Do you have a tatoo?

[Trevor]

... more please ...

Well our fellowship grew and people would travel to our home from further afield and we ended up with sometimes up to 25 people. we had people delivered, we'd pray for healing all with limited success, we'd baptise in our bath. One day a guy of 22 stone displaced the water and it came through our ceiling. Helen and I's relationship flourished in our new found faith and we've been together now for 53 years. Our children also came to faith and we still pray together except our son who, because he was hurt when a prayer we'd prayed, for the healing of Helen's mother, that we'd all been mightily moved in the Spirit for, failed to be answered and she died He was devastated and turned away from his faith. But scripture tells us that if we bring up our children in the ways of the Lord they will never leave and anyway his faith was very much influenced by ours and he needs to find his own. Everything about him is still Christian he just needs to hear from the Lord. Eventually, because of my pride The Lord relieved me of the fellowship, which is a painful story which I'll pass, and so now we have just a family fellowship and we fellowship at home. We are at present locked down with Coronavirus and our children and grandchildren keep us supplied with our needs. They refuse to accept any money so we have more money to tithe to others in need, we're also saving on diesel because we are not using our car, and because I live with the most amazing woman in the world, and we are being blessed by an awesome saviour. We are citizens of the kingdom of heaven, what more can I say other than bless you Hekuran.

 

[Kay P]

I love tattoos. However I took two since I was 16 before being saved. But because God told my body is his temple and not to put any markings on it which I found out about after I took them, I felt guilty and did not and won't be taking anymore. Please God forgive me, which I know he has. ❤

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings all,

do you mind if i put a little more into this subject?

A Brother i knew quite well, a man i had much love for, had a lot of tattoos. In fact, you could not see skin on a lot of his body.
After an atrocious start to life, deeply saddening and one i would wish on none, he ended up riding the vast land on his two wheeled machine, shotgun attached and knives on the ready. It was some years passing that he accepted Christ as His Saviour and from then he went on to be a chaplain for serious bikers with serious attitude.
In the time before coming to the knowledge of God, through Jesus Christ, he had many tattoos and they were not at all God glorifying, and this he later knew.

As a renewed man of faith in God, through Christ Jesus the Lord, he made the decision to have more tattoos. He did this to cover up and change the ugly and worldly, earlier ones into patterns that were 'harmless'. This is why so much of his skin became un-visable.
But i tell you, this man was a most beautiful man with a genuine heart for others. He also worked with young and offending lads as well as raising a beautiful family, but above all, he was always wanting to talk Jesus and include Jesus into every conversation, which was extremely pleasurable and refreshing, as many {and may i say here, so many, of whom do not have tatts and frowned on them and/or those who do}, so many can not keep interested in Jesus talk for more than a few minutes, especially if you broach a subject that they feel intimidated by.

So, in this case, we have the believing man getting tattoos, and lots of them.

The tragic thing about getting a tattoo is that while it may be something that we may later regret and did without truely seeking the Lord [as our Brother-Paul mentioned and others have commented on], it is something that we can not simply wash off and carry on as if it was never there.
This brings me to a point, if i may, that i would like to introduce to this discussion.

Next time you see someone with a tattoo, be it yourself or another, be reminded that like a tattoo, sin is sin that we can pretend is all gone in time, but to the Lord, it remains and all must make an account before the Lord one day, where we will find that the many sin, that we have simply forgotten, did in fact stain our robes.

There is only one way to being cleaned from this stain. His name is Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, and through faith in Him.

Until a man confesses Christ, he remains tattooed with all his sin. When a man turns to the Lord and walks after Him, He discovers that like the morning mist that vanishes and like a cloud that drifts away never to ever be seen again, The LORD will blot out our iniquities and pardon all our transgression.

For those who have already come to the Fountain for Cleansing, remember, there does remain a time of reckoning and it is our responsibility to keep our robes clean. If you see a tattoo or even get talking about them, remember this, a man or woman who we see a tattoo on, we see with our eyes, but the Lord judges the hearts. We see a tattoo because it stays visible and remains for all to see, but are we so keenly aware that we too may have spiritual tattoos and do we ever carry on as if we are spotless while deeply knowing that we are not?


The Lord bless each and every one of you ....><>

 

[Trevor]

Greetings all,

do you mind if i put a little more into this subject?

A Brother i knew quite well, a man i had much love for, had a lot of tattoos. In fact, you could not see skin on a lot of his body.
After an atrocious start to life, deeply saddening and one i would wish on none, he ended up riding the vast land on his two wheeled machine, shotgun attached and knives on the ready. It was some years passing that he accepted Christ as His Saviour and from then he went on to be a chaplain for serious bikers with serious attitude.
In the time before coming to the knowledge of God, through Jesus Christ, he had many tattoos and they were not at all God glorifying, and this he later knew.

As a renewed man of faith in God, through Christ Jesus the Lord, he made the decision to have more tattoos. He did this to cover up and change the ugly and worldly, earlier ones into patterns that were 'harmless'. This is why so much of his skin became un-visable.
But i tell you, this man was a most beautiful man with a genuine heart for others. He also worked with young and offending lads as well as raising a beautiful family, but above all, he was always wanting to talk Jesus and include Jesus into every conversation, which was extremely pleasurable and refreshing, as many {and may i say here, so many, of whom do not have tatts and frowned on them and/or those who do}, so many can not keep interested in Jesus talk for more than a few minutes, especially if you broach a subject that they feel intimidated by.

So, in this case, we have the believing man getting tattoos, and lots of them.

The tragic thing about getting a tattoo is that while it may be something that we may later regret and did without truely seeking the Lord [as our Brother-Paul mentioned and others have commented on], it is something that we can not simply wash off and carry on as if it was never there.
This brings me to a point, if i may, that i would like to introduce to this discussion.

