by james n. hall
Self Teaching Publications
West Jordan, Utah
United States of America
(c) copyright James Norman Hall 06/08/99 all rights are reserved for the purpose of the free distribution of this paper entitled The Hidden Atonement a commentary on circumcision. It can be freely copied to promote the understanding required to protect the infants from unnecessary pain and scaring both emotional and physical caused by circumcision in any degree. If the information in this paper is used to prevent elective concision upon anyone without being fully informed then the intent of the copyright is to be declared in the public domain and can be copied in whole. If the information in this paper is altered or changed to the intent to contribute to the harm of little children or infants then the copyright will disallow free distribution through any medium of communication whatsoever and all protection afforded by copyright law will be claimed and reserved. James Norman Hall will hold the first and original version of this paper and no other copy will be valid if changed from the original. This paper may not be copied in part or fragment or rearranged with the intent or purpose to destroy its original version. The original version can be revised by the author and all changes will be specified as changes by James Norman Hall for Self Teaching Publications.
GENESIS 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Imagine the condition of Adam and Eve before and after the fall. Do you imagine that Adam in paradisiacal glory is circumcised or complete? If you see him whole and complete then this paper will be easy for you to understand: if in your minds eye you can see Adam as a new born child before his God the subject of this paper will be easy to accept. But if you must see Adam in a "circumcised" or concised state as is typical of most men in the United States of America then this paper will be very troubling!
Man is counseled to seek perfection of both the body and the spirit.
Indeed the body is to be viewed as sacred in the eternal perspective. Yet
for most of us the example of a perfect body will only be found with our
first parents in the Garden of Eden. Our first parents were whole and pure
and were not ashamed to stand before God naked. It would seem only appropriate
that to stand before God naked one would like to be as He was first created.
"Circumcision" or concision is alien to the creation and Man was complete
and whole in the beginning.
Perhaps the doubter will say "circumcision" is needed in this fallen
world. Yet has not all things become new in Christ and this world is changed
with the Good News of the Gospel. Man becomes new creatures in Christ as
our earth is to be changed to a heaven. Therefore the Good News is that
this world in the due time of the Lord will be restored and refreshed as
it was in the Garden of Eden. The doubter will then say that "circumcision"
or concision will then be discontinued in the Newness of the Earth when
all things will be perfected where nothing is unclean.
Meanwhile in this "fallen world" six out of seven baby boys are NOT altered by some form of painful concision commonly referred to as "circumcision". The truly concerned will say perhaps we need to look at the subject of circumcision and concision again. Maybe something has been overlooked? How can the one in seven be prepared for the conditions to come?
Most concision is done on the infants. Most of these will be in the United States of America and in Israel. The African nations tend to perform "circumcision" upon children. If an adult male has been able to survive the forces to concise, it is most probable he will continue complete the rest of his life. If concision were to be performed forcibly on an adult male without his consent and permission, a violation of human rights and dignity would be claimed! Yet millions of infants must bear a very painful concision with complete helplessness with no consent. The body is a temples and this is so taught in the BIBLE; yet some sensitive young men discover later in life that their liberty in Christ was abridged and made void in this matter as their body was altered from the original design of God. These same young men have a great difficulty in thinking about this subject clearly due to the "bubble of denial" which attends "circumcision" or concision. The denial syndrome is a greater concern than the physical alteration as it prevents EFFECTIVE thinking and produces AFFECTED thinking!
Perhaps you say God commanded this! But where is your proof? In the Bible? IF so, what do the scriptures really say? Let us read a few scriptures and find out the truth! Let us stand naked before God and see if we will be not ashamed. Let us be prepared for the truth to enlighten our understanding of this dark and hidden subject.
What follows is a list of scriptures concerning circumcision and concision along with some hopefully helpful commentary on the less common passages and a discussion of the apparent omissions in the standard BIBLE. Some allusion to historical reference is necessary to shed light on this hidden topic of the circumcision or concision of infants. Since there cannot be found any modern revelation or proclamations concerning infant "circumcision" other than what is in BIBLE will be the final judgment on the subject for the Christian. Therefor let us look again into the BIBLE and see what we can see.
Circumcision is a powerful tradition and is claimed to be the parents prerogative. We shall see that the parents can be victims of this powerful tradition also. The medical community does not want to exert the same force to stop what they started for fear of the possible law suits that would insue. Albeit there are some very outspoken doctors and nurses now advocating against concision of infants. As will be discovered in the scriptures that follow, the spirit of circumcision will never die, so when the law of circumcision is completed it refers to the practice of "circumcision" or the tradition of concision being completed in Christ.
But some will say that Christ himself was circumcised. Oh yes, this is true but what ignorance is expressed to defy the truth! Why would the Son of God need circumcision but to foretaste the pain that would come on the cross for his own experience and to do away with this tradition by THIS LAST TRUE CIRCUMCISION.
When Christ was circumcised at eight days old he suffered the pains of all the baby boys who ever were circumcised and who will be circumcised. He undoubtedly suffered also the loss of blood perhaps his first blood loss. Considering Who His Father is, perhaps more than blood was lost in this ritual. If Jesus did not need baptism, then he did not need to be circumcised either. Baptism predates Christ and was the true gate to salvation. Circumcision is not the gate to salvation as the contemporary Jew surmised and insisted.
Note:
THE PRACTICE OF CIRCUMCISION IS DONE AWAY IN CHRIST. See Colossians 2:11 and Luke 2: 21. The reason the gospel of Luke is the only direct information on the circumcision of Jesus is because of the extreme importance this knowledge is to the Gentile who needed to know that the baby Jesus was circumcised for all the children that ever were, or ever are, or ever will be. The Jews believe that to die without circumcision was and is damnation. Did not the Son of God suffer also with this ritual. This crucial event liberated all baby ever more. This should be grand news for the Gentiles and to six sevenths of the worlds males to receive this greater understanding through Christ. Perhaps some of the northern countries of Europe who never concise babies would rejoice to receive missionaries who can show them the scriptures to support their values in protecting their babies from the concision tradition.
May it be remembered that the First Christians knew this doctrine well.
Luke 2:21
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
These are the first of many drops of precious blood that Jesus shed in behalf of others! By this event was the circumcision made without hands for all children born to this earth forever. Be assured Christ did not need circumcision except to do away with this tradition of the "fathers". (Colossians 2: 8.) Remember His Father gave Him to have life in Himself.
Note also that Jesus was named BEFORE he was conceived. This tradition of circumcision forbade the naming of children before they were made clean by circumcision. Why give a name to the unclean. Children not circumcised were considered damned by the legalistic Jews.
Then Paul's advice concerning circumcision is as valid today EVEN AS IN DAYS OF OLD. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Galatians 5:2
Colossians 2:11
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Circumcision cast a dark shadow on children by supposing before they even get started in life they are unclean until surgery.
The original intent of circumcision appears to be to take the stigma off of children considered born unclean, and that babies should be received as pure and whole. Apparently circumcision was started to stop a tradition that evalued little children unclean or tainted. This rite should continue till Christ should finish his work or perhaps till children were evalued properly. Millions of infants have bought respect from their parents by suffering the pains of a dire circumcision themselves. But Christ has suffered for all and children are born pure free from taint or uncleanness -- by the atonement's.
As only one seventh of the worlds male children are "circumcised" or concised in one fashion or another, when we send our missionaries to the world what example do they give on keeping the commandments to the other six sevenths of the worlds children if they are not "whole". Would leaving the babies whole hinder the work of the Lord or does concising the missionary cause concern in countries where this form of surgery is seen as unnecessary and a violation of human rights.
Now how did circumcision get started in the first place? Also will circumcision ever stop? It will be shown in the scriptures that the spirit of circumcision will never end and it is an eternal principle pointing to the sacrifice of Christ. But what is important here to reconsider is the practice of circumcision not the principle of circumcision. Will Christ return to find that this tribal ritual is still going strong or will he find that the advice He has placed in the scriptures has ended concision? Do you think that He wants to see some of His followers concised and some complete? He Christ said "except ye are one ye are not mine". Which way will Christ choose to make all one? Will the six sevenths be concised? or Will the one seventh be left complete? What do you think? Given this then, how this rite started is in itself not important. What really is important is how to stop the practice of this ritual. But to understand the beginnings will be the first steps to its control and cessation, before God stops it in the millennium. First recorded histories and evidence indicates it was first done to humiliate captives of war. The hair of their heads and body was shaved and the males were "circumcised" to indicate their vanquished state. It was a token of servitude and obeisance. Perhaps it was borrowed from these dubious beginnings to represent an obedient and compliant attitude toward duty and their Masters. Also scarifying the body and marking it with tattoos is an ancient practice of the primitive man to mark their tribal identity. So is concision a practice of the primitive man. It was thought also that it liberated the reproductive powers like pruning a tree to cause it to bear larger selected fruit. Actually it interferes with the natural pleasure dynamics of a natural sex act bringing a constant feeling of partially satisfied sex drive. This can cause a state of infidelity to the marriage. This less than natural sex causes an overcompensating drive that resulted in increased sex activity and more children. To Kings who wanted more soldiers this was important to number national defense. Perhaps this overcompensation to satisfy the attenuated sexual feelings is an upside because of the more numerous offspring that results; but, the downside is that there was a greater chance for men to leave the wife of their youth to seek after the younger woman. See Malachi 2:14 "Yet ye say wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant." Is that the covenant of circumcision referred to here? At least it was the token of that covenant as will be soon discovered.
