Poll: Tattoo artist: if a Christian daughter/son of yours worked as one, would you be supportive?

[Lizbeth]

Yes Farouk I would support my sons/daughters artistic ability in any way it could. It is very hard to make money as an artist and this is one way to make good money.

Hmmm...is our goal and purpose as Christians self-fulfillment and making good money?

 

[Lizbeth]

Tatoos are pagan. God forbad the Israelites from marking or cutting themselves as the pagans do. He wouldn't want us violating His word and way for the sake of the gospel, and neither does He need us to in order to spread the gospel.

If my grown son or daughter were believers involved with tattoos I would counsel them out of the word of God not to. If they were teens living at home I would have to forbid it and explain why.

My oldest adult son got some very noticeable tatoos when he was in his twenties....he was an unbeliever at the time. I couldnt' support him in that but neither did I condemn or cut him off for it but just kept praying for his salvation and being supportive of him in general. He's in his forties now and has recently come to faith in Christ. The Lord is so faithful and kind.

 

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll!

(NB: If you have not yet voted in the poll, please vote now...)

 

[farouk]

Tatoos are pagan. God forbad the Israelites from marking or cutting themselves as the pagans do. He wouldn't want us violating His word and way for the sake of the gospel, and neither does He need us to in order to spread the gospel.

If my grown son or daughter were believers involved with tattoos I would counsel them out of the word of God not to. If they were teens living at home I would have to forbid it and explain why.

My oldest adult son got some very noticeable tatoos when he was in his twenties....he was an unbeliever at the time. I couldnt' support him in that but neither did I condemn or cut him off for it but just kept praying for his salvation and being supportive of him in general. He's in his forties now and has recently come to faith in Christ. The Lord is so faithful and kind.

@Lizbeth Thanks for your comments. As regards Leviticus 28, there is also the matter of whether living as Jews is to be imposed on the church; do preachers shave? if they do, maybe they are admitting that they are NT Christians under grace rather than OT Jews with bushy beards in the land, under the law.

A lot of Christians use Bible verses/ref.s on wrists, etc., as a pragmatic witness tool. I saw a quote from the Bible Belt which purported to show just how widespread getting tattooed is.

I know the poll focuses also on the aspect of being a tattoo artist.

Excellent news about your son; shows how valuable consistent prayer is, from your perspective. "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." (Ecclesiastes 11.1). Your son should be immensely grateful for all your prayers over the years.

 

[farouk]

Liking a post, can be funky in a way...
Like what it is saying...
Like a person exercising their right to do as they please...
Like and want to do the same...
Even Liking the knowledge revealed, but not agreeing with it.

I like a person exercising their right to do as they please ... that causes no harm to others, while they are doing as they please....YET that does not mean I necessarily would ALSO choose to do AS they have chosen to do.

I have already chosen to Not have tats, regardless of
* WHY others choose to have tats:
* regardless of WHO others are per Gender, Age, Race, etc.....
* OR WHAT tats, others choose...skulls, cartoons, vulgar, flowers, butterflies, scriptural quotes, crosses...etc...
* OR Reasons FOR What tats others choose...

You are pro-tatting. And the Why, Who, What, Reasoning...is your interest, and interesting to see how those questions of why, who, what, reasoning...are questions answered from others perspective.

Doesn’t matter to me what an other chooses to do...
I can appreciate the beauty of some of the art-work, laugh at some of the terrible art-work, appreciate the beauty of lovely Scriptural quote, not want to see a vulgar writing, laugh at misspelled writing...
And still am not enamored by seeing tats, or consider, or desire one for myself.

Glory to God,
Taken

@Taken

Thanks for your thoughtful comments.

I also appreciate your frankness in voting 'Don't know' in the poll........

 

[Lizbeth]

@Lizbeth Thanks for your comments. As regards Leviticus 28, there is also the matter of whether living as Jews is to be imposed on the church; do preachers shave? if they do, maybe they are admitting that they are NT Christians under grace rather than OT Jews with bushy beards in the land, under the law.

A lot of Christians use Bible verses/ref.s on wrists, etc., as a pragmatic witness tool. I saw a quote from the Bible Belt which purported to show just how widespread getting tattooed is.

I know the poll focuses also on the aspect of being a tattoo artist.

Excellent news about your son; shows how valuable consistent prayer is, from your perspective. "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." (Ecclesiastes 11.1). Your son should be immensely grateful for all your prayers over the years.

Yes, thank you....my son is grateful and so am I. The Lord has been so good.

True that we dont' have to live as Jews, but neither should we live as pagans....? Tattooing the temple of God, which temple we are...doesn't seem consistent with holiness for the believer. Correct me if I'm wrong but shaving isn't associated with pagan idolatry as far as i know.

