art of tattoos

[jbl]

You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:28

I understand it is forbidden here under the Mosaic Law but is it still with us today? It is forbidden as it was associated with pagan customs, but I understand that practices today such as woman wearing make-up originated in pagan societies such as Babylon and were used for sexual immorality. Despite this, many Christians continue this habit. Many people also get ear piercings. Are piercings forbidden as well?

I know the body is a temple for God's Holy Spirit and that we must honour it. What are others views on this subject? Thanks.

[seek and you will find]

Jbl You are an old member, never seen you post before. So I say Welcome to you. As far as body piercing I have never given that a thought. I use makeup and my ears are pierced, which my Mother did when I was only a child. I believe tho if we use moderate amount of makeup and don't look like a clown find nothing wrong with it. At one time in the W.W.Church of God, we were not even aloud to wear Lipstick. But all that was changed years later.
Peace and Love Mrs.

[jbl]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Yes I've been a member to this forum for quite awhile and I don't post frequently. Generally I just read others discussions or post when I have a question I feel needs answering.

I'm a young guy and I've been contemplating getting a small, moderate tattoo. But after some small research I found some scriptures (such as the one listed above) that God forbid tattoos. I don't want to knowingly go against the Law of God but I wanted to know if this law was still to be practiced by modern day Christians? The tattoo wouldn't be for religious purposes nor contain any religious icons. I know the art is dated back to pagan societies but once again so is other practices such as makeup.

In brief, I don't want to do anything to displease God that's why I would just like to hear some input from other members about this. If you all feel it's a bad idea or that that law should still be practiced than I feel it would be unwise to do it.

[seek and you will find]

Personally I would not get a tattoo, but my Daughter has one, so I don't know how God would look at that. And since I am not sure I would not do it. A very wise person told me sometime ago that when you are not sure, don't do it.
My Husband and I are old 70 and 71 soon Aug, and July, 2008.

Peace and Love Mrs.

[Cato]

Dear JBL,

IMO, getting a tattoo is morally neutral, there is no moral component, it is merely body art.  Having said that I would never allow any of my children to have one and would strongly advise anyone, especially females, against it.  Have you ever seen an older person with a tattoo that looked good?  What's cool when your younger looks gross when old.  Also it sends signals of being low class.  Even in the military where machismo reigns, it is rare you find officers with tattoos.  Look at your own motivations for getting one and see if it is worthwhile.  Once you get one it is a painful and expensive process to remove. Something to think about.

[lineon]

Hi jbl

I am rather new to heaven net
And getting into the swing of a discusstion
Is somewhat daunting.

The way I view a tatoo
Is that in the days of slavery
The slaves were marked
On the skin
Or by a earring.

Therefore in my mind
I associate these markings with slavery.
Slave to material things
And usally people with these markings are materiallistic.
But let me straight away add
That I have meet people with tatoos and earrings
Who are great.

Lineon

[Not3in1]

Hi all,

I came back to check in for a minute and found this discussion going on. I can't help but add my 2 cents.

Cato, you know you have my respect, but I have to disagree with you that tattoos *nowadays* signals low class. Tattoos can just as easily be found among the high class these days. My female Doctor has a tattoo, a conservative Attorney who lives near us also has a tattoo for instance. Among the younger generation tattoos have become the norm, along with certain body piercings. I believe that some of your ideas come from your cohorts and perhaps the generation before you. I'm not calling you old or not hip (ha), but I'm just saying times change and some behaviors are more mainstream.

JBL, personally I don't have a problem with tattoos. I have a discret one on my inner ankle (a butterfly). I got it last summer. I also asked the forum what they thought before I went ahead with it. I also prayed and sought the Word. My desire to get a butterfly tattoo had to do with the idea that I felt confined in my marriage (where I am chosing to be obedient and God is blessing me big time), but the point is that I felt I needed something that represented some sort of freedom. Guess what? It worked! I love my tattoo! I would do it again. I am not considered low class, in fact quite the opposite. I've had some mixed reviews and that is OK, I didn't do it for anyone but me. My husband digs it. My friends dig it. And it makes me happy. I don't feel that I displeased God in any way. But we all have to read the scriptures and find out what they mean for us. If you think that you will be displeasing God, then for you it is wrong.

All that said, I would caution against large tattoos that show. Especially if you plan to be a professional in the workforce. My tattoo is easily covered up. Like when I am wearing dresses and a sweet pair of heels, I can put some make-up on the tattoo that totally conceals it. I've done that twice (one wedding, one funeral). Some find tattoos disrespectful and I am always aware of other's feelings and try to conform when I think it's a considerate thing to do.

OK, back to studying. I'm having a great time with the LORD, by the way. After I made the decision to return to study and dedicate my time again to seeking God, the blessings have not stopped coming! Praise God.

My love,
Mandy

[Cato]

Mandy,

My apologies, I admit that I can be a bit anachronistic socially. My own parents told me I was born 80 years old. Some how I associate tattoos with counterculture and the trailer park crowd (alas we can not escape all our prejudices). I must have been a stuffy aristocrat in a previous life.

[Stu]

jbl

Why don't you ask your god if he gives you permission?

Stuart

[TimothyVI]

Hi Mandy,
I knew it! I knew you were a wild and crazy person.

Tim

[kejonn]

Quote (Stu @ May 23 2008,02:24)

jbl Why don't you ask your god if he gives you permission? Stuart

Stu,

I remember a class in church long ago where we talked about “knowing the will of God”. There was a big emphasis on the opinion of other Christians.

That's a big clue IMHO.

[seek and you will find]

Quote (TimothyVI @ May 23 2008,23:09)

Hi Mandy, I knew it! I knew you were a wild and crazy person. Tim

Tim   In a nice way, right?

Peace and Love Mrs.

[TimothyVI]

Quote (seek and you will find @ May 24 2008,05:38)

Quote (TimothyVI @ May 23 2008,23:09) Hi Mandy, I knew it! I knew you were a wild and crazy person. Tim Tim   In a nice way, right? Peace and Love Mrs.

Of course in a nice way Mrs.

Don't you remember Steve Martin said he was a wild and crazy guy, in a nice way, it was funny.

Tim

[Not3in1]

Quote (TimothyVI @ May 23 2008,23:09)

Hi Mandy, I knew it! I knew you were a wild and crazy person. Tim

[942767]

Hi jbl:

I will just quote the following scripture and let you decide whether or not it helps you to make the right decision about the tatoo.

Quote

Rom 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

God Bless

[kejonn]

Quote (942767 @ May 23 2008,17:50)

Hi jbl: I will just quote the following scripture and let you decide whether or not it helps you to make the right decision about the tatoo. Quote Rom 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. God Bless

That's way too wide open 94. Why do you style your hair the way you do? Do you wear jeans? Wear cologne? Any of these can be seen as “conforming” to the world if you wanted them to.

[942767]

Quote (kejonn @ May 24 2008,13:38)

Quote (942767 @ May 23 2008,17:50) Hi jbl: I will just quote the following scripture and let you decide whether or not it helps you to make the right decision about the tatoo. Quote Rom 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. God Bless That's way too wide open 94. Why do you style your hair the way you do? Do you wear jeans? Wear cologne? Any of these can be seen as “conforming” to the world if you wanted them to.

Hi KJ:

Whatever we do as Christians should be with the motive of glorifiying God, and the scripture states that whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

[Proclaimer]

In New Zealand, the native people (Maori) are famous for their tattoos. The men received a Moko which was a full face tattoo. Some have opted to have it even these days.

[TimothyVI]

They have also opted to wear beaded miniskirts.
I think I will pass on both fashion statements.

Tim

[Proclaimer]

Fair enough, although they are probably quite practical. They look like they could be washed without the need for a washing machine.

[Author]

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