In the United States of America the divorce rate is one of the highest in the world. Also in the United States of America is one of the highest concision rates in the world. Also the greatest amount of (STD) Sexually Transmitted Diseases coexist with universal concision in the United States of America. And why is there such a high abortion rate in American? Is something wrong here? Is there a connection? Has nature been unbalanced!
In the millennium the children will not be concised as all the commandments of God are going to be kept and the body will be renewed. Why do we deprive children of their due inheritance now? God made us complete. The question is why did Bible start the scaring of the body in this fashion? Can we not learn to do His will without concision?
Now without diminishing the rights of the parents, the rights of the infant must be defended in concert with the parents rights to achieve the overall best for both family and village and nation. With this in mind the investigation can begin into the scriptural beginnings and endings of this practice of circumcision which was termed concision by Paul after Christ finished his work and ended circumcision of the flesh.
OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES
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GENESIS 17:10
10 This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
Notable here and hereafter is the absence of description and procedure as to the exact meaning of the word CIRCUMCISE. In Latin the word means literally "around/about cut". There is no other explanatory or elucidation on the exact form this surgical operation should proceed in the cut. How much should be cut and exactly where to cut other than the general vicinity of the foreskin is not specified in this scripture and later scriptures other than the specification of eight days for the infant. Perhaps eight days really signified eight years old for the temporal point of accountability for children.
(Modern Jews term circumcision as BRIS or something like that and the exact meaning is not known as to the original meaning. It has certainly changed through the centuries.) Perhaps it meant "open".
Below is the token of the covenant between Noah and the generations that followed. This token was the bow of the rainbow. Apparently circumcision was intended in someway to mimic this token as it was its precursor. Tokens were a means of fixing in memory a covenant and is given to the parties as a memorial of the contract it signifies. The covenant or token of the circumcision is to commemorate the greater covenant that Abraham received of becoming a Father of many nations and his children will be as the sands of the seas and the stars of the heavens.
Genesis 9:12
12 And God said, This [is] the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that [is] with you, for perpetual generations:
Genesis 9:13
13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
Genesis 9:17
17 And God said unto Noah, This [is] the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that [is] upon the earth.
Genesis 17:11
11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
GENESIS 17:12
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which [is] not of thy seed.
Now let us be concerned with the exceptions here. Nothing is specified in the five Books of Moses here for dealing with the special situations that come in life such as some babies with birth defects or born without foreskins and also some children in some families are susceptible to bleeding and infection. In Jewish history the exception to circumcision is tolerated. That is if there has been two prior deaths of brothers caused from circumcision then the third son was exempted from this token. Nevertheless nothing in the available scriptures so specify such exception. If circumcision is fatal then the parents of baby boys so susceptible are given no scriptural relief.
The universal requirement of circumcision also prevented the curiosity concerning the uncircumcised to be minimized. The youthful boy circumcised might be alarmed at the difference and question the alteration to his body. If anything is to be learned from circumcision is that the circumcised feel need to circumcise others. The "complete" man would prove the loss.
Note how customary it has become to refer to the whole and complete male as uncircumcised rather than specifying him intact and complete. Let us repeat the last paragraph again with this change.
The universal requirement of circumcision also prevented the curiosity concerning the complete and whole to be minimized. The youthful boy circumcised might be alarmed at the difference and question the alteration to his body. If anything is to be learned from circumcision is that the circumcised feel need to circumcise others. The complete and whole man would prove the loss.
GENESIS 17:13
13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
Slaves and Hirelings must be circumcised also to maintain no exceptions. Did these also participate in the Promises? Probably not as Abraham later sent some of his own children away so that they would not interfere with the chosen Isaac's inheritance. Yet this bears up the custom that the ancients use to shave and circumcise the slaves and captives for obeisance.
What is meant here by the word 'everlasting' as Acts chapter 15 seems to puts an end to an everlasting covenant. The circumcision of Christ makes this scripture true. The circumcision of Christ provides a fulfillment of this covenant token for all male children in every age by the description of Paul in Colossians 2:11.
Colossians 2:11
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
GENESIS 17:14
14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
The ancient Jews took this passage to mean that damnation is the result of not being circumcised. Some historical records indicate that infants that died before circumcision were some times circumcised in death as a vicarious work that in some way would give hope to the parents that the infant would be saved. All of this is dependent upon the accuracy of the biblical translation of any passages relating to this rite. There was an obsession with this rite which continued long after the meaning of the covenant that Abraham made with God that this token was intended to memorialize. Note: baptism is the gate to salvation and circumcision is not that gate. Strict measures for the one refusing this rite or token. You would lose the association of your family and village. In Christ time to associate with a Gentile was a great sin and many of the contacts Jesus had with the Gentiles were criticize by the local Jewish leadership. Today if one is not "circumcised" a person will be cut off from his family in a social manner.
GENESIS 17:23
23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
The full pattern of circumcision in the Bible is not available to us and was either lost or never was? If it exists or did exist. In the meanwhile the scriptures will be taken at face value and evaluated accordingly.
GENESIS 17:24
24 And Abraham [was] ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
Ninety Nine years old may be really the only good time to be circumcised, if circumcision is necessary. At least Abraham lived a very full and healthy life for ninety nine years without this event. Ishmael was born from a father who was not circumcised. Suppose for example that one man in a thousand has problems which would necessitate surgery. Another way to look at this is nine hundred and ninety nine men would have no problem at all. How shall we make our decisions by exception or by the norm.
Also here is the only clue in the scriptures as to the exact procedure and extent. The word "in" is the specification we have. According to history the circumcision that was performed by the ancient Hebrew was called MILAH and it was essentially cutting only the tip of the foreskin off leaving a great amount of the foreskin remaining in some ways in an arc to maybe symbolize the arc of the rainbow of Noah's covenant. Thus we see the phrase "circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin" has meaning. It does not specify circumcise OFF the flesh of his foreskin as it is mimicked today by some of the physicians who advocate concision for so called reasons which vary from year to year and is retracted from year to year. Today the medical profession wants to amputate the foreskin as was done sometime in the year 140 A.D. according to some historians and in one reference in the Bible here quoted.
Who circumcised Abraham? Did he do it to himself or was there a local practitioner of this art? Perhaps this did not start then with Abraham and the full story is not told. The Egyptian also circumcised before Abraham? This proves this rite predates the scriptural account of circumcision. Or Abraham circumcised himself.
Who came to do all this surgery or cutting? Did they do it to themselves? Many questions arise when this subject is seriously researched.
If this is true then it is to be admired that Abraham was circumcised as some tribes of the past required the circumcision for those who were not of noble birth. Also there is an infinite variation to the kind and form of circumcision or scaring from total removal of the foreskin to cuts and mashing of the foreskin to just a decorative cut or a symbolic prick of a needle to symbolize a sacrifice with a drop of blood.
No one know the type of "circumcision" that was done in the original case. Some history shows that split wood was lashed together longitudinally to cause the skin to slough off and die away. Also some tribes cut longitudinally to prevent the fold of the skin. Anyway the forms can be infinite and inventive. One thing is for sure very few men or boys "circumcise" or concise themselves.
Joshua 5:2
2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
Here is proof positive that circumcision was not done for hygiene reasons as Joshua is here to remedy the lack of compliance with this tradition by introducing an extreme measure of this ritual. Here the true reason is revealed as the distinguishing mark of the "Soldier of God" or Israel.
This maximum form of circumcision was called PERIAH and is the deep second cut typical of the American physician's free hand method in the beginning of this century. This is an extreme measure and is not typical of the Hebrew circumcision but in this scripture it was a day of accounting and a numbering of Israel for war and a test given for loyalty in this reformation. Moses neglected to have the people circumcised! Since the minimal MILAH was the predominant style of circumcision hygiene is not the reason for ancient circumcision as a great deal of the organ of the prepuce was left. The word organ is used here as there is many thousands of nerve endings in the prepuce more than just mere skin. The minimal form of Circumcision of MILAH made it possible to circumcise babies easily as the foreskin in infants remains fused to the glans until 3 to 4 years old and in some case till puberty. This is natures way of protecting the infants delicate tissues from infections and other ailments such as rashes and burns from urine etc. MILAH may explains how Abraham survives circumcision at 99 years old.
Joshua 5:3
3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
The typical Israelite with a MILAH circumcision had a great deal of foreskin remaining in order for the deep extensive cut of PERIAH to be done on some of the already circumcised men. The scriptures indicate that the Israelites remained "complete" for forty years before Josuah did this extreme measure which has the punitive tone necessary for discipline purposes. see Joshua 5:4-6. Had not Moses been rejected with the doctrine in the first tables brought down from the mountain?
GENESIS 17:25
25 And Ishmael his son [was] thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
The Moslem people still circumcise in some fashion at about 13 years old. This has caused some complications to these young men as to the rude methods and there are known fatalities as the results. But the advantages to the child of being circumcised later till the age of puberty is found in the benefits of the protective foreskin to prevents infections in little ones needing diapers. But when puberty is near so is this fearsome ritual to face. It is used to test bravery and dedication to their God as Joshua challenged the desert camp.
GENESIS 17:26
26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.
Later Ishmael is sent into the desert with his mother to nearly die after being rejected by his father for Sarah's sake. Why was Ishmael circumcised only to be sent away? We do not have enough scriptures to make a judgment!
