Circumcision in Christianity

[janwoG]

I am a Protestant interested in Messianic Judaism. I have read that the Coptic Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church are practicing circumcision of male infants, stated as more cultural than religious. Does anyone know about it in that sub forum, if these churches have a ritual of circumcision and if yes can he give me a short description of this ritual?

Many thanks in advance and with the blessings of the Lord Father and the Lord Messiah.

 

[OuterWater]

You may want to ask in the Oriental Orthodox forum. From the Orthodox point of view, circumcision is fine for medical reasons but not for religious reasons. As Paul says, circumcision and uncircumcision avails nothing, but rather faith working through love. I would caution you away from Messianic Judaism, as there is plenty of biblical evidence that we should not be reverting to the old law, as evidenced by acts 16, as well as Paul's admonition against the Judaizers.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

I am a Protestant interested in Messianic Judaism. I have read that the Coptic Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church are practicing circumcision of male infants, stated as more cultural than religious. Does anyone know about it in that sub forum, if these churches have a ritual of circumcision and if yes can he give me a short description of this ritual?

Many thanks in advance and with the blessings of the Lord Father and the Lord Messiah.

Those within the Oriental and Ethopian Orthodox forums would be better suited in addressing some of the things you noted...but if interested, one can go here / Here or here in the thread entitled Messianic Judaism and Ethiopian Orthodoxy. With those who are Ethopian Orthodox, they're more connected to Judaic aspects due to the ethnic heritage/cultural make-up of the Ethopians who have a Jewish background and were incorporated into the Church when it was made.



The Copts don't seem to be agaisnt circumcision, although their stance is that it isn't necessary in order to be righteous before the Lord in Christ (As discussed here ). And apart from that, there are others within Orthodoxy that may be of more assistance on the subject. In example, I'm aware of one conversion story of the son of an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, who became an Eastern Orthodox priest. His name was Fr James Bernstein. When I was wondering about the Jewish aspect to Orthodoxy, I especially enjoyed learning of his book "Surprised by Christ", as there was an excellent podcast concerning interviewing the author and why he is as he is ( As seen here and here). On some of the resources I was able to investigate that were really good for processing:

• Flow of Consciousness: Surprised by Christ: My Journey from Orthodox Judaism to Orthodox Christianity ...

There is also a Bulgarian parish (found here at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church - Allston, MA | Home )that you might wanna check out/email in Boston, where both priests, Fr Patrick Tischel and Fr Michael Kon, are Jews. Praying that the information aids you. Shalom

 

[ArmyMatt]

yeah, I would head over to the Oriental forum and ask them there. but as far as we are concerned, circumcision has been fulfilled in baptism.

 

[MrJim]

As an evangelical I didn't have my boys circumcised~my wife's 90 year old grandmother at the time said too that "We aren't Jewish"; she didn't have her son circumcised (my wife's father).

OT: Always had a question about circumcision~in the NT we read where Paul had Timothy circumcised (IIRC) so they could preach among the Jews~~so, was there some kind of "inspection" back then? They raise their robe/drop their britches so someone could say "Yup, no foreskin, you're good"?

 

[ProScribe]

There was something about a circumscision requirement in the Old Testament but as we move into the end of the New Testment ~ the parents after the ob-gyn delivery would decide if they want circumscision or not. I would *think* circumscision took on a spiritual meaning and not literal in the NT. So, really its up to the parents now on the circumscision issue.

 

[janwoG]

Many thanks for those who answered to this thread, I will post it in the Oriental sub-forum as advised by some.