Next time you see someone with a tattoo, be it yourself or another, be reminded that like a tattoo, sin is sin that we can pretend is all gone in time, but to the Lord, it remains and all must make an account before the Lord one day, where we will find that the many sin, that we have simply forgotten, did in fact stain our robes.

There is only one way to being cleaned from this stain. His name is Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, and through faith in Him.

Until a man confesses Christ, he remains tattooed with all his sin. When a man turns to the Lord and walks after Him, He discovers that like the morning mist that vanishes and like a cloud that drifts away never to ever be seen again, The LORD will blot out our iniquities and pardon all our transgression.

For those who have already come to the Fountain for Cleansing, remember, there does remain a time of reckoning and it is our responsibility to keep our robes clean. If you see a tattoo or even get talking about them, remember this, a man or woman who we see a tattoo on, we see with our eyes, but the Lord judges the hearts. We see a tattoo because it stays visible and remains for all to see, but are we so keenly aware that we too may have spiritual tattoos and do we ever carry on as if we are spotless while deeply knowing that we are not?


The Lord bless each and every one of you ....><>

Greetings all,

do you mind if i put a little more into this subject?

A Brother i knew quite well, a man i had much love for, had a lot of tattoos. In fact, you could not see skin on a lot of his body.
After an atrocious start to life, deeply saddening and one i would wish on none, he ended up riding the vast land on his two wheeled machine, shotgun attached and knives on the ready. It was some years passing that he accepted Christ as His Saviour and from then he went on to be a chaplain for serious bikers with serious attitude.
In the time before coming to the knowledge of God, through Jesus Christ, he had many tattoos and they were not at all God glorifying, and this he later knew.

As a renewed man of faith in God, through Christ Jesus the Lord, he made the decision to have more tattoos. He did this to cover up and change the ugly and worldly, earlier ones into patterns that were 'harmless'. This is why so much of his skin became un-visable.
But i tell you, this man was a most beautiful man with a genuine heart for others. He also worked with young and offending lads as well as raising a beautiful family, but above all, he was always wanting to talk Jesus and include Jesus into every conversation, which was extremely pleasurable and refreshing, as many {and may i say here, so many, of whom do not have tatts and frowned on them and/or those who do}, so many can not keep interested in Jesus talk for more than a few minutes, especially if you broach a subject that they feel intimidated by.

So, in this case, we have the believing man getting tattoos, and lots of them.

The tragic thing about getting a tattoo is that while it may be something that we may later regret and did without truely seeking the Lord [as our Brother-Paul mentioned and others have commented on], it is something that we can not simply wash off and carry on as if it was never there.
This brings me to a point, if i may, that i would like to introduce to this discussion.

Next time you see someone with a tattoo, be it yourself or another, be reminded that like a tattoo, sin is sin that we can pretend is all gone in time, but to the Lord, it remains and all must make an account before the Lord one day, where we will find that the many sin, that we have simply forgotten, did in fact stain our robes.

There is only one way to being cleaned from this stain. His name is Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, and through faith in Him.

Until a man confesses Christ, he remains tattooed with all his sin. When a man turns to the Lord and walks after Him, He discovers that like the morning mist that vanishes and like a cloud that drifts away never to ever be seen again, The LORD will blot out our iniquities and pardon all our transgression.

For those who have already come to the Fountain for Cleansing, remember, there does remain a time of reckoning and it is our responsibility to keep our robes clean. If you see a tattoo or even get talking about them, remember this, a man or woman who we see a tattoo on, we see with our eyes, but the Lord judges the hearts. We see a tattoo because it stays visible and remains for all to see, but are we so keenly aware that we too may have spiritual tattoos and do we ever carry on as if we are spotless while deeply knowing that we are not?


The Lord bless each and every one of you ....><>

Well said Br Bear, an analogy I shall keep in the library of my mind for future debate.

 

[Br. Bear]

Well said Br Bear, an analogy I shall keep in the library of my mind for future debate.

aye, and don't forget it upon thine heart, Brother


Bless you ....><>

 

[Brother-Paul]

I love tattoos. However I took two since I was 16 before being saved. But because God told my body is his temple and not to put any markings on it which I found out about after I took them, I felt guilty and did not and won't be taking anymore. Please God forgive me, which I know he has. ❤

Greetings @Kay P

If you had the tattoos before you were saved, as you said you did, then you are forgiven.

You are right sister, your body has become a Temple and the Holy Spirit, He abides in you, from the second you repented and asked Jesus into your heart to be your personal saviour. Don't feel guilty, at the point you repented and was saved ALL past sins are wiped away through the Blood of Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit revealed this Truth to you through The Word.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Jesus loves you sister we do too.

Shalom

 

[Brother-Paul]

Greetings all,

do you mind if i put a little more into this subject?

A Brother i knew quite well, a man i had much love for, had a lot of tattoos. In fact, you could not see skin on a lot of his body.
After an atrocious start to life, deeply saddening and one i would wish on none, he ended up riding the vast land on his two wheeled machine, shotgun attached and knives on the ready. It was some years passing that he accepted Christ as His Saviour and from then he went on to be a chaplain for serious bikers with serious attitude.
In the time before coming to the knowledge of God, through Jesus Christ, he had many tattoos and they were not at all God glorifying, and this he later knew.

As a renewed man of faith in God, through Christ Jesus the Lord, he made the decision to have more tattoos. He did this to cover up and change the ugly and worldly, earlier ones into patterns that were 'harmless'. This is why so much of his skin became un-visable.
But i tell you, this man was a most beautiful man with a genuine heart for others. He also worked with young and offending lads as well as raising a beautiful family, but above all, he was always wanting to talk Jesus and include Jesus into every conversation, which was extremely pleasurable and refreshing, as many {and may i say here, so many, of whom do not have tatts and frowned on them and/or those who do}, so many can not keep interested in Jesus talk for more than a few minutes, especially if you broach a subject that they feel intimidated by.

