Poll: Does the mainstreaming of tattoos open up increasing opportunities for faith ink witness?

[amadeus]

@amadeus Interesting perspective, thank-you for explaining.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Faith based tattoos do indeed work as conversation-starters but there are all sorts of other ways and circumstances which do indeed work also.

So then let people with real testimonies testify of them, but I would recommend not instilling in people the idea that God does not care what we do with that of which we are only stewards: our bodies of flesh! We, like the cattle on a thousand hills, belong to God... not to me, nor to you, nor to anyone else. We may act like this body of flesh and bone is ours, but I do not believe that that is so. Of course while they have time, people can make their own choices. That is free will!

 

[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]

So then let people with real testimonies testify of them, but I would recommend not instilling in people the idea that God does not care what we do with that of which we are only stewards: our bodies of flesh! We, like the cattle on a thousand hills, belong to God... not to me, nor to you, nor to anyone else. We may act like this body of flesh and bone is ours, but I do not believe that that is so. Of course while they have time, people can make their own choices. That is free will!

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 our conversation was only one of many she has had. It certainly worked for her, anyway; but of course it's an individual responsibility, as you say.

 

[Renniks]

source: allnurses dot com
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So from a pragmatic point of view — leaving aside likes and dislikes about tattoos — does the obvious and demonstrable thorough mainstreaming of tattoos open up increasing opportunities for faith ink witness?

Maybe, but a t shirt message will suffice and doesn't cause pain!

 

[amadeus]

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 our conversation was only one of many she has had. It certainly worked for her, anyway; but of course it's an individual responsibility, as you say.

Your words here and her testimony don't change what I said. Like the Jew I mentioned we have to work with our own past intact since we cannot change it... even if we would like to...

I did a lot of things before I met Jesus that I don't do any more. I certainly would not suggest to a new convert or a potential new convert to do some of the things I did simply because he has not experienced them yet. For example when I was in Danang, Viet Nam as a young soldier walking with a friend... at each street intersection we would purposely choose to turn the direction that was darkest. We survived our foolishness that night. At the time I did not know Jesus. Should I suggest that a young person do what I did then because he has never done something like that?

Because someone is young in the Lord or is only just now looking from something from God, should we advise them to go to the nearest tatoo parlour and get a tatoo of a Bible quotation? Foolish? To me, yes! To you, from what you are doing here with such threads as this, I do wonder...?

 

[farouk]

Your words here and her testimony don't change what I said. Like the Jew I mentioned we have to work with our own past intact since we cannot change it... even if we would like to...

I did a lot of things before I met Jesus that I don't do any more. I certainly would not suggest to a new convert or a potential new convert to do some of the things I did simply because he has not experienced them yet. For example when I was in Danang, Viet Nam as a young soldier walking with a friend... at each street intersection we would purposely choose to turn the direction that was darkest. We survived our foolishness that night. At the time I did not know Jesus. Should I suggest that a young person do what I did then because he has never done something like that?

Because someone is young in the Lord or is only just now looking from something from God, should we advise them to go to the nearest tatoo parlour and get a tatoo of a Bible quotation? Foolish? To me, yes! To you, from what you are doing here with such threads as this, I do wonder...?

Oh I'm not really saying that it's what they must or should do; the overwhelming evidence is that it's what they do do; and being so, a lot of Christians find it works effectively in stimulating witness conversations; instead of fighting it, they have embraced it as something that really works:

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

 

[amadeus]

Oh I'm not really saying that it's what they should do; the overwhelming evidence is that it's what they do do; and being so, a lot of Christians find it works effectively in stimulating witness conversations; instead of fighting it, they have embraced it as something that really works:

Perhaps you are not saying it directly, but by your emphasis on threads such as this one it is what I hear. Maybe no one else is hearing that?

Even if you just let it flow, would that not often simply allow the flesh to lead? How often is too often? Where is your own spirit in this? Where is the Holy Spirit in this?

To support someone who has done what they could with what they already had [such as a tatoo] is one thing, but to suggest that getting a tatoo is a good way for a person to approach or work the works of God is quite another.

 

[farouk]

Perhaps you are not saying it directly, but by your emphasis on threads such as this one it is what I hear. Maybe no one else is hearing that?

Even if you just let it flow, would that not often simply allow the flesh to lead? How often is too often? Where is your own spirit in this? Where is the Holy Spirit in this?

To support someone who has done what they could with what they already had [such as a tatoo] is one thing, but to suggest that getting a tatoo is a good way for a person to approach or work the works of God is quite another.

When it comes to those nuances that you say you hear, doesn't it all fall under Romans 14 Christian liberty? especially when many Christians are taking Gospel witness opportunities that manifestly work.

 

[farouk]

I think that most NZers who come to Christ and have tats would either have them removed but most just leave them cause it is also a good talking point as per above.

@Angelina You're right, and all sorts of tattoos in all sorts of situations can give rise to all sorts of talking points.

As you of course know by experience.

 

[farouk]

@Base12 Have you looked at any parlor portfolios in your area? there's a lot of fine artwork that's done. (Usually one can look at the portfolios with absolutely no obligation.)

