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

[michaelvpardo]

Reproof is a kindness, a loving thing to do. A rebuke is done in anger, but even so:
"Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it."
I'd prefer not to trample people's feelings, but not at the expense of truth. I don't want to be the cause of God's children stumbling. Do you?
These are not personal conversations even though they take that form of social interaction. They're open to every professing Christian that visits a page and I can tell you with 100% certainty that anyone encountering a convicting statement didn't do so by chance. I like the expression "divine appointments" because nothing significant in life is ever random. If the Lord brings conviction while reading something not even specifically addressing you, isn't that the hand of His loving Spirit, the discipline of a loving Father? Being tender hearted is a good thing, being thick skinned would seem to be a necessity in open discourse.

 

[farouk]

who can really know at this point in her life?

@Naomi25 Well, persevere in the sanctuary before the Throne for her; I'm sure you do.

Whether or not she gets inked is in the end pretty insignificant in the universal scheme of things. So many of her age do, though.

 

[Naomi25]

@Naomi25 Well, persevere in the sanctuary before the Throne for her; I'm sure you do.

Whether or not she gets inked is in the end pretty insignificant in the universal scheme of things. So many of her age do, though.

Absolutely.

 

[farouk]

Absolutely.

@Naomi25 I guess a bit like @VictoryinJesus , above, if the inking does suddenly appear on her, don't be shocked; or maybe stated differently, learn to hide your initial shock....

 

[Rita]

Maybe you're just being oversensitive. I love my beer with my steak, my wine with my pasta, but I don't wear a cross while I drink them in public and I wouldn't dream of drinking some alcohol in church fellowship. You can label me a hypocrite, but love should constrain our behavior for the sake of others. Even with these posts that you take as insensitive or hurtful. Has it ever occurred to you that it's not about you, but about Him?

There you go making assumptions and drawing conclusions. Actually that post says quite a bit about yourself , but I won’t make assumptions as I don’t really know you that well. Rita

 

[michaelvpardo]

@VictoryinJesus Your comment from back a bit @VictoryinJesus Your analytical comment is clearly the result of much reflection - neither encouraging or overreacting, is a measured way of putting it, I'm sure. It is a fact that whereas years ago women who got tattooed at all might typically get one or two tiny ones, yet today they are not unusually in larger sizes also and more numerously. So in this respect your daughter is not unusual. I suppose you realized this?

I obviously can't speak for anyone else, but I'm pretty sure that I mentioned my former wife's tattoos. She actually told me that at least with her, getting tattoos was like an addiction. She got one, then desired another, and then another. I tried to persuade her not to get any more (and there is scripture that addresses the ownership of our bodies in the context of marriage.) She was reasonable about my requests and only had the existing ones recolored as they faded. After we started struggling in our relationship, after she started placing more value in the opinions of secular friends, she just went out and got another one without even telling me about it. It was a plain cross, even the same design as the tattoo that I mentioned in my other post about the used flower salesman. It was rather large and in my mind, a man's tattoo. On her I even found it somewhat repulsive and it didn't do anything to help our marriage, but clearly did some damage. We're divorced now, though not because of the tattoo. Still, she calls me to talk about her latest troubles, asks for prayer, things which might have made a difference a few years ago. Recently she told me that she was thinking about getting another tattoo, but she hasn't any money for luxury.
When you see someone completely covered in tattoos, unless they're a member of the Yakuza, they typically accumulated all those tats over a long period of time, driven by the desire for a repeating of the experience of the pain as much as by the newness of another image added to the body. It's similar to the cutting phenomena that's been becoming more common among young people with a peculiar mental illness (personally, I think cutting is a demonic phenomenon having to do with the ritualistic shedding of blood, a cruel mockery of redemption.)

 

[michaelvpardo]

There you go making assumptions and drawing conclusions. Actually that post says quite a bit about yourself , but I won’t make assumptions as I don’t really know you that well. Rita

Sorry, but my "assumptions" and " conclusions are all firmly rooted in scripture. Are yours?

 

[Rita]

Sorry, but my "assumptions" and " conclusions are all firmly rooted in scripture. Are yours?

I was talking about your assumptions and conclusions about me - you presumed I was being over sensitive , I wasn’t. And if you knew me personally, which you don’t, you would know the bigger picture regarding the tattoo. You believe they are wrong, I looked at scripture and reach a different conclusion based on the motive and reason - I did also consult with my fellow brothers and sisters at the time. I am not going to explain again why or what the tattoo represents.
The point I was raising in my earlier post was that I am not stupid, lacking in wisdom, and I am mostly assuredly a Christian - making those kinds of comments are making blanket judgements without knowing the person, their story, their life, their relationship with Christ.
I have to go to work
Rita

 

[farouk]

I live in a small, mostly conservative town. My large, extended family doesn't really do tattoos. Not that I think they have a moral objection to them, it's just not something they do. But, you may be right in that we'll see some of it coming in through the younger generations.

@Naomi25 It's probably got a lot to do with where ppl live, rather than to moral objections to them.

In some areas they are hugely widespread.

As GodsGrace said,

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

If the truth is known, many inked up ones are possibly very conservative, actually. I read about a Hollywood producer who wanted to re-create a 1950s beach scene; he couldn't find enough film extras among young women who did not have tattoos.

Today, it seems to be what so many young people expect to do, almost as a matter of course; and it doesn't stop quite a lot of them from probably being quite conservative in some ways. (Hence also the huge scope for faith based designs. If any of this makes sense?)

 

[farouk]

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

It's what young men and women do now. If Christians, not unusually the design is faith based.

 

[farouk]

@soul man Back a bit you said:

Yes they were young when they started, especially my youngest.

Yes, it really is what they do now at that age, isn't it? It's become a sort of rite of passage to adulthood now. Nurses, particularly - for example - do it to a proportionally great extent and often expect to use their ink as an ice breaker with patients and their families.

More of the nurses that I work with have tattoos than do not. On my shift, only three don't have them (of 13 nurses). We have several nurses (including myself) who have visible tattoos; one gal has them on her wrists. My hospital does not even have a policy on tattoos any longer; it's a total nonissue.
...I've had a few wives tell me of their husbands' tattoos after seeing mine. It's such a sweet, intimate, bonding moment, and I feel so privileged

source: allnurses dot com

It really does underline the sheer scope for faith based ink, doesn't it?

 

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll!

NB: If you have not yet voted in the poll, please vote now!

 

[michaelvpardo]

I was talking about your assumptions and conclusions about me - you presumed I was being over sensitive , I wasn’t. And if you knew me personally, which you don’t, you would know the bigger picture regarding the tattoo. You believe they are wrong, I looked at scripture and reach a different conclusion based on the motive and reason - I did also consult with my fellow brothers and sisters at the time. I am not going to explain again why or what the tattoo represents.
The point I was raising in my earlier post was that I am not stupid, lacking in wisdom, and I am mostly assuredly a Christian - making those kinds of comments are making blanket judgements without knowing the person, their story, their life, their relationship with Christ.
I have to go to work
Rita

you still think in terms of right or wrong and suggest that you know what I believe. Are you a prophet too, or just very young in Christ? I haven't said anything specifically about you, but posed a simple and reasonable question regarding the possibility of your being overly sensitive to an issue? The fact that you applied my general comments to yourself by denying them personally raises the question of both your sincerity and your maturity. Perhaps you should pray about it.

 

[farouk]

you still think in terms of right or wrong and suggest that you know what I believe. Are you a prophet too, or just very young in Christ? I haven't said anything specifically about you, but posed a simple and reasonable question regarding the possibility of your being overly sensitive to an issue? The fact that you applied my general comments to yourself by denying them personally raises the question of both your sincerity and your maturity. Perhaps you should pray about it.