So, in this case, we have the believing man getting tattoos, and lots of them.

The tragic thing about getting a tattoo is that while it may be something that we may later regret and did without truely seeking the Lord [as our Brother-Paul mentioned and others have commented on], it is something that we can not simply wash off and carry on as if it was never there.
This brings me to a point, if i may, that i would like to introduce to this discussion.

Next time you see someone with a tattoo, be it yourself or another, be reminded that like a tattoo, sin is sin that we can pretend is all gone in time, but to the Lord, it remains and all must make an account before the Lord one day, where we will find that the many sin, that we have simply forgotten, did in fact stain our robes.

There is only one way to being cleaned from this stain. His name is Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, and through faith in Him.

Until a man confesses Christ, he remains tattooed with all his sin. When a man turns to the Lord and walks after Him, He discovers that like the morning mist that vanishes and like a cloud that drifts away never to ever be seen again, The LORD will blot out our iniquities and pardon all our transgression.

For those who have already come to the Fountain for Cleansing, remember, there does remain a time of reckoning and it is our responsibility to keep our robes clean. If you see a tattoo or even get talking about them, remember this, a man or woman who we see a tattoo on, we see with our eyes, but the Lord judges the hearts. We see a tattoo because it stays visible and remains for all to see, but are we so keenly aware that we too may have spiritual tattoos and do we ever carry on as if we are spotless while deeply knowing that we are not?


The Lord bless each and every one of you ....><>

Greeting dear brother,

Thank you for your post, may I add one more thing regarding this issue.

As we have discussed in detail, a tattoo defaces the body, it is extremely hard to remove, and as your friend did, he had others to cover the old ones up as he was embarrassed at a later date having accepted Jesus as His personal Saviour.

Two thinks stands out very clearly to me here, and that is what I would like to share if I may.

The first has been discussed previously, we should never condemn a person because they have a tattoo, we do not know when they had it, we do not know if or when they have repented.

Now some could say, but this person is born again, they should not have a tattoo it has defaced the body, the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The tattoo has defaced the body, but was it before they were saved, if it was a sins have been washed away and remembered no more. It is also possible a body could be tattooed after the person was saved, but they did not know it was wrong, they may be babes in Christ and had not read or understood 1 Cor 6:19-20, but after finding out they repent and the sin is forgiven.

The issue is that the tattoo's are visible to all, unless under clothing, so some people jump in with both feet to condemn the tattooed soul, not knowing they have been forgiven. We are not to judge in these situations.

Now here is the second issue not yet discussed. Because the tattoo is visible, even after being forgiven for sinning against the body, the person suffers 'guilt'. So if others pull them down by criticising they are just making the person with tattoos feel more guilty and even depressed.

This is the main point to conclude this situation, when a person seeks forgiveness of their sins, from the heart, and accepts Jesus as their personal saviour, ALL past sins are forgive, 'remembered no more'. 'remembered no more'! So when that person stands before Jesus, as a saved soul, Jesus will judge the person for what they have done according to The Word, there is no sin, sin has been washed away.

It is all down to 'Love', God's Love, His Divine Love, His agape Love, His Hesed Love, He takes us as we are, scared, marked, damaged, rubbished, sinners, He accepts our pleas for forgiveness of sins, from our truly repent hearts, we are forgiven without question and our sins washed away and remembered no more.

We are to Love one another as He Loves us, guide others with The Truth in The Word, that may not know defacing their body is a sin against the body, against The Temple of the Holy Spirit, but do so in Love. Some may accept The Truth, some may not, we share in Love and pray leaving the rest to the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for revealing The Truth in His Word by the Power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus Precious Name. Amen

 

[Br. Bear]

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
John 20:21-23



Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Peter 5:8

 

[Brother-Paul]

As frustrating as this is going to sound, I still don't get it. You're giving me the same 5 verses, and you keep saying that it's a sin, but I still don't see how. The bible says nothing about defacing your body as a sin outside of Leviticus, and we've already discussed the context. You say that 1 Corinth. 6 can refer to sin in general that involves the body (even though it doesn't explicitly say that, but hurray to literary interpretation), and therefore can also refer to tattoos. I don't agree with this.
I don't see it as a sin because, the Bible doesn't say anything about modern tattoos. I cannot interpret 1 Corinth. 6 as anything other than encouragement to take care of our bodies, as it is a temple and needs to be kept healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
The difference between the issues with tattoos and the LGBT is that there are verses that discourage homosexual/effeminate behavior. However, there are absolutely no verses that discourage the modern tattoo (a tattoo created as art, not for worship). But there may be one verse that references tattoos in Revelation.
In Revelations 19:16, Jesus is described with having marks on his robe and on His thigh that reads "King of Kings, Lord of Lords". You could say that it's a tattoo, blood, normal ink, or maybe a sticker. Who knows? Revelations is a strange book, but you could see that even Jesus in the end times isn't above putting a mark on His body that expressed who He is. But that, as is many things in the Bible, is open to interpretation.
You're right, this body is not mine. Paul said that we were bought at a price, and we need to take care of our bodies as such. But you and I have very different views on what tattoos are.
You believe that it's vandalizing our bodies.
I believe that it's decorating our bodies.
You see it as a sin, like the people who advocate for plain, humble, church buildings as to preserve the temple.
I see it as an art, like the people who put up stained-glass windows in their churches to add to the temple.
Sp by the looks of it, you and I have no intention of changing our minds, so why are we still discussing this?

