Tattoos…are they a stumbling block?

Tattoos…are they a stumbling block?

Do you automatically think certain things when you see a man or woman with a tattoo?
How about several tattoos?

I really don’t want this to turn into a “should or shouldn’t” a Christian get them Thread.

What I’m wondering is about Christians that do have them. Are these Christians a stumbling block for others…saved or unsaved?

I know some folks that received tattoos before their conversion and would not have gotten them, but now live with the fact.

Some say their tattoos have opened up witnessing opportunities.

I’m not talking about obviously vulgar tattoos that are even offensive to none Christians. I’m talking about your average art work.

Should a born again Christian cover them up in order to not be a stumbling block even if this means wearing long pants and long sleeves in the summer?

Of course every Christian should take this to God and follow their personal convictions, but I would like to hear some of your thoughts and experiences about this issue.

Grace and Peace

It has so much to do with the tattoo and the person.

I have a friend who always had a fascination with Japan. He looked half-Japanese, read history about Japan, watched foreign films, and even learned a decent amount of the language. He happened to be a tattoo artist as well, so he did his own artwork on his chest and shoulder of Japanese koi fish and sparrows. As far as tattoos go it was beautiful. He figured no one could see it there and it meant a lot to him at the time.

Eventually he determined to be a missionary to Japan and moved there for six months. He discovered that very few houses have showers, so most people use community bath houses.

He also discovered that in Japan it is extremely unacceptable for any respectable person to have tattoos, which are associated almost exclusively with Yakuza (Japanese organized crime). Because he looks Japanese and the artwork was Japanese, no one believe that he was just some American with tattoos.

He said it closed many doors and established a bad reputation in the community before he could speak with many of the people. Japan is known for being, in many way, a "closed" country and his tattoos closed the doors even more.

Daily prayer and the leading of the Spirit is a better platform for witnessing than any tattoo.

On the up side, he married a Japanese woman and they intend to move back someday as missionaries.

With love and affection,

I have a few & have been convicted to cover them;
I dont understand guys like Head & Derek webb that blaze them even without a shirt on etc.. like they are still proud of them,
(while Lev. tells us not to have them)

I view tattoos as scars of sinful living, some scars are deeper than others & I am glad that these are only physical scars.

They do bring up witness encounters to those that knew me before coming to Christ, Only because now I go out of my way to cover them,

I also used to do them & for the most part, it is a wicked subculture; Like i said before some sin is more visable than others

Good thread, I look forward to more on the issue

I have talked on this subject a number of times, whether it was on here or on another site, so I don't really want to "into it."

I will say from personal experience though, that I like tattoos. I haven't regretted them, either. I am 32 and I got my first tattoo when I was 19 (I believe), and got my 8th tattoo this past June. They are all symbolic of my faith/walk with Christ and I personally really like them. Have I been able to witness with them? Yes, sometimes. But that isn't my sole intent for getting them. My newest one is on the back of my leg and it is in big hebrew writing that says Worship Yahweh. Quite a number of people in the marketplace have come up to me and asked me about it and I have been able to share what it means, and with some people I have been able to share what I believe.

Can tattoos be a stumbling block. I suppose they could. But I wonder if we can get a little legalistic when it comes to stuff like that. I don't know. I mean anybody can make anything a stumbling block. In going along with what Krispy was saying - Clothes, makeup, music, movies, hair, magazines, internet, cars, money, smoking, chewing, alcohol, artwork, sculptors... and on and on. Obviously, there are the obvious stumbling blocks, but how far is too far beyond what God intended?

I don't know. This is one of those debatable answers that can swing both ways, I think.

KrispyKrittr wrote:

I remember seeing this healing evangelist who was overly obese, I mean this guy was shaped like a rectangular box. My first thought was this guy can't be in touch with God, I can't imagine he has ever fasted in his life. Very little healings if any took place, the ole KFC buckets were handed out though. So yeah, certain things can be a stumbling block.

A lot of people wouldnt need healings if they would just keep their hands out of the KFC buckets a little more often!

Do you want fries with that?

Krispy

Or soda, and ice cream sandwhichs.... I gotta lay off those... lol

KrispyKrittr wrote:
Yea, well Leviticus also tells us not to trim the sides of our beards too... at least we know Elvis did his best to follow the Levitical Law, huh? lol
Krispy

LOL

Not puting the whole issue on Lev.; but it is Cutting the flesh for the purpose of art,
how is that not sinful???

