11-25-2008, 11:00 AM
rungold315 Wrote:Thirdwoe, I would have agreed with you for the longest, but keep in mind, the scripture forbidding marking of the flesh and destroying of the beard is in reference to MOURNING FOR THE DEAD. Shaving or getting a tattoo apart from rituals for dead ancestors are not forbidden.
Shlama rungold315,
Do you think king David would of had no problem with tattoos? Just something to think about.
I have something personal I'd like to share.
Once I wanted to tattoo myself with all kinds of 'holy' Aramaic words. I'm so glad I was talked out of it!
At the time I thought it would have shown how commited I was to God. But when I look back, I just realise I was looking for something which felt good and looked cool and was quick to achieve. Which I now think was actually quite shallow.
Now I've found there are other ways of feeling good which are more compatible with historical Christianity/Judaism. Learning liturgy, learning to read the Bible in the original. Learning to apply the principles in the Bible to my life and lifestyle each and every day. God loves you no matter what you do, sure! But just think to yourself, will this tattoo do for you what you want it to do?
If you want it to just look cool, sure some people will think it is.
But if you want it to be meaningful to your father in heaven, I think there are other ways which would be more meaningful to him.