interesting what Rita's experience was:

Rita said: ↑

Yes, but Rita appears to have issues of conscience (she didn't answer what I said, but what she imagined that I said.)
I said peace with God was liberating, not getting tattoos.
Do you see the misinterpretation and justifying response?

When a person answers your post with something that you've never said or even implied, they're clearly answering their own conscience to justify something troubling themself, or intentionally misinterpreting out of malice.
(I've encountered this frequently on this site and it doesn't seem attributable to poor reading comprehension, but willful misinterpretation and self justification.)

He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. Proverbs 18:13

 

[farouk]

Yes, but Rita appears to have issues of conscience (she didn't answer what I said, but what she imagined that I said.)
I said peace with God was liberating, not getting tattoos.
Do you see the misinterpretation and justifying response?

When a person answers your post with something that you've never said or even implied, they're clearly answering their own conscience to justify something troubling themself, or intentionally misinterpreting out of malice.
(I've encountered this frequently on this site and it doesn't seem attributable to poor reading comprehension, but willful misinterpretation and self justification.)

He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. Proverbs 18:13

Oh actually her post predated yours; it was more my continuing a theme; I would not attribute anything hostile.

 

[farouk]

I talked to her on the phone this morning. She seems happier today.

@FluffyYellowDuck So how is your mom doing these days?

She is the one who first got you going on your ink journey, wasn't she?

 

[farouk]

Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

@Ziggy Your point from Malachi about discernment seems similar to soul man's point:

soul man said: ↑

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.

(If this makes sense?)

 

[farouk]

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.

@Goldie75 Some good verses there...

I guess it shows that motive is so important, right?

Already I may have mentioned to you that my wife and I talked to a young lady with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; if an evangelistic motive were hers, I reckon that her experience would have been that she as a Christian woman likely went joyfully into the tattoo parlor.

(If this makes sense?)

 

[Goldie75]

@Goldie75

I guess it shows that motive is so important, right?

I think motive, attitude, and clear conscience before God are more important than having the right or wrong answers (which can be debated over and over and over). If we’re growing in revelation knowledge of the Word and sound doctrine, growing in loving God and loving others…well, I’ve become less concerned over being ‘right’ about some issue or other. We are all at different places in the Lord…and He is able to bring good out of our mistakes and failures which I can personally testify to. We are saved by grace - it’s a done deal. Sanctification is a life long process. I think people can have a tendency to need everything figured out, black and white, right and wrong - when in actual fact there is more freedom in Christ than that regarding non essential doctrine. This is just my personal opinion though.

 

[farouk]

I think motive, attitude, and clear conscience before God are more important than having the right or wrong answers (which can be debated over and over and over). If we’re growing in revelation knowledge of the Word and sound doctrine, growing in loving God and loving others…well, I’ve become less concerned over being ‘right’ about some issue or other. We are all at different places in the Lord…and He is able to bring good out of our mistakes and failures which I can personally testify to. We are saved by grace - it’s a done deal. Sanctification is a life long process. I think people can have a tendency to need everything figured out, black and white, right and wrong - when in actual fact there is more freedom in Christ than that regarding non essential doctrine. This is just my personal opinion though.

@Goldie75

I guess that one believer might shrink from getting a tattoo.

Another - maybe like the young lady that my wife and I talked with - might with a view to having a proven effective witness go to the parlor with positive relish, right?

I reckon this is all inevitable up to a certain point, when believers have Romans 14 liberty.

 

[michaelvpardo]

Oh actually her post predated yours; it was more my continuing a theme; I would not attribute anything hostile.

OK, but our natural tendency is to justify what we do if what we do pricks our conscience. Most professing Christians don't take pride in doing things in opposition to God's revealed will, but I do love my bacon and cream cheese sandwich on a bagel.

Conscience is personal. Something that disturbs you, may not disturb me, and something that disturbs me may not disturb you. It remains best not to judge others, because in doing so we establish our own judgment and condemn ourselves in those things we condemn in others.

Scripture clearly teaches that we are to learn how to discern the good and forsake the evil, but that speaks to behavior, not to people. Can you imagine forsaking all people?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11

 

[farouk]

OK, but our natural tendency is to justify what we do if what we do pricks our conscience. Most professing Christians don't take pride in doing things in opposition to God's revealed will, but I do love my bacon and cream cheese sandwich on a bagel.

Conscience is personal. Something that disturbs you, may not disturb me, and something that disturbs me may not disturb you. It remains best not to judge others, because in doing so we establish our own judgment and condemn ourselves in those things we condemn in others.

Scripture clearly teaches that we are to learn how to discern the good and forsake the evil, but that speaks to behavior, not to people. Can you imagine forsaking all people?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11

@michaelvpardo So in personal, conscientious terms - if I can use that concept - do you think that small tattoos - albeit witness ones - are likely to be lived with better?

(You mentioned a big tattoo recently that you didn't like.)

As a long-term investment, so to speak, do you think smaller ones are likely to prove preferable?

e.g.,:

tattoo hyphen awe dot blogspot dot com

inked-app dot com

 

[farouk]

@Johann FYI - thread I started; sorry the poll already expired...

 

[farouk]

Absolutely.

@Mantis

In some families where they make a Christian profession, doing it at around 18 seems to be compelling.

This is what one mom said; I thought the quote was interesting:

M.B. said:

My youngest son wanted a tattoo, the night of the day he turned 18 he went and got tattoo, one he designed and paid for. Now 3 of4 of my children have tatoos, the oldest daughter was the first, she now has four... My oldest son, her twin brother has a tattoo also that he designed as did the youngest design his own - both are crosses with three circles intertwined depicting the Trinity.

source: mamapedia dot com

 

[Johann]

@Johann FYI - thread I started; sorry the poll already expired...

No problem Farouk, I am still learning to navigate on this forum, too many bells and whistles...