im 28 years old and spent my whole life growing up in church until I was 19 and then my father who was my best friend in the whole world (who was bipolar) committed suicide, it crushed me and sent me on a downward spiral you could not imagine I was so confused and bothered i resolved to heavy drinking and partying and drug use well now im 28 and I have 2 kids of my own it has changed me Im now faithful again and bringing my boys up in church while I was on that downward spiral i made the stupid choice of getting a bunch of tattoos and everybody in the church kinda treats me different and stare at me pretty bad there all on my arms but i get tired of wearing long sleeved shirts all the time what is your guys opinion and yes I know its only between me and God but its kinda of discouraging when people treat me like im different.
The problem with tattoos is that they tend to reflect the kind of person you were when you got them. They send a message.
Then later on, if you change, the tattoos are there suggesting that you are the kind of person who got the tattoos.
If you have changed and the tattoos no longer send the message you want to convey, I would suggest you wear the long sleeve shirt so as not to give the wrong impression.
When people get to know you better, you can explain that the tattoos are not really you any more.
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Proud parents of our own "Daddy's Little Girls"
I heard Jesus He drank wine and I bet we'd get along just fine.
My husband and I go to an Apostolic Lutheran church and some of the people there can be pretty legalistic at times but I have never heard anyone say anything to my husband about his tatoos and he has one that has two guns crossed. I also have one on my leg and even though it is rare that anyone would see it, the ladies that have don't have a problem with it. I am sorry you are being judged it is no ones place to do so. Keep your chin up and show them your love and light for Christ. Either they will come around or you will say enough and find a new church who embraces you for the unique creation God made you.
You shouldn't have to wear a long sleeve shirt all the time, besides your arms help to tell your testimony, it is a blessing in disguise.
I've heard you can get tattoos removed but don't know that such a process would necessarily work for any tatts covering a lot of your arms. People shouldn't judge you by tatts but that takes talking to somebody and getting to know who they really are.
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Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
im 28 years old and spent my whole life growing up in church until I was 19 and then my father who was my best friend in the whole world (who was bipolar) committed suicide, it crushed me and sent me on a downward spiral you could not imagine I was so confused and bothered i resolved to heavy drinking and partying and drug use well now im 28 and I have 2 kids of my own it has changed me Im now faithful again and bringing my boys up in church while I was on that downward spiral i made the stupid choice of getting a bunch of tattoos and everybody in the church kinda treats me different and stare at me pretty bad there all on my arms but i get tired of wearing long sleeved shirts all the time what is your guys opinion and yes I know its only between me and God but its kinda of discouraging when people treat me like im different.
You have to keep in mind that we humans are anything but perfect, incuding Christians. If we were perfect we wouldn't have needed Jesus, but since we are all so imperfect we need him desperately. A lot of the times when we criticize peope for something it actually leads back to something we are unhappy with about our selves. Don't ever let other peoples veiw of you determine your selfworth. There is only one judge and His judgement is the only one that matters.
My guess is if you go to another church there will be people there that look at you a little wierd also. You can't run from it. Its a test, and you will continue being tested by it till you overcome it. The bible demands us not to judge other people, them looking at you wierd seems a little judgemental, so they are in the wrong not you. Its thier shortcoming they have to deal with.
I would say make a point to go up to those people and introduce yourself in a kind manner and befriend them. Show them your a nice guy. You will both learn something from it.
I think that folk will be looking at your tats no matter where you go. Face it , they draw attention. The thing is tho that your witness will come from your words and your actions along with how you present yourself now.
Folks may be looking at you in church thinking "wow, this guy must have been really into the world, but look at what God has done with him now."
Wearing long sleeve shirts is not so bad, as I wear them all the time. . .they even make long sleeve t-shirts. I would at least wear them to church and to church functions.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
I think that folk will be looking at your tats no matter where you go. Face it , they draw attention. The thing is tho that your witness will come from your words and your actions along with how you present yourself now.
Folks may be looking at you in church thinking "wow, this guy must have been really into the world, but look at what God has done with him now."
Wearing long sleeve shirts is not so bad, as I wear them all the time. . .they even make long sleeve t-shirts. I would at least wear them to church and to church functions.
At least wear them until people get to know you. We all make judgments about people based on first impressions. Sometimes you can get to know people and overcome the first impressions and sometimes not. If my husband had been wearing a bunch of tattoos the day I meant him, I would not have sat down and talked to him for hours. I would have simply thanked him for the ice cream cone and gone home.
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Proud parents of our own "Daddy's Little Girls"
I heard Jesus He drank wine and I bet we'd get along just fine.