sup peeps...For those of you who know me know that i have tattoos....well i was thinking of getting a couple more so here are some ideas what do you guys think






i really like em all but i think only one at atime is affordable...and while were at it what is your opinion about tattoos

I particularly Like the third one and it's depiction of the last supper. As for tats in general religious or otherwise. Many people see them as a bad thing. Many think the person with them is a bad person. Many fear tattooed people. Often tat's are obscene or satanic or hate mongoring in nature. I'm not at all sure it's the best or even an appropriate way to advertise/display your belief. For most, a tat is a tat. Chances are they're not going to get close enough to see what's there. I know, it's young rebel sort of thing. It's probably fine with most young people. The bottom line is, it's not your buds that are going to be employing you or admitting you to school and most of the other important things in life. It may not be fair but is reality. If I was young and wanted a tat I'd make real sure it was in a place that wasn't readily or easily seen by others. In which case, why have it? The only reason I can think of , is, because I really wanted it for me. That way, it being placed so that only I could see it and at some point my spouse wouldn't matter. I'm not talking weird places here but places that under 90%+ of the time are covered during any public activity.

yeah....i got two that can be seen most every day on my forearms....and a sleeveless shirt would reveal 5 tatoos....so really i could care less what people think about me with tats...but like you said UKC its really for me not them...you know every one uses that old tired Temple thing about tattoos..you know what im talking bout...your bodys a temple....well when you think a bout it what temple of God have you seen Ever with out a cross or a picture of Jesus on or in it?....but any way....I really love it....and when i was in Jail i got this Hidious Tattoo of a Skull with Fangs....and i would really like to get that covered up...so another tattoo is in order....absolutely is in order....any way...keep the opinions rollin peeps..

It is absolutely your decision and your consequences as well. Many people for better or worse have a stereotype they apply to tattoo'ed people. For instance, an employer may favor someone else over you(not right but it happens).
The only thing scripturally i could apply is from Romans,cant recall specific verse, but it says not to be a stumbling block to other christians. Also make sure it doesnt hinder your witness to other non believers. all i am saying is consider fully any consequences from it, and whether you are willing to live with it. if so , go for it. I personally have no probs with tats. as for the samples you posted i like the peaceful ones not the graphic ones. I dont think the suffering pics depict the glory of the resurrection. I would rather see an empty cross, than one with Christ on it hanging. i would rather see scarred hands rather than bleeding ones, etc. How would Christ see your choice? Maybe a caption that brings glory to the tat would change the overall message it portrays as well.
nabster

Nabster said it well, your decision and yours alone. And the consequences are yours as well.

Me...NEVER...simply because I do not like them. Also because I've watched my Dad suffer through years of greif and heartache because he has some and Mom HATES them. She has never let him get over the fact that he got tat's.

In hindsight, Dad say's he never would have gotten them. He's even considered the option of having them removed since he's accepted Christ.

yeah i know but i am young and dumb right..lol...naw i do like em though and i might get one with Jesus rejoicing some where to let people know that my Gods not dead but i like the graphic ones because people look at it and say...ewww why did you get that...i reply...why does it bother you...is it to bloody/gory....well it was prolly alot worse than that ....and thats what this man went through so you would be able to be forgiven for your sins...as well as me...and continue to witness...you see how it opens doors?

Dad just cemented a HUGE orange pole in the front flower bed.

When people ask why that orange pole is in the flower bed he has the opportunity to witness. That pole is where the old me died and the new me was born.

Total cost! maybe 3.00 for the cement we used. And an new coat of paint every few years.

Yeah NE I’m not sure taking the gore of the crucifixion as a way to open up to believers is a great way to go. It’s for the same reason that The Passion failed as an evangelical tool. Understanding the passion of the cross in meaningful to Christians. But to the non-Christian it conjures up images of slasher movies. Or if you are lucky, strange rituals and blood sacrifices. It makes a person’s first taste of Christianity seem like a very dark morbid religion.

I consider the resurrection much more important than the crucifixion.

IMHO - Actions are going to speak a lot louder than the tatoos. If your actions indicate that there is something different about you then people will be coming to you asking how they can get what you have.

Makes me wonder....which speaks louder, your actions or your tatoos.

You know I’ve heard that. It's used all the time in evangelical circles like Contagious Christian. “People will ask you what's different about you”.