Dear sister

If I was to have a tattoo on my body, I would be defacing by body, defacing by allowing the use of needles to inject ink into my skin, this is not Glorifying God in your body, but permanently marking it.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you [As a Saved Soul],
whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
For you were bought at a price;
therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

I do not believe a person is vandalising their body, as you put it, I am explaining what scripture says to a sister in Christ, and praying you will see the Truth in the Word. I am doing so in love because I don't want you to regret it later, I don't want you to feel guilty later as many have and many more do..

Now you say you don't see it as defacing the body, which is God's, which the Holy Spirit abides in, which Jesus purchased at a price, His Life for our sins.

You say you see it as art, what is art? Is art a picture on a wall? Yes it can be. Is art a sculpture? Yes it can be. Is art an image of a nude person? The world may think so, but God certainly doesn't agree. The body is precious and should be covered up, cared for and looked after, loved as God loves it, after all He created it. If a picture is imprinted on the body it is usually for one of two reasons, the person wants people to see it, the person wants to express a message to others. Now you may say I want a picture of a dragon on my back, that would not bring glory to God. You may say I want to put, God is Love, on your body and you may argue that would be acceptable, it is bringing glory to God, but is it, is it right with God? God has given us many ways to bring Glory to Him through Jesus, a tattoo of scripture was not one of them, a tattoo is defacing the body, The Temple of the Holy Spirit so there is no way He would want that.

You mentioned above... You see it as a sin, like the people who advocate for plain, humble, church buildings as to preserve the temple. I see it as an art, like the people who put up stained-glass windows in their churches to add to the temple. The church building is the kuriakon a word introduced by the RCC, which is not in scripture, neither is it anything to do with the body. Now the True Church is the ekklesia, the body of believers, the saved souls and we wouldn't put stained glass windows in those.

You also mentioned... the Bible doesn't say anything about modern tattoos. I feel that could be part of the issue, it appears you are trying to fit todays worldly ways to scripture instead of letting scripture guide you today. 'modern tattoos' 'modern art'. Or you may already have a tattoo and feel guilty possibly. I don't know, it doesn't matter, as I said earlier, all I am doing is sharing what scripture actually says about defacing, tattooing, your saved body, which is the Temple of The Holy Spirit. I am only sharing in Love, because I do not want you to feel guilty later, Jesus sets us free from past sins.

I share in Love, I pray the Truth will be revealed to you. I can do no more we are all responsible for our decisions, but I do conclude sister by saying from my heart...

Jesus Loves you I do too.

 

[Trevor]

Greeting dear brother,

Thank you for your post, may I add one more thing regarding this issue.

As we have discussed in detail, a tattoo defaces the body, it is extremely hard to remove, and as your friend did, he had others to cover the old ones up as he was embarrassed at a later date having accepted Jesus as His personal Saviour.

Two thinks stands out very clearly to me here, and that is what I would like to share if I may.

The first has been discussed previously, we should never condemn a person because they have a tattoo, we do not know when they had it, we do not know if or when they have repented.

Now some could say, but this person is born again, they should not have a tattoo it has defaced the body, the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The tattoo has defaced the body, but was it before they were saved, if it was a sins have been washed away and remembered no more. It is also possible a body could be tattooed after the person was saved, but they did not know it was wrong, they may be babes in Christ and had not read or understood 1 Cor 6:19-20, but after finding out they repent and the sin is forgiven.

The issue is that the tattoo's are visible to all, unless under clothing, so some people jump in with both feet to condemn the tattooed soul, not knowing they have been forgiven. We are not to judge in these situations.

Now here is the second issue not yet discussed. Because the tattoo is visible, even after being forgiven for sinning against the body, the person suffers 'guilt'. So if others pull them down by criticising they are just making the person with tattoos feel more guilty and even depressed.

This is the main point to conclude this situation, when a person seeks forgiveness of their sins, from the heart, and accepts Jesus as their personal saviour, ALL past sins are forgive, 'remembered no more'. 'remembered no more'! So when that person stands before Jesus, as a saved soul, Jesus will judge the person for what they have done according to The Word, there is no sin, sin has been washed away.

It is all down to 'Love', God's Love, His Divine Love, His agape Love, His Hesed Love, He takes us as we are, scared, marked, damaged, rubbished, sinners, He accepts our pleas for forgiveness of sins, from our truly repent hearts, we are forgiven without question and our sins washed away and remembered no more.

We are to Love one another as He Loves us, guide others with The Truth in The Word, that may not know defacing their body is a sin against the body, against The Temple of the Holy Spirit, but do so in Love. Some may accept The Truth, some may not, we share in Love and pray leaving the rest to the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for revealing The Truth in His Word by the Power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus Precious Name. Amen

Hi Paul, you say 'quote' We are to Love one another as He Loves us, guide others with The Truth in The Word, that may not know defacing their body is a sin against the body, against The Temple of the Holy Spirit, but do so in Love. Some may accept The Truth, some may not, we share in Love and pray leaving the rest to the Holy Spirit. Here's a scenario for you, A guy books into a Christian conference, he sports tattoos and as it's a hot day and he's only wearing a T-shirt, his tattoos are on full display. It's not just the one, well meaning, brother who approaches him to lovingly point out the scripture, regarding sinning against the temple of the Holy Spirit. During the conference he'll get many well meaning brothers who wish, lovingly, to point out the truth of scripture to him, he sees no love, he sees vultures. Many of the well meaning brothers may not have visible sin. But they may be lusting after their neighbours wife, coveting their neighbours wealth, dipping their fingers into the church funds. But non of these sins are visible. I don't care what sins others have, I'm to busy praying for release of my own and I know that if a person has asked Jesus to forgive his sin, then Jesus is already on the case and for me to interfere, is to not trust Jesus to finish His work, and likely after the vultures have had their shot of self satisfaction, the guy will leave his church and his faith, and return to the sinners who actually did care for him. that could be construed as spiritual murder. There is a camaraderie amongst sinners that often puts the church to shame. Fortunately for me, I wasn't found by the church, I was found by Jesus. Just making a point as a tattooed person. Bless you