Again too little is known concerning how and why all this cutting was done. We lack the exact pattern and can only surmise. We will assume that the Jewish tradition may have been the pattern. This original pattern is called MILAH.
Circumcising in the MILAH fashion SEEMS more acceptable than the extreme means done today and in the time of Josuah. The Jews in the cold country of Russia, where the foreskin helps prevent freezing of the penis, only prick the foreskin with a needle to draw a drop of blood to symbolically represent the token of the covenant. This practical approach seems to have taken a more spiritual interpretation of these scriptures. Also it fulfills in later scriptures the circumcision of the heart reference in Leviticus and Deuteronomy below quoted.
Leviticus 12:3
3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
Deuteronomy 10:16
16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.
Perhaps God test our hearts to see what we will do in the face of difficulties. Did not God first test Abraham with the dire commands but later provided the Ram in the thicket for the sacrifice. Perhaps the wicked Indians tried to literally circumcise the heart as history of the Central American Indians demonstrate human sacrifice to their Gods by the removal of the beating heart as a tribute to God! The letter of the law killeth and the the spirit of the law giveth life. Why was this commandment found in Deuteronomy taken spiritually and the scripture in Genesis 17:11 taken literally?
Deuteronomy 30:6
6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Here is a hint of the true meaning of circumcision and a prophecy of the fulfillment of the law the circumcision of Christ. This points to the LAST TRUE CIRCUMCISION. Try substituting "open thine heart" above.
GENESIS 17:27
27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.
No exceptions except women and the woman child is noted here. If the rite of circumcision was or was not intended for health or hygiene perhaps baby girls could have been included in some fashion. Were the strangers here taught the mysteries of the kingdom or were they just told that circumcision was necessary procedure for citizenship with the covenant people so they could be spectators in the promises to Abraham and Isaac? Modern studies on circumcision have proved one thing for sure. . . .
Circumcision produces a compulsion to Circumcise.
GENESIS 21:4
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
Why infant circumcision? The Egyptians waited till puberty and this was the custom of many of the circumcising tribes. Perhaps the difficulties of trying to convince a teenager to endure circumcision caused this change. Or if left till adulthood the rebellion would be too great and many would forgo. The eight days really meant eight years anyway why not wait till eight years and not put infants to a hazardous cutting of the flesh. Maybe this was to foreshadow Christ experience and circumcision? Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised. Anyway this is another proof that circumcision was not done for hygiene as the foreskin is fused in the infant and there is no need to wash the infant till puberty's onset.
Abraham had parental rights in those days to offer his son in sacrifice as later verses portray. Also Isaac had infant rights to be protected from harm. Yet Abraham twice took the knife to his son. It would be wonderful to see the things that Abraham saw and if the exact form of the circumcision that was performed on Isaac were known today we would be greatly surprise as to exactly how Abraham circumcised Isaac. The historians say the total instrument of cutting was a flint stone that was flaked to a razor glass like edge. ( There are some references to using a flat piece of wood with a split for the skin ). If this was all the means that was used then MILAH form was all that was done and the end of the foreskin was nipped and the damage was minimal and symbolic. Without the pattern revealed to Abraham we can only surmise. Yet we today thinking we are some kind of Hebrew, try to mimic these early beginnings with surgery. Maybe we should stop infant circumcision and think all this over again. Remember that children are whole and pure. Leave this ancient practice to the ancients who knew what they were doing and had received the commandment and all the preparatory information and specifications.
Doctors should be dedicated to "DO NO HARM" and help the Christian to keep all the commandments and one of the commandments is to not circumcise anymore the whole! Find the research and honesty to present the truth to the new married families that need this information and get out of the denial syndrome. In sudden loss situations the stages of recovery are passed through in trauma resolution. First denial and defense. Second frustration and anger. Third damage control and salvaging. Forth truth and understanding. Fifth peace and prevention. Circumcision is a loss and most persons never get through the denial stage. That includes Doctors. Foreskins should not be removed or retracted in infants. Fear of the anger and frustration that is the second stage of loss resolution keeps the truth hidden as there is the possibility of legal action. But a truly informed person can assuage the anger and pass on to the fifth stage which will bring peace and prevention.
DOCTORS INVENT A MEANS OF KEEPING THE INFANTS WHOLE AND COMPLETE!
Or admit your mistakes. Is circumcision really necessary? Should parent
rights and child rights be considered before this tradition is exposed
as simply elective and damaging to society and the normal pure helpless
child who relies on those to whom they are in keeping to protect them.
Be men and face the mistakes of the past and stop them with courage!
Was every Jew happy to circumcise his children? No! A case in point is Moses who would not circumcise a son. This brought a threat against the life of Moses who was quite knowledgeable of the gospel and tried to present the higher second commandments which the tribes of Israel rejected. So came the lesser law of the first preparatory commandments. But Moses knew great things beyond his day.
Moses was not the originator of circumcision. It appears the rite was added to the codex of the Law of Moses due to the rejection of the higher priesthood of Christ Advent
(The Law of Moses did not have the power to enter into the rest of God. yet the Law of Moses was used to enforce the circumcision tradition.)
Why was enforcement of the law of circumcision added to this codex? It certainly was not Moses' desires? Also it did not bring the Israelites to a state of rest as Peter disclaimed "which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear" Acts 15:10.
Here again quoted is the words of Jesus concerning Moses' involvement in the law of circumcision. Jesus was circumcised and never needed circumcision. Did not this scar foreshadow the other scars that he would receive at the end of His life.
John 7:22
22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the Sabbath day circumcise a man.
EXODUS 4:25
25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast [it] at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband [art] thou to me.
What is puzzling here is the acceptance of the circumcision done by a woman, when if this is part of the covenant of God, the priesthood is the executor of this kind of commandment. But then with the absence of the original pattern and specification then maybe anything goes. But that is not the method of operation of God. He (God) is very precise in all His doings and always prepares man with plenty of instruction and descriptions with illustrations on crucial commandments that are soul saving. Is circumcision soul saving or is it something else? Yet circumcision is part of the scriptures?! We need to know more to make a final judgment. Perhaps Peter was right "neither our fathers nor we were able to bear" well. Anyway the original intent of circumcision as a means of preventing child abuse is not found in this episode but rather the maintaining of a tradition and satisfying social pressure.
What is more puzzling is the strange behavior of a mother trying to harm her son to save her husband when the whole camp of Israel did not circumcise the babies in the desert at this time see Joshua 5:5 next quoted.
Perhaps the longitudinal cut of the Arabs was done here as Zipporah was Arabic. Also who's tradition was she trying to protect? At least the Arabic custom was kind enough to wait till the young man was thirteen or so years old and the his permission could be obtained. This would be a greater respect for the free agency than the infant circumcision of the Israelites! Yet Zipporah seem to act to save her husband who was not complying with the Jewish custom here! Also it is evident the rest of Israel was not being circumcised at this time until Josuah mandated it later.
Joshua 5:5
5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people [that were] born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, [them] they had not circumcised.
EXODUS 4:26
26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband [thou art], because of the circumcision.
Was this shame for allowing the codex of the law to enforce this tradition?
Moses was under some kind of threat for his wife to take matters into her own hands to solve the problem. But rest assured Moses was forced into the circumcision of his son as the scripture is plain to express. What did Moses know that his contemporaries did not know? Did he see Paul's and Peter's days? Was Moses ahead of his time? Where is free agency in circumcision of the little ones. How is it this is never a consideration for the child?
The Egyptians were a circumcised nation unless like some of the kings who would have all their subject circumcised but leave the royal family complete as a sign of superiority. But this scripture more probably refers to the irreverence of the Pharaoh.
EXODUS 12:44
44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
Slaves were circumcised even though they receive not the full fellowship of the promises or covenants of Abraham? This suggest that circumcision was not used as a token of the covenant by this time but was put in the background to enforce societies rules. Unless slave had the same status as the priesthood class which seems impossible as slaves were property.
EXODUS 12:48
48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
Obviously the origin of the Jewish shunning of the Gentile could be traced to scriptures like these in Exodus just quoted. One wonders if a dinner invitation would be worth the meal? But it is obvious that it was necessary to be circumcised for citizenship or just to be a slave of the Israelites?
LEVITICUS 12:2
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
Circumcision became so important that a mother of a male child is unclean just seven days instead of fourteen days as with the female child. See 12:5 below:
LEVITICUS 12:3
3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
Again to be noted here is the description of circumcision is missing only the term circumcise is used to carry the whole meaning. Also notable here is the missing statement of being circumcised IN the flesh of his foreskin as the Genesis account of chapter 17:25 but is more like the verse 11 which was a even more generic description. Note however, the particularity of what was expected with the rest of this scripture concerning the women and what she should touch. Obviously the rite of circumcision did not belong to the law of Moses but was included by other forces such as tradition or the driving force that the circumcised must circumcise.
LEVITICUS 12:4
4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.
LEVITICUS 12:5
5 But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.
LEVITICUS 12:6
6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:
LEVITICUS 12:7
7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This [is] the law for her that hath born a male or a female.
LEVITICUS 12:8
8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
The Jews themselves shun those who were unclean among their own kind also. Note in the above verses the different treatment the baby girl gets from the baby boy and the mother respectively. If circumcision was for hygiene then why quarantine the female so long?
