(10/13/2020) The Foreskin And Circumcision?

A depiction of the parents of Jesus affirming his inheritance and offering their child to GOD through circumcision.

Today, the reply addresses the meaning and value of the foreskin and circumcision to thoughtful Christian believers. Through the household of Abraham, circumcision was a token of accord, covenant, and loyalty; even so, through the household of Jacob, circumcision became a token of condemnation, injustice, lawlessness, and wrath. As an aspect of the perpetual covenant shared by divinity with the Jews, circumcision continues to be acknowledged by many as a sign of divine commitments and promises to mankind, rather than a device for flawed judgment that expresses bias, partiality and prejudice, that accuses and condemns ones enemies, or that will reveal who is righteous before GOD and who is not. Through the life, death, and resurrection ministry of Jesus Christ, the meaning and value of circumcision has been transformed and made new. Consider again the following Scriptures that use language from the Bible and a selection from the music ministry of Wintley Phipps that appears below. It is written: Colossians 3: 9-14, King James Version (KJV): 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion & Spirituality who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:

Why was god bothered with foreskins in the old testament?

If he hates foreskins so much, why did he create it?

THE GOLDEN ARROW: But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6: 14-16, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Godliness Characterizes Authentic Humanity (02/06/2020); Abraham In Divine Judgment (03/10/2019); Abraham Demonstrates Spiritual Growth (05/30/2018); The First “Chosen” People (05/03/2018); A Circumcision of Hearts (01/22/2018); Circumcision of Infant Boys (12/11/2017); Ye Are Abraham’s Seed (07/10/2015)

“Anonymous”, the covenant of circumcision began with the household of Abraham further signaled the divine transformation wherein mankind is to exist as the new creation. Many thoughtful Christian believers understand that removing the foreskin of the male penis is a representation of divinity refusing to depend on mechanical process among the living or that divinity must rely on natural law. Circumcision affirms the inheritance from divinity to mankind, and that man is to exist having continuous communication and interaction with the divine fullness. To that end, humanity is to receive fresh deposits and endowments of life essence (breath; spirit; word) and divine law imparted from the makeup of GOD. Circumcision serves as an assurance and sign that GOD is committed to those who bear this or other marks of his authority and image, and that divinity will fulfill all divine promise and prophecy. Created beings and living creatures are to exist as life companions to divinity, sacred offspring, and living vessels who contain divine substance. Removing the foreskin to identify those in covenant relationship with divinity makes visible their embodiment of spirit substance, and involves a mutual sharing of otherwise hidden revelation. Properly understood, circumcision foreshadows and is a step to the Incarnation where divinity appears on the earth using human form and life-process as Jesus Christ.

(1.) Genesis 18: 17-19, King James Version (KJV): 17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

(2.) Genesis 34: 24-30, KJV: 24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. 26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, 29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house. 30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

(3.) 1^st Samuel 18: 25-29, KJV: 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. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired. 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. 28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him. 29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.

(4.) Colossians 2: 8-12, KJV: 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 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: 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.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO2Jj2Bff_4.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

Image downloaded 1:22 PM, October 13, 2020 @ https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DWHbKcmMYbE/hqdefault.jpg

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

Abraham, Christian Beliefs, Circumcision, Covenants, Incarnation, Inheritance, Revelation, Signs, The Flesh, benefits, blood, embodiment, foreskin, injustice, offerings, new creation, presence, testimony

(06/08/2014) Suffering Circumcision?

Today, some points are shared on the age of accountability, circumcision, and adult participation in covenant.  Also, there is more on judgment and stoning in the Old Testament.  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “JT” (Level 3 with 1,411 points, a member since December 09, 2007) posted the following:


Is it child abuse to forcibly circumcise an unwilling teenager?

It recently happened to someone I know. The father was extremely adamant about having the boy (15) circumcised. They argued for weeks nonstop and the son tried to compromise with just a loose or partial cut, but the dad insisted on a complete circumcision that removed every bit of loose skin from the shaft. He was eventually snipped without any sort of anesthetics sometime last week. The boy is in agony, and the mother is very upset with his father as well.

Is this child abuse? I am horrified at what happened, but i also realize that it happens to infants all the time, and most people don't seem to care. At what age do you think a boy should be able to refuse such an operation against a parent(s) wishes?

