We’re going to tackle circumcision to bring things into perspective, in lieu of our previous discussion about asking questions and daring. Yes, you heard me right, circumcision 🙂 We all know Paul’s ‘confrontation’ with Peter about circumcision and it’s necessity. We all know the end result. Circumcision was done away with. But let’s examine this closer;

Every male was circumcised at that time. Why?
Because the Jewish faith requires circumcision? Why?
Because God directly told Abraham to circumcise all as a sign of His covenant with Abraham.

Remember, Peter and Paul and everyone else are still Jewish at the time of this Biblical confrontation

Start Dialogue;
Peter: If a gentile believes in Jesus as the Messiah, he will need to be circumcised. