Perhaps a different view point
PARTIAL QUOTE FROM ORIGINAL FIRST POST
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT....TATTOOS?
by Betty Miller
The Bible warns us against tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 (Amplified) which says, "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord."
I know some will have a hard time receiving this teaching because tattooing has now become an accepted practice in our society. However, just because society approves of something does not make it right in God's eyes. Our society at large, also approves of abortion and divorce as well. However, the Bible makes it clear that God doesn't approve of these things.
In sharing this teaching, I am not trying to condemn anyone who already has a tattoo; but rather to warn those who are considering getting one. God loves us, and even when we make mistakes in poor judgment, He doesn't condemn us, but rather tries to help overcome the consequences of those mistakes. Having a tattoo will not keep anyone from serving the Lord. We know some very godly people who have tattoos and are serving the Lord and their tattoos do not interfere with what God is doing through them. Anything Satan tries to use for evil, God can turn and use it for good when we commit totally to Him. God takes us as we are and uses us if we will yield to His will. God will use any of us when we come out of the world and start serving Him with our whole hearts to do His will. Our past is under the blood of Jesus and the sins and mistakes of the past will not hinder our God in our serving Him. Only a hard and unrepentant heart keeps us tied to the old life.
There are many dedicated and sincere Christian people that have tattoos. This article is not meant to say they do not love the Lord. God not only can use them, but does use them. The issue is not whether God can use someone, but rather should Christians pursue getting tattoos? Just because something is popular does not mean it is right. We should always examine things by the "roots and the fruits" of the thing in question.
In sharing this teaching, I am not trying to condemn anyone who already has a tattoo; but rather to warn those who are considering getting one.
The issue is not whether God can use someone, but rather should Christians pursue getting tattoos?
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Should Christians pursue getting a tattoo ?
NOT IF IT CAUSES HARM TO THE THINKING OF SOMEONE ELSE !
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ROMANS 14
1. Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose
of passing judgment on his opinions.
2. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak
eats vegetables only.
3. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does
not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who
eats, for God has accepted him.
4. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he
stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him
stand.
5. One person regards one day above another, another regards every
day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
6. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats,
does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats
not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.
7. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;
8. for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord;
therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
9. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord
both of the dead and of the living.
10. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you
regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the
judgment seat of God.
11. For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL
BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."
12. So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
13. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather
determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a
brother's way.
14. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean
in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is
unclean.
15. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer
walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for
whom Christ died.
16. Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as
evil;
17. for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and
approved by men.
19. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the
building up of one another.
20. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things
indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and
gives offense.
21. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by
which your brother stumbles.
22. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God.
Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
23. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is
not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
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21. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by
which your brother stumbles.
If what you do causes harm to the thinking of someone else, for the
cause of Christ, you should not do it.
13. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather
determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a
brother's way.
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1 Corinthians 8
1. Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have
knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.
2. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as
he ought to know;
3. but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
4. Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know
that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is
no God but one.
5. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth,
as indeed there are many gods and many lords,
6. yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things
and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all
things, and we exist through Him.
7. However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being
accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to
an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we
do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.
9. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a
stumbling block to the weak.
10. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's
temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to
eat things sacrificed to idols?
11. For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother
for whose sake Christ died.
12. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their
conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
13. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat
meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
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If getting a tattoo causes my brother to stumble, i will not do it.
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Revelation 14
9. Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud
voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives
a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
10. he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in
full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with
fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the
presence of the Lamb.
11. "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they
have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his
image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
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Some might consider this a stretch, but if I am accustomed to receiving marks on my body , what difference will one more mark make?
Every compromise that a Christian makes is just one more chink in their
armor.
The bottom line >>>
ROMANS 14
21. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by
which your brother stumbles.