Btw I am against infant circumcision.


THE BATTLE AXE:  Stoning in the OT? (06/07/2014)—(5.)  The duty and privilege of serving in judgment goes far beyond what most of us comprehend; and we are again cautioned not to lean upon our own understanding.  Stoning pertains to collective responsibility, social contract (i.e., agreement, mutual acceptance), and unity.  It is an error to say stoning was “uncivilized”.  Stoning in obedience to demands of covenant with GOD may be understood as no less rational than the  political behavior from Greek democracy of casting ones ballot using either a black or white stone; and without careful examination, stoning should not be dismissed as a civilized and intelligently chosen tool in social justice any more than use of the simple sling stone should be banned and mocked as an effective weapon for defense and warfare.  Stoning was doubly effective by burying offenders (from dust thou art, unto dust thou shalt return) in fulfillment of the divine word, at the same time raising a heap of memorial over them that would caution and warn the living.  Consider this:  As children, many of us are angered and feel put upon by parental demands that we faithfully carry out the chores of removing trash and garbage from the home.  Most parents do not submit a formal written request in triplicate, justify themselves and their demands, or offer such terms for their child’s obedience as “maybe,” “some times,” and “whenever you feel like it.”  Parents do not typically explain that leftover food and unwanted material draw insects, rodents, and other disease carriers into the home.  Should the child become sick, they will miss school, play and other activity with their friends—or even cause their friends to become sick also.  Should the parents be forced to miss days from work because of illness, the family would not receive money needed for medicine, groceries, and by not making payment might lose their home, their beds and their places to sleep!  By their obedience children are able to obtain various benefits that are not explained to them in detail.  Similarly, at first, covenant believers are not given a detailed explanation of the benefits that come by fellowship with GOD; yet, their needs are met through simple obedience.  All the consequences and damages from disobedience and sin are not detailed for created beings and living creatures.  Thus, death may be understood as a token that describes a broad range of  irreversible ill effects and losses that come by defiance of divine law, ignorance, lying, selfishness, ungodliness, and willfulness.  See Revelation 21:  6-8, KJV.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.  Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.  Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.  For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:  He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.  Love ye therefore the stranger:  for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.  Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.  He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.  Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.  (Deuteronomy 10:  14-22, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Why the Gospel for Our Children (05/13/2014); Changing Times and Laws? (05/14/2014); “Prayer Death”? (02/21/2014); The 2nd Prayer Death (02/22/2014); Kicked Out By Parents? (11/27/2013); Before Getting Baptized? (11/28/2013); Circumcision and Promise? (07/16/2013); The Bible and Stupid People (07/17/2013); Accomplished in Christ? (01/16/2013); The Need to Purify Heaven (01/17/2013)


“JT”, here are a few points that may make clear why circumcision is more than a mere cutting of ones flesh:

(1.)  Covenant relationships to GOD are established through such mechanisms as blood (we say, atonement, the circulation of life essence within flesh), utterance (we say, breath, promise, spirit, word), through sacrifice (exchange of gifts, offerings, enduring loss or suffering), and through sanctification (cleansing, purification, washing and being set apart exclusively for service to GOD).

(2.)  Because minor children lack discernment (ability to correctly use ones own spirit content from GOD to recognize the spirit matter (we say, divinity) in events, objects and other persons), parents must be accountable for all decisions regarding the spiritual development of little ones, their future inheritance, and their ongoing participation as members both of a family unit and part of a living household.

(3.)  The age of accountability for baptism, confirmation, and first communion of minors within many congregations and faith communities varies from 8 years old to 20.  The idea of “bar mitzvah” at 12 to 14 is also maintained wherein youth observe a rite of passage to adult participation in their community by presenting a spiritual dissertation in public to the full adult congregation.  Therein they “prove” themselves and their individual beliefs worthy of acceptance and respect.

There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Where circumcision pertains to priesthood and service within a community of believers, often decisions must be in recognition of duty, things that must be done (like it, don’t like it) for the good of others, despite the cost or loss one must personally endure.  The physical “pain and suffering” of circumcision is temporary, and lasts no longer than that of brain and heart surgery.).  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.  Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.  And the heavens shall declare his righteousness:  for God is judge himself.  Selah.  (Psalms 50:  4-6, KJV)


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC