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Originally posted by maxdetail
Our family crest is a cluster of grapes. I thought it would be cool to get that on my chest and then when I'm old, it will be a cluster of raisins.

My dad got a tatoo on his arm with his first wifes name on it. After he divorced here and married my mom, he had a mortiss design place over his first wife's name. After he divorce my mother and married his third. He had another mortiss put over my mothers and his third wifes added to his wrist. He died before he ran out of arm.
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:lol::lol::lol:

Now that's funny!

On a side note: I do think we can dishonor our God given bodies by letting them sag too much just as much as getting a tatoo would.:worms:
 
Why would applying something out of Leviticus be a bit of a stretch? Is this not what God has commanded?
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The OPC website addresses this question and gives and an answer that I fully concur with shown below: (For what it's worth, I do think if want to apply Leviticus 19.28 to the practice of tattoos today, to be consistent the men better be letting their beards grow and not cutting their hair over the temples, plus eating kosher meat.)

Question:

Does the OPC have a stated position regarding body-art (tattoos)? If there is no official position, what are your views on the subject? Leviticus 19:28 seems to forbid it, but some have reasoned that this only forbids tattoos done for "religious" reasons or "for the dead." Does the subject matter of the tattoo art determine whether it is right or wrong, or is the practice of getting tattoos in itself sinful? Is there a difference between getting tattoos in the Old Covenant vs. the New Covenant? My own family is split over this issue (and biased because some have tattoos) and I would appreciate a thoughtful answer.

Answer:
Yours is an interesting question. A short perusal of this and related Scriptures shows me that tattooing is not in view. I don't remember, from my readings through the Bible, that tattooing is even mentioned. Lev. 19:28 refers to cuttings on the body in honor of the dead. And you are quite right that similar things like wearing clothes made of mixed fabrics or cutting the corners of the beard are ceremonial in nature (mixed fabrics symbolized mixture between the clean and unclean; cutting the corners of the beard is in reference to the dead). Today we wear garments made of a mixture of cotton and synthetic fabrics. We also eat pork. Both of these prohibitions have been set aside under the New Covenant (after Calvary and Pentecost). So, on that basis, it is not a sin to wear a tattoo.

However, most believers of my generation resist the temptation of tattooing. Why? One reason is that, once tattooed we're marked for life. (I understand that it is possible to remove tattoos, but it is costly and uncertain of complete success.) Many young people, in their youthful passions, tattoo words or pictures on their bodies that they wish they'd never done. But there is an inference from the fact that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit (if we are Christians; and all of us OUGHT to be!). Our bodies, as much of them as it is proper to display for all to see, "say" something: "[We are] fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps. 139:13). Their balance, strength, yes, and their beauty "say" how wonderful is our God! What can some tattoo add to that message?

To put it another way: How can disfiguring the only body God gave you add to His glory; and that for life? But declaring it absolutely a sin is more than I am prepared to say. But if it is a sin (because one does it for sinful purposes, or the tattoo mars the appearance of one's body), it's not an unpardonable sin. We're all sinners; and Christians sin, but are assured of complete pardon when they turn to God and put their faith in Jesus' blood. So, that's the best answer I can give you at this time. If, after more research, I come up with a different answer, I'll let you know. And please feel free to come back with further questions. (LE)
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Either way you wish to look at it is fine with me. A commandment to the Jew seems relevant to me. As far as kosher... Don't you think God may know a little more about our digestive system than we do?

I see the necessity for a change in the law as indicated in Hebrews.... two specifics aspects of the ceremonial law in fact. Not sure when we decided to throw out the rest of God's commandments.
 
Originally posted by Puritanhead
Anything not of faith is a sin? Does your faith compel you to get a tattoo?
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i haven't really thought about this much, simply because i have no desire at all to get a tattoo...

however, i don't think we can say that anything you aren't COMPELLED by your faith to do is sin...

don't think that what those verses mean...
 
Originally posted by satz
Originally posted by Puritanhead
Anything not of faith is a sin? Does your faith compel you to get a tattoo?
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i haven't really thought about this much, simply because i have no desire at all to get a tattoo...

however, i don't think we can say that anything you aren't COMPELLED by your faith to do is sin...

don't think that what those verses mean...
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the Bible says anything not of faith is a sin... Romans 14:23

sin can also be what we neglect to do...

http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/80/082480.html
 
'de plane! 'de plane!


tongue.gif





couldn't resist!
 
I have a tattoo on each arm and one on my chest. I did get them in my reprobate days. I have no desire to get any more but I don't think that I'd 'cause too much of a fuss if a christian brother decided to get one (depending on what it was).


On a side note: I do think we can dishonor our God given bodies by letting them sag too much just as much as getting a tattoo would
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That's just it. I always remember my Dad saying that every christian that told him to quit smoking cigarettes was 100 pounds overweight. I see alot of christians who get upset about things like tattoos, tobacco, etc. and use the "our body is a temple" arguement, yet they're eating garbage food, taking a ton of prescription drugs, etc.

My grandparents are a perfect example of this. It's a sin to get a tattoo, drink or smoke, etc., yet they eat junk which has caused them to have heart disease and diabetes. Now instead of watching or changing what they stuff into their mouths, they take a bunch of drugs. My tattoos haven't defiled my body nearly as much as their lifestyle has defiled theirs.

Why do we pick things like tattoos and say they defile our bodies but eating candy bars is o.k.?
 
Originally posted by Augusta
Leviticus 19:28

28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD.
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But that's for OT Israel and they are a theocracy and those laws are done away with because we are under grace and not law!:P:P:P

Sorry, I could't help it. That wasn't directed at anybody in particular.
 
The NKJV does it. Probably based on the fact that there are moral and ceremonial laws in the passage. :D
 
Andrew,
To answer your question about how "official" the OPC Q&As are: According to the website (http://www.opc.org/cce/QandA/), " The answers come from individual ministers in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church expressing their own convictions and do not necessarily represent the "official" position of the Church, especially in areas where the Standards of the Church (the Scriptures and the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms) are silent."
 
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