Circumsicion- Please help me!

[Moe975]

Hi there. I am Methodist. I have a question that seems to be a really huge debate! I need some help. What is the Christian belief on circumsicion? I am having a baby boy in March and we are having him circumsized, but many people on another board I am on ( for pregnant women) really have some nasty oppinions amd keep on harrassing me about it! Some people say it is not a Christian belief and that it is only a Jewish thing and that it is no where ever mentioned in Christianity to have a boy circumsized ( I regret I asked them this question!) .. Ok so Jesus was circumsized and he was Jewish, and wouldn't it mean that Christianity actually came from Judiaism ? Also wasn't this something that Moses spoke about? I know that is the OT I have read different parts of the Bible on this, but I wanted to know what you all think . Thank you in advance .

MOE

 

[puriteen18]

I don't think whether it would matter either way, unless you are doing it for a religious reason. The Jewish ordinances no longer have place in Christianity, because they have been fullfilled in Jesus. But if you are not doing it for a religious reason I think it would be okay.

I would advise for the sake of your son to check out what other couples in your area are doing. The boys who were different in the locker room do get alot of teasing.

If most do I would advise for the sake of your son to have it done, but if most don't I wouldn't.

But then again you are the parent. Remember he is your kid, do what you think is best.

 

[J3sus-Is-Alive]

yea i same view about it here!

 

[UberLutheran]

Moe -- you'll find your answers in the following:
- Romans 2:25-3:1 (actually, go ahead and read all of Romans 2 and 3, because it's such good theology!)
- Romans 4:4-13 (oh, you might as well read Romans 4 while you're at it, for the same reason!)
- 1 Corinthians 7:18-19
- Galatians 2 (this is a wonderful discourse about a conflict between St. Paul and St. Peter regarding circumcision: Peter believed that new believers had to be circumcised, while Paul believed that circumcision was not required)
- Galatians 5:1-6 (I don't always agree with the way some people interpret Paul, but Paul is absolutely right on the mark, here -- and the Letter to the Galatians is some of Paul's best theology, right up there with Romans!)
- Galatians 6:12-18
- Ephesians 2:10-12
- Philippians 3:1-6
- Colossians 2:9-16
- Colossians 3:11

 

[thereselittleflower]

The only reason for a Christian to do it is for personal/health reasons . . there is no religious reason to do it or not do it . . You should not be judged by your Christian brethern either way you decide . . it is none of their business.


Peace in Him!

 

[I_Praise_Him]

Circumcision was a sign between the Jews and the Lord. Period. I just talked to a natal nurse this past New Year's Eve about this very subject (because my girlfriend's sister was having a baby that night) and she said circumcision is on the decline nowadays... Dr. Dean Edell even said on his radio program that it is much less common now than it was in the past. It takes no longer to clean the uncircumcised portion of the penis than it does a circumcised one, plus circumcision reduces sensitivity. I will not do it to my son. If you're not Jewish and you teach your child proper cleansing then there's no need for circumcision.

 

[Palatka44]

I had this decision to make when my son was born 15 years ago. My wife and I were going to have it done because my parents thought it should be done. However the Pediatrician thought that it was a form of infant abuse and we did not have it done.
At the age of 7 he began to have problems and had to be circumcised. He missed a week of school and the whole situation was an embarrassment to him. We regretted even listening to the Pediatrician. And it is an event that my son will always remember. So if you are going to do it have it done while he is still an infant. The abuse is in the delay. My parents are very wise.

 

[Palatka44]

Isn't there a report that has been released that shows evidence that women that have a circumcised mate have a lower rate of cervical cancer?

 

[NewInChrist]

First, I agree with everyone that says it should be looked as a religious subject but a health issue as Jesus taught that it was not an issue anymore. Now on a health stand point I believe all boys should be circumcided as I have always heard that in adults uncircumcided men can have problems. I know a man that had several cases of infections because he was not circumcised and from what I heard it was extremely painful. I do believe he ended up getting circumcides because of the infection and at his age, ouch!! I had all three of my boys circumcided right after they were born while still in the hospital and the Pediatrician strongly suggested it be done for the reason I stated above. As far as it being abuse, that is nonsense. Yes it hurts them but it is a quick procedure and they are feeling better in no time at all. There are many medical procedures your child will go through (shots, etc.) that will hurt them but are in their best interest, would all these be considered child abuse. At the time that my boys were little it was basically the norm that boys were circumcided and I hadn't heard that it isn't the norm anymore. Considering the extreme pain they could face as adults from infections IMHO a few minutes of pain as a tiny baby is worth them not having to have problems as an adult.

YSIC

 

[I_Praise_Him]

I just need to add that I am not circumsized and I've never had any problems because of it, let alone infection. I was never teased about it either. Advice to those about to have a newborn son and are unsure about whether to circumsize or not... DON'T DO IT! Later on in life if the child would like to get circumsized (for whatever reason), he can get it done then. They would put a local anesthesia on it first so it's not going to be that painful anyway. Trust me on this one... don't do it.

 

[NewInChrist]

Just curious on why you would say "DON'T DO IT". Can you give reasons why you feel it shouldn't be done.
The actual procedure my not hurt due to anesthesia but after that wears off? From what I have heard having it done as an adult it is very painful.

 

[I_Praise_Him]

Hi NewInChrist,

I just made several key points as to why circumcision should be avoided nowadays. I’ll point them out again and add a couple more I just remembered about.