We dont' have to live like the world to win the world. A young Christian woman should not, for example, become a fornicator in hopes of winning her boyfriends to Christ that way. God doesn't really need gimmicks either, but if tools are wanted there are lots of ways and means that dont violate the scriptures. I get that people enjoy being creative, especially when young, but again there are lots of ways to be creative that don't offend God and defile His temple. People love getting creative at Hallowe'en these days, and what a horror show just to walk down the street at that time of year.

 

[farouk]

Yes, thank you....my son is grateful and so am I. The Lord has been so good.

True that we dont' have to live as Jews, but neither should we live as pagans....? Tattooing the temple of God, which temple we are...doesn't seem consistent with holiness for the believer. Correct me if I'm wrong but shaving isn't associated with pagan idolatry as far as i know.

We dont' have to live like the world to win the world. A young Christian woman should not, for example, become a fornicator in hopes of winning her boyfriends to Christ that way. God doesn't really need gimmicks either, but if tools are wanted there are lots of ways and means that dont violate the scriptures. I get that people enjoy being creative, especially when young, but again there are lots of ways to be creative that don't offend God and defile His temple. People love getting creative at Hallowe'en these days, and what a horror show just to walk down the street at that time of year.

Hi @Lizbeth

Some ppl do go to Leviticus 28 about cutting for the dead, etc., the adjacent verse also seems to say about not trimming the corner of one's beard - as with OT Jews in the land under the law. A lot of Christians in North America who would take a generally dispensational view of Scripture (by which Jews and the church are distinguished) would maybe tend to stress that the law was changed (Hebrews 7.12) and what we now have is better than the law (Hebrews 7.19); whereas those who take a strongly Reformed view would tend to de-emphasize the distinction between the church and Israel under the law, etc.

I saw this quote from the Bible Belt:

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

Those referred to here would thus likely not regard tattoo artist work - the subject of the poll - with inherent hostility.

As regards practicalities, a soundly converted woman with the tattoo of an unbelieving ex-bf's name (e.g., 'Bill') might have very strong reasons as a Christian woman to have the 'Bill' on her wrist changed to something such as 'Bible', instead; a good tattoo artist can often work wonders in such a way. I know that there are some ppl out there that are so legalistic as to try to force / guilt-manipulate a Christian young woman with the tattoo of an ex-bf's name not to have it changed to something that is faith based - thus condemning her to certain perpetual memories - but then the believer also has Romans 14 Christian liberty to act with personal discretion.

My wife and I talked to a young lady with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; it was her favorite Bible verse and mine also; and I'm sure that other conversations have arisen also; maybe the reason why she might have gone joyfully into the tattoo parlor in the first place.

One can only speak of one's own observations; but all the young ppl with Bible verses tattooed with whom I have spoken seem to have received them as witness tools - which are proven to work in bringing about conversations about Bible verses.

 

[farouk]

Hmmm...is our goal and purpose as Christians self-fulfillment and making good money?

@Lizbeth Just to point out that @Mantis is a former tattoo artist (I know that you are relatively new on the forums so you wouldn't have known that).

 

[farouk]

@Miz KJV Only FYI........did you see the recent poll, above?

 

[Mantis]

Hmmm...is our goal and purpose as Christians self-fulfillment and making good money?

I thought we were talking about careers?

 

[farouk]

I thought we were talking about careers?

@Mantis

I thought this newspaper article's quote from Paula Castle was interesting:

Paula Castle took up tattooing after being made redundant from a sales job ..."I really did not want to do it. ...But I’m a bit of an all or nothing person so I said ‘yes’ and really pushed myself and I’ve not stopped...About 97% of my clients are female and that is universal across the board."

James McCarthy, Mirror dot co dot uk

 

[Lizbeth]

Hi @Lizbeth

Some ppl do go to Leviticus 28 about cutting for the dead, etc., the adjacent verse also seems to say about not trimming the corner of one's beard - as with OT Jews in the land under the law. A lot of Christians in North America who would take a generally dispensational view of Scripture (by which Jews and the church are distinguished) would maybe tend to stress that the law was changed (Hebrews 7.12) and what we now have is better than the law (Hebrews 7.19); whereas those who take a strongly Reformed view would tend to de-emphasize the distinction between the church and Israel under the law, etc.

I saw this quote from the Bible Belt:

QueenCat said:

forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot com

Those referred to here would thus likely not regard tattoo artist work - the subject of the poll - with inherent hostility.

As regards practicalities, a soundly converted woman with the tattoo of an unbelieving ex-bf's name (e.g., 'Bill') might have very strong reasons as a Christian woman to have the 'Bill' on her wrist changed to something such as 'Bible', instead; a good tattoo artist can often work wonders in such a way. I know that there are some ppl out there that are so legalistic as to try to force / guilt-manipulate a Christian young woman with the tattoo of an ex-bf's name not to have it changed to something that is faith based - thus condemning her to certain perpetual memories - but then the believer also has Romans 14 Christian liberty to act with personal discretion.

My wife and I talked to a young lady with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; it was her favorite Bible verse and mine also; and I'm sure that other conversations have arisen also; maybe the reason why she might have gone joyfully into the tattoo parlor in the first place.

One can only speak of one's own observations; but all the young ppl with Bible verses tattooed with whom I have spoken seem to have received them as witness tools - which are proven to work in bringing about conversations about Bible verses.

There is no Leviticus ch. 28 by the way...think you're referring to Leviticus 19:28. Lots of sound instruction in Leviticus that we Christians heed today...such as not seeking out mediums/spiritists and not lying with animals. That doesn't mean one is under the Law, but is a necessary part of following Christ and being holy and righteous.

For those who already got tattoos while in ignorance, if they can't remove them and want to ink them over or alter them to something more appropriate, well I believe God is merciful and makes concessions in extenuating circumstances.

 

[farouk]

There is no Leviticus ch. 28 by the way...think you're referring to Leviticus 19:28. Lots of sound instruction in Leviticus that we Christians heed today...such as not seeking out mediums/spiritists and not lying with animals. That doesn't mean one is under the Law, but is a necessary part of following Christ and being holy and righteous.

For those who already got tattoos while in ignorance, if they can't remove them and want to ink them over or alter them to something more appropriate, well I believe God is merciful and makes concessions in extenuating circumstances.

@Lizbeth Sorry about the typo.............. Thanks for pointing it out..........

 

[Lizbeth]

I thought we were talking about careers?

Careers for believers, yes? I dont' believe Christians should be involved with tattooing just because they may have a knack for it.

 

[Mantis]

Careers for believers, yes? I dont' believe Christians should be involved with tattooing just because they may have a knack for it.

You must think tattoos are a sin? I don't think they are a sin.

 

[farouk]

Careers for believers, yes? I dont' believe Christians should be involved with tattooing just because they may have a knack for it.

Hi @Lizbeth I guess this is one of the things which different Christians - as per Romans 14 issues of Christian liberty - are likely to have a whole range of viewpoints about; and sometimes those viewpoints even develop over the years.

Waiting on him said: ↑

My daughter wanted to .. be a tattoo artist several years ago and (I) sadly discouraged her. I’ve considered speaking with her about this, I believe person can hold a ministry in any occupation, if I do it to the glory of God

Heart2Soul said:

I really like some of them. .. it is becoming a norm with health professionals...It is becoming a tool people are using to let others identify their faith. ..I do like the idea of Christian based tattoos

Nancy said: ↑

tattoos ... everyone and their grandmothers has them now and, they do not a thing for me, what can I say? Pretty much every one I know, and that includes Christians and myself, have a tattoo so...I am not criticizing anybody here or anywhere...

Cachalot said: ↑

Tattoos are unlady-like. That is why I would never have one.

 

[Lizbeth]

You must think tattoos are a sin? I don't think they are a sin.

I believe we as believers should give tattoos a pass, yes. The Israelites were told not to copy the ways of the heathen nations around them. That for the church means we should not live as the lost world lives who are in darkness. Unfortunately the world is influencing and infiltrating the church today much more than the other way around.

Lev 19:28

‘You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.

 

[farouk]

PS: @Lizbeth I think the supposedly 'unlady-like' thing from one of the quotes just given, above, is an increasingly hard position to maintain, IMHO...........

 

[Lizbeth]

Hi @Lizbeth I guess this is one of the things which different Christians - as per Romans 14 issues of Christian liberty - are likely to have a whole range of viewpoints about; and sometimes those viewpoints even develop over the years.

Waiting on him said: ↑



Heart2Soul said:


Nancy said: ↑


Cachalot said: ↑

Christian liberty is one thing....some things are neutral, but I don't think pagan practices like tattooing are in that category. It's not a sin to either eat meat or avoid it. God may be longsuffering and merciful to those who are young in the faith and may be ignorant of His word and ways, and neither would I condemn them, but shouldn't we preach/teach and abide by His word so that they learn and grow?

Even without the word, let's just say one can discern a certain "uncleanness" with tattoos. I find it strange that a lot of Christians are ok with it. They are only drawn to it because the world is doing it. The world isn't what we should be following. As I said, the church isn't in a good place spiritually these days.

 

[Lizbeth]

PS: @Lizbeth I think the supposedly 'unlady-like' thing from one of the quotes just given, above, is an increasingly hard position to maintain, IMHO...........

Maybe not, unfortunately. But it is certainly very world-like isn't it. :/