quote:

ORIGINAL: WesP

Actually, I have never had a tattoo. I do not think one will send you straight to hell - do not pass go, but I think they should be presentable if one becomes a Christian. I don't think they need to be removed.

quote:

But then again we run into the problem of what is "presentable". Do we accept the wims of society as the standard?

quote:

You see, there is some stuff that is kind of subjective when it comes to personal appearance, etc.

quote:

And also, some tattoos can be 'improved', shall we say. If a man is converted and has the tattoo of a nude, he can always have a dress or a bikini superimposed onto the figure. So even the bad tattoos are not necessarily 'set in stone', right?

quote:


I agree. And, even in cases of financial or some other restraint where modifications can't be made, they can always wear something to cover up any offending tattoos that they got prior to their conversion.

quote:

But I guess it doesn't take too much ink to make sure a bikini is transposed in due course onto a nude tattoo, right?

quote:

ORIGINAL: MrFribbles

quote:

But then again we run into the problem of what is "presentable". Do we accept the wims of society as the standard?

Are you suggesting there is a biblical mandate about what style of personal appearance is best (barring, of course, obvious factors such as modesty and offensive slogans/pictures)?

quote:

I'm not saying that every detail is dictated, but we do have some clear guidelines, especially in the case of tattoos.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MrFribbles

quote:

I'm not saying that every detail is dictated, but we do have some clear guidelines, especially in the case of tattoos.

I'm curious as to why you haven't made a thread about wearing clothes made of multiple fabrics. That's another one of those clear guidelines about personal fashion, right?

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarleneSchreiber

quote:

ORIGINAL: MrFribbles
If I were a betting man, I'd guess that is exactly where Jesus would have been hanging out, had He come today. Maybe not literally tattoo parlors, but certainly that kind of place. And He would be interested in reaching out to those people. He spoke to them on their terms, not in hyper-religious language. He was interested in reaching them where they were. He was reaching out into the dark places of the world.
If we look down on Christians who want to have greater access to these dark places, what does that say about our willingness to take the Gospel to all peoples?

This is the type of thing I woke up thinking about this morning! People like to think Jesus "hung out" in the biblical equivilent of bars, porn shops, etc. But he didn't! And Jesus didn't "hang out" with the type of people that would frequent those places (near as I can figure). Some of His nearest and dearest were saved out of siutations like that, however. He "hung out" at the the temple and with his disciples.

He did preach the gospel to all who would hear. But He choose His "inner circle" carefully. And he was "interested in reaching out to those people"...but they came to Him. As is the case today, He did the calling but they did the coming.

It's a trick of the enemy...we bring Jesus down to our level rather than aspire to rise to His. We humanize him and deny his diety and holiness. We justify our own sinful desires by pointing to Jesus and saying, "If it was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me."

Let me ask this question...how many of us can say we have the power over temptation that Jesus had? How many of us can go face to face with the enemy and win?

I want to say this then I'm done (I hope). Tattoos do not send people to hell. The absence of tattoos does not send people to heaven. I will not be wishy-washy and sit on the fence and say it's a "personal choice". I really don't think it is for a believer. Because if in doubt and/or if it will possibly cause a younger brother to stumble, it's not worth it and we could be judged severely. But it's a secondary issue, at best, and not something worth arguing over.

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaleHawkWoman

Actually He did NOT hang out in the Temple. According to the Gospels, He mostly hung out in outer areas such as small towns, by the Sea of Gallillee, and up in the hills. He made mention of how He was criticized for eating and drinking with sinners, and I believe His retort was that He was called to save not the righteous but the sinners. Please remember MOST of His disciples were fishermen- rough, tough, and with the tendency to be profane and Peter was known to curse and swear. He went to the Samaritans, a people despised by the Jews, and asked the town floozy for some water.

Years ago I went to a church where alot of bikers went. Some of these guys had been outlaw bikers- Hell's Angels, Satan's Disciples, and the like. Once saved many of them joined the Royal Priesthood,a christian biker group. They asked for and received the pastor's permission to go to the biker bars and minister to their former comrades. They went to the biker bars and rallies, wearing their colors, and played pool, participated in rallies, and witnessed to their biker brothers as bikers who found something beyond drinking, drugs, and chicks. They were humble, good-natured, and walked their talk. Some of their brothers followed them and started coming to church.

Oh, and their "old ladies" also wore their colors as auxilliary members. The bros and old ladies all came to church in their colors, on their hogs, tattoos and all and were welcomed to do so by the more conservative members of the congregation.

If you never take the light into the darkness, you ain't gonna reach the ones who really need Jesus. I'm not afraid of the dark- I've already been there and know what to expect, and I also know that I've got the Lord right beside me so I have nothing to fear. My attitude is "Bring it on!"

quote:

ORIGINAL: faroukfarouk

PaleHW:

(Thnx for the message BTW)

So did you get, or consider getting, any specifically faith related ones?

Take care.

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaleHawkWoman


Actually my tattoo was done back during my wilder days and done on my fanny. Nowadays no one sees it but my husband. I had considered having a tattoo of my clan totem on my shoulder, but really haven't done much more than think on it. I would see nothing wrong with getting a faith-based tattoo done, perhaps on my ankle or shoulder, and would probably design it myself.

quote:

ORIGINAL: spdrgrl.603

I NEED SOME PRAYERS..... i am recovering from a tattoo infection since january. i was rushed into the ER on saturday and almost had to have the antibiotics fed to me through IV tubes because my body was resisting. the pain felt like jack the ripper was prying my viens out with a bowie knife. antibiotics went on for a month instead of two weeks but i was still infected and doctors kept mis diagnosing. they refused to treat me internally and wanted to treat it external. problem was the infection was both internal AND external. they also told me not to bother schedualing with a dermatologist b/c it would take at least four months to see one. then five months or so later they told me i should have made an apppointment with one and if i did four months ago i could have been seeing one then. bottom line recovery and incompetant doctors made this who episode a nightmare and i'm going back to get tattooed in the middle of August. i told the artist what i went through and that after this tattoo i wont get anymore and that i am petrified. my entire body shakes and feels light whenever i'm in a tattoo shop now. its a nice tattoo with jesus pulling peter from the water and God descending on him as a dove. please pray that i can get this tattoo done, have it look nice, and most importantly be safe and healthy.

thanks

quote:

ORIGINAL: Qtman

This scenario is the only thing that bothers me about tattoos. I have a friend who now has hepatitus from a dirty needle used while getting a tattoo.