(Personally... I just don't want to glory in them anymore,)

I would like to say that if you have a tattoo, want a tattoo, or about to get one for the sole purpose of witnessing, I would reconsider your motives.

That is one of the things that the Lord has challenged me on, because that was MY sole reason originally for getting my first tattoo (plus I just really wanted one).

I remember when people had the argument, "Isn't it going to be actually harder to witness to people in the church, or to those who don't have tattoos and are conservative?" I said, "While it shouldn't be, I suppose it could be, but wouldn't it be just as hard for me to be in a $500 suit trying to witness to a bunch of people with peircings and tattoos?" I've realized now, though, that while there is a tinge of very small truth to this, we (me) are relying upon our appearances to save the lost and dying. Why are we (I) doing that? Jesus Christ was in a particular culture, but I don't know that he ever attempted to change his appearance for the "in" crowd, or the "out" crowd. He was who He was and he didn't need to upgrade or downgrade His appearance for anybody.

Can we get a tattoo, or a fish car emblem, or t-shirt to witness to others... sure... if you want to solely rely on your own strength, instead of letting God move and work through you just the way you are without all of that.

For His Glory,

Ben

BenBrockway wrote:

Can we get a tattoo, or a fish car emblem, or t-shirt to witness to others... sure... if you want to solely rely on your own strength, instead of letting God move and work through you just the way you are without all of that.

Ben

I still like my tattoos, though... lol

Unless I am mistaken, the Levitical law refers to tattoos and markings made with the intent of devotion towards and communication with the dead.

Think that is ancient? I know gangsters who still do it. They have tats that say "so-and-so 1985-2004" and they tell people that their dead homie can see it and is happy about their memorial to him.

But, the real issue is "is it a stumbling block".

I can speak for myself, at least. If a brother says, "I got a tattoo three years ago", I think nothing of it. If a brother says "I got one this past month", I think, "he doesn't know how to spend his money." Most tattoos will pay for an Indian missionary to go out for three months to a year. ($30 a month)

A $300 tattoo is the price of 10,000 gospel tracts at Americasprinter.com

I hope that tattoo helps you witness to 10,000 people. :-o

I say this with love and affection. I have come short in much as well, but we must be faithful with these few things first.

I am also trying to live this, ordering water instead of cokes, smaller meals, etc. to help move cash to the most efficient uses.

theopenlife wrote:
Unless I am mistaken, the Levitical law refers to tattoos and markings made with the intent of devotion towards and communication with the dead.

This, I have heard from many a scholar, as well.

BenBrockway wrote:

theopenlife wrote:
Unless I am mistaken, the Levitical law refers to tattoos and markings made with the intent of devotion towards and communication with the dead.

This, I have heard from many a scholar, as well.

Oh, plus it being done to false gods, too.

LittleGift wrote:
"let everyone be fully persuaded in his own mind", as with Paul's comment on eating meat offered to idols.
Blessings
Jeannette

My dear brothers, I thought this was a clear cut issue; I didn’t know people considered getting Tattoos for the sake of witnessing & after regeneration etc… out of the ones I have done I never came across anyone that said such, (most were based on pride, boasting of self image, vanity, Catholic externalism etc.)
so I can't comment on that area, but something about this thread has deeply saddened me, so I will say no more...
I guess we will have to agree to disagree on the issue, & Onward with the preaching of the gospel

The reason for starting this thread

For me getting a tattoo is not an option. Having said that I must admit to having a tattoo(s), and it is one of many things I would not repeat if the choice was to be offered again. I feel much like Michael (theopenlife) about the issue. In 2006 I really started to take stewardship to a new level. I personally feel the money could be spent in more productive outreach methods.

But having a tattoo(s) is what concerns me, not whether I or you should get one. I just want input about how you react to seeing tattoos on people.

I have one on my bicep that I am extremely conscious about. It is covered by a short sleeve shirt, but only one with longer sleeves and then just barely. I have known people for years and have become friends with them, but the look on their face when they find out I have a tattoo(s) is really something to behold.

It saddens me to be judged in this way. I know I’m forgiven for my past and I’m the one that must live with these scares on my body, but it has changed how the world and Christians look at me. I go out of my way to hide it, but I still pay a price for the lifestyle I lived before accepting Christ.