In San Francisco, in recent years, some homosexual Jews decided that circumcision was a thing of the past & no longer relevant for today. They are undergoing surgery to look more "natural."
In other places, some Jewish young men have actually sued their parents for having them circumcised when they were babies, while many secular Jews are opting not to circumcise their children.
Orthodox Jews, Messianic Jews & many Jews of various backgrounds are still vehemently strong in their desire to follow the L-rd's commandment to circumcise their children on the 8th day.
In the Medical health field, articles are written pro & con on the benefits of circumcision. Yet around the world many non-Jews follow the practice of circumcision. Many tribes in Africa, some Indian tribes in Mexico & South America do & even in the Fiji Islands, they circumcise their children. The Muslim world believes in circumcision, too. Confused? Let's see what the Bible says:
Abram followed G-d's instructions and killed & divided a heifer, a goat, & a ram, plus a dove and a young pigeon. "As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the L-rd spoke to him."
".When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day, the L-rd made a covenant with Abram and said, 'To your descendants I give this land." Read the entire account in Gen. 15.
In ancient times, when covenants were made between people, animals were killed and split apart. The parties making the covenant would walk between the pieces and say to one another, "May I become like these animals if I fail to fulfill my part in the covenant we are making today." G-d Himself passed between the pieces of the animals. He made a binding covenant with Abram, promising him countless descendants & the Land, which today is called Israel.
A little later, just before his son Isaac was conceived, G-d appeared to Avram again and changed his name to Abraham (father of a nation) and gave him instructions about circumcision, the token of the covenant. After G-d made a covenant with Abraham, He commanded that every male in Abraham's household (children & servants) should be circumcised on the 8th day, as a token of the covenant. Gen. 15 Every one who was not circumcised was considered to be "cut off from his people" & guilty of breaking the covenant. Gen. 17:1-14
The L-rd made it a part of the Law Lev. 12:3. It applied to all male children & slaves born in the home or purchased, as well as to any foreigner if they wished to partake of the Passover or become citizens of Israel. Ex. 12:48
During the 40 years of wandering in the desert, Israel did not observe circumcision, and therefore, at the end of their journey, after crossing the Jordan River, all the males had to be circumcised. Josh. 5:2 They could not conquer the Land of the Covenant without taking the sign of the covenant in their flesh.
Circumcision expresses the faith of the parents in joining their child to the covenant relationship regarding the Land of Israel. The physical act has nothing to do with salvation of the child, other than setting the child apart from the world & joining him to a unique people. It has nothing to do with Christian baptism; it can NOT be used as an excuse to baptize babies. Meaning of Circumcision:
Circumcision is the external token of the covenant between G-d & His People. It secured all the rights of the covenant & participation in all its material & spiritual benefits. It was simply a token of the recognition of the covenant relationship existing between G-d & Israel. It has nothing to do with salvation from sins! (G-d credited Abram's belief for righteousness, before he was circumcised! Gen. 15:6 However it is used in Scripture as a symbol of various spiritual things. For example, It is used as a figurative symbol of an attitude of the heart. "Circumcise your hearts, therefore, & do not be stiff-necked any longer." Deut. 10:16; "Circumcise yourselves to the L-rd, circumcise your hearts.." Jer. 4:4; "To whom can I speak & give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are uncircumcised, so they cannot hear. The Word of the L-rd is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it." Jer. 6:10 ".you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart & flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple." Ezek. 44:7
It is obvious from the above Scriptures and many more, that the L-rd expected the outer circumcision in the flesh to symbolize an inner attitude change in the heart. Unfortunately, the greatest distance in the world seems to be the distance between our heads and our hearts.
Spiritual Application of Circumcision:
Jer. 31 talks of a new covenant which the L-rd promises to those who want to be circumcised in heart. Physical circumcision is a "putting off" of a part of the flesh as a symbol of a covenant relationship with a Holy G-d. It is an outward symbol of what happens inside spiritually when we "put off" the old sin nature & "put on" Messiah (believe in Him and ask Him to be Lord/Boss of our life). When Messiah Y'shua (Jesus Christ) died, was buried, and rose again, G-d considered us to have died with Him, been buried with Him and risen with Him. His circumcision is also imputed to us. Col. 2:11 It was our old sin nature, which was judged on the execution stake (cross), and so, we now have the ability to live above the sin nature: Our very heart has been circumcised with the circumcision made without hands. Rom. 8:3 We are dead to sin, but alive to G-d! When we were baptized (immersed) into the Holy Spirit, He effected spiritual circumcision for us.
"...having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of G-d, Who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, G-d made you alive with Messiah. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us. He took it away, nailing it to the tree (cross)." Col. 2:12-14
The bottom Line: The L-rd says, "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward & physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly, and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from G-d." Rom. 2:28-29 To be circumcised in the flesh in obedience to G-d is praiseworthy, but it means nothing unless you are circumcised in heart by the Spirit of G-d!
Lura Maiman, Congregation Yeruel, Israel