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

[michaelvpardo]

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

Of course not.

 

[Naomi25]

@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....

My daughter getting a tattoo is not on the list of things I stress about. It just wouldn't bother me.

 

[Naomi25]

@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,


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?)

You might be right, I can't comment as I've not thought about it, or conducted any research!

 

[Rita]

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

Totally agree - and it applies to every single Christian. None of us should presume that we have ‘ arrived ‘ with regards to what we have understood in our hearts.
Rita

 

[farouk]

Totally agree - and it applies to every single Christian. None of us should presume that we have ‘ arrived ‘ with regards to what we have understood in our hearts.
Rita

@Rita, Totally agree with your comment. I do love the Epistle to the Philippians that @michaelvpardo quoted.

 

[farouk]

My daughter getting a tattoo is not on the list of things I stress about. It just wouldn't bother me.

@Naomi25 This is wise, I'm sure.

 

[farouk]

I love art, and appreciate those who feel led to carry it on their flesh however, I'm not so inclined.

@RainAndIceCream It's not for everyone...

 

[Rita]

Of course not.

Lol, if I had responded last night the response would not have been a good one. I was shattered after work.
I understand the verse in Leviticus that is often quoted - however I have always looked at verses in context on the whole chapter and cultural context - that’s just something I do since doing a Christians ethics course at the London bible college. It opened my eyes to look at scripture in a new way. Part of the course was to understand how the law was relevant to the 21st century - it was really interesting to consider, and as I had to write an essay on the subject, it became a long study but one that I found really interesting.
So, many years later when the whole issue of a tattoo came up , I approached that in context. I spoke to other Christians, my pastor, I prayed and reflected on it for quite a few months.
I don’t have a problem with other Christians seeing things differently, if you and others choose to take it out of cultural context and see why that instruction was given, that’s fine. No one is asking you to get a tattoo.
The fact that I chose to is between me and The Lord - the fellowship I was a part of had no problem with it , so I wasn’t offending anyone. It’s on the inner part of my wrist and is not instantly visible, however it is a daily reminder of what the Lord has brought me through , a reminder that he has set me free from abuse, a bad and difficult marriage, a divorce, the loss of my mum. It’s coloured purple to remind me that I am a daughter of the king .....Some people don’t need those reminders , at the time I did.
I am not asking or expecting you to agree, but felt I would explain.
I often ask the Lord to search me, and in the 12 years since I got the tattoo it has never been an issue laid on my heart to address.
I might just add that I have had surgeries as well, you know where ‘ cutting ‘ is done to the skin, not felt any conviction about that either. Or a Christian friend who use to self harm - she cut her skin. She knows she is loved by the Lord. My own son has cuts all up his arm and on his face from self harming - they will be part of his testimony one day - just something the Lord laid on my heart about him many years ago before he had a breakdown.
I did take offence the other day, but not because of the tattoo itself. You were right,I was wrong, I apologise x
That was something the Lord did laid on my heart - but I wasn’t ready to concede last night !! Lol

 

[Rita]

@Nancy
Many apologies, the posts the other day hit a raw nerve, not so much about the tattoo but linked to something else xxxx
Rita

 

[Nancy]

@Nancy
Many apologies, the posts the other day hit a raw nerve, not so much about the tattoo but linked to something else xxxx
Rita

That's okay Rita, I should have said nothing...you of all people I would never want to hurt or upset.
xo

 

[Rita]

That's okay Rita, I should have said nothing...you of all people I would never want to hurt or upset.
xo

No,I shouldn’t have reacted as I did - you have every right to your opinion x

 

[farouk]

That's okay Rita, I should have said nothing...you of all people I would never want to hurt or upset.
xo

@Nancy I guess GodsGrace's post kind of sums it up culturally now:

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

While the terms 'girl' and 'type' could be substituted for others also, I guess GodsGrace has a valid point; and Rita used the word 'cultural', also. When it's definitely conservative ppl that are included among those that do it now, it shows just how much it's become part of the culture and not just for the sailors and bikers of decades back.

While some ppl might find that this significant cultural development causes them to be anxious about those who now are included among those who might get inked up, others may actually find it somewhat liberating.

 

[farouk]

I have always looked at verses in context on the whole chapter and cultural context - that’s just something I do since doing a Christians ethics course at the London bible college.

@Rita As well as the word cultural, I would find it interesting if such a course included consideration of the term 'dispensational': I know they are not really into dispensational theology at LBC. (2c...)

 

[Rita]

@Rita As well as the word cultural, I would find it interesting if such a course included consideration of the term 'dispensational': I know they are not really into dispensational theology at LBC. (2c...)

It was a course on ethics - the tools it taught with regards to looking at culture was linked to those ethical issues - and it used the Ten Commandments as a basis. It wasn’t a course on theology as such. It just showed me a different way to look at scripture as I had mainly listened to the people around me and just believed what they believed without question. So, for me, it was a turning point and started me a journey of discerning scripture.
Rita

 

[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]

It was a course on ethics - the tools it taught with regards to looking at culture was linked to those ethical issues - and it used the Ten Commandments as a basis. It wasn’t a course on theology as such. It just showed me a different way to look at scripture as I had mainly listened to the people around me and just believed what they believed without question. So, for me, it was a turning point and started me a journey of discerning scripture.
Rita

@Rita That's interesting. Some once said: 'context is co-text'; and I guess too that, in the journey of discernment which you refer to, the path to becoming inked up also was only a relatively small part, though at the time without doubt to you a stimulating and even liberating part, of your journey.

 

[Rita]

@farouk, no the tattoo was not liberating - the tattoo represented the liberation and freedom that the Lord had brought me through- it was symbolic of what The Lord had done. The tattoo in of itself was merely the means of expression and the reminder. I am not expecting many to understand that.
Rita

 

[farouk]

@farouk, no the tattoo was not liberating - the tattoo represented the liberation and freedom that the Lord had brought me through- it was symbolic of what The Lord had done. The tattoo in of itself was merely the means of expression and the reminder. I am not expecting many to understand that.
Rita

@Rita I think I see what you mean, yes. Just goes to show that when the moment came, after a very great deal of reflection when the tattoo machine did its work, just how personal and significant a moment it was, I suppose.

You're right that we should not confuse symbols with the reality to which symbols refer, yes.

 

[farouk]

Hi. I found the tattoo poll interesting.

@Ron Coates Yes, there is a whole variety of interesting answers voted for; this is I guess why I started it.

 

[farouk]

...many years later when the whole issue of a tattoo came up , I approached that in context. I spoke to other Christians, my pastor, I prayed and reflected on it for quite a few months.
I don’t have a problem with other Christians seeing things differently

@Rita A measured and good, reflective way of expressing it.