 

[amadeus]

When it comes to those nuances that you say you hear, doesn't it all fall under Romans 14 Christian liberty? especially when many Christians are taking Gospel witness opportunities that manifestly work.

You've already forgotten what I told you about Romans 14 previously:

Romans 14 is telling us how to treat others. How we treat our own stewardship is another thing. This is the talent that God gave to each us until He returns for His own and expects an accounting from us:

"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom 14:12

"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." Matt 25:14-15

"After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them." Matt 25:19

"For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt 25:29-30

That it may seem good to them still leaves the question of me for me or of you for you. As I have said Romans 14 is not granting us liberty. It is explaining how we are treat other people. We are not their judges. Whether or not we are our own judges is another question altogether. What we do with what we have been given is the basis for our final judgment. Part of what we have been given is this body, but it is NOT ours. It belongs to God.

 

[farouk]

You've already forgotten what I told you about Romans 14 previously:

Romans 14 is telling us how to treat others. How we treat our own stewardship is another thing. This is the talent that God gave to each us until He returns for His own and expects an accounting from us:

"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom 14:12

"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." Matt 25:14-15

"After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them." Matt 25:19

"For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt 25:29-30

That it may seem good to them still leaves the question of me for me or of you for you. As I have said Romans 14 is not granting us liberty. It is explaining how we are treat other people. We are not their judges. Whether or not we are our own judges is another question altogether. What we do with what we have been given is the basis for our final judgment. Part of what we have been given is this body, but it is NOT ours. It belongs to God.

Romans 14.22 also says:

"Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth."

If Christians do get faith based tattoos which are helpful and effective in their personal witness, then there are quotable Scripture resources about Christian liberty which show that others shouldn't interfere.

 

[farouk]

@OzSpen FYI....did you see the recent new poll, above?

 

[farouk]

@Preacher4Truth Thanks for the 'likes' on the other thread; FYI....did you see the recent new poll, above?

 

[Preacher4Truth]

@Preacher4Truth Thanks for the 'likes' on the other thread; FYI....did you see the recent new poll, above?

Never saw until now and just voted brother. Thank you.

 

[OzSpen]

@OzSpen FYI....did you see the recent new poll, above?

Done!

Gospel related tattoos have been used effectively by the south-sea Islanders who play in the Rugby League competition in Australia. He is an example of one player, formerly playing in Australia but now in the UK:

St Helen’s (UK) wrote of Naiqama: ‘The religious scriptures inked across the chest of St Helens’ new signing Kevin Naiqama are passages from John 3:16 and Romans 10:9, passages which identify one’s faith in Jesus’ (Kevin Naiqama: My God My Land).

(Kevin Nyiquama, John 3:16 tattooed on chest, courtesy couriermail.com.au)

Kevin Nyiquama, tattoo of crucifixion and Last Supper on his back, courtesy dailytelegraph.com.au)

Oz

 

[amadeus]

Romans 14.22 also says:

"Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth."

If Christians do get faith based tattoos which are helpful and effective in their personal witness, then there are quotable Scripture resources about Christian liberty which show that others shouldn't interfere.

God will judge ultimately according what we have done with what we had. Everything that we have has been given to us by God and He knows better than we what we have had.

That a person has memorized a scripture does not mean that he has God's message to him about that scripture. People do quench the Holy Spirit of God and proceed in their own way, but amounts to heading straight into the ditch on your own.

Then again some people who are ignorant in part proceed in their ignorance as if they were not ignorant at all and get a mixed result.. This may translate to lukewarm?

When a person becomes aware of God's truth about something and proceeds in his own way, he is at least in trouble. The key is to listen to Him and to obey when we hear from Him... all of the time. Are we not His sheep? Are we not hearing His voice all of the time? If not, why not?

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine" John 10:14

"And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." John 10:4-5

 

[farouk]

Never saw until now and just voted brother. Thank you.

@Preacher4Truth Thanks for your vote; and I see also how you voted; and what you evidently think — whether or not individuals like faith tattoo designs — is self-evidently how so many professing Christians think about them as a witness expression:

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

 

[Preacher4Truth]

@Preacher4Truth Thanks for your vote; and I see also how you voted; and what you evidently think — whether or not individuals like faith tattoo designs or not — is self-evidently how so many professing Christians think about them as a witness expression:


forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot com

Well, hopefully QueenCat doesn't shun others because they have a tattoo.

 

[farouk]

Well, hopefully QueenCat doesn't shun others because they have a tattoo.

@Preacher4Truth : Well, I doubt whether she would, frankly, and these days in church if anyone were to start a rant against all tattoos, there would probably be a venerable, Godly grandmother who would quietly listen, say nothing and afterwards silently peel a couple of centimetres of her sleeve back to show a bit of faith ink on a wrist to the young person sitting next to her.

At the small, very conservative local church that my wife and attend, a while ago a seeming majority of the young men/boys there would typically be wearing earrings. One does not have to 'like' or supposedly 'approve' or 'disapprove' of other ppl's subjective customs and personal preferences to make sure that arbitrary and subjective personal preferences do not somehow become an obligatory 'theology' for others, which may have the practical effect of driving away everyone who culturally is not exactly in every iota the same as oneself.