As a decrepit old sage of a Christian in my teen years, I can’t say that I have ever seen that work. Nobody has ever approached me or anyone I know with that query. Nor have I ever heard a testimony of someone who was saved by asking someone what made him or her act so different. The clos3est I have come to a real world story of that was the testimony of Josh McDowell’s father. And that is of course a special case that circles around Mc Dowell’s own testimony.

Trusting him, When you say that your actions will lead to evangelism opportunities, do you speak from personal experience?

*chuckles*

Personal Experience!

There was a young man on the carrier I was stationed on. Because of the busy nature and rather hetic schedule of an aircraft carrier you never know who you willsee or what time of day or night it might be.

But...this young man, regardless of his job, time of day or night, amount of sleep or lack of sleep...this dude GLOWED.

Now I can say this because I watched him for many months before I ever gathered the courage to approach him. His primary duty was an Aviation Boatswain Mate, responsible for the launching, revocery and handeling of the aircraft. A job that ran sometimes for hours and hours without much rest. Considering that this was back in the early 80's with our ship off the coast of Lebanon after the terrorist bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut. He spent many hours on the flight deck, I watched him when he went through mess detail. That's having to serve the rest of the ship theor food and haul garbage and such for 90 days.

During that time I was always assured of seeing at least one smiling face while standing in line for any meal. His...like I said, he GLOWED, was always nice and you never heard a foul word cross his lips. Being on a carrier with 6000 other men I can assure you that was a miracle in itself. The typical language one hears there is not pleasent to the ear.

I would say that it was almost 4 months before I gathered the courage to approach him. My words to him were pretty simple;

Man, I've watched you for a long time now and I find it amazing that you always appear to be happy. You always have a nice word for everyone that speaks to you. I've seen you at 2 in the morning and 8 in the evening and you always have a smile on your face. You glow when you walk through the ship and I want to know what it is that you have cause I need it.

That's simple. I've got Jesus! Give me your berthing number and I'll call you tonight.


He did and I met with him and about a dozen other men. In a very samll room, actually what the navy calls a void, an empty space that hold air. The men barely all fit into that room, layng on the deck, climbing onto the walls and sitting on girders or beams they each began to share what they had learnd about God and to read His Word and share what it meant to them. This is what they did at every opportunity they had and it showed in their daily life.

So yes...I can say that I've seen the diffrence of what being led by the Spirit can and will do to an individual. And that it showed enough in their actions and their countenance that it lead or drew me to him.

kinda like....witness all the time, never cease, and if you have to sometimes...open your mouth and speak.
actions will make or break your christian walk, you never who is watching.

Wonderful story TH. Just what I needed! I don't want to detract feom this thread so I'll start a new one. I think I'll call it "another wonderful organized Christian experience."

I have a friend like that TH, I finally stopped her in the hallway of the hospital and asked why she was always so happy and smiling, her reply: "You know Allen, it's because I have Jesus in my heart". She literally glowed from her personality too

NE, it's up to you... but if you do get a tattoo, I'd heavily recommend being able to hide it with long-sleeved clothing. They can really affect how future employers see you before you get hired. Doesn't matter if that's right or not, but if the new job is between you and someone more clean-cut, it'll go to the clean-cut person almost everytime...

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Ryan:
Yeah NE I’m not sure taking the gore of the crucifixion as a way to open up to believers is a great way to go. It’s for the same reason that The Passion failed as an evangelical tool.
I consider the resurrection much more important than the crucifixion. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">ok ok ok first of all ryan...you probably dont understand because your not caught up in that world and probablly were not called to reach those type of people...Just read my signiture...so i wouldnt expect you to understand...second i know plenty of people who were touched by the passion movie so i dont know where you get your idea about how it Failed as a tool...matter of fact if i was mel gibson and saw your post i would probablly be agravated at you for speaking about my ministry like that.....



this man didnt reach people in his ministry by smiling and saying "Hey, wont you be my neighbor?"
no instead he got out there and let people know what he went through...maybe one person saw this broke down and cryed and asked him about jesus...
it was worth every bit of his effort for that one person

got the last word in here too lol

oh really???

If you decide to get one, I'd get one you just absolutely loved, or one that means the most to you, since you'll have it for a while.

