FAR RIGHT WING CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE LOGIC

Recently this quote appeared in a Forum Topic on www.ksdp.org : NATIONAL FIREARM REGISTER - Bruce wrote; "Maybe more time needs to be spent practicing what Jesus actually taught and less time studying the old testament looking for excuses for bad behavior or blowing our own horns about being a Christian nation."

Recently a privately owned Christian changeable sign, located south of Independence on 75 Highway, which displays Bible scripture bore the following message;

"DO NOT PUT ANY TATTOO MARK UPON YOUR BODY - I AM THE LORD. LEV. 19:28"

Upon hearing about this sign my wife and I headed out to have a look. You see I am a 29 year professional of the Tattoo and Piercing industry and it was the general opinion of all that the sign was a direct attack against me since I am running for the District 12 seat. After taking a picture of the sign I left a note and one of my business cards behind the "D" in the word "Lord." The note explained that they had neglected to quote the first of the verse which states;

"DO NOT CUT NOR MARK THY BODY IN MORNING FOR THE DEAD."

I really dislike when people take verses out of context it completely changes the meaning of the verse! About one week after leaving the note I received the following email;

"In response to your note on the sign. The verse found in Leviticus 19:28 has two meanings the first pertains to cutting ones flesh for the dead, the other refers to printing any marks upon you as referred to in the King James version and in the NIV it says DO NOT CUT YOUR BODIES FOR THE DEAD OR PUT TATTOO MARKS ON YOURSELVES, I AM THE LORD. The last part of the verse is not talking about the dead but about the living."

That was all there was to the email.... unsigned and abrupt. Below is my answer to that email;

"Mr. & Mrs. Hardin,

First off let me say what a wonderful thing it is that you have taken your time and resources to try to bring the word of God to travelers on US 75.
I own a Christian operated business and will not do any tattoo that is against the word of God. These include but are not limited to the number 666 or 999, any racial tattoo such as swastikas, KKK, Black Power, etc. We also will not do any Satanic tattoos such as upside down crosses or pentagrams. When it comes to "In Memory" tattoos I will not do them until the person that they reference has been passed for 365 days. The Bible states that a mourning period is 1 year so I asked the person to mourn their loved one until that period has ended. I also will not tattoo or pierce anyone under 18 years of age nor under the influence of alcohol or drugs. I am extremely conscientious about the artwork I create because I know that I have to answer to my Maker someday.
I know by heart every scripture in the Bible that concerns tattooing and people always use that one verse in Leviticus to state that God is against tattooing when that is not true at all. You cannot take this verse out of context that is why I left you the rest of the verse. In order to understand this verse you must go all the way back to the first of Chapter 19. The Lord instructs Moses to relay his word to the ISRAELITES! The Lord was giving instruction in husbandry and hygiene to a multitude that was wandering in the desert. It is obvious by taking the chapter as a whole that the Lord was concerned with matters of preventing disease and increasing proper nutrition within his chosen people.
I personally like the Chapter for the lessons that can be learned from it but I am a strong believer that the Old Testament is a book of learning and that the New Testament is the Covenant of God with all mankind (not just the Israelites), that was established with the blood and ultimate sacrifice of our Savior on the cross. There are so many positive messages that the Bible has to give that will better serve the Lord. The New Testament is a Book of Hope and Salvation and is the book that I draw on the most.
I have a God given talent and he has, for my entire life, allowed me to use it in a good and proper manner. For over the past 29 years God has blessed me and my family by letting me use my talent to support my family and to testify to and educate over 1200 people per year. This is why I had no trouble in identifying myself as the person who left you the note. I know from where the blessings flow and me and my family Thank the Lord for them on a daily basis.
May God Keep and Bless You and Yours Always
-The GYPSY-
www.ablazable.com"

I have received no reply since sending the above response. What bothers me is that these folks have put forth their time and money, it is a very nice sign, to share their belief yet instead of putting up positive messages they used the sign to improperly quote a non relevant verse to attack my profession. How sad this is! It is so much easier to use the bible to attack and judge others than it is to use it to understand and live in peace with others.

That simple little verse displayed upon that highway sign may seem harmless upon its face but it is this type of petty snipping that the FAR RIGHT WING CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE will use to attack others using the word of God. We have saw examples of this used more and more over the past few years within our Government. A little snip here and a little snip there starts to blur the line between Church and State. That is a line that should be crisp and concise with no crossing of either. We are one Nation Under God but not JUST a Christian God. Lets not forget that the Christian God is also the same God of the Hebrew People and the Muslim People, we all spring from the same well. But I digress, here is the point that I am trying to make.....

When our lawmakers make the decisions that will ultimately affect us all part of that decision should include the principals of faith that they adhere to. However, the entire decision should never be made totally and completely based upon their faith, disregarding the foundations and principals of the Constitution and the beliefs and feelings of others.

If the FAR RIGHT WING CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE would spend more time thinking about their fellow human and less time trying to force their belief on others we might actually be able to accomplish more as a Nation and a people. The sign is the perfect example of this. If the people that placed the attack on the sign had spent as much effort finding out about me and my profession then they might have gained an understanding that may have let them put a more positive message on the board.

Hopefully that sign will yield sweeter fruit in the future.

James A. George - Candidate District #12 Kansas House of Representatives

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