Circumcision, A Sensitive Subject

I realize that circumcision is a very sensitive subject. But, I get so angry when I hear about little girls being circumcised in the religion that is Islam. Circumcision is ONLY for males. Let's look at what the BIBLE says about the subject:

According to a Quickverse search, circumcise/circumcision appear 87 times in 74 verses. And the word "foreskin" only appears eleven times in eleven verses.

The first occurrence is found in the story of Abraham. Circumcision of the foreskin of the males of Genesis 17 was to be a sign of the Covenant between God and the Jews. Abraham was 99 years old, his son Ishmael was thirteen years old, and all the males in Abraham's entourage---male servants, male shepherds, even male slaves bought with money were circumcised that day. And God ordered that from then on, a male baby was to be circumcised on the eighth day. Uncircumcised males were to be cut off from his people, God said, because "he has broken My Covenant." One year later, the Son of the Promise, Isaac, was circumcised on the eighth day.

Moses' wife, Ziporrah, called her husband "a bridegroom of blood" when she had to use a flint to cut off the foreskin of her son in Exodus 4:25. Moses had neglected this duty, and almost died for it. God required this to be done before Moses could appear before Pharoah in Egypt to let God's People GO ! Zipporah appears in the Cecile B. DeMille version of the Exodus, but in the BIBLE, we don't see Zipporah again until her father, Jethro visits Moses AFTER the Exodus and tries to return Zipporah and give Moses advice on delegating responsibilities. Moses respected his father-in-law. So, in my opinion, God used this test to weed out the weaker link, Zipporah, on their way to Egypt.

King Saul was probably hoping that the bride price of one-hundred foreskins would get David killed. But, David killed 200 Philistines in battle all by himself, and his buddies contributed the enemy they had killed. Wouldn't you like to see the assembly line for that? This is a bride price that David never lets his first wife forget. Maybe she had some beaten gold foreskins made into a necklace to commemorate the event?

Deuteronomy 10:16 says to "Circumcise then your heart, and stiffen your neck no more." And again in Deuteronomy 30:6 we read: "The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul in order that you may LIVE!" (emphasis mine)

The book of Romans has the most New Testament references as the early church battles with following the Law to the letter, and grafting in the Christian Gentiles. Paul points out that circumcision was an OUTWARD SIGN, never a means of salvation. Sadly, there will be a lot of circumcised men in Hell forever.

Again, I can't emphasize enough, that circumcision was only for MALES. Never females. Never. Ever. Never. The brutal mutilation of females in Islam is cruel, based on superstition, and murder, as many little girls die each year when unsanitary conditions and unsanitary tools are used on them. The practice should be condemned world wide.

Circumcision in the Bible, continued…

Jeremiah 9:25 is the last occurrence on the Old Testament. Lets get a running start from verse 24:

“…But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindess, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “that I will punish all who are circumcised and yet uncircumcised---Egypt, Judah, and Edom, and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.”

The outward sign of circumcision is nothing without the inward spiritual.

The first circumcision in the New Testament is baby John on the eighth day, Luke 1:59. Baby JESUS is the next mention in Luke 2:21.

Jesus discusses His reasons for healing on the Sabbath and compares it to circumcising on the Sabbath in John 7:22 and 23.

Dealing with uncircumcised new Christians, and eating with uncircumcised Gentiles was a shock to the systems of the Jews as seen in the book of Acts 10:45 and 11:2. The Apostle Peter had to relate the vision and direct instructions he had received from God as uncircumcised Gentiles are grafted into Christianity. Israel rejected their Messiah, so the dispensation of Israel is set aside, and the Church Age begins. There are seven years left of the dispensation of Israel, so God will not only finish it, but set in place one thousand years of perfection when Jesus comes back and rules, and sets everything right.

The Pharisees thought that circumcision and keeping the Law was necessary for salvation, but the apostles fight this notion throughout the rest of Acts and into the Church Age. Paul circumcises Timothy because it was a distraction from giving the Gospel.

Circumcision in the New Testament book of Romans:

2:25 For indeed circumcision is of value, if you practice the Law, but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

2:26,27,28,29 and in the very next chapter:

3:1- Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar…

Romans 3:30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.

(And Abraham’s circumcision is explained in great detail in the very next chapter of Romans 4 and we see what our attitude as Christians should be.)

Abraham believed in God while uncircumcised, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Salvation is a free gift. Paul puts it so well. Please read Romans 4.

To the Corithians, Paul says: “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matter is keeping the commandments of God.

That’s right, as Christians, we are saved by faith in the work of Jesus on the Cross, and only by faith in that same Jesus on a daily, hourly basis, can we keep His instructions.

Paul deals with the subject in the book of Galations, one of the earliest letters he wrote, and which was circulated and read and made a part of the New Testament cannon of Scripture. Galations 2:3, 7, 8, 9, and 12 and in Galations 5:2, 3, 6, and 11. And in Galations 6:12, 13, 15 and in Colossians and Philippians.

Let me say again, circumcision in the New Testament was only for males, and usually performed the eighth day as the Old Testament commanded. It was NEVER a source of salvation. It was a sign, a teaching tool. After Jesus, the Perfect Jew, came and fulfilled the Law completely, and perfectly, and died on the Cross and was raised on the third day, just as He promised, the practice of circumcision was not required among the new Christians who were Gentiles. God came down pretty hard on any still confused by 70 AD when Jerusalem fell to the Romans. Christianity is about putting our faith in Jesus as the Savior, the only Perfect Person, who came, just as He promised throughout the Old Testament that He would. And we believe Jesus is coming back, just as He Promised.

Circumcision today on males has been practiced in the USA for over one hundred years as a merely hygienic practice. My father, my brothers, my husband, my sons are all circumcised. I have heard that the practice is falling out of style among the medical community. That is sad. Because I believe it is cleaner, and reduces infection in the wives when their husbands are circumcised.

I can NOT say it enough. Circumcision is only to be performed on males. It is never for females. Period.

Colossians 3:9-17 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him---a renewal in which there is NO distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, Christ is all, and in all. And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.