Tattoos

[Bobinfaith]

from Bobinfaith
My point is the unsaved is not going to be impressed with your tattoo. The Holy Spirit is going to intercede and cultivate the seed you plant in the brother or sister so they can have eternal life with our Father. [/QUOTE]

Oddly enough, I have personally known of many instances where a tattoo DID open up discussions with the lost. Sadly, these were people who been so burnt by professing Christians who seemed to have no fruit, that they had stereotyped Christians as pasty-faced, out-of-shape, suit wearing, hypocrites. But I don't have any tattoos myself. Isn't is wonderful that God is God??!!

"Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

1 Samuel 16:7b

Dear Peanut,

First of all, welcome to Talk Jesus and thank you for your view.

Oddly? I don't see it that way. I will agree that there are many instances where a tattoo may open up a topic with the unsaved but not all. See the attached;

from Bobinfaith
My good pastor friend in San Francisco was a former biker with his tattoo on his big arm. This is visible with his shirt and tie on Sundays when he gives God's Word.

Being Christ like we must be concerned and make a stand about how Christians witness to the unsaved for we are the body of Christ. When the unsaved makes claims about Christians lacking fruit and the others you describe, what do you say to them?

Thank you, Peanut.

Your servant in Christ Jesus.

 

[imready4thelord]

hello people,
i know i don't drop in here quite as often as i should,but speaking first hand here.when i was younger and in my wild stage i got 3 tattoos,and i wore them boldly for years having to show them off every where i went.but when i got saved things changed, God dealt with me to wear long sleeves to cover them up,so for 5 years all i wear i longs sleeves (unless i'm in my own home-but if someone stops in i go slip one on).this is how God dealt with me,and i have know regrets in doing it,even where it's over 100 degrees outside.......when someone asks me why i just tell them.........
i feel tattoos are on the way out thought and something new and morbid is on the way in really sick stuff it's call scarification where people cut designs on themself .Thank God I'm not young today
see for yourself here if you want
[edited by Admin: link removed, read rules!]

 

[jiggyfly]

Let's look deeper, Colossians chapter 2

" I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other friends who have never known me personally. My goal is that they will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God’s secret plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
I am telling you this so that no one will be able to deceive you with persuasive arguments. For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I am very happy because you are living as you should and because of your strong faith in Christ.
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.
Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ. For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body, and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe.
When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross. In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ.
So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.For these rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on self-denial. And don’t let anyone say you must worship angels, even though they say they have had visions about this. These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful minds have made them proud. But they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For we are joined together in his body by his strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.
You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle, don’t eat, don’t touch.” Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires."

I know its the whole chapter but please read it and ask God to reveal it.

 

[jiggyfly]

The flesh is corruptible, with tattoos or without tattoos. I believe God is more interested with why someone gets a tattoo, dresses a certain way, or listens to certain kinds of music.

 

[ladybug76]

I agree, A few years ago, before I started living for the Lord, I got a tatoo on my left leg of a lily. I think it is very pretty, and I know that God doesnt judge me for it because I recieved it before getting saved. Even so, I beleive He does not anyway.

 

[Maximus Decimus]

I'm thinking about getting a tatoo (as you guys already know) and I think I've decided what to get if I do.

it's a big wooden detailed cross between my shoulders with "Who's YOUR daddy?" written over it.

 

[Chad]

Maximus, don't forget to pray on this and ask GOD for wisdom before anything.

 

[Maximus Decimus]

Of course Chad, and thanks for watching my back.... I guess that's my point too.. when people watch my back after I get the tat, they will be posed with the best question ever.

It's something I would never be ashamed of or regret.

 

[SlaveToChrist]

The question may be "why would a Christian get a tatoo when scripture forbids it?"

 

[brother in christ]

i have tattoos i got them after i was saved but before i started living a christian life i didnt know the suverity of this thing at the time and i regret it very much

 

[Chad]

Slave to Christ, because of disobedience to the Word of GOD

 

[ladybug76]

hhhmmm,
this is a very tricky area. I see many christian bands with tatoos, which maybe they recieved before being saved. It is confusing to me at times, but where there is confusion, there is the enemy. SO I would suggest that if you are not sure, that you would ask the Holy Spirit for the answer. He will let you know!

 

[Christina]

I don't like tattoes and I think that we shouldn't make such signs on our skin just because is 'fashionable'. God created us in a beautiful way and all people are doing is to destroy what He has built with piercings, tattoes, drugs, alcohol and so on. I just want to live a pure and peaceful life and I pray to the Lord to help me and to guide me on the roads of my life.

Christina

 

[Christan]

Total Turnoff.I live in Body peircing tatooing Sex store visiting SF bay area I cant stand it.LOL you just have to laugh It heals the sorrow of seeing how lost people are.Peace JHS CHristan

 

[jiggyfly]

Actually everything that is spoken in the OT "should" apply to this day, what it is, this land or how we grow up, we are not actually taught that. Things has change, but i believe thats man's fault, man is the blame for everything.

I have tattoos, at the time i didnt really pay attention to the bible, but getting tattoos are wrong and against GOD. Thats the bottom line, heed to it or ignore it, your choice.

Well said chad:thumbs_up

So then we are also at fault for cutting the hair on the sides of our heads and trimming the edges of our beards and anyone who does is acting against God. Right? Or is it ok to compromise? Myself, I choose to be under the new covenant and under Grace and not the law.