LEVITICUS 19:23
23 And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.
Note here how the forbidden is compared with uncircumcised. The word is used interchangeably. Forbidden fruit analogy is sensed here. Adam partook of the forbidden fruit to bring about the existence of man. Adam also was a complete man. Do we have to repeat the errors of the past or should we understand the workings of God in saving mankind with the fall of Adam. Man was saved from misery by being given a chance to take upon himself the body.
LEVITICUS 26:41
41 And [that] I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
Now the description of a proud heart is compared with the uncircumcised. This is a reference perhaps of the practice of circumcising the captives of war as a means of forcing humility upon them. It appears that it was the custom in ancient days. Those who refused circumcision were killed thus eliminating the rebellious.
DEUTERONOMY 10:16
16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.
This analogy is that the foreskin is seen as a restriction and confinement such as the yoke about the neck that some captives wore as they were brought with the spoils of war. When such yokes were worn for a long term the necks became stiff. Another reference to the enslavement analogy of circumcision only in this case by comparison. There is also the tone here that there was a belief that the removal of the foreskin also removed a restriction. Which is another evidence that the rite was not for hygiene.
DEUTERONOMY 30:6
6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Again the removal of the restriction of the heart to love compared to the foreskin. Thus the circumcision is used to train the recipient to obedience is the message here. Also this scripture suggest that the true circumcision is heart felt as both male and female can learn to love the Lord by stripping off the sins of this life and presenting to the Lord the offerings of a sincere heart. People with foreskin can love the Lord also. Actually the presence of foreskin gives greater flexibility to the skin with greater blood circulation.
JOSHUA 5:2
2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
Joshua graduates the MILAH form of circumcision here to the severe PERIAH to order the people with a severe discipline and to test the loyalty of the camp follower.
Joshua was about to marshall the people for war. An ancient conscription method of soldiers was circumcision. It tested their bravery for one thing and the ability to tolerate pain. Perhaps Joshua was seeing what kind of soldiers he had. Israel means "soldier of God".
JOSHUA 5:3
3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
There is very little description again of the exact pattern and method of circumcision specified here other than this was a second cut. It proved the original lighter cut was less and more symbolic. We don't have the original revelation or tradition that these people were following if it was revelation. Apparently this rite was for them not us as Gentiles or it would be spelled out in detail.
JOSHUA 5:4
4 And this [is] the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, [that were] males, [even] all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
If circumcision was done for hygiene or health reasons the rigors of the wilderness would have prompted the necessity of circumcision. But rather the extra protection the foreskin provides would have given the Israelite an advantage in primitive conditions. But now they were now entering the closed in condition of cities where perhaps the order and discipline was now mandated. Also Joshua was about to send the soldiers into battle.
JOSHUA 5:5
5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people [that were] born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, [them] they had not circumcised.
Who knows this was not an influence of Moses who opposed the circumcision of his own son. But we will not know till we have the fullness of scriptures about these accounts.
JOSHUA 5:7
7 And their children, [whom] he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
Perhaps in the rough life they lived in the wilderness caused them to dispense with details they felt unnecessary for survival such as circumcision. Really in the rigors of trying to stay alive in the wilds of the middle eastern deserts circumcision could seem like a bother. So these men and their children were healthy without circumcision for forty years. Today there are billions of boys and men who are similarly healthy.
JOSHUA 5:8
8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
No mention of the possible infections or fatalities were noted here for those who may not have become "whole" as they here term. The reference here must mean "healed" as something was removed making them not complete as they were born. Obviously they would now have a scar for the results.
JUDGES 14:3
3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, [Is there] never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
Even the women of the uncircumcised complete were shunned by the Jews.
JUDGES 15:18
18 And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
1 SAMUEL 14:6
6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
1 SAMUEL 17:26
26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who [is] this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
1 SAMUEL 17:36
36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
Here in the preceding scriptures the uncircumcised is used to reference the enemies of Israel.
1 SAMUEL 18:25
25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
1 SAMUEL 18:27
27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
2 SAMUEL 3:14
14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver [me] my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
In these scriptural excerpts Saul uses circumcision as a test and a plot to kill David. Of course David kills the Philistines before he gathers in the strange "dowry". Were the Philistines saved by this token of the covenant or is this a misuse of this tradition? Obviously David would now be hated by the Philistines when the word got around. Perhaps that was the plan of the King?
1 SAMUEL 31:4
4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
1 CHRONICLES 10:4
4 Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
Saul describes the enemy as uncircumcised. This is consistent with previous uses of the term. Note also the lack of reference to the "uncircumcised" as whole and complete men of the world etc. This suggest that circumcision is the norm and to be complete is the abnormal.
2 SAMUEL 1:20
20 Tell [it] not in Gath, publish [it] not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
Again the uses of uncircumcision to describe the unpopular Philistines who were the perennial enemies of the Jews. Even today such animosity still exists.
ISAIAH 52:1
1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
This has reference to the last days and it appears that the TYPE of circumcision is necessary to enter in the holy city of Jerusalem at that future time. By Christ all babies born are circumcised with the circumcision made with out hands therefore this verse in Isaiah is fulfilled in Christ All who believe in the gospel of Christ are in effect already circumcised before they are born and thus this scripture is fulfilled in Christ. Here is the centering reference again cited for reconsideration:
Colossians 2:11
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Mark 14:58
58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
This is the Jerusalem spoken of by Isaiah the Jerusalem built without hands which is Zion. Zion is where the pure in heart dwell or where the "circumcised" of heart dwell.
JEREMIAH 4:4
4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench [it], because of the evil of your doings.
This a reference to the real meaning implied to the spiritual acceptance
of the covenants of God rather the mark in the flesh which can be done
to even the very evil of heart and really means nothing in spiritual terms.
Interestingly enough the book of Leviticus forbid marking the flesh without
excepting the mark or scar produced by circumcision. See Leviticus below
quoted:
Leviticus 19:28 28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for
the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD.
With the tattoos now seen every where in modern America one wonders
what disrespect concision has had upon the culture as it has altered the
body with a print or scar that defies the above scripture. Again no exception
is here noted!
JEREMIAH 6:10
10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear [is] uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
Jeremiah reveals in this comparison of deafness to the insensitivity of the uncircumcised to stimuli. To expose the inner parts of the male organ and thereby increase the sensitivity to stimuli was perhaps the intent of circumcision. However it suggests that women are handicapped and will not be able to hearken to the LORD as they are not circumcised. Perhaps a better translation would be that those who do not accept the covenants of the LORD do not listen to the voice of the LORD.
JEREMIAH 9:25
25 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all [them which are] circumcised with the uncircumcised;
This is the first prophesy that demonstrates that to be whole and complete; as some term it uncircumcised, does not matter. The Jews should have taken the hint here and been prepared for a day when the Lord will be even handed over all the peoples of the earth and show no respect of persons as Peter had declared. It is quoted below:
Acts 10:34
34 Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Acts 10:35
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
JEREMIAH 9:26
26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all [that are] in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all [these] nations [are] uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel [are] uncircumcised in the heart.
Note worthy here is that the Egyptians circumcised long before the Israelites did. Note Judah is included here as among the uncircumcised. Circumcision is expressed here as a condition of the heart and mind not a scar in the flesh. Uncircumcised is synonymous with unsaved and unnamed. Two condition the ancients avoided.
EZEKIEL 28:10
10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken [it], saith the Lord GOD.
What the deaths of the uncircumcised refer to here is mysterious but it is to be considered in the evaluation of this subject. This may mean the uncivilized hoards or bands of robbers will come and destroy the nation of Tyrus who was the arrogant prince referred to in this verse. He will go down as just one of the soldiers who has not significant name or salvation due to not being in the covenant of the true and living God.
EZEKIEL 31:18
18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with [them that be] slain by the sword. This [is] Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
No circumcision was done in the garden of Eden so the referencing of the trees of Eden is puzzling. Again the reference to the uncircumcised as the roving hoards of robbers. This probably means outside the covenants of God.
The type here is that the original glory of man and the counsels in the Garden of Eden will be reduce to fallen man and be unnamed and unsaved because they have rebelled against God.
Below is various old testament references to circumcision or uncircumcision and the comparison of the pit or hell as the reward for uncircumcision. We have to use all the scriptures to gain a full understanding of the figures and types used in the scriptures to convey and intent or meaning . . . But they are included for completeness.
EZEKIEL 32:19
19 Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised.
EZEKIEL 32:21
21 The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
EZEKIEL 32:24
24 There [is] Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
This reference to "gone down uncircumcised in to the nether parts" is a reference to the unsaved and unnamed state of the poor souls not under the covenant. However we will be judged according to the light given. Therefor this fate is not as dire as rejecting the covenants after once having received the covenants.
EZEKIEL 32:25
25 They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves [are] round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of [them that be] slain.
EZEKIEL 32:26
26 There [is] Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves [are] round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living.
Uncircumcised refers to the unsaved condition as Christ has been circumcised for all if we but believe in Him for both the future and past generations of man.
EZEKIEL 32:27
27 And they shall not lie with the mighty [that are] fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though [they were] the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
Fallen at the hands of the damned could be the reference here.
Ezekiel 32:28
28 Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with [them that are] slain with the sword.
Death by anonymity is the implied message.
Ezekiel 32:29
29 There [is] Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by [them that were] slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.
Another reference to the uncircumcised being the damned souls. Those who reject the circumcision of Christ then reject Christ and qualify for this fate.
EZEKIEL 32:30
30 There [be] the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with [them that be] slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.
Another reference to the uncircumcised being the damned souls.
EZEKIEL 32:32
32 For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with [them that are] slain with the sword, [even] Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
EZEKIEL 44:7
7 In that ye have brought [into my sanctuary] strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, [even] my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
EZEKIEL 44:9
9 Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that [is] among the children of Israel.
HABAKKUK 2:16
16 Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing [shall be] on thy glory.
The Gentile converts who would read such descriptions could be greatly dishearten by the slander here. But the Early Day Saints who where converted knew that Christ had made them clean both in the heart and in the flesh through the third atonement when Christ was eight days old.
MALACHI 2:14
Yet ye say wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Circumcision obviously does not make a man faithful to his wife as the Jew habitually put away their wives when they tired of them for any excuse. Virtue does not come with circumcision. It can be shown that it can contribute to more liberal ideas concerning promiscuity.
One scripture purposely skipped was the slaughter of persons newly circumcised by some of the early patriarch to the tribes. This was left for the reader to make judgment upon. See Genesis chapter 34 see especially verses 24 through 26 as circumcision hurts and appears to make one so sore as to not be able to defend a threat to life. Infants feel pain also!
NEW TESTAMENT
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To summarize the standard of judgment of the New Testament the following passage given prior to the years of controversy recorded in Paul's epistles concerning circumcision:
Matthew 5:17-20
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
None of the controversy stemming from circumcision in the early days was due to any medical or hygiene concepts but rather was due to religious rites.
LUKE 1:59
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
As was the custom of the Jews the name of the child was given after the circumcision and this is an example of the custom of the Jews. This also confirms the exactness of keeping the laws of the time and the traditions of their fathers as they have been handed down to their descendants
LUKE 2:21
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
This is the first drops of precious blood that Jesus shed in behalf of others! By this act was the circumcision made without hands for all children born to this earth. THE LAW OF CIRCUMCISION IS COMPLETE IN CHRIST. This is the LAST TRUE CIRCUMCISION.
What effect and affect the above event has upon all mankind will only be understood in the life hereafter; but, some of the meaning has been revealed in the scriptures concerning this small child and the impact He has had on the whole family of Adam and especially the infants. Paul said it best with the following scriptural excerpt:
Colossians 2:11
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
JESUS IS THE LAST CIRCUMCISION!
This is because all little children who were born, are born, will be born are circumcised with the circumcision that is made without hands that is a gift of the Christ Child in this traumatic and completely unnecessary event. Who needs to scar the body of the Son of God for whatever purposes or rituals?!
Colossians 2:12
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:13-16
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which
was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them
openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath [days]:
Let no man judge you of the uncircumcision either is the sum of the message as every male child is now spiritually circumcised with this LAST CIRCUMCISION. Anyway you look at it the circumcision of Christ was a type for his later and greater work in the garden and on the cross! A shadow of things to come.
Colossians 2:17-20
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Yes why do men still circumcise their infants when IT HAS ENDED IN THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST per verse eleven in Colossians second chapter above quoted?
Now to honor the event and to disabuse the mind from any confusion between the circumcision made without hands and the elective surgery that has been referred to as "circumcision". A borrowing from the scriptures for a new name for this marking or scaring of the body is needed. To do this the term Paul the apostle uses will be coined and referenced for the cutting of the flesh that violates the spirit of the "Circumcision of Christ" and work wrought in ending this law.
Philippians 3:2
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Philippians 3:3
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Every where except where it is quoted in the scriptures the name for the surgery should be called CONCISION in place of more referenced CIRCUMCISION.
Also as was the custom of name giving and renaming the person receiving the token of the covenant. Jesus was not renamed and he received the same name that the angel pronounce before his conception. This means that Jesus' Father gave him a name before the day of circumcision. The Jews waited till after the circumcision to formally name the child for then he was pronounced clean. But Jesus who received his name prior to this event then was clean before this ritual was performed. See Section 74 of the Doctrine and covenants to review the attitude of the Jews concerning children being unclean until circumcision. Since the circumcision of Jesus, this attitude was doomed as the infants are to be considered complete and the whole hath no need of physician. Are we to believe that even the medical profession should take the advice and counsel of the Lord and remember their oath is to 'DO NO HARM". The summary conclusion to be learned here is that with the circumcision of the Christ Child all the
infants born are born WHOLE and PURE and COMPLETE before the LORD.
JOHN 7:22
22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the Sabbath day circumcise a man.
Remember Moses tried to introduce the higher laws to the Israelites but they rejected the greater things and was task mastered with the law of Moses to bring them to Christ with this preparatory law of carnal performances that were not to give rest to the soul.
Also remember that while the tribes of Israel were wandering the dessert they did not circumcise the infants. And remember that Moses would not circumcise his son and Zipporah his wife did the circumcision of their son as she was of Arabic descent who held strong traditional ties to the rituals of the Hebrew concerning the tradition of circumcision. But remember the Arabs did not circumcise at birth or eight day after but were patient enough to wait for the boy to come of age wherein he could give consent. No evidence is here where the young one is begging for circumcision.
Jesus knew all this and more as this law was difficult to bear as testified by Peter when the concision interfered with the growth of the church by Jewish members and non-members insisting that new Gentile members were to be subject to the law of Moses through the "ritual of circumcision" which was completed in Christ.
So the Jews settled on the lesser law and continued their customs; circumcision is center of their customs in actual practice but should only have been the reminder of the promises to Abraham and the fathers .
Acts 15:10
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
JOHN 7:23
23 If a man on the Sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath day?
Jesus knew that circumcision was added to the law of Mosses for the perpetuation of a tradition and He used this fact to teach the hardness of the Jews that if they had an exception to the law of Moses for the tradition of circumcision then they should allow one more exception to permit Jesus to heal a man completely and in actuality on the Sabbath.
ACTS 7:8
8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so [Abraham] begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac [begat] Jacob; and Jacob [begat] the twelve patriarchs.
New Testament restatement of the origin of the covenant of circumcision which is done for all infants by the circumcision of Christ.
ACTS 7:51
51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers [did], so [do] ye.
The Jews have been a poor example in many of the greater things of the law and became highly selective in which commandments and laws they kept. They were obsessed with circumcision and sought to interfere with the growth of the church by disturbing the new members with the same controversy they themselves were struggling to keep.
ACTS 10:45
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Now the Gentiles were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands as we learn so this astonishment is due more from the force of their traditions rather than the prompting of the Spirit. Some times it takes many generations to finally see the complete works of God in dealing with the children of Men.
ACTS 11:2
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
Note worthy in this scripture is the identification of non members of
the church who believe not in the gospel of Jesus Christ as the circumcision.
Paul later termed them as the concision rather than the circumcision of
the unbelievers.
ACTS 11:3
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
Peter broke the custom of the Jews that they were not to eat with the Gentiles of the region. Peter knew that the law was fulfilled and that all men are in Christ circumcised and the concision did not believe this liberty of Christ.
ACTS 15:1
1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
This controversy was introduce not in the interest of saving souls but rather to complicate and hinder the progress of the gospel among the Gentiles as the Jew saw this a definite threat to their security. Also they felt that Peter was dispensing the sacred truths of their heritage to the unclean.
To circumcise after the manner of Moses seems strange terminology as Moses did not have zeal to circumcise as did Joshua so the exact meaning here is not clear.
ACTS 15:5
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses.
The law of Moses was fulfilled every whit, jot and title in the work and mission of Christ. This sect of believers in the messiahship of Jesus Christ were only partly converted as they were not aware that the believers were already circumcised by the mission of Christ and his circumcision. Perhaps they were not matured in the implications of the Gospel on their former traditions or they were in a state of denial concerning circumcision realizing that it was not necessary in the flesh and that the circumcision without hands or the spiritual circumcision left them to realize that the surgery performed on them was now only a concision of no profit and is now really an alteration of the body which the gospel now teaches that the body is the temple of God and is sacred. They now want every one else in the Church to be the same as they are to prevent their children and themselves from feeling the difference now. Many people concise their children only for the sake of being the same as their other children or having their children match them as concised also. This is a terribly emotional decision and it is really spawned from ignorance, jealousy and denial. Such may have been the real motives of these "believers in the gospel of Christ". Perhaps later when their children were left whole and not concised they could see the tradition end with less emotional difficulties for denial and regret that they were once circumcised in a sacrificial manner as it was then done.
Is it right to concise infants just to make them the same? Do two wrongs make a right?
ACTS 15:24
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, [Ye must] be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no [such] commandment:
Apostates who were once among the saints were subverting the work of the saints by saying that the apostles of the day demanded circumcision. Here is the affirmation that circumcision is not required from the brethren and could not be required due to the liberty of Christ which freed us from the performances of the lesser law by fulfilling it every whit, jot and title.
ACTS 16:3
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Sometimes social pressure from relatives and previous associations force concision upon a person. Here is a concision performed for the purpose of being able to associate with the Jews. Later Paul leaves this ministry to go to the Gentiles. But it is evident that Paul concised a man after the mission of Christ. Everyone makes mistakes?!
ACTS 28:27
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
ACTS 28:28
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will hear it.
ACTS 21:21
21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise [their] children, neither to walk after the customs.
See Section 74 in the Doctrine and Covenants for the full revelation concerning the matter of eliminating the custom of concision and understanding that the circumcision of Christ brings upon all that believe the circumcision without hands and fulfills the law in every way.
ROMANS 2:25
25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Paul at this point was not teaching the same doctrine that he later taught in Colossians 2:11 and it is seen here the beginnings of the full understanding. That circumcision is really an attitude and a state of heart and mind not a scar in the flesh.
ROMANS 2:26
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
ROMANS 2:27
27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Here Paul indicates that the uncircumcised keep the letter of the law and the circumcised Jew who deny Christ break the whole law. This the spirit of the law rather than the performances of the flesh.
ROMANS 2:28
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
ROMANS 2:29
29 But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.
Here is the real doctrine that the heart and spirit are the real power and that this supersedes all outward tokens of marking the flesh with concision.
ROMANS 3:1
1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision?
Yes what profit is there in circumcision if it is not heartfelt?
Who really thinks concision is right to do?
Circumcision was intended to represent the seal of the covenant of Abraham that his seed would continue through out eternity. Abraham's family would have no end and his children would not be lost at death but they would continue in the worlds to come. Now the mission of Christ is the seal of that covenant making the possibility of eternal families for the true Later Day Saint through the covenants of God. The circumcision of Christ makes these promises available to all the honest in heart and the pure in heart and gives us the hope in the resurrection of the body and the restoration of all that was lost in the concision. The Jews were the instrument of the covenants fulfillment and they received the oracles of God.
ROMANS 3:30
30 Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Faith is the ability to trust God to live his judgments in the face of the tests in this world. God has advised that little children need no circumcision.
ROMANS 3:31
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
The gospel of Jesus Christ makes the law permanent and purposeful. It was the very reason Christ came. But the law is lived with the spirit not the flesh. Anything done in the flesh dies with the flesh. In the resurrection the body is renewed to its state of perfection and will live forever. We are also resurrected male and female in the image of God and all surgical alterations including concision will be obliterated with a perfect body in every part, limb and joint. We will be complete in the resurrection through its restoration.
ROMANS 4:9
9 [Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Being true and faithful to the commandments and directions of our Lord
and Director is the meriting life that should be lived and not the marks
in the flesh which were done in the ancient past for reasons not disclosed
to us today. Circumcision is not revealed to us today as we do not have
the pattern or the details or the how and exceptions of this rite. The
curse of the law of Moses has been lifted and the law of circumcision is
completed in Christ's work. All this is possible through faith.
ROMANS 4:10
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
Abraham live ninety nine years without circumcision and earned the promises made to the fathers through faith as a complete man. Only after as a token and for reasons only known to God this tradition of circumcision was made part of the customs of those children and associates of Abraham. Some time or eternity will present to us the full story behind the scenes that prompted this tradition with the Hebrew. Remember circumcision existed before Abraham.
ROMANS 4:11
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Note Circumcision is a sign or seal of the covenant and not the covenant itself. The covenant itself retains all the power for the elect of God not the physical evidence of it.
ROMANS 4:12
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which [he had] being [yet] uncircumcised.
ROMANS 4:13
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Again faith is the real power that was earned during the ninety nine years that Abraham live as a complete man.
ROMANS 15:8
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises [made] unto the fathers:
All male infants are born with circumcision already done for then by the circumcision of Christ. This circumcision is the circumcision done without hands and wrought in the sufferings of Christ in his circumcision which was not necessary in that He is the Son of God. Therefore Jesus becomes the ultimate and final minister of circumcision as He fulfilled the carnal commandments by a spiritual atonement. No one else is authorized to minister circumcision except the Lord and He has already ministered circumcision by an infinite atonement. Whoever now pretends to circumcise is in reality only scaring the body and frustrating the true meaning of the circumcision done without hands for all infants born and yet born. These are serious matters. Infants are really helpless and depend solely on their parents to defend them from unnecessary violation of their free agency and the sanctity of their body. The body is the temple of God and any man who defiles that temple him shall God destroy.
1 CORINTHIANS 3:16
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 CORINTHIANS 3:17
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.
1 CORINTHIANS 7:18
18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
Three things should be noted before a commentary on this scripture is understandable.
First, note in the first rhetorical question the phrase 'called being' vs the second rhetorical question 'called in', it does not say the same thing. IN is not the same as BEING. Perhaps the reference is due to the fact that 'being circumcised' is an actual physical effect and 'in uncircumcision' is a non damaged or not marked with a scar.
Second, to the Greek exposing the glans of the penis was very rude and disgraceful. The Jew were considered uncivilized because of their circumcision. The Greek translation of this scripture should probably mean do not hide the fact of circumcision or 'let him not hide his circumcision due to shame.' Instead of 'let him not become uncircumcised'. The fact that there has been severe punishment for circumcision by the Greeks and Romans portray their feeling on this matter. Certain historical references indicate that there was a method used to simulate a foreskin in ancient days also and some of the Saints may have had sufficient emotional stress over this condition to attempt reversal of circumcision.
Third this chapter of Corinthians prompted the modern revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 74. From verse 2 of that section it is learned that the children of this contest of traditions were not circumcised but followed the Greek tradition of leaving the children complete only for the reasons outline by Paul that the children are subject to the liberties of Christ.
Since Christ has provided all believers with circumcision made without hands which is pure and holy, this reference is to the called not to retrench to old ways but to be faithful in Christ Jesus. With the mild circumcision that the Jews originally performed it was possible for the circumcision to be reversed either by surgery or skin expansion that is used today to restore a reconstructed foreskin without surgery. As long as there has been circumcision or concision there has been efforts made to restore to the normal what was damaged either in war or through ritual. There are organizations in the United States of America dedicated to the restoration of the foreskin for men offended by concision or 'circumcision' done without their permission. Some of this work is done for those men who feel wounded both physically and emotionally by this surgery on an otherwise normal body part. Before an infant is circumcised routinely for no reason other than the preferences of the parent or doctor, realized that sometimes the recipient of concision surgery may break through the denials that perpetuate this tradition and will resent the concision later in life. Also some older men who were impotent have been restored by using some of the techniques of becoming 'unconcisied' or 'uncircumcised' through skin expansion as it is done both in ancient times and in modern times. It could be that Paul knew of the possibilities of foreskin restoration and tried to give a refocus of attention away from this powerful controversy and develop the spiritual part of life by faith in the true principles of God.
1 CORINTHIANS 7:19
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
The concision is nothing and being complete is nothing if a person rebels against God. Since Jesus has provided the spiritual circumcision this reference is to the concision and not the spiritual meanings of circumcision of being sealed to the covenants and promises of God through faith, hope and charity. However being complete is something though as this scripture applies to the adults not the children to come as the Jew who believed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ left their children whole and complete. See Act 15
GALATIANS 2:3
3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
Why should this be such a claim that Titus was not circumcised by force when infants were concised by force through no concern for their volition in the matter? Why is the rights of an adult man honored and the rights of the child not even considered in concision or surgery to alter the natural and complete state of his body. This is a mystery that needs to be discovered and revealed to all who are in charge of the precious spirits sent to all parents. Parents consider child abuse as forcing spiritual and physical harm to children.
Now is the time to reconsider the concision of babies and to seek to obey the commandments and hearken to the councils of God!
Who has no understanding of circumcisions long term affects and effects? He that hath ears to hear let him hear!
GALATIANS 2:7
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as [the gospel] of the circumcision [was] unto Peter;
GALATIANS 2:8
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
What counts here is that the Spirit works with all the faithful no mater what traditions they used to follow. God accepts all true believers through Jesus Christ who fulfilled the law and gave us the liberty of truth.
GALATIANS 2:9
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Old attitudes die hard and so do old traditions. Concision will keep going on till the coming of the Lord and then it will stop and it will truly be completed. But wo unto the rebellious.
GALATIANS 2:12
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Ibid.
GALATIANS 5:2
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Because Christ suffered this also and the first of the blood spilt in our behalf was when Christ was as an infant only eight days in this world. Did not this set the tone of this world for the rest of His life that others are willing to lift him up to the cross. This scripture will forever forbid the circumcision as a religious rite. Should Christ profit you more if you leave your children whole and complete for a tribute to his work.
GALATIANS 5:3
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Shall we retreat to the old sacrificial rituals and deny the Christ? It is so clear that we should find no necessity scripturally to concise infants who are whole and pure because of Christ.
GALATIANS 5:6
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
If a parent has the courage to depart from the traditions of family and decides to leave their child complete and whole they are truly brave and wise in order to go against the forces of relatives and associates who feel threatened if a child is left whole and complete. Have faith in the commandments love your baby boy by giving him the freedom of his heritage a healthy complete body. Understanding will solve all concerns that may arise in the fight for truth and light of the Gospel Message.
Love will heal all wounds eventually but the resurrection may be necessary to be completely whole with no scar. In the meantime the babies should be given the advantages of our new understanding gained through the experiences of this life.
GALATIANS 5:10
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
God knows the beginning from the end. He knows how many babies have been aborted and how many have been unnecessarily concised.
GALATIANS 5:11
11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer
persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased.
GALATIANS 6:12
12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
Jews who no longer circumcise their children were persecuted as Christians and this persecution was the prompting of this scripture.
Pride is the reason many men concise their sons so then can match them and not feel jealous that their sons have a whole and complete body. It is sad but true many infants go through this ordeal to satiate the pain a parent who would be envious of his children if they were left alone and remained complete. There the "fair shew in the flesh" is that "my sons are just like me".
The Jew persecuted the new Gentiles so that they might subvert the liberty of Christ and their motives were subtle. Using circumcision as a wedge to destroy the growth of the Church.
GALATIANS 6:13
13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
How many infants will be concised with elective surgery so that others can glory in their flesh. Judge this if it is right. If God is right and the law of circumcision is ended and infants are in reality circumcised without hands spiritually. Let those glory in the complete infant because of Christ. This is the glory of godly parents of a new baby boy. A new creature delivered to our protection and keeping.
GALATIANS 6:15
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Protect the infants please the truly NEW CREATURES. If an adult wants to be concised then more power to him let him circumcise himself with full consent but leave the child alone.
EPHESIANS 2:11
11 Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Note Paul affirms the difference between the circumcision made by hands and the spiritual circumcision made without hands that blesses the Gentile convert.
EPHESIANS 2:15
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;
EPHESIANS 2:16-20
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];
Note Paul affirms the difference between the circumcision made by hands and the spiritual circumcision made without hands that blesses the Gentile convert.
PHILIPPIANS 3:2
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Paul cites here the difference between the SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION and the CONCISION that scars or marks the body which is the temple of God.
PHILIPPIANS 3:3
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
The seal of our covenant belongs in the heart and not in the curse of the law given to a people who rejected the higher principles that Moses tried to introduce to the people. But they preferred their traditions instead and so Christ was to come to a hard hearted people who would not listen to his message anymore than to the message of Moses' first tablets.
PHILIPPIANS 3:5
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrew; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Paul's pedigree and prior subjection to the law and all it entails. But later in verse 8 of this same chapter Paul says I " . . . and do count them as dung, that I may win Christ".
COLOSSIANS 2:11
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
ALL MANKIND IS BORN CIRCUMCISED THROUGH CHRIST AND THIS SURGERY IS NOT NECESSARY. Physician--the whole hath no need of a Physician! Please keep the babies complete and find research, knowledge, and counsel to help the Christian to leave their pure infants whole as God directs NOW!!!! Leaders of the Church find something wrong with the spirit in this paper or help the Christians to keep this message as God's advice and protect the infants from this harm.
COLOSSIANS 2:13
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Christ is no respecter of persons but every nation is accepted of him. Billions upon billions of babies who were left complete live normal lives. Parents who leave their children whole are not alone. And their children will be complete!
COLOSSIANS 3:11
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all.
Have faith that God prepares us to keep all His commandments and if it is a commandment to leave the children whole. Then leave them WHOLE and COMPLETE do not concise them.
Philippians 3:10
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.
COLOSSIANS 4:11
11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only [are my] fellow workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
Paul uses the term circumcision to refer to those who were raised in the customs of the Jews. This is a statement of origin not of persuasion.
Titus 1:10
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
We are not Jews but we are Christians of the House of Israel by adoption. The Jew have been a bad example to their own teachings which teachings are wonderful. Let us no longer continue their example but let us keep all the commandments.
Having made mistakes one can learn from the mistakes. Being concised at birth and mistakenly concising my sons through lack of an informed consent has given me an understanding that would never been possible if none of these things happened. I have broken the bubble of denial. Now, I am informed and can detect the error and workings of the devil in the laying the foundation of body alterations that will come in the future through the desires of wickedness to capture the mind of mankind through alterations of the body. To stop concision of infants will in one small way prevent the misuse of the body to control the mind in the future.
REPENTANCE BY TRIAGE
Now we are informed! How can we repent and defend the little ones and not let this heritage of pain continue? First of all the living and already damaged should not be a factor in learning to live this commandment from our Lord. Mistakes have been made and there is difficult measures to reverse any of it. All the author's relatives and father were not concised and as a child with an inquisitive nature the author questioned the difference at a very early age. No adequate answer was ever given except "don't think about it!". After having served an LDS mission and having to deal with people outside the United States of America and seeing through heightened scripture study of the New Testament where the subject of circumcision is a dominate theme it came back to haunt. After the fulfillment of a Mission in 1964 the author called upon several doctors to see if there was a remedy to concision(circumcision). After the Doctors humiliated the author by saying no one has ever been concerned with this desire to be complete "uncircumcised" before. The only thing then left to do I felt was to wait for the resurrection and be restored by this great power. The subject was then forced deep into the subconscious. Family life began and children came and the author circumcised his children after great anguish and the **insistence of the medical professionals and also there may have been a pride* that I had so conquered this ache to be complete like my father and his brothers that I felt brave enough to let my sons be circumcised. All of these concerns went into a state of deep denial until by following the advice of the LDS church leaders to continue my studies of the Book of Mormon it became alive with the scripture in Moroni 8:8. All of this caused the author to rethink all his prior conclusions concerning this subject of circumcision. With the perfected knowledge in this paper, I have felt both guilty and filled with sorrow ever since. The sum of it all is that now there is great sorrow and great anguish that he missed the chance to have his sons free from this thing. I am a very poor example to follow but I can not be silent anymore as I care for the grand children that are yet to come. If one of these are left whole and complete according to the commandment then I will feel hope for the future and be more ready for the millennial reign of Christ.
* (Pride the universal sin. Pride is a denial of the realities of self for the preference of someone you are not. Reacting to the disappointments of life with ritual formation can cause the reliving of events over and over. Pride prevents the direct dealing with the originating event because of the denial of reality. Therefore the reaction formation of trauma cause the reliving of the event over and over even in your child. Resolving the problem with knowledge and wisdom require the truth. Not being able to see the other persons point of view is the fuel of pride. The child's life should have been the consideration and not the parents concerns.)
** The consent that was given for the circumcision or concision is, as I can see now from the present medical knowledge I have gained on this subject was not an informed consent but was a mere permission that was signed. I was never instructed in the pros and cons of circumcision or concision and there was not any counsels, warnings or consequences of both pro or con given. The entire advice was "circumcision must be done". No mention of health benefits or other expert advice was offered. The total reason for the consent signing was that I did not know as much as the Doctors and that their expert authority caused me to disallowed my own opinion. With the present knowledge and study that I have gained, there would have been no chance for me to allow the concision of my sons. I do now know better and accuse the Doctors of not correctly instructing or informing me of the consequences of their preference upon my children as I never wanted to concise my sons. From this experience it is easy for me to believe that many boys are damaged through ignorance in misinformation.
Therefore because there is so little from the modern Authorities of the Church on this matter and through my family heritage and the great sorrow at having broken what the author considers a commandment I have undertaken the difficult task of writing this paper. The silence of the Church is deceiving to many. If nothing is said about a subject, ignorance prevails; error reigns. Therefore this paper.
How do we repent? How do we gain peace? Things are now out of control as there is no thought given as infants are concised. Even the Nurses and Doctors call this operation in abbreviated term 'CIRC'. To change all this trend and tradition will require uncomfortable measures and disaster management methods such as triage. Change can only be done through triage and a mother like care for the small infants total well being .
STEPS FOR TRIAGE METHOD OF STOPPING THE TRADITION OF THE CONCISION OF INFANTS.
1. If the father is concised, the children can be left complete by choice. The great and good father can be proud to have braved the new doctrine of Christ concerning circumcision. If the father is whole without concision no guilt from the survivor syndrome need compel the father to choose the alteration of the child's future because he is different. Just be grateful that you were spared and likewise spare your own child. You who are whole and complete are in the best position to father the whole child with the secrets of the ages. Adam was not concised. Be like our first parents whole and pure.
2. If some of the children are already circumcised and more children are to come, there is no reason to continue the error or the tradition just because its too late for the children already concised. This the greatest trick of Satan that sin is a good excuse to continue sin. Don't let despair be the reason to continue the concision tradition. Billions of babies have been left whole with no problems.
3. If the parents are divided over the decision to keep the child whole, Think and honor the rights of the child and leave him whole to keep the commandment. Ask him later when his voice can be heard. Honor the free agency of the child.
4. If relatives pressure the parents then fight for the rights of your child and be a man and do not give in as sorrow for not doing what you as a new parents really want will be worse. Good in-laws or grand parents will love the child anyway. Think of the blessings in store for those who strive to keep the commandments of the Lord.
5. Grand parents who have already made the mistake and want their children to change the direction of this tradition should express to their sons they have concised that they are sorry for the invasion to their body. Then ask forgiveness and ask their children to please not continue the errors of the past onto the children of the future.
6. Doctors can help you keep your child whole and complete therefor it is best to shop for a doctor who will not try to undermine your resolve. Seek out the Doctors who will support your desire to keep your child intact. Arrange early long before the birth of the child to agree with the terms of the child's being left whole and complete to prevent last minute pressures.
7. Fight through the emotional scars that the male ego has concerning their own concision and start new by protecting the baby boys that need your experience. Consider the concision scar as a wound received in the battle of life. But as a returning warrior teach the young how to fight for freedom and the true liberty of life. Teach them to "remain without circumcision".
8. REALIZE THAT THE MECHANISM of DENIAL will perpetuate the concision tradition even if there is really no medical reason to do so. To stop this thoughtless tradition one must face ones inner fears and losses with courage. TRIAGE REPENTANCE is the only way to repent.
9. Find and study books that reveal the facts concerning leaving children complete. Don't let a doctor retract the foreskin of an infant as this is proof positive that the Doctor does not know what to do with the whole child. It could be that a "complete" Doctor is qualified to give advice from experience concerning leaving children whole. However there are Doctors who are concised that proclaim loudly that concision is damaging to infants!
10. Concision is a medical procedure to correct a problem or to treat a disease. Realize the concision should not be used as a preventive of disease or a prophylaxis or the scriptures say the whole need no physician but they that are sick. New born babies that are not sick should be left complete and whole. If something is wrong then maybe a decision should be made; that is, "if thy right eye offend thee cut it out". What then on a baby offends is the question?
11. Women have a difficult time understanding all of this circumcision or concision requirements and changes to the baby boys body. Some of the United States most vocal opponents to infant concision are women. Nevertheless women cannot understand the trauma to the male ego due to the female identification. If cancer of the breast effects 10% of the female population then 10% of the women can really understand the alteration of body parts that are involved in feminine identity. Perhaps removing the little glands in the infants breast would save many women the concern of breast cancer. But how many mothers would permit such surgery on their daughters even if it would save them from cancer? Then why would a mother allow the surgery on the penis of their son? Women, Mothers learn the truth and protect your baby boys. Defend your new new born baby boy. Be free so your children are free.
12. The male ego prevents the real understanding that concision damages the penis. How many men will admit their penis is damaged? Don't let this pride cause the concision of helpless infant boys. Fathers admit the damage and don't continue the tradition. Let your sons have the freedom and privilege of being the way God made them. Don't do any more harm because you imagine there is nothing missing with yourself.
13. If the father is whole and complete and desires the infant to be concised then let the father be concised first. If the father after having been the leader in this matter still agrees with the concision of his own self there is precedence and experience rather than superstition about concising the helpless infant is for the child's own good. Also put the cost of concision in the bank and by the time the need for concision might arrive in the life of the boy or man then the money would have grown to the expense of the operation and can be easily paid for with the interest on the money in the bank. Sometimes the extra maintenance required in being complete is exaggerated to the concised sons of complete men to sooth the conscience of the father who has sons different from himself. These fathers will complain about not being concised but never mention the benefits of being whole and complete so as to prevent the sons from wanting to be like their father. The absents of mentioning the benefits is a syndrome of a regret. Yes there is true benefits to being the way God has made you. The father who never mentions the good part of being whole and complete has to see a counselor or get concised himself to see for real. Most men who are concised in later life do regret this surgery. Unless there is actual medical reasons for concision concision should be avoided. If for no other reason but to live the advice in the scriptures.
14. When a young man or young boy discovers the fact he has been concised let him express his true feelings freely. Do not suppress this realization but let it fully develop as forcing these discoveries out of mind will cause the cycle to perpetuate. If there were no medical concerns or religious concerns but a boy is forced not to think about the damage to his body due to elective surgery he will have these ideas driven into the subconsciousness where they will return in the form of desiring to concise his children as his parents did to him as this is the cycle that perpetuates tradition. Tradition is where thinking has been done by our ancestors. But sometimes we need to reevaluate the thoughts of our parents so we can come to an understanding for ourselves. Let the men and boys cry if they discover the loss. This will help then resolve the loss and not be driven to overcompensation in their sex life.
15. BE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THIS SUBJECT OF CIRCUMCISION/CONCISION THAT YOU BE NOT DECEIVED. Remember that denial and ego will prevent the truth in this very emotional and controversial subject. Emotions will distorts and exaggerates all aspects both pro and con. Find all the benefits of being complete. Understand all the theories and forces behind the ritual and medical claims. Then make up your own mind as we don't circumcise ourselves "they" will always be a force and a factor in the continuation of concision.
16. CONCISION SHOULD BE FOR THE SICK NOT THE WHOLE. Concision is a remedy for a very serious condition not for whims.
17. The most dangerous part of concision tradition is the bubble of denial that is started. Those who have been concised are advised to "DON'T THINK ABOUT IT"! Those who have concised others and regret it are advised to "DON'T THINK ABOUT IT"! This tradition of denial or 'not thinking about it' is of greater concern than the actual concision damage as it builds the foundation of greater denials. Nevertheless when the newborn infant boy is before the knife DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. That is the time for DENIAL! Respect the child's choice!
Denial with ignorance of the truth and denial with the truth drove this tradition onward. But some early Christians and Jews were able to overcome the power of this tradition and set their children free! The purpose of this paper is not just to investigate the truth but this paper is to look closely at the direction that denial has taken in these matters. What is future that the U. S. male is being prepared to deny? As once denial has a foundation it will increase if not checked. When God gives advice there are consequences for ignoring His scriptures. We have ignored His words concerning circumcision. What greater denials shall come?
There are some who say that to concise infants for hygiene will dodge any judgments for concising(circumcising) for religious motives or so called scriptural reasons. If hygiene is more important that body parts then maybe we should cut off our hands and feet so we do not need to wash them, it would be more hygienic. The infants foreskin is fused to the glans and remains so for three to four years or more in some individuals. This covering is nature hygiene measure for the soiling that diapers and other toilet training may cause. If the baby boy is left whole he is protected from infections far more that any concision provides. In fact concision(circumcision) exposes the boy to greater risk of infections. When the boy is older soap and water will be enough to be clean. And as puberty's onset begins the only protection now days with HIV's and worse is self restraint and chastity. Keeping the commandments is the only sure method that works to prevent STD (S)exually (T)ransmitted (D)isease. Therefore for hygienic reasons do not retract or remove the foreskin in infants. If you must concise the males in your family do it later with their permission and knowledge. This is just a courtesy to the free agency of the young man.
IF the boy lives a clean chaste life the Lord will protect the young man from the plagues of the Last Days. One of the reasons the concision rate in the United States has dropped more than 25% is due to the futility of concision with modern infections which are only preventable by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its Fullness.
Yes there is risk in coming to earth as some may fail. Yes there is risk in "remaining without circumcision" (as there are risks in "circumcision" but there is joy to compensate for the freedom. Security is a prison. Being complete will provide its rewards. Do not fear, the babies will survive if they "remain without circumcision". Pray and see if this is not true and right.
SUMMARY >
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The exact reason and source of circumcision or concision is not specified in the scriptures. Only indirect scriptures support it. Moses did not originate the practice and apparently tried to stop it. The first use of it was to prevent child abuse as there was a custom and a belief that children were born unclean as fallen beings from the Garden of Eden. As a token it was to be like a seal to a greater covenant that is far less revealed in the scriptures than this memorial to the promises to Abraham. It was reduced to an obsession to circumcise all about them who were to associate with the tribes of Israel. Peter disclaimed it in his day and refused to burden the new converts with its practice as it frustrated the growth of the Church and was a difficulty to the Israelites all through their history. Rather than becoming a seal and a reminder of the greater promises made to Abraham it eclipsed the promises made to Abraham with a heritage of pain and damage to infants and those who would have been converts to the teachings of God. Although the beginnings of circumcision are cloudy --- its stoppage is clear and bright as the noon day sun. It is completed in the New Covenant of Christ.
POSTSCRIPT
England in 1948 was instrumental in establishing the State of Israel. At the same time the Doctors in England were beginning to cease from concising the infants of their nation. By 1950 concision in England essentially stopped. The Jews of Israel will continue to circumcise their infants till Christ appears to them. Also Christians in the United States of America will continue to "circ" their infants till Christ appears to all. Then Paul words will speak to their souls like rain from Heaven.
"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." Galatians 5:2
THE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN LIFE MUST BE DONE ALONE.
THREADS OF CHANGE INTRODUCED INTO SOCIETY AT LARGE BY CONCISION
1. Destruction of the design of God is good and justified.
2. Sacrifice of the innocent is for the greater good.
3. Associate feelings of destruction at the onset of life.
4. Associate "taste" of blood at the onset of life.
5. Natural things should be civilized and cultivated.
6. Associate the "Pride of the Male" to damage.
7. The fear of death is marked upon the child in symbolic form.
8. Victim syndrome of the psyche of the child is started.
9. First shock of pain given to the male of the species to
put the trauma of pain into the psyche of the child.
10. First pain with anxiety to undermine a sense of security.
11. Male insensitivity is engendered as first pain is is avoided.
12. Body is not to be respected in it natural form.
13. Denial and avoidance is a pattern of behavior.
14. Infants rights are not clearly defined.
15. First breaths of life is associated with pain.
16 Violence.
17 Unrighteous dominion.
(c) copyright James Norman Hall 06/08/99 all rights are reserved for the purpose of the free distribution of this paper entitled The Hidden Atonement a commentary on circumcision. It can be freely copied to promote the understanding required to protect the infants from unnecessary pain and scaring both emotional and physical caused by circumcision in any degree. If the information in this paper is used to prevent elective concision upon anyone without being fully informed then the intent of the copyright is to be declared in the public domain and can be copied in whole. If the information in this paper is altered or changed to the intent to contribute to the harm of little children or infants then the copyright will disallow free distribution through any medium of communication whatsoever and all protection afforded by copyright law will be claimed and reserved. James Norman Hall will hold the first and original version of this paper and no other copy will be valid if changed from the original. This paper may not be copied in part or fragment or rearranged with the intent or purpose to destroy its original version. The original version can be revised by the author and all changes will be specified as changes by James Norman Hall for Self Teaching Publications.
(beginning has this same copyright notice)
Other books written by James N. Hall
FUTURLOGICS
a system of prospective thinking
published 1983
ADAM GOD THEORY
scriptural reference and commentary
published 1986
VECTOR MATHEMATICS
Two and Three Dimensional Algebra
completed but not published
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Last revised April 28, 2000