 

[Brother-Paul]

Hi Paul, you say 'quote' We are to Love one another as He Loves us, guide others with The Truth in The Word, that may not know defacing their body is a sin against the body, against The Temple of the Holy Spirit, but do so in Love. Some may accept The Truth, some may not, we share in Love and pray leaving the rest to the Holy Spirit. Here's a scenario for you, A guy books into a Christian conference, he sports tattoos and as it's a hot day and he's only wearing a T-shirt, his tattoos are on full display. It's not just the one, well meaning, brother who approaches him to lovingly point out the scripture, regarding sinning against the temple of the Holy Spirit. During the conference he'll get many well meaning brothers who wish, lovingly, to point out the truth of scripture to him, he sees no love, he sees vultures. Many of the well meaning brothers may not have visible sin. But they may be lusting after their neighbours wife, coveting their neighbours wealth, dipping their fingers into the church funds. But non of these sins are visible. I don't care what sins others have, I'm to busy praying for release of my own and I know that if a person has asked Jesus to forgive his sin, then Jesus is already on the case and for me to interfere, is to not trust Jesus to finish His work, and likely after the vultures have had their shot of self satisfaction, the guy will leave his church and his faith, and return to the sinners who actually did care for him. that could be construed as spiritual murder. There is a camaraderie amongst sinners that often puts the church to shame. Fortunately for me, I wasn't found by the church, I was found by Jesus. Just making a point as a tattooed person. Bless you

Greetings Trevor

Allow me to explain a little more what I meant which doesn't come out above, based on my understanding of what you have put, forgive me if I mis understood any part brother.

Taking your example...

By doing things in Love, what I am saying is, chat with the person, generally, after a while, depending on the one to one chat, may be ask about the tattoos, there is no doubt the person with them is expecting critism for yet another, so that approach is avoided, just an odd question see how the response goes, if it doesn't and you don't feel the Holy Spirit pushing you, change the subject. That to me is doing it in love, your description appears to me a little bit, faster, to the point, don't you know... without knowing were they done before being saved, were they doe after and maybe this person has repented. All they are seeing is tattoos, not feeling love from the heart of the person because they have not allowed the Spirit to flow. Well meaning or not tact is needed, the Spirits lead is needed.

As previously said brother, a tattoo is a permanent mark on the body, the person with them, who is saved, may carry the guilt but shouldn't. Jesus washed away their sins, only the mark is left, the sin has gone. When the person stands before Christ, as a saved soul, Jesus will be considering what they have done in accordance with the Word, He will not see the tattoo, the sin has gone, remembered no more.

Bless you

 

[Kay P]

Greetings all,

do you mind if i put a little more into this subject?

A Brother i knew quite well, a man i had much love for, had a lot of tattoos. In fact, you could not see skin on a lot of his body.
After an atrocious start to life, deeply saddening and one i would wish on none, he ended up riding the vast land on his two wheeled machine, shotgun attached and knives on the ready. It was some years passing that he accepted Christ as His Saviour and from then he went on to be a chaplain for serious bikers with serious attitude.
In the time before coming to the knowledge of God, through Jesus Christ, he had many tattoos and they were not at all God glorifying, and this he later knew.

As a renewed man of faith in God, through Christ Jesus the Lord, he made the decision to have more tattoos. He did this to cover up and change the ugly and worldly, earlier ones into patterns that were 'harmless'. This is why so much of his skin became un-visable.
But i tell you, this man was a most beautiful man with a genuine heart for others. He also worked with young and offending lads as well as raising a beautiful family, but above all, he was always wanting to talk Jesus and include Jesus into every conversation, which was extremely pleasurable and refreshing, as many {and may i say here, so many, of whom do not have tatts and frowned on them and/or those who do}, so many can not keep interested in Jesus talk for more than a few minutes, especially if you broach a subject that they feel intimidated by.

So, in this case, we have the believing man getting tattoos, and lots of them.

The tragic thing about getting a tattoo is that while it may be something that we may later regret and did without truely seeking the Lord [as our Brother-Paul mentioned and others have commented on], it is something that we can not simply wash off and carry on as if it was never there.
This brings me to a point, if i may, that i would like to introduce to this discussion.

Next time you see someone with a tattoo, be it yourself or another, be reminded that like a tattoo, sin is sin that we can pretend is all gone in time, but to the Lord, it remains and all must make an account before the Lord one day, where we will find that the many sin, that we have simply forgotten, did in fact stain our robes.

There is only one way to being cleaned from this stain. His name is Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, and through faith in Him.

Until a man confesses Christ, he remains tattooed with all his sin. When a man turns to the Lord and walks after Him, He discovers that like the morning mist that vanishes and like a cloud that drifts away never to ever be seen again, The LORD will blot out our iniquities and pardon all our transgression.

For those who have already come to the Fountain for Cleansing, remember, there does remain a time of reckoning and it is our responsibility to keep our robes clean. If you see a tattoo or even get talking about them, remember this, a man or woman who we see a tattoo on, we see with our eyes, but the Lord judges the hearts. We see a tattoo because it stays visible and remains for all to see, but are we so keenly aware that we too may have spiritual tattoos and do we ever carry on as if we are spotless while deeply knowing that we are not?


