Tattoo First Timer Yet?

[farouk]

Mmmmmm......, I see what you mean.
What about Leviticus 20:6

Beagler: Good question, and clearly in the New Testament (Galatians 5:20, for example) this matter is spoken of in similar terms.

Other examples: all the ten commandments except the sabbath are referred to in the New Testament as being normative; ceremonial dietary requirements are done away with, for intance, in Peter's vision in Acts.

So the question seems to be for the New Testament believer: is there a corresponding New Testament precept to what was given to the Jews in the Old Testament law? remembering also that the New Testament believer is under grace: hence Paul's and Peter's most stringent denial that circumcision is any longer required.

(A bit of background: I'm speaking as a dispensationalist who has been around Reformed folk but doesn't subscribe to some of the Reformed ideas.)

With other secondary matters, and issues of personal taste and preference, it's probably safer to let Romans 14 and the truth of Christian liberty cover such matters. (I don't for example believe it makes much sense for Christians to give a hard time to a young lady who returns home from Bible College with Christian fish sign tattoo on her wrist or extra ear piercings or whatever: these should be categorized as subjective matters of personal preference; the faith based tattoo design might even have a witness motive.)

My further two cents', which I hope make some sort of sense.

Blessings.

 

[Beagler]

The thing with the Tattoos was that thats what the Pagans were doing and it was to separate the Jew from the Pagan

So.... Is that a yes or a no for Lev, 20:6

 

[farouk]

The thing with the Tattoos was that thats what the Pagans were doing and it was to separate the Jew from the Pagan

So.... Is that a yes or a no for Lev, 20:6

Beagler: Cutting for the dead was particularly associated with necromancy. An example of cutting for the dead would bethe prophets of Baal self-injuring themselves until their blood gushed out.

Re. Leviticus 20:6, I thought I had answered it when referring to Galatians 5:20: it does have a corresponding New Testament prohibtion.

Whereas the idea of a Christian being motivated to witness by, for example, a fish sign on a wrist or ankle, isn't as far as I know directly taken up in the New Testament; and a possible underlying attitude would be, according to Romans 14, to respect the individual's motivation and conscience in such, and many, matters. (Such as in shaving, as in Leviticus 19, also; the adjacent verse to the one we are talking about.)

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

..I'll be getting it on the back of my arm, but in black and grey (I avoid colors)...

Hi Lysander Shapiro: Back of arm is less painful than inner arm, also.

If you like black and grey rather than color, maybe tribal designs appeal to you also. Tribal is popular, especially for armbands, etc.

 

[Christy Lou]

I'm sorry... I haven't read all of the replies. But, I wanted to comment anyway. I am about to get my first tattoo. My husband is going to get one, too. I've gotten a lot of slack from other Christians, so I'm surprised to see a thread for it on a Christian forum. I want something visible that shows my love for God. I'm so excited, but very nervous about the pain!

 

[farouk]

I'm sorry... I haven't read all of the replies. But, I wanted to comment anyway. I am about to get my first tattoo. My husband is going to get one, too. I've gotten a lot of slack from other Christians, so I'm surprised to see a thread for it on a Christian forum. I want something visible that shows my love for God. I'm so excited, but very nervous about the pain!

Hi Christy Lou:

So you have a good parlor near you? and I guess you have been figuring the exact design and its placement.

Even a simple Christian fish sign <>< on a wrist, etc. can be an effective conversation-starter.

 

[Christy Lou]

One of my best friends has several tattoos and they look great. I'm planning to go to her parlor. I've been looking at different pictures online and reading about people's experience with different placements. I am thinking about getting one on my shoulder.

 

[farouk]

One of my best friends has several tattoos and they look great. I'm planning to go to her parlor. I've been looking at different pictures online and reading about people's experience with different placements. I am thinking about getting one on my shoulder.

Christy Lou: Oh okay, so she'll be an excellent source of advice for you, then. Yes, especially in the warmer weather with off the shoulder tops/gowns, it's a popular placement. (It used to be that brides/bridesmaids/matrons of honor would spend a lot of effort trying to hide tattoos by putting make up on shoulders and arms but I think the tendency now increasingly is to show them anyway; so if the person getting them is going to be invoved in a wedding it ought not to be a problem.)

And I guess you'll figure the design before long, as well. (Don't forget the tip, even if it is your friend!) Yes, it's in keeping for tattoo artists to have classy tattoos themselves.

 

[LysanderShapiro]

Hi Lysander Shapiro: Back of arm is less painful than inner arm, also.

If you like black and grey rather than color, maybe tribal designs appeal to you also. Tribal is popular, especially for armbands, etc.

Haha, tribal designs are probably my absolute LEAST favorite of tattoos designs. Unless one is from an indigenous tribe, I absolutely loathe them. I cannot stress this enough

I'm probably being pretty harsh on them, but they are quite possibly the corniest tattoos -- not in a good way. I much prefer the classical Sailor Jerry-esque tattoos from the 1940s.

 

[LysanderShapiro]

One of my best friends has several tattoos and they look great. I'm planning to go to her parlor. I've been looking at different pictures online and reading about people's experience with different placements. I am thinking about getting one on my shoulder.

Great. What do you have in mind?

 

[farouk]

Haha, tribal designs are probably my absolute LEAST favorite of tattoos designs. Unless one is from an indigenous tribe, I absolutely loathe them. I cannot stress this enough

I'm probably being pretty harsh on them, but they are quite possibly the corniest tattoos -- not in a good way. I much prefer the classical Sailor Jerry-esque tattoos from the 1940s.

LysanderShapiro:

I see!

Anyway, some ppl do rather like understated simplicity; some swirling lines in one color, that to some extent match the contours of the arm, etc.

I guess Hebrew letters like your mom got can in some ways resemble tribals.

 

[LysanderShapiro]

LysanderShapiro:

I see!

Anyway, some ppl do rather like understated simplicity; some swirling lines in one color, that to some extent match the contours of the arm, etc.

I guess Hebrew letters like your mom got can in some ways resemble tribals.

I suppose there's a difference between literal tribal designs verses the cliche tribal tattoos. I often associate tribal tattoos with frat guys or club kids. I don't think I've ever really liked them. They would never fit my personality.

Hebrew lettering is definitely cheesy in their own way -- I personally wouldn't get them, but I think there's at least some merit to them, or rather to their reputation more so than your standard tribal designs.

 

[farouk]

I suppose there's a difference between literal tribal designs verses the cliche tribal tattoos. I often associate tribal tattoos with frat guys or club kids. I don't think I've ever really liked them. They would never fit my personality.

Hebrew lettering is definitely cheesy in their own way -- I personally wouldn't get them, but I think there's at least some merit to them, or rather to their reputation more so than your standard tribal designs.

Your mom must have liked them anyway; seems that Hebrew letters are almost inherently 'artistic'.

 

[LysanderShapiro]

Your mom must have liked them anyway; seems that Hebrew letters are almost inherently 'artistic'.

Haha, she'd have to in order to get them tattooed. They're certainly not the worst of them. Her designs are very tasteful and simple, though, which I like. They're small, symmetrical, and extremely minimalistic.

 

[farouk]

Haha, she'd have to in order to get them tattooed. They're certainly not the worst of them.

LysanderShapiro: Seems like she had gotten a strong desire and liking for being tattooed in that particular design before ever you or your wife acquired the urge to do it, anyway.

 

[LysanderShapiro]

LysanderShapiro: Seems like she had gotten a strong desire and liking for being tattooed in that particular design before ever you or your wife acquired the urge to do it, anyway.

Yep, she was about 7 years ahead of us I think.

 

[farouk]

Yep, she was about 7 years ahead of us I think.

Well, you must have been thoroughly accustomed to the idea of your mom being tattooed if it was 7 years beforehand, anyway.

Like, with your mom's example at least in the background, between you and your wife, do you think it was you that sort of encouraged your wife to do it, too; or maybe it was your wife that persuaded you to do it (or even - coincidentally - simultaneously, you both suddenly wanted to do it...)

 

[farouk]

Yep, she was about 7 years ahead of us I think.

Well, you must have been thoroughly accustomed to the idea of your mom being tattooed if it was 7 years beforehand, anyway.

Like, with your mom's example at least in the background, between you and your wife, do you think it was you that sort of encouraged your wife to do it, too; or maybe it was your wife that persuaded you to do it (or even - coincidentally - simultaneously, you both suddenly wanted to do it...)

 

[Christy Lou]

I want some sort of flower with color (some shade of pink and/or purple) in it and possibly a verse like "Rejoice in the Lord always." ... or something like that. What about you? What are you thinking of getting?

As far as being a bridesmaid... I think my bridesmaid days may be over hehe. But, you never know!

 

[farouk]

I want some sort of flower with color (some shade of pink and/or purple) in it and possibly a verse like "Rejoice in the Lord always." ... or something like that. What about you? What are you thinking of getting?

As far as being a bridesmaid... I think my bridesmaid days may be over hehe. But, you never know!

Hey Christy Lou, Philippians 4, which is where your 'Rejoice in the Lord' quote comes from, is one of my favorite Bible chapters! The theme of joy in Him when combined with the experience of the tattoo needle and in a pleasing design can be especially meaningful; it kind of preaches well, I guess. (This is why it sounds like a far better idea than the oriental design I got that wasn't faith related and faded.)

(You also said you have had a bit of disagreement with your mom lately; so maybe, if she really likes it, getting a nice Bible verse design would improve your relationship with her, too?)

Blessings.