 

[gentle]

I agree that your body should not be tattood at or marked upon, because aside rom the Bible verses mentioned by Chad, it has a marking effect. Meaning whateve is the tattoo, it will serve as mark to you by satan. For example, you tattooed a skull on your skin, it means death owns you.That's why if you'll notice you are acccident prone.Not that I am trying to make others afraid but it is the truth.We should not put any markings to tour bodies because it is a temple of God and He bought it with a price, Jesus' life so we don't own it but God. If you have markings on your bodies like skulls or snakes and other such things, i is a marking of the enemy.Pray for it and ask God to give you a vessel of His, like your pastor to rebuke it and cancel it in Jesus name.To render it powerless to your life in Jesus name.AS Chad said it, it has roots in witchcraft.It tattoos serve as charms. Only God can protect us perfectly.Only God gives us confidence and value in Jesus name not those markings. God loves us very much.He wants the best for us. We're cool because of what Jesus Christ has done or us there on the cross on Mt. Calvary not bec. of piercing and tattoos. God bless us. Peace is with us.

 

[HEAVENSOUND]

You got it Christina!!!

Christina you got it!! Tattoes are no good, in other words they are stupid.In Bible times people would use tattoes,peircings,and other things to show thier rebellion against God. My brother has tattoes. I feel bad for him. We told him not to but he did it anyway. Now he hates them himself. Nobody should trash thier temple like that. It makes God disappionted. Christina I don't like tattoes either. They make me sad.

 

[jiggyfly]

How about earrings, are they ok? What about eating pork or working on the sabbath(saturday), and all the other parts of the law( old testament).
Luke 11:37-54
37*As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. 38*His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the ceremonial washing required by Jewish custom. 39*Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are still filthy—full of greed and wickedness! 40*Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 41*So give to the needy what you greedily possess, and you will be clean all over.
42*“But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income,* but you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things.
43*“How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For how you love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the respectful greetings from everyone as you walk through the markets! 44 Yes, how terrible it will be for you. For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on.”
45*“Teacher,” said an expert in religious law, “you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.”
46*“Yes,” said Jesus, “how terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you crush people beneath impossible religious demands, and you never lift a finger to help ease the burden. 47*How terrible it will be for you! For you build tombs for the very prophets your ancestors killed long ago. 48*Murderers! You agree with your ancestors that what they did was right. You would have done the same yourselves. 49*This is what God in his wisdom said about you:* ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them, and they will kill some and persecute the others.’
50*“And you of this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world—51*from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will surely be charged against you.
52*“How terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you hide the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”
53*As Jesus finished speaking, the Pharisees and teachers of religious law were furious. From that time on they grilled him with many hostile questions, 54*trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him.

 

[Doulos]

Christina you got it!! Tattoes are no good, in other words they are stupid.In Bible times people would use tattoes,peircings,and other things to show thier rebellion against God.

Actually, Paul for sure, and some think Jesus himself, had their ear pierced.

When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s and he shall go out alone. But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for life.
--Ex 21:1-6

16"It shall come about (N)if he says to you, 'I will not go out from you,' because he loves you and your household, since he fares well with you;

17then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also you shall do likewise to your maidservant.
--Deut 15

God desired then as He does now, that His people would have a heart within them to surrender their own will to His. In short, He looks for those willing to be bondservants in His house. Remember, when the servant made the decision to remain with his master as a servant, it was forever. Understand there were unpublicized benefits of this decision, however. Yes, the servant remained a servant but as a member of his master's house for their relationship has now changed. Consequently, his master was to provide for, care for and protect that servant. By becoming a permanent servant - by being part of that household - he and his children would FOREVER be taken care of.

To illustrate this principle, that servant had to, first of all, appear before the elders and publicly announce his decision. He was then taken to the door of his master's house, where he would set his ear against the door or doorpost and allow his master to pierce his ear with an awl. The result would be that the servant would be literally attached to the door and symbolically be joined to his master's house. And now, we come to the real message of this commandment.

If one is to come into the House of Adonai, he must do so as a bondservant and that means he must, first of all, give up his freedom. There are no rebels in God’s house. There will be no rebels in Heaven. You come humbling yourself, declaring your need for the master and your commitment to serve Him. Then He becomes your Lord and therefore Savior. You can’t have Him as Savior without yielding to His Lordship. It is both or neither. You can’t just go to Jesus for fire insurance. He offers you only one thing – true salvation is a covenant relationship. It is a divine exchange program. It is your life for His.

You cannot be a servant if you are clinging to your freedom. I know that goes against the theology of some, but nevertheless, that is the methodology of becoming a servant. If you can overcome that obstacle, then you must allow Him to "attach" you to the door of His house. No one comes into the LORD's house except by way of the DOOR!

From Hissheep.org

Just Some thoughts, from a Tatooed and Pierced Christian.
(My Tats Include a Crown of Throwns Around my wrist and a Cross on my back)

 

[Cleezy]

Humm, I don't agree with the original post nor do I agree with such comments as "tattoos are stupid". I would like for you to take a look at my Icthus tattoo and tell me how "stupid" it is. I did get this tattoo after becoming a Christian and it is something I proudly wear on my right arm. The wonderful thing is that when I am at the beach, pool, ect I have people come up to me just to get a closer look because they want to know exactly what it is....it is a cover up of a previous tattoo that was done out of rebellion so the Icthus has a blue design going around it and through it kind of like water I guess you could say...then I have a small red cross where the "eye" of the "fish" would be. Once they come up to see what it is I have a wonderful opportunity to share with them. This body is temporary so why not use it to it's fullest to advertise for the Lord. In my view it is no different than wearing a Christian t-shirt or jewelry, ect. We all have opinions and I feel many people push their own agendas by taking the Bible out of context. I know when speaking to the lost the majority of their rebuttals come in the form of Bible versus taken out of context. We need to be very careful about how we interpret the Word and make sure we are not representing an inward agenda. I guess if we all interpreted the Bible the same we would not have so many denominations either. I guess to sum it up.... Interpret as you will but be careful about judging others and putting others down at the same time. We are all brothers and sisters here!