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Poll: Does the mainstreaming of tattoos open up increasing opportunities for faith ink witness?
- Thread starter farouk
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@Grams Back a bit you said:
It used to be very much a man thing to do, didn't it?
But now so many women do it. Now apparently even more women than men.
(Seems like you liked the idea of becoming the subject of a tattoo on your dh.)
It used to be very much a man thing to do, didn't it?
But now so many women do it. Now apparently even more women than men.
(Seems like you liked the idea of becoming the subject of a tattoo on your dh.)
@RainAndIceCream You would probably soon get used to the atmosphere. Parlors usually have portfolios for viewing the artwork - some of which is amazing - and people can go in without any obligation to see them.
@Heart2Soul I reckon that the designs they got done then, and the designs they would prefer now, would possibly be quite distinct...
@michaelvpardo Back a bit you said:
It used to be a man thing but it's very much what women do now, even more so than men now. Among Christians one can see the relevance of faith based designs sometimes being tools for giving a reason for the hope that is within the believer.
While I wouldn't necessarily disagree with you here, I would see "Christian tattoos" about as meaningful as the icthus displayed on the bumper of a vehicle that passed me on the roadway, and the one finger salute from the driver of the vehicle who was apparently angry about my own driving (for some reason known only to that driver.) You can have chapter 3 of John's gospel written on your back, but does that mean you've received the Lord? Or you could wear 1 Corinthians chapter 13 in its entirety on your body, but is that a guarantee that you will take it to heart?
The Lord said that we would be judged according to our words, but in context as opposed to our actions. The Lord warned us as disciples, to beware of hypocrisy (the leaven of the Pharisees) and so all that we say or profess will be measured against all that we have done. If our faith is genuine and we "keep" His words, believing and acting accordingly, then we also have His promise that we have passed out of condemnation. However, hypocrisy is a kind of self deception, a belief in one's own righteousness leading to the condemnation of others rather than mercy, love, and grace. Those that proclaim themselves as virtuous will be tested and you don't want a tattoo to be like a trumpet announcing your gifts at the altar.
PS: @Taken Did you ever look at portfolios in a parlor? or has your viewing of tattoo artwork all been online, maybe?
@michaelvpardo Yes, the burden of living up to what the faith based tattoo proclaims is much greater than any 'burden' of needle pain, monetary expense, etc., involved in receiving the inking! Very good point of yours, indeed! Think before you ink, indeed!
On the original point with which you seem readily to concur, it seems abundantly clear and apparent that, although it used to be man thing, it's been extremely widely embraced as a woman thing to pursue now - even more women than men now. Maybe decades ago some Christians might have claimed that 'nice girls' don't get tattooed, but in fact today a faith based tattoo is exactly what e.g., a serious Christian college student, or preacher's daughter wanting to testify, etc. is not unusually likely to choose to receive as a witness tool and/or as a personal accountability reminder.
(To use the phrase, above, they think and they ink...)
@michaelvpardo Thanks for your poll vote, BTW. Personally I think the way you voted is compellingly true.
Never been in a tattoo parlor.
Saw a few of the TV shows "inked" back in '06.
Haven't watched TV for nearly a decade.
Have seen many people with ink on their skin, a few quite amazing, many hideous.
Have seen some online, again some amazing some ridiculous.
Use to mentor a female prisoner "covered" with parlor and prison tats, having zero appreciation or liking of them.
Why the extreme interest in tats...are you a tattooist/ artist/ trying to get the feel why people do or do not like tats?
@Taken Good post!
I trust the lady that you tried to help was eternally blessed. Even when ex-prisoners make professions of faith, are released and try to attend a Bible based local church, they sometimes find that the 'stigma' of being an ex-prisoner goes with them and they find it hard. (And I'm not talking about because of their tattoos now, which are simply very widespread among both genders of all sorts of belief and philosophical persuasions.)
(No not an artist; just conscious of how topical and widespread tattoos are and - I trust - of the relevance of the poll question.)
Just another consideration for those who have such ideas in mind; Though raised as a Roman Catholic, following the traditions and being confirmed at the age of 13, I would not describe myself as Christian while at that age or while attending college. I always admired Jesus Christ and thought of Him as my ideal "teacher, spiritual leader, etc." , but I had never really heard the gospel preached in church services, nor taught explicitly in "catechism" classes . What knowledge I had of "the way" as Christ taught it came from my reading and limited understanding of scripture. I attempted to practice a kind of Christian virtue as I understood it, but lived surrounded by people of various beliefs (or lack of them) and my observation of young men in school taught me that most were predatory in nature in regard to their relationships with members of the opposite sex. To the kind of man who sees sexual conquest as a proof of his own masculinity or virility, a young professing Christian woman presenting a "virtuous" nature, certainly one with "tatts" , would tend to represent a more challenging conquest. Stealing virtue is a delight to the wicked and they justify their own evil behavior by labeling those that they compromise as hypocrites, liars, and worse. I didn't do such things, but I did witness them (which only bolstered my own sense of self righteousness.)
I've also been witness to many compromised testimonies of people who sought to justify worldly behavior as evangelism, deceiving themselves in the process.
In the way of advice, let me offer a piece of scripture:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
(the entire passage is certainly worth reading.)
@michaelvpardo Good post! Thank-you for those comments.
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 receive the ink injectings in that design. She seemed modest and shy but also had a quiet confidence.
PS: @RainAndIceCream Your post on the other thread also prompted me of this: women who want to can also get tattooed now with confidence.
FYI:
FYI:
forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot comQueenCat said:
@Josho Actually I did talk to a young lady who had gotten the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area and to a young man with the whole of the same wording tattooed on his arm.
It would have been quite a long session for each of them, but they must have been determined.
Motive counts for a lot, when such tattoo wording is planned and then carried out. Kind of, the young Christian feels strongly led to receive a permanent testimony tool in the definite hope that it will be effective for a very long time to come.
@Heart2Soul In this vein, I understand young Christians who get inked up with a faith based design might say that they indeed have every reason to go ahead and have it done, if you can follow this same or similar reasoning?
@farouk Sadly your poll is becoming meaningless by your badgering of people to vote in it.
How many people would have bothered voting if you had had not cajoled them into voting. In other words how many people on this forum are really interested in voting? If there are 2,000 members who regularly come to this board to read through the threads, then the 29 votes in all of the categories displays a lack of interest in the topic. Then there are less than <1.5% of the members who are really interested in voting and many of those you asked to vote.'
Seems like you like flogging a nearly dead horse.
Is it not time for you to let go?
How many people would have bothered voting if you had had not cajoled them into voting. In other words how many people on this forum are really interested in voting? If there are 2,000 members who regularly come to this board to read through the threads, then the 29 votes in all of the categories displays a lack of interest in the topic. Then there are less than <1.5% of the members who are really interested in voting and many of those you asked to vote.'
Seems like you like flogging a nearly dead horse.
Is it not time for you to let go?
Not a scientific poll....
People can remain silent if they wish.
All comments appreciated -positive or negative.