The Case against Modern Circumcision
Well, this is a topic I am researching as we approach the feast of tabernacles. We could leave it there that Paul instructed us not to pursue circumcision for spiritual conversion, so lets provide some basis for why Paul would have said such. My paper on the topic will have a lot more details but just to highlight the reasons why circumcision is not required of Christian converts and even Israelites from a spiritual perspective.
1. The act of circumcision was a covenant God gave to Abraham and repeated under the old covenant (Sinai) with Israel. The everlasting purpose of this covenant was fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
2. The new covenant with Christ clearly supersedes all other covenants that existed before as outlined in Hebrews 8 and a few other chapters in Hebrews. This means you can’t be following the new covenant and going after an old covenant at the same time. One would negate the other.
3. The experience of the Jews in Acts 10:44-46 clearly demonstrate that the Gentiles had the spirit given to them without any circumcision being done to them. This by itself is one clear demonstration by God of this evolution. Note that this spirit is from God himself, not some kind of Angel.
4. The Bible clearly says that physical circumcision alone will not cut it. See Jeremiah 9:24-26. If you notice these nations would have been exposed to both Israel and Ishmael during those times.
5. The new physical symbol of conversion is Baptism as Peter clearly states in Acts 2:38. In fact the giving of God’s Spirit is the new circumcision as this is the identifying mark of those whom are part of God’s community.
6. Able and many others before Abraham, whom will be part of God’s Kingdom were not required to be circumcised. In fact there is no evidence that Noah and his sons were circumcised and they will be in the Kingdom of God. Check out Hebrews 11 for more details.
Many would argue that Circumcision has good health benefits and its fine if someone circumcise for those reasons. The point is that circumcision does require spilling of blood in the act of a covenant. Now Jesus has spilled his blood as the representation of the new covenant and therefore supersedes any requirement to have that physical covenant in the flesh.
There are a lot of scriptures in both old and new testament that supports the view that circumcision goes against the new covenant totally.
The lingering question is this. What about the God’s instruction that it would be an everlasting covenant? I will answer this fully in my paper but to clarify here; do you think any spirit being will be sporting a circumcision in the kingdom of god?
Hugh7 2:39 am on August 18, 2010 Permalink |
It is simply not true that “circumcision has health benefits”. All the diseases it is supposed to be good for are either rare, readily prevented or treated by other means, reduced by some trivial amount, or not prevented by circumcision at all. Circumcision has definite detriments and health risks, up to and including death. The best that can be said for it is that it absolutely prevents all foreskin diseases, but a corresponding thing can be said for any other part of the body. To have is to risk, and men who still have their foreskins wouldn’t easily give them up. There is also a human rights issue in cutting normal, healthy, functional, non-renewable tissue off a non-consenting person, who may have another opinion on the matter when he is old enough.
A Jewish Male Opposing Circumcision 3:36 am on August 5, 2011 Permalink |
……. There is a movement of Jews who are questioning circumcision, and working to end this abuse of children. The movement ranges from the Orthodox to the secular, and includes mothers, fathers, scholars, historians, medical professionals, activists, and intellectuals.
Jewish Groups for Genital Integrity
Jews Against Circumcision http://www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/
Brit Shalom Celebrants by Mark D. Reiss, M.D. http://www.circumstitions.com/Jewish-shalom.html
Questioning Circumcision: A Jewish Perspective by Ron Goldman, Ph.D. http://www.jewishcircumcision.org
The Current Judaic Movement to End Circumcision: Part 1
http://intactnews.org/node/105/1311886372/jewish-voices-current-judaic-movement-end-circumcision-part-1
The Kindest Un-Cut Feminism, Judaism, and My Son’s Foreskin by Professor Michael S. Kimmel
http://www.cirp.org/pages/cultural/kimmel1/
Jewish Intactivist Miriam Pollack has some great commentary on Foreskin Man in this recent interview.
http://www.beyondthebris.com/2011/07/defying-convention-interview-with_27.html
Jews Speak Out in Favor of Banning Circumcision on Minors
http://intactnews.org/node/103/1311885181/jews-speak-out-favor-banning-circumcision-minors ……………