The Lord bless each and every one of you ....><>

To be honest Mr. Bear... I don't feel guilty for my tats anymore. I know deep down inside, Jesus has forgiven me for them. Thanks so much for the word of encouragement everyone. God bless you all! ❤

 

[NYQueens977]

Dear sister

If I was to have a tattoo on my body, I would be defacing by body, defacing by allowing the use of needles to inject ink into my skin, this is not Glorifying God in your body, but permanently marking it.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you [As a Saved Soul],
whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
For you were bought at a price;
therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

I do not believe a person is vandalising their body, as you put it, I am explaining what scripture says to a sister in Christ, and praying you will see the Truth in the Word. I am doing so in love because I don't want you to regret it later, I don't want you to feel guilty later as many have and many more do..

Now you say you don't see it as defacing the body, which is God's, which the Holy Spirit abides in, which Jesus purchased at a price, His Life for our sins.

You say you see it as art, what is art? Is art a picture on a wall? Yes it can be. Is art a sculpture? Yes it can be. Is art an image of a nude person? The world may think so, but God certainly doesn't agree. The body is precious and should be covered up, cared for and looked after, loved as God loves it, after all He created it. If a picture is imprinted on the body it is usually for one of two reasons, the person wants people to see it, the person wants to express a message to others. Now you may say I want a picture of a dragon on my back, that would not bring glory to God. You may say I want to put, God is Love, on your body and you may argue that would be acceptable, it is bringing glory to God, but is it, is it right with God? God has given us many ways to bring Glory to Him through Jesus, a tattoo of scripture was not one of them, a tattoo is defacing the body, The Temple of the Holy Spirit so there is no way He would want that.

You mentioned above... You see it as a sin, like the people who advocate for plain, humble, church buildings as to preserve the temple. I see it as an art, like the people who put up stained-glass windows in their churches to add to the temple. The church building is the kuriakon a word introduced by the RCC, which is not in scripture, neither is it anything to do with the body. Now the True Church is the ekklesia, the body of believers, the saved souls and we wouldn't put stained glass windows in those.

You also mentioned... the Bible doesn't say anything about modern tattoos. I feel that could be part of the issue, it appears you are trying to fit todays worldly ways to scripture instead of letting scripture guide you today. 'modern tattoos' 'modern art'. Or you may already have a tattoo and feel guilty possibly. I don't know, it doesn't matter, as I said earlier, all I am doing is sharing what scripture actually says about defacing, tattooing, your saved body, which is the Temple of The Holy Spirit. I am only sharing in Love, because I do not want you to feel guilty later, Jesus sets us free from past sins.

I share in Love, I pray the Truth will be revealed to you. I can do no more we are all responsible for our decisions, but I do conclude sister by saying from my heart...

Jesus Loves you I do too.

Vandalizing is synonymous to defacing.

You ask what is art, and that is something students take entire semesters to answer. But for simplicity's sake, let's just go with a quick google def.: "works produced by human creative skill and imagination." So it goes far beyond a painting or a sculpture, and you know that. And to say that nudity doesn't count as art in God's eyes is inaccurate, as God said explicitly when he finished creation "it is good." And people were nude before the fall of sin, which shows that it was never Gods intention to cover it up. It was man in their shame that wanted to cover up, not God.

To say that a tattoo of scripture is not a way to express God and His love is an opinion.

You also keep saying that a tattoo is defacing the body, but nowhere in scripture does it say that, and that's a fact.
You just keep repeating that it is, providing a few scriptures about how not only how, "it's not our body, bought at a price, etc etc." (even though that has absolutely no connection to tattoos in the context of the chapter aside from the connection and interpretation you made, not I), but also insisting that choosing to get a tattoo is a sin, which doesn't make sense to me since I have yet to find scriptural evidence that it is.

You also completely missed the point I was trying to make with the temple analogy, but okay. I'll just chalk that up to my misunderstanding of the debate and move on.

I explicitly said "modern tattoo" to distinguish intent, not to force worldly views into the bible. In the ancient world, people got tattoos as a form of worship, which is why God understandably forbade it. But nowadays, tattoos aren't primarily used as a form of worship like how it was hundreds of years ago, but instead as a form of expression. It's a fashion statement.

"If I was to have a tattoo on my body, I would be defacing by body, defacing by allowing the use of needles to inject ink into my skin, this is not Glorifying God in your body, but permanently marking it."
Yes, that's what a tattoo is... but you fail to tell me how that's not glorifying God. Are you basing that belief of 1 Corinth. 6? How do we define what glorifies God or doesn't? The Bible? But people interpret the Bible differently, as you could clearly see with our different interpretations of 1 Corinth. 6. The Holy Spirit? But my spirit doesn't see anything wrong with tattoos-never did actually- and your's tells you that there is. God? He doesn't say anything concrete about it, so what then?
Point is, I don't need your concern. We are just two individuals who have different views on a mildly controversial subject. I don't see how it's dishonoring God, and I probably never will until I something convinces me otherwise. I don't believe God could penalize me for having a tattoo unapologetically, as I literally see no issue biblically for having one. It's not a gamble. A gamble implies that there are unknown factors. "Maybe the Bible is against it, maybe the Bible is for it, who knows, let's put on a blindfold and take our pick." That's not how the Bible works. I've read the Bible critically and through the guide of the Holy Spirit, and from my understanding, I see no issue with tattoos when used as art.
The only options here is "Tattooing is a sin that needs to be forgiven" and, "there's nothing wrong with having a tattoo." Since it appears that we both feel that we're right, then I guess we should just agree to disagree and move on, because, quite frankly, this conversation is dragging out way too much, and the original poster of this thread had asked to not get into a heavy debate about it.
If you want to keep this conversation going, my private messages are always open.

 

[Trevor]

Vandalizing is synonymous to defacing.

You ask what is art, and that is something students take entire semesters to answer. But for simplicity's sake, let's just go with a quick google def.: "works produced by human creative skill and imagination." So it goes far beyond a painting or a sculpture, and you know that. And to say that nudity doesn't count as art in God's eyes is inaccurate, as God said explicitly when he finished creation "it is good." And people were nude before the fall of sin, which shows that it was never Gods intention to cover it up. It was man in their shame that wanted to cover up, not God.

To say that a tattoo of scripture is not a way to express God and His love is an opinion.

You also keep saying that a tattoo is defacing the body, but nowhere in scripture does it say that, and that's a fact.
You just keep repeating that it is, providing a few scriptures about how not only how, "it's not our body, bought at a price, etc etc." (even though that has absolutely no connection to tattoos in the context of the chapter aside from the connection and interpretation you made, not I), but also insisting that choosing to get a tattoo is a sin, which doesn't make sense to me since I have yet to find scriptural evidence that it is.

You also completely missed the point I was trying to make with the temple analogy, but okay. I'll just chalk that up to my misunderstanding of the debate and move on.

I explicitly said "modern tattoo" to distinguish intent, not to force worldly views into the bible. In the ancient world, people got tattoos as a form of worship, which is why God understandably forbade it. But nowadays, tattoos aren't primarily used as a form of worship like how it was hundreds of years ago, but instead as a form of expression. It's a fashion statement.

"If I was to have a tattoo on my body, I would be defacing by body, defacing by allowing the use of needles to inject ink into my skin, this is not Glorifying God in your body, but permanently marking it."
Yes, that's what a tattoo is... but you fail to tell me how that's not glorifying God. Are you basing that belief of 1 Corinth. 6? How do we define what glorifies God or doesn't? The Bible? But people interpret the Bible differently, as you could clearly see with our different interpretations of 1 Corinth. 6. The Holy Spirit? But my spirit doesn't see anything wrong with tattoos-never did actually- and your's tells you that there is. God? He doesn't say anything concrete about it, so what then?
Point is, I don't need your concern. We are just two individuals who have different views on a mildly controversial subject. I don't see how it's dishonoring God, and I probably never will until I something convinces me otherwise. I don't believe God could penalize me for having a tattoo unapologetically, as I literally see no issue biblically for having one. It's not a gamble. A gamble implies that there are unknown factors. "Maybe the Bible is against it, maybe the Bible is for it, who knows, let's put on a blindfold and take our pick." That's not how the Bible works. I've read the Bible critically and through the guide of the Holy Spirit, and from my understanding, I see no issue with tattoos when used as art.
The only options here is "Tattooing is a sin that needs to be forgiven" and, "there's nothing wrong with having a tattoo." Since it appears that we both feel that we're right, then I guess we should just agree to disagree and move on, because, quite frankly, this conversation is dragging out way too much, and the original poster of this thread had asked to not get into a heavy debate about it.
If you want to keep this conversation going, my private messages are always open.

Hi, NY Queens, you say there is no scripture forbidding tattoos, how about Laviticus 19:28?

 

[Brother-Paul]

Vandalizing is synonymous to defacing.

You ask what is art, and that is something students take entire semesters to answer. But for simplicity's sake, let's just go with a quick google def.: "works produced by human creative skill and imagination." So it goes far beyond a painting or a sculpture, and you know that.

Greeting sister, why are you looking for 'art' on Google you will only get todays definition?

What does the Greek say?
What does the Bible say?

Art is something that has progresses over the centuries. Lets look at the New Testament

Greek Strong's Number: 5078
Greek Word: τέχνη
Transliteration: technē
Phonetic Pronunciation: tekh'-nay
Root: from the base of <G5088>

English Words used in KJV: translated to what we understand today
art 1
occupation 1
craft 1

The word techne refers to craftsmanship, as productive, a trade, occupation e.g. As stone mason, carpenter, potter,
Referring to as the art of stone masonry, the art of being a master craftsman, carpenter, the art of being a potter came later.


Stepping back into the Old Testament we have

Hebrew Strong's Number: 4639
Hebrew Word: ‏מַעֲשֶׂה‎
Transliteration: maʿaśeh
Phonetic Pronunciation: mah-as-eh'

English Words used in KJV: translated to what we understand today
work 189
needlework
acts 4
labour 4
etc

"Techne" is a term, etymologically derived from the Greek word τέχνη , that is often translated to understand today as "craftsmanship", "craft", or "art".

And to say that nudity doesn't count as art in God's eyes is inaccurate, as God said explicitly when he finished creation "it is good."

Scripture does not say nudity is good, nor does it say nudity is and art, or acceptable, to the contrary.

You are correct in quoting scripture that God created man and woman, and what He had created He said was good, that was before the fall.

Everything was good before the fall. Sin corrupted all that was good.

And people were nude before the fall of sin, which shows that it was never Gods intention to cover it up. It was man in their shame that wanted to cover up, not God.

You are correct that Adam and Eve were naked before the fall, that was because everything was good in God's eyes, and there was No Sin.

What happened as soon as they sinned? They got leaves and covered their bodied, but they were only leaves you may say, true they were at first, but notice they got the first things they could lay their hands on and they were in the Garden of Eden.

As mankind grew, bodies were covered up more, as we know Adam and Eve didn't kill animals for meat that also came later so sinks from animals were not available for them at first.

Scripture very clearly states we are to cover our bodies, look at history, for thousands of years people covered there bodies, except for painting or statues made over the last 1500 years or so, people covered their bodies, it wasn't until these latter days, from the 1960's, that clothing changed dramatically, clothing got smaller and smaller, clothing got tighter and tighter, more and more of the body has become exposed like never before.

Shalom

 

[Brother-Paul]

To say that a tattoo of scripture is not a way to express God and His love is an opinion.

A tattoo on the human body is defacing (permanently marking) the body God has given us, that is what I am saying sister.

As a born again believer, saved soul, our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who abides in us. We are not ours, we are purchased at a price, Jesus' death on the cross for our sins. If we have a tattoo on our saved body we are defacing the body God gave us and The Temple of the Holy Spirit.

A lost soul - a person of the world belongs to sin the world and the devil, they do not know it is a sin.

A saved soul - who previously had a tattoo, is saved of all sins, this includes defacing the body, their sins are washed away, remembered no more. But the tattoo remains visible and many end up feeling guilty after being saved, they shouldn't, their sins, all past sins are forgiven.

A saved soul - has a tattoo after being saved, has sinned against the body, but they may be young in faith and not realise, so long as they repent after finding out, their sin is forgiven.

A saved soul - has a tattoo after being saved, and knows it is against God's Word, remain unforgiven of the sin, it marrs God's image in them.

Scripture is Truth, the Truth is in the Word. If we accept God's Word as Truth, we accept all God's Word as Truth.

Blessings

 

[Brother-Paul]

To say that a tattoo of scripture is not a way to express God and His love is an opinion.

A tattoo on the human body is defacing (permanently marking) the body God has given us, that is what I am saying sister.

As a born again believer, saved soul, our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who abides in us. We are not ours, we are purchased at a price, Jesus' death on the cross for our sins. If we have a tattoo on our saved body we are defacing the body God gave us and The Temple of the Holy Spirit.

A lost soul - a person of the world belongs to sin the world and the devil, they do not know it is a sin.

A saved soul - who previously had a tattoo, is saved of all sins, this includes defacing the body, their sins are washed away, remembered no more. But the tattoo remains visible and many end up feeling guilty after being saved, they shouldn't, their sins, all past sins are forgiven.

A saved soul - has a tattoo after being saved, has sinned against the body, but they may be young in faith and not realise, so long as they repent after finding out, their sin is forgiven.

A saved soul - has a tattoo after being saved, and knows it is against God's Word, remain unforgiven of the sin, it marrs God's image in them.

Scripture is Truth, the Truth is in the Word. If we accept God's Word as Truth, we accept all God's Word as Truth.

Blessings

 

[Trevor]

A tattoo on the human body is defacing (permanently marking) the body God has given us, that is what I am saying sister.

As a born again believer, saved soul, our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who abides in us. We are not ours, we are purchased at a price, Jesus' death on the cross for our sins. If we have a tattoo on our saved body we are defacing the body God gave us and The Temple of the Holy Spirit.

A lost soul - a person of the world belongs to sin the world and the devil, they do not know it is a sin.

A saved soul - who previously had a tattoo, is saved of all sins, this includes defacing the body, their sins are washed away, remembered no more. But the tattoo remains visible and many end up feeling guilty after being saved, they shouldn't, their sins, all past sins are forgiven.

A saved soul - has a tattoo after being saved, has sinned against the body, but they may be young in faith and not realise, so long as they repent after finding out, their sin is forgiven.

A saved soul - has a tattoo after being saved, and knows it is against God's Word, remain unforgiven of the sin, it marrs God's image in them.

Scripture is Truth, the Truth is in the Word. If we accept God's Word as Truth, we accept all God's Word as Truth.

Blessings

Somebody once said, God has given us a perfect body, why should we go and scribble on it? love you bro. Trevor

 

[Brother-Paul]

Somebody once said, God has given us a perfect body, why should we go and scribble on it? love you bro. Trevor

Greetings Trevor,

So true.

If God had wanted me to have a picture on my body, I would have been born with one.

Bless you.

 

[Brother-Paul]

Greetings sister,

I said previously in this section
"If I was to have a tattoo on my body, I would be defacing by body, defacing by allowing the use of needles to inject ink into my skin, this is not Glorifying God in your body, but permanently marking it."
You replied
Yes, that's what a tattoo is... but you fail to tell me how that's not glorifying God. Are you basing that belief of 1 Corinth. 6? How do we define what glorifies God or doesn't? The Bible? But people interpret the Bible differently, as you could clearly see with our different interpretations of 1 Corinth. 6. The Holy Spirit?

So you agree here that a tattoo on the body of a saved soul is defacing the body, your body, that was given back to God for what Jesus did for you when you were saved.

The point is as a saved soul, your body IS A TEMPLE of the HOLY SPIRIT, scripture couldn't be clearer on this.

The point I am trying to explain, maybe not well enough, is that as a saved soul, your body is no longer yours, but you are adding a permanent mark to it, knowing this and that it is a Temple of the Holy Spirit. As saved souls scripture tells us we are to...
'Practice Righteousness' to be like Jesus (Did Jesus have tattoos, No)
What would Jesus say? Practice Righteousness, go and sin no more, take up your cross daily and learn from me.
Having a tattoo is not practicing righteousness, do you not agree?

But my spirit doesn't see anything wrong with tattoos-never did actually- and your's tells you that there is. God? He doesn't say anything concrete about it, so what then?

We are all born with our own human spirit, and due to that we see and understand things in worldly ways, when we are born again The Holy Spirit abides in us and guides us in all Truth. Which spirit is guiding your thoughts?

Allow me to add one other item here is I may, people have tattoos for what ever reason, they are not looking to God but looking at themselves. They may have tattoos in their arms legs, stomach, chest or back for instance. They are there for all to see, except some that may have them in other places. The point is they have them to be seen. But God tells us to honour our bodies and cover our bodies, not to be half naked or more, not to show off our bodies, but to cloth them and treat them righteously, to look after them, care for them.

If we wore clothes that covered our bodies, the tattoos would not been seen, they would be pointless.

Practice righteousness, follow Jesus, Trust in the Lord and do what He would have us do.

Peace be with you.