Hey Blogville ...Whether you're fully tattooed or abstain from the ink - I have truly enjoyed the conversation and dialogue on our previous post. Thanks for making this a place to connect, create and communicate - and for doing it in love ... or at least trying.
In addition to the comments ... I have received dozens of emails with questions, comments, and semi-threats. Thanks mom :(
Without being too long and preachy - here are my thoughts
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
- 1) When we extract a verse out of context - we cause confusion and even division. Leviticus is one of those books written at a specific time for a specific audience with a specific purpose. If we are to live by the "book" {Leviticus} then consistency is key. That would mean that we'd also be bound by rules that would restrict shellfish and pork eating, hairstyles, wearing of clothes made from two different fabrics, even eating cheese on hamburgers. Consistency is key.
- 2) The body as the temple - Here is an area where we totally fail at being consistent. And I include myself. In our current culture (secular & Christian) people modify their appearance for beauty in many ways such as clothing choice, makeup, plastic surgery, hair cutting and coloring, weight loss, body-building, and ear piercing. If we are consistent - then we would judge all those things in the same category as tattoos. And wait ... my favorite: We remember that the body is a temple when Tattoos come up - but we forget about the temple when we sit at the table and chug down a bucket of fried food and eat three pieces of cheesecake for dessert. If we're gonna guard the temple .. lets do it at the table as well. Consistency is key.
Anyway ... thanks for joining in the dialogue. Let posts like these make us better and not bitter ... for the record .. my "tattoo" was not real. It was drawn by my wife Marcy with a black and red sharpie and had no true meaning. Marcy and I have been dabbling with the idea of both getting inked and think it's artistically really cool. We're still not sure what or where ... so until then - we'll just wait.
23 comments:
Checkmate!
amen
agreed. .and whatever u guys choose im sure will be great either way.
i love u guys <33
Negro I agree with you 110%!! Your are right in everything you mentioned. Right on brother, Thank God there was someone like you out there to open up the eyes of those who have them semi-shut and don't really understand!! Amen bro...Amen... By the way let me know when your ready for your tattoo, I'll be sure to hook you up! Peace out bro!Viva la Vida!! Viva Tattoos!
Words of wisdom my friend! Either way I support you!
dido on all you said.
It's interesting to see how your opinion has changed over the years. A few years ago when I told you I was interested in getting a tattoo, your response was totally different, (in opposition, I might add.) But that's when you were young and foolish, I suppose.
If you decide to get one, lemme see the design first so I can critique it. I won't allow any bad grungy typography on you.
*ditto.
There shouldn't be much debate here. The verses in Matthew 5:17-18 refer to the fact that Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the old Mosaic Law and thus are no longer to be observed by christians. Make sure you read Colossians 2:16-17, its a central passage in explaining this. One scholar (MacArthur) puts it like this "the underlying truths of those scriptures remain - and in fact the mysteries behind them are now revealed in the brighter light of the gospel".CHEA!
BAM!!
lots of real weak exegesis here between you and carlos. The issue of the whole passage is given in the first verse: "Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy." The theme is holiness, coming out of a pagan, secular society. Many of the verses in this passage would be used by Jesus as center pieces for his teachings. God is trying to teach his children not to conform to the rituals, and practices of the world. It is unwise to discard the teachings of the bulk of this passage with cliches like: "the fact that Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the old Mosaic Law and thus are no longer to be observed by christians." Whereas this is a true statement in the first half the second half dose not work for this passage. Note verse 18b is this not part of Christ's great commandment. In fact the majority of the verses of this passage have to do with ethics, idolatry and practical farming practices. Make three columns and put the verses into these by this standard: column #1 :which verses do you think Jesus would want you to do and not do; column #2 which are to do with the ceremonial law and column #3 which verses have to do with farming and animal husbandry. 26,27 &28 have to do with not imitating pagan practices...hmmm
Sin always looks for a stronghold in our persona. A stronghold is an area that God warns us off of that we want to do anyway, so we develop rationalizations for them. Christians who don't know their Bibles well and only hang with week people who don't know their Bibles well can easily fall into this trap.
Your dad knows his Bible well...
check out verse 3 a...
or is that under the law.
Christ does indeed fulfill the law, but be careful in going too far. Almost all of his teaching was from the law. If you want to understand the law, look at His interpretations and applications!
shalom
Like H said - consistency is key pr rob what is going to far !?
the above was only your interpretation ... and as long as your consistent - you have the right to it - lets just be consistent about it all.
We get all exegetical about Tatooes but not about gluttony and other things that are not as high on our traditions book.
Chris V.
Don't erase my comments anymore son! Haha. I won't get into it. If the issue of tattoos is causing rifts and division, then we need to rexamine if our faith is only based on dogmatic priciples instead of the unrelenting love that Christ has put inside each and everyone of us.
wow ... dont go to church or really know any of the big words getting commented here... never knew tattoos were a such big deal. geez. no wonder people are afraid to step foot into church and get judged. Meanwhile.. 3G ? u getting it H?
