why didn't I turn to the scriptures?
Most Christians today who claim to be pro-circumcision (even if for "religious reasons") have no idea that the New Testament Epistles are riddled with anti-circumcision rhetoric. The apostles were very clear that if you were circumcised when you converted to Christianity, it didn't count against you. But requiring it of new Christian members, doing it to children, or even to one's self was repeatedly and unwaveringly condemned. Paul explained that if you believe in the atonement of Jesus Christ, that circumcision avails literally nothing. (from here)
Galatians 5: 2-6
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
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.
Titus 1: 10-11
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
Philippians 3:2-3
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Doctrine and Covenants 74
1 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; else were your children unclean, but now are they holy.
2 Now, in the days of the apostles the law of circumcision was had among all the Jews who believed not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
3 And it came to pass that there arose a great contention among the people concerning the law of circumcision, for the unbelieving husband was desirous that his children should be circumcised and become subject to the law of Moses, which law was fulfilled.
4 And it came to pass that the children, being brought up in subjection to the law of Moses, gave heed to the traditions of their fathers and believed not the gospel of Christ, wherein they became unholy.
5 Wherefore, for this cause the apostle wrote unto the church, giving unto them a commandment, not of the Lord, but of himself, that a believer should not be united to an unbeliever; except the law of Moses should be done away among them,
6 That their children might remain without circumcision; and that the tradition might be done away, which saith that little children are unholy; for it was had among the Jews;
7 But little children are holy, being csanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and this is what the scriptures mean.
Book of Mormon
3 Nephi 15:4-5
4 Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.
5 Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end.
Moroni 8:8
8 Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.
Bible Dictionary - Circumcision:
The Jewish part of the church membership, especially in Jerusalem, appears to have been very reluctant to cease from the rituals and ceremony of the law of Moses (Acts 21:17–25). This is a marked contrast to the Church among the Nephites, in which there seems to have been a cessation of the law immediately upon their awareness of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"The Brethren are impressed not to take
a firmer stand, trusting, as did Church
leaders in New Testament times, that if
the basic revealed principles are
known, the Holy Ghost will
eventually lead the adherents to
forsake their tradition, or academic
popularity, or peer pressure in favor of
the word of God.ʺ From here
And Elder Christofferson discusses the law of circumcision ending in the New Testament in this most recent General Conference
2 comments:
Additional scriptures that support the - "Male and Female He created them"....
The , which lead one to believe circumcision was added to Hebrew Scriptures later.
John 7:19-24 in which Jesus rebukes Jewish criticism of him for restoring a man to complete health on the Sabbath with Jewish circumcision on the Sabbath, indicating He considers that circumcision destroys male wholeness.
Love the contemporary note that Jesus was an Intactivist too - he Baptizes instead of circumcising.
Hope these help.
Your blog is awesome, as is this post! I am fascinated by your findings, and inspired by your interest in figuring it out yourself - in doing the work to see what the information really states as opposed to taking somebody else's word for it (when they may or may not have done any research themselves). And that photo is simply heart-breaking.
I have many LDS family members who I wish would read this, though I don't get in their business about such personal things. Just as you said, I believe they all circumcise believing it's what scripture states.
Here's to the free-thinkers of the world! :)
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