Posted on 01/12/2011 1:23:58 PM PST by hawkins
A tattoo of Christ, a cross or any other symbol is idolatry plain and simple.
What about those who wear a Cross around their neck? Or the one on top of the steeple of your church? Or the image of a crucified jesus hanging on the wall of a home? Is that Idolatry?
Are we to subscribe to the Islamic ideal that representations of God are blasphemous?
Idolatry is the worship of a symbol itself, getting a tattoo symbolizing your worship of an idea isn’t anywhere close to idolatry.
I think people who have time to worry about tats have too much time on their hands.
Not a matter of salvation -
In reality, unless it’s a full sleeve tattoo that would show, or neck tats that look like prison work - they don’t matter to work places.
They last forever better like what you get.
Some real iconoclasts around here...
It is only idolatry when you worship the symbol itself. Using a symbol to identify yourself as one who worships Christ is not idolatry.
SnakeDoc
But are you saying crosses anywhere are idol worship?
Sounds odd to me.....
Not true...
perhaps, but the biggest idol worship I see in the church today is in the “Me” centered praise and worship songs.
To nitpick, Christians do not (or at least should not) worship "an idea." We worship the Holy Trinity, and that is three persons, not three ideas.
On the subject of tattoos in general and more specifically of tattoos of Jesus Christ, I suggest reading Flannery O'Conner's "Parker's Back." That story says it all.
right, you can have expensive and painful treatments to get them off....but why?
The only tat I’ve seen that seriously would haunt the guy forever was a guy who had his whole head and face tattooed I couldn’t stop staring and when he gave me grief, I just said “I can’t imagine that in 10 years you won’t regret that, and if you ever have children, how you explain that...how could you hate your face so much?”
There are distasteful tats that can be made into something else, I just don’t see what the big deal is.
right, you can have expensive and painful treatments to get them off....but why?
The only tat I’ve seen that seriously would haunt the guy forever was a guy who had his whole head and face tattooed I couldn’t stop staring and when he gave me grief, I just said “I can’t imagine that in 10 years you won’t regret that, and if you ever have children, how you explain that...how could you hate your face so much?”
There are distasteful tats that can be made into something else, I just don’t see what the big deal is.
But you were wrong.....
No, they last forever unless you do something to remove them.
They don’t disappear on their own, was my point.
Is there something more interesting to argue about?
When I was younger, the man in the Catholic family next door got a full upper arm tattoo of the Virgin Mary. This thing was extremely intricate, full-color, and cost him $800 over 30 years ago. I can still remember how beautiful it was. That it was still glistening with the Vaseline cover added to the effect.
People can argue propriety and idolatry all day long. All I know is the creation of his tattoo brought some more beauty into the world, and that can’t be be all that bad of a thing to do.
But they do fade. I met a WWII vet last year, and I noticed the very faint remnants of a tattoo on his forearm. He said it was a unit tattoo he got on leave during the war. After 60+ years there wasn't much left. You wouldn't notice it in passing.
I might be going out on a limb here but I’m thinking if you love your Creator with all your mind, heart and soul he will likely look past that rose tattoo on your butt.
If a tattoo of Jesus helps to keep you centered on your faith walk through life, more power to ya brother.
I have never seen ANY tattoo on ANY person that made them look better or smarter or made them look like they had some class. In fact the exact opposite is always my reaction.
To those who would incorrectly say that “I am judging a book by its cover” that would not apply as someone who does that to their body IS MAKING THEIR OWN STATEMENT ABOUT THEMSELVES.
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