1. Circumcision was an act the Jews did to show God that they followed Him.
2. I talked to a Pediatric nurse in the maternity ward at Kaiser Hospital about 5 weeks ago and asked her about circumcision. She said that circumcision is losing popularity and is not done as much as it used to be.
3. Dr. Dean Edell, a radio personality medical doctor, also said that circumcisions have been greatly reduced in recent years. He also said that more and more circumcised men are actually having skin grafts done, adding skin back to their penises to restore sensitivity. Circumcision reduces sensitivity. Hint: Sexually, that’s not a good thing
4. I have not been circumcised and I’m very glad my parents never had it done to me. I’ve never had any problems whatsoever… let alone any kind of infection, and I’ve never been teased about it either.
5. With regular daily washing you’ll never have any problems with it.
6. Yes, the child or adult male can have it done at any time in the future, and I highly doubt it’s any more painful than any other type of skin surgery. It’s probably more reminiscent to that of mole removal.
7. The claim that uncircumcised men can give their female partners an increased chance of cervical cancer is ridiculous.

So, my purpose is not to debate this issue, but to present the facts to you (other than reason number 7 which is just my opinion). If you’re going to have a male child, consider these reasons before you make your decision.

 

[nephilimiyr]

You may find my story interesting...

My father was uncircumcised until he entered the US Air Force back in 1948. Back then the Air Force made it manitory to be circumcised. He said it was one of the most painful things he ever went through and when my brother and I were born he told my mother he wanted us to have it done right away so that if we would have to have it done at a later age we wouldn't have to go through what he did.

Well my wife and I happend to have 4 boys and when she was pregnant with the first of course the subject came up. We asked around and the most popular answer we got was that it was important for the young boy to be like the father. So since this wasn't any kind of major delema in our lives at the time we went with the thought since it did make sense to me. Our first 2 boys are circumcised like their father. When my wife was pregnant with our 3rd boy I was getting out of the Army and during the Labor and Hospitol stay we had no insurance to cover the cost. To lower our rather large bill we were going to be paying out of our pocket we optioned to forgo the circumcision. Back in 1988 the procedure costed $400 and just being out of the Army and starting all over we simply didn't have the money. Well then came our 4th son and my wife and I both agreed that he will too be uncircumcised so that our third fellow didn't feel too freakish.

The circumcisions and or lack thereof hasn't destroyed our sense of family. I know my boys quite well and would know if this would ever pose a problem and it never has and it probably never will.

Moe975, most guys who are uncircumcised will paint you a picture of doom and gloom if you agree to have your son circumcised, don't believe it!

 

[I_Praise_Him]

Even if it is as painful as your father says, there's still no real good reason to have it done nowadays.

 

[nephilimiyr]

Even if it is as painful as your father says, there's still no real good reason to have it done nowadays.

I understand your point and I even happen to agree with it to a certain extent! I agree that there is no medical reason to have it done (even though some studies have found that uncircumcised men have a higher chance at contacting VD then circumcised men) and there is nothing in the Bible that says we as christian men are ordered by God to have it done. However there are some reasons parents may want their child circumcised other than these reasons and in short I do believe it's the parents who do have the right to chose which way they want to go with this.

I'm only bringing up the point, that if anything, I don't believe it's all that big a deal. It's nothing to get yourself all worked up over like so many people do. It's like your capitol lettered "DON'T DO IT" with exclamation point. You say this like you feel I'm so deprived of this thing or whatever. Trust me, if you were circumcised at birth you wouldn't think nothing of it either. What you feel you never had, you never miss...unless you want to dwell on the fact?

 

[Palatka44]

Even if it is as painful as your father says, there's still no real good reason to have it done nowadays.

If you'll remember my post in this thread you'll note that my parent's opinion was that I should have my son circumcised and the Dr said that it was a form of child abuse. Well we took the advise of the Dr and in the 7th year my son's foreskin grew closed [a condition that my father had to deal with as an older child]. We took my son to another Dr who said that she had never seen this in a male child before. We took him to a urologist who said that this is a trait in some families. Thankfully I did not experience this as my parents are very wise people. While some Drs do not always know what they are talking about.
Meanwhile I was left having to explain to a 7 year old why Daddy did not listen to his parents.
So you shouldn't go around saying that there is no good reason to have it done nowadays.

 

[nephilimiyr]

If you'll remember my post in this thread you'll note that my parent's opinion was that I should have my son circumcised and the Dr said that it was a form of child abuse. Well we took the advise of the Dr and in the 7th year my son's foreskin grew closed [a condition that my father had to deal with as an older child]. We took my son to another Dr who said that she had never seen this in a male child before. We took him to a urologist who said that this is a trait in some families. Thankfully I did not experience this as my parents are very wise people. While some Drs do not always know what they are talking about.
Meanwhile I was left having to explain to a 7 year old why Daddy did not listen to his parents.
So you shouldn't go around saying that there is no good reason to have it done nowadays.

The condition your son had is a rare condition and even though I'm sure your 7 year old suffered from it I don't believe it's a good enough reason to perform the procedure for every baby boy. Again, it should be the parents decision.

I believe one of the things that should determine the answer to this question is whether the father is circumcised or uncircumcised. It's easier for boys to connect with their fathers. I honestly believe it's important for the young boy to know that he is made correctly and just like his father. Tradition is another good reason to circumcise the boy. Other than those reasons I don't see why the procedure should be done.

As for the peer aspect of this I see this the same way I do your sons condition and that it's rare for any boy to be teased on how he maybe different in this area. When I grew up through school there were a few boys who were uncircumcised and never did I witness any of them being teased over it. I mean it just didn't happen.