Hmm tats. I have one. I like the idea that you are wishing to cover up one that could cause someone to stumble. As for how much is too much? I can't answer that. You are interested in ministry, so be a minister first, then worry about "artistic expression".

uh huh...

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by New_Era_20:
ok ok ok first of all ryan...you probably dont understand because your not caught up in that world and probablly were not called to reach those type of people...Just read my signiture...so i wouldnt expect you to understand...</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm not sure what it is that makes you think I’m not active in evangelism, let alone not in circles of non-Christians. I thought I was pretty clear about my hobby of meeting people of different faiths and talking about their beliefs. I also made no attempt to hide my public school upbringing, or my secular friends.

Although you may be quite correct to say that I am not “caught up” in secular culture I can assure you that I am quite a part of it, and don’t much appreciate being condescended to about your evangelism tecniques


</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
second i know plenty of people who were touched by the passion movie so i dont know where you get your idea about how it Failed as a tool...matter of fact if i was mel gibson and saw your post i would probablly be agravated at you for speaking about my ministry like that.....</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Apparently you didn't understand any of my post because you totally missed the theme here…

You see what I said was that gory scenes of Christ’s death and such, although emotional and profound for Christians, rub non-believers the wrong way.

It is for this reason that although Passion touched many Christians (including me) It failed to attract many non believers to Christianity. Non-Christians went up in army about how it was an anti-Semitic splatter film. If Mel didn’t see that it’s his problem

I don't really have the time to read all the other posts at the moment but when I have some free time I will come back and look at them, but I figured in the mean time I'd post my opinion. I know that in the old testament it talks about piercings and tattoos and not harming your body..but I also know that in the new testament Jesus says that we are under a new law. I personally know alot of amazing christians who have tattoos and I honestly don't believe it will keep those people out of heaven. Now on the opinion of getting one or not I've thought about it but in someone elses opinion they may not think they are ok. I think this is one of those things we all just need to ask God when we get to heaven(hehe) but its also one of those things that is just personal opinion.

ALL OF YOU MAKE VALID POINTS HERE. thanks. as some say, its behavior. unless seeking work. but also depends on type of work aiming for. such as construction, plumber. as a customer, all ID CARE about was the job done right. not how many tattoos ones has. but Im a girl. I think your creative. [; no offense to other men here . this has been very educational to read. awesome!

My brother in law has a tattoo, its a cross and then it has to do with his indian heritage and there are trinity symbols at the indentation of each side of the cross, its special to him and has meaning. He's about to start work at on a police force and at the particular one he's gonna be working for you aren't supposed to show them ever, his isn't noticeable but even if you have one thats not noticeable they ask whats it represents cause they have had cops that had certain tattoos that made them look like gang members and thats not a good thing.

not unless are undercover cops.like those in sting operations. [; still neat. what tribe is he[indian]?

This may seem a bit old fashioned...but what about Leviticus 19:28? It reads...(KJV)" Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you. I am the Lord."

Old testament wouldn't call it tattoos. But "print any marks upon you"....sounds like a biblical reference.

I had considered one years ago. Then this scripture was brought to my attention. Decided, personally, that God wouldn't smile because I got one. Even if it was a cross or something. Just decided (personal conviction, I guess) that it wasn't right.

Saphy

UNDERSTANDABLE. [; i respect yur decision. its all about personal convictions .

I don't like the idea of tatoos and espesially concerning it to christianity. If you want to be closer to God...to become more religious, to show your treatment to church...help somebody and that's all. I am even irritated of such things, all we are God's childs...I'm sure that He wouldn't understand these things...My opinion(sorry for Engl.)

I have to agree with Romano, I don't like them myself and they really just seem like the latest 'fad' or 'follow the leader' deal. You may like following trends, but they really do look a bit silly the older/ more mature you get. 99% of the time if a tatooed person is being interviewed for any job and they're up against someone without tatoos - the un-tatooed person will get the job, everything else being equal. They'll also be the one getting promoted, etc.

Kinda like showing up to a job interview smoking, it may be your personal preference, there may not be any biblical scripture specifically denouncing smoking as sin, but the smoker will give the others a big advantage for any job or any promotion within that job. That's the breaks and your choice when you make it.

Do you remember what God said to us, not to have idols, and that's why I don't like the idea about christian Tatoos