Paul said, “I beseech you…that you present your bodies a living sacrifice…” (Romans 12:1). What I must decide is whether or not I will agree with my Lord and Master that my body will indeed be His temple. Once I agree, all the rules, regulations, and requirements of the law concerning the body are summed up for me in this revealed truth-my body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit.”
What you have done prior to serving God has been forgiven, thus, as many have also suggested, it becomes an avenue to use in your testimony (your story); even uniquely so compared to the older people you spoke of in your church. But both they and you now serve the same God and Spirit, we need not alienate them either. God will work in their hearts too in this area they have not considered.
Thus, from the position of righteousness now my question becomes, "Is getting a gangster emblem, or any emblem on my body, which is God's temple, like (for instance) defacing money? Does it disrespect the inherent character the money represents as to our country? But, to be sure, I am dictating any rules to this, other than the rule of surrender to the Lord's will. For all of our body now, including our demeanor and character represents Our Lord; and Scripture speaks to us concerning this.
I have seen people be great witnesses for Christ's gracious provisions to people I could never touch in the same way based on their altered histories. This does not mean I should get a tattoo so I can also touch those people, it means that Scripture is proven right once more when it says, All things turn out for good for those who love the Lord. And to love God is to obey His commandments. The key here is not looking for loopholes to allow future endeavors, nor is it to look for creeds to live by to restrict such behavior, but that we are looking for God's will as to the fact our bodies are the temple of God..I do not want to say, "You need to....etc" I want to say, "This is what the Lord says, what say you in relationship to that?"
If, in Christ, I tatted "Satan Rules" I am pretty sure it wouldn't take me much prayer time, or reading time before I realized what God would have me do. But even when I tatted "Jesus Rules," I would need to ask God what His will is concerning His temple and search His Word concerning it. I have hidden Your Words in my heart that I may not sin against You, we must be willing to be pliable to God in His teaching, and Jesus never approached a person when correcting them with anything less than gentleness and respect, only Spiritual Truth, wrapped in abundant love; Therefore, This we must also do.
You hand over that tat to God and let Him work it - In and outside of the Church facility, all the while you pick up your cross daily and follow Him where He is taking you now in love. Guilt is not of God, that is Satan speaking, so banish him as well in your mind on Christ's authority. Be sensitive to the weaker brethren not to crush their spirit, but do as the Lord makes clear to be His will in complete freedom and confidence.
What you have done prior to serving God has been forgiven, thus, as many have also suggested, it becomes an avenue to use in your testimony (your story); even uniquely so compared to the older people you spoke of in your church. But both they and you now serve the same God and Spirit, we need not alienate them either. God will work in their hearts too in this area they have not considered.
Thus, from the position of righteousness now my question becomes, "Is getting a gangster emblem, or any emblem on my body, which is God's temple, like (for instance) defacing money? Does it disrespect the inherent character the money represents as to our country? But, to be sure, I am dictating any rules to this, other than the rule of surrender to the Lord's will. For all of our body now, including our demeanor and character represents Our Lord; and Scripture speaks to us concerning this.
I have seen people be great witnesses for Christ's gracious provisions to people I could never touch in the same way based on their altered histories. This does not mean I should get a tattoo so I can also touch those people, it means that Scripture is proven right once more when it says, All things turn out for good for those who love the Lord. And to love God is to obey His commandments. The key here is not looking for loopholes to allow future endeavors, nor is it to look for creeds to live by to restrict such behavior, but that we are looking for God's will as to the fact our bodies are the temple of God..I do not want to say, "You need to....etc" I want to say, "This is what the Lord says, what say you in relationship to that?"
If, in Christ, I tatted "Satan Rules" I am pretty sure it wouldn't take me much prayer time, or reading time before I realized what God would have me do. But even when I tatted "Jesus Rules," I would need to ask God what His will is concerning His temple and search His Word concerning it. I have hidden Your Words in my heart that I may not sin against You, we must be willing to be pliable to God in His teaching, and Jesus never approached a person when correcting them with anything less than gentleness and respect, only Spiritual Truth, wrapped in abundant love; Therefore, This we must also do.
You hand over that tat to God and let Him work it - In and outside of the Church facility, all the while you pick up your cross daily and follow Him where He is taking you now in love. Guilt is not of God, that is Satan speaking, so banish him as well in your mind on Christ's authority. Be sensitive to the weaker brethren not to crush their spirit, but do as the Lord makes clear to be His will in complete freedom and confidence.
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