Jason Stamper
http://www.businessreviewonline.com/blog/
Idle talk. Senseless chatter. I think we're getting to a place where it starts becoming less about the word of God and more about what we think (which is obviously not the purpose of this blog)
Dude, check the truth for yourself. So many passages back up our freedom from the mosaic law that its not even worth mentioning here because you can find in online, in your bible, etc. Plus the comment slot on your blog is for comments and not commentaries. For that I go to blueletterbible.org. or look for some great resource that is accurate.
I love you, I'll see you at the Rock concert of the band called Coldplay --- that is --- if that's ok.
What I wrote was not about my interpretation... It is about how you look at a passage in it's context. . Look at it in context. Do we chunk it all (God's Law) because we are under liberty? Consistency is indeed very important. Jesus is looking for us to be in Him. By believing in Him we keep the law. He is the fulfillment of the law that God requires of us. He also tells us to keep his commandments. My point to you guys is that you really need to be careful with sweeping general statements regarding this passage. For the issue itself, examine your motives and your heart for "tattooing" (is there such a word?). Yes we have liberties according to the scripture. Pray about it... if your conscience is clear and you don't cause others to stumble and God gives you a green light then ok. But try praying with God about what He wants and not what you want...be still and listen. I would be surprised if God did not give you a check in your heart.
P.S. Tattoos are not dividing the church... at least ours
Carlos please don't take my comments personally. I only commented because from my view the reasoning process was a little incomplete. Read the whole passage and then read the teachings of Jesus and you will see where I was coming from. The righteous requirements of the Law have been fully met in Christ and have been replaced under a better covenant. The laws of right and wrong, and ethics still stand are reinforced by Christ.
I love you guys and miss you. Hope all is well.
Blessings, Pastor Rob
Amen, Pastor Rob. Amen!
cracks me up ..
now i know what to post to get comments... anyway - thanks for keeping us entertained nonetheless..
keeps us office rats engaged.
Not to continue with this wonderful discussion i still wanted to just put my 2 cents. First, babe you just have the wisest and learning heart i know. Good job with your response and making this a community to talk and share and grow. Second, out of everything I have read on the comments thus far, i have to give props to Heather Palacios for commenting so wisely. Here it is:
"If your tat for God is gonna help u connect w/ someone who has a tat & doesn't know God, do your thing. None of us r sinless enough to judge : )"
At the end we are individually giving account to God.
Third and lastly, it is so easy as the church to go and focus on things that I think Christ doesn't want us to be so attached to. Not going to the movie theaters, don't wear pants, don't play drums, don't dance, (thank God David did) etc. When we focus on that in so much detail many times we fall into judgment, create an unaccepting environment for the lost, and begin to enclose ourselves in our little world or lazy boy chair.
Here at FRC God is using people to show me about Christ's love. To each other and for the lost. Experiencing non loving environments in a church has not been so fun- so that is where i want to finish. Let us not forget that it truly is all about love- loving our God first with all that is inside of us and then loving our neighbor. I'm not talking about watering down the message or anything like that, but talking about genuine Godly love. If the beatles and the world can talk about love and not know the Creator of love, and then the church falls apart because they can't love one another- than I know God's heart aches. Thanks for everyone's discussion. (And holiness and consistency are key) :) And for the record not sure if i will ever get a tatoo but if i ever did, thanks for accepting me just as i am- or at least i know my God does .
Amen Marcy!!!
i second danny!
Wow!!!
Very interesting!
Marcy, you are an awesome and wise young woman.
As the country folk say, "Stand by your man".
Love and believe in you both; ink or not!!!
i just got a hold of this and am not 100% sure what's going on but I think we need to remember one thing - we are in the world, but separte, we shouldn't do anything that will cause our brother to stumble. If tatooing will allow us to minister to those who are tatooed, does doing drugs and drinking make our ministry to the like more profitable, or cause a stumbling block - a tatooed, drunk Christian - we are free, but we must use our freedoms wisely, not to look like the world, or casue those we are trying to save a reason to reject His words because of our sterotyped ethics. As Paul said, all things are allowed, but not all things are profitable!
Oh man...H! what have you started?...Well after much prayer and meditation I have decided that tattoos are indeed sketches from the underworld and you will go to hell if you get one....SIKE!!!... I still think tattoos are awesome and all and I think "Christian tattoos" are even cooler but let's face it people don't get tattoos so they can use it as a conversational piece to talk to other tattooed and unsaved people. I have neve heard anyone say, "man this tattoo is gonna get so many people saved!" There are much better evangilistic tools to use (like the bible). People get tattoos because they like how they looks or because it is something they believe in not so they can use them to preach to people.
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