Friend, Your last post was not addressed to a young believer. If it is that you are claiming to be a prophet in the Apostolic sense, it is worthwhile remembering that Pentecostal and neo-Pentecostal notions of the exercise today of Apostolic function are not necessarily shared by everyone who posts on the forum.

(We are getting off-topic.)

 

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll!

NB: If you have not yet voted in the poll, please vote now!

 

[michaelvpardo]

Friend, Your last post was not addressed to a young believer. If it is that you are claiming to be a prophet in the Apostolic sense, it is worthwhile remembering that Pentecostal and neo-Pentecostal notions of the exercise today of Apostolic function are not necessarily shared by everyone who posts on the forum.

(We are getting off-topic.)

You wouldn't know it from the degree of presumption.
‘You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:28,NKJV,
I am by no means a legalist and we as Christians are by no means "under the law" of Moses, however the Law expresses imposed behaviors intended to separate Israel from the pagan customs of the surrounding peoples and identify Israel as Holy to the Lord. Given that a vast number of Christians read and understand scripture in literal ways (including myself) it remains unwise to contradict what God has said at any time and to any people. If you don't get that, pray about it. The argument isn't with me, but with God's word and our limited understanding of it.

 

[farouk]

You wouldn't know it from the degree of presumption.
‘You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:28,NKJV,
I am by no means a legalist and we as Christians are by no means "under the law" of Moses, however the Law expresses imposed behaviors intended to separate Israel from the pagan customs of the surrounding peoples and identify Israel as Holy to the Lord. Given that a vast number of Christians read and understand scripture in literal ways (including myself) it remains unwise to contradict what God has said at any time and to any people. If you don't get that, pray about it. The argument isn't with me, but with God's word and our limited understanding of it.

The next verse seems to say about not trimming one's beard; do preachers shave? if they do, maybe they are admitting that they are New Testament believers for whom the Gospel is the rule of life, rather than Old Testament Jews in the land under the law?

 

[Rita]

you still think in terms of right or wrong and suggest that you know what I believe. Are you a prophet too, or just very young in Christ? I haven't said anything specifically about you, but posed a simple and reasonable question regarding the possibility of your being overly sensitive to an issue? The fact that you applied my general comments to yourself by denying them personally raises the question of both your sincerity and your maturity. Perhaps you should pray about it.

No, not young in Christ, not young in any sense actually !!
I think I will leave it there , I could add so much more but it simply would not achieve anything.
Rita

 

[michaelvpardo]

Friend, Your last post was not addressed to a young believer.

(We are getting off-topic.)

As a postscript, John MacArthur, a pastor and well received teacher of the word, admitted candidly during a broadcasted study that he'd pastored for many years, written many deeply theological studies, and developed a scholarly understanding of scripture long before certain aspects of scripture became real to him in his heart. He's not the only Pastor or teacher living as a spiritual elder and that had to revise his thinking at some point in his calling. Spiritual maturity is not dependent upon age or years as a Christian, or even defined by understanding, but maturity is never accomplished without understanding.
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Phillipians 3:12, NKJV

 

[michaelvpardo]

The next verse seems to say about not trimming one's beard; do preachers shave? if they do, maybe they are admitting that they are New Testament believers for whom the Gospel is the rule of life, rather than Old Testament Jews in the land under the law?

You're really beating an old drum and speculating on motives irrelevant to the statements made. Scripture plainly states in the New Testament:
"Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:22-23,NKJV
As well as:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV
I recommend reading the entire passage from Romans as it deals specifically with our personal liberty in Christ verses the commandment to love one another. Read it slowly, read it at least 3 times, meditate on it, pray about it, ask for wisdom regarding it. I have personally known Christians who have justified very questionable behavior in the name of evangelism (and I might've done the same myself), but I'm not anyone's judge and have no desire to be so for with what standard you judge another so shall you be judged.