Circumcision

[Joey16Vargas]

Hi everybody!

Well, the OT was a bit harsh when it comes to rules and laws, but still I struggle to understand why God would ask such a thing to seal His Covenant.

Yeah I know how it happened, it was a symbol that made them God's people. I've read that for ancient deals, ancient rites, and in those days seals/alliances were sealed with blood and flesh, Ok I get it, why did God choose to harm a baby's ***** in order to seal His pact?

It could have been a tattoo, an earring, a knife scar in the chest/back, etc

I've studied many wars and empires, so I'm used to read narratives about massacres, beheadings, mass rape, torture, burning, razing... And I have no problem reading things alike in the Bible (book of Joshua especially), but everytime circumcision is mentioned, I get a headache (ok, not a literal headache, but you get the idea)

And besides, God only ask men to be marked, He never demanded that women were to have a sign too.

What do you think is the reason God choose to mark men in his most personal area?

Thank you

 

[Andyindauk]

Hi Joey,

I think there might be a bit of Oedipus complex going on here. In actual fact there are real health benefits to circumcision. The foreskin is a breeding ground for the HPV virus which is why cervical cancer is much less prevalent in Jewish and Muslim communities. I wonder how many women's lives down the centuries have been saved because of it?

That said there are other laws that make me scratch my head. Take for example Leviticus 19:19 'you shall not sow your fields with two kinds of seed;' I can't imagine that God is sorely grieved if you eat carrots that have been grown in a lettuce field, so I'm guessing He's just having a bit of fun with the Israelites, trying to get across just how impossible it is fully comply with the law and so get into Heaven without any help from Jesus. Thank God for Jesus!!

 

[Gregoryp]

I think the sowing of the seeds could also be a metaphor, for example, if your a born again christian man, do not marry a non believer or a muslim woman.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Hi everybody!

Well, the OT was a bit harsh when it comes to rules and laws, but still I struggle to understand why God would ask such a thing to seal His Covenant.

Yeah I know how it happened, it was a symbol that made them God's people. I've read that for ancient deals, ancient rites, and in those days seals/alliances were sealed with blood and flesh, Ok I get it, why did God choose to harm a baby's ***** in order to seal His pact?

It could have been a tattoo, an earring, a knife scar in the chest/back, etc

I've studied many wars and empires, so I'm used to read narratives about massacres, beheadings, mass rape, torture, burning, razing... And I have no problem reading things alike in the Bible (book of Joshua especially), but everytime circumcision is mentioned, I get a headache (ok, not a literal headache, but you get the idea)

And besides, God only ask men to be marked, He never demanded that women were to have a sign too.

What do you think is the reason God choose to mark men in his most personal area?

Thank you

It's symbolic of casting away the "Old Man" and living in the NEW life under God. Circumcision in the O.T. is what Baptism is in the new - symbolic of Dying to SELF and being raised in newness of life in Christ.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

It's symbolic of casting away the "Old Man" and living in the NEW life under God. Circumcision in the O.T. is what Baptism is in the new - symbolic of Dying to SELF and being raised in newness of life in Christ. Nowadays, it's all but automatic when male children are born. They're circumcised unless specifically instructed not to. SO in 2021 it's just a hygienic improvement.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

Hi everybody!

Well, the OT was a bit harsh when it comes to rules and laws, but still I struggle to understand why God would ask such a thing to seal His Covenant.

Yeah I know how it happened, it was a symbol that made them God's people. I've read that for ancient deals, ancient rites, and in those days seals/alliances were sealed with blood and flesh, Ok I get it, why did God choose to harm a baby's ***** in order to seal His pact?

It could have been a tattoo, an earring, a knife scar in the chest/back, etc

I've studied many wars and empires, so I'm used to read narratives about massacres, beheadings, mass rape, torture, burning, razing... And I have no problem reading things alike in the Bible (book of Joshua especially), but everytime circumcision is mentioned, I get a headache (ok, not a literal headache, but you get the idea)

And besides, God only ask men to be marked, He never demanded that women were to have a sign too.

What do you think is the reason God choose to mark men in his most personal area?

Thank you

LOL Someone above mentioned health benefits....and they are right....But Being named Gods People is something to brag about....Like the woman flaunting her new engagement ring to her friends...Victory, Love, etc....When the Jews want to brag that they are the Chosen People....Do you think they would flaunt their uh ring? The mark placed where it was would stop the bragging in its tracks....Yet it was a valid mark.

 

[Joey16Vargas]

It's symbolic of casting away the "Old Man" and living in the NEW life under God. Circumcision in the O.T. is what Baptism is in the new - symbolic of Dying to SELF and being raised in newness of life in Christ.

So then why weren't women “baptised”?

 

[Joey16Vargas]

LOL Someone above mentioned health benefits....and they are right....But Being named Gods People is something to brag about....Like the woman flaunting her new engagement ring to her friends...Victory, Love, etc....When the Jews want to brag that they are the Chosen People....Do you think they would flaunt their uh ring? The mark placed where it was would stop the bragging in its tracks....Yet it was a valid mark.

Circumcision has none of the health benefits pro-circumcision people claim

 

[Joey16Vargas]

Hi Joey,

I think there might be a bit of Oedipus complex going on here. In actual fact there are real health benefits to circumcision. The foreskin is a breeding ground for the HPV virus which is why cervical cancer is much less prevalent in Jewish and Muslim communities. I wonder how many women's lives down the centuries have been saved because of it?

That said there are other laws that make me scratch my head. Take for example Leviticus 19:19 'you shall not sow your fields with two kinds of seed;' I can't imagine that God is sorely grieved if you eat carrots that have been grown in a lettuce field, so I'm guessing He's just having a bit of fun with the Israelites, trying to get across just how impossible it is fully comply with the law and so get into Heaven without any help from Jesus. Thank God for Jesus!!

Those supposed health benefits are false. So why is the Philippines (90% of men circumcised) the fastest HIV growing country in Asia, but in Japan (<1% of men circumcised) the HIV is practically non-existant?
In my country, 95% of men are intact, and the most common reason of death in women is breast cancer. People claim it helps men with UTIs, but again here women get UTIs more often than men.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

So then why weren't women “baptised”?

Ask HIM. He promised WISDOM for anybody who wants it Single Mindedly.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

Ask HIM. He promised WISDOM for anybody who wants it Single Mindedly.

The bible does not say that women were not baptized....Just like the sermon on the mount where Jesus fed 5000 men the fish and loaves....There were women there too For some reason though it's only the men that are mentioned