More Christian tattoo artists a positive development?

[farouk]

I don't really have a spiritual problem with tattoos as an art form (or other arts, for that matter*) just the compromise that artists might have to accept in order to stay working. Benign content isn't a problem. Dark content is. (Some of my favorite CCM musicians have recorded jingles to hawk underwear, bar soap, etc.)

And, in my evolution as an [amateur] artist, I've seen how the enemy can subtly deceive us into promoting his kingdom (until the Holy Spirit brings me to the next level). The Holy Spirit has never condemned me in that process. He just throws a spotlight on the part that's off and it's usually all that I need.

*Some of my pieces get criticized for being form-fitting, especially with female figures.

@Sabertooth I suppose that some Fundamentalists would want all women always to wear long, floppy dresses to the ankles, no tattoos, etc.....

 

[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]

*Some of my pieces get criticized for being form-fitting, especially with female figures.

PS: @Sabertooth Have you ever drawn tattooed figures?

 

[Sabertooth]

PS: @Sabertooth Have you ever drawn tattooed figures?

Not so far.

 

[farouk]

Not so far.

I guess there's always a first time, then...

 

[farouk]

I don't really have a spiritual problem with tattoos as an art form

@Sabertooth Your view is indeed widely shared by many Godly believers, right? and Nondenom40 just posted on another thread:

.. my church isn't the fundie type then. We have people with tats that are great men and women of God.

And clearly as Nondenom40 says it's not just Godly men who receive tattooing.

 

[farouk]

We'll just see what @VictoryinJesus says if she stops by, then....

Don't think she has commented yet; but that's fine!

 

[farouk]

I kind of left the tattoo issue behind. ... Maybe later.

I guess I shouldn't ask if you are for or against, right? more likely, yours is a benign neutrality....

 

[Prayer Warrior]

I guess I shouldn't ask if you are for or against, right? more likely, yours is a benign neutrality....

I try to stay basically neutral. I'm not going to tell people what to think or what they should or shouldn't do about this.

Honestly, though, I do cringe when I see a lot of skin covered by them because I don't think it's good for the skin, even though the dyes are not considered toxic. I would imagine these foreign substances could still interfere with the healthy function of the skin. I'm a pragmatist. What can I say?

 

[farouk]

I try to stay basically neutral. I'm not going to tell people what to think or what they should or shouldn't do about this.

Honestly, though, I do cringe when I see a lot of skin covered by them because I don't think it's good for the skin, even though the dyes are not considered toxic. I would imagine these foreign substances could still interfere with the healthy function of the skin. I'm a pragmatist. What can I say?

@Prayer Warrior Thanks for your response.

I saw this quote, FYI:

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

Anyway it's clear that many young Christian women - even more than men - expect to have it done now; often in a faith based design. 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 other conversations have arisen as a result of her willingness to go ahead and receive the inking injections.

A lot of Christians now seem, instead of fighting it, to embrace it instead or stay fairly neutral, don't they? (Many would probably regard it less as an act of daring than as an act of faith, if the design is faith based. I guess this is why some Christians wonder about the possibilities of working in a parlor.)

 

[farouk]

Yes that's why I didn't have them removed.

When you're in church, among Christians you'll likely see others with tattoos from time to time; e.g., guys who have been in the military, Godly homeschooling moms, etc. They are hardly likely to worry about your tattoos, and I guess you don't need to worry about your tattoos, either!

 

[farouk]

Nothing surprises me any more..

Well, it's what so many ppl do now, anyway.

FYI:

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

 

[farouk]

I used to be a cutter for a little over ten years. Id use razors/knives/stones...just about anything. ...

I think anything can be used for God's glory. Even tattoos. It is hard for me to see tattoos like cutting/piercing the flesh.

@Mayflower Yes, it's hard to see a wholesome faith based tattoo, for example, as the same as cutting.

Apples and oranges, isn't it?

There is a strong demand for tattoo services and some Christians do consider parlor work.

 

[Mayflower]

@Mayflower Yes, it's hard to see a wholesome faith based tattoo, for example, as the same as cutting.

Apples and oranges, isn't it?

There is a strong demand for tattoo services and some Christians do consider parlor work.

I think only a small amount of tattoos would be used for God's service though. Most would be meaningless.

 

[farouk]

I think only a small amount of tattoos would be used for God's service though. Most would be meaningless.

@Mayflower
There's such an infinite variety of designs...a proportion faith related.

Also, a woman that is scared and angry and uses a razor on her skin in despair; ..... and a Christian woman who calmly and willingly receives a needling with a nice faith or family related design... involve two completely different states of mind: one is sad; the other can be wholesome and doesn't feel bad at all. (You would probably agree, I think?)

 

[farouk]

I gotta tattoo, my pastor has several and I think his girlfriend even has some.

Doesn't remotely surprise me...

 

[Mayflower]

@Mayflower
There's such an infinite variety of designs...a proportion faith related.

Also, a woman that is scared and angry and uses a razor on her skin in despair; ..... and a Christian woman who calmly and willingly receives a needling with a nice faith or family related design... involve two completely different states of mind: one is sad; the other can be wholesome and doesn't feel bad at all. (You would probably agree, I think?)

Oh yeh. For sure. I can never see my tattoo as self mutilation. Definitely a different mind set.

 

[farouk]

One of the churches I go to has three quite elderly women, all widows, who recently went out and got themselves tattoos.

@shnarkle It doesn't surprise me at at; it's become very much a womanly thing to do now (to think it used to be overwhelmingly a man thing, but not any more). Not only do senior women who have it done evidently see it as a way of retaining womanly style, a faith / family based design is also often the motivation. So I'm not surprised by it, were you surprised at first?

 

[farouk]

I do cringe when I see a lot of skin covered by them...

@Prayer Warrior So do all tattoos really make you cringe?

 

[Prayer Warrior]

@Prayer Warrior So do all tattoos really make you cringe?

Lol, no, only when I see a lot of skin that's been injected with pigment.