New Tattoos

[chosenbyone]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

The tattooing is not even the issue now, Thad. And, believe me, I'm not picking on you, again I'm using this as a perfect example as to how we were taught and raised.

We take things that have no real scriptural edict, just tradition in most cases, and make them "hell splitting sins".
And, then, we take things that have DIRECT scriptural correlation, and say, "Well, they're just human imperfections".

That's our way of excusing our own actions.

It's perfectly accepted in our ranks, and on this forum, for someone to pass on a story that they heard from a friend that may, or may not be true, and we excuse it by saying, "Well, that's just how they are - human imperfection", etc.

I'm just tired of the double standard. If we're going to castigate people over what we perceive to be "sin", let's be consistent.

Remove the beam from our own eye before we try and get the toothpick out of our brother's eye.

Thank you for your posts today. You have voiced what many of us recognized was a problem when certain people have no issue with speaking ill and gossiping about others when they constantly have judged what people looked like on the outside.

I received an email last week on this very subject from a friend here on AFF where it mentioned the scripture in Matthew 2:34 (KJV): O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. All the gossip and backbiting found in some posts showed the sad reality that many have failed to develop as a Christian. They became stunted by their lack of knowledge of God's word and the traditions of men they have blindly followed. When the outward appearance becomes more important than the fruit of the Spirit we should be alarmed of where we stood with Christ.

22Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
24And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 (Amplified Bible)

Jesus was a man who laughed, which meant that He liked to have fun. We can be like Him and have fun…just not at the expense of our spiritual walk with Him.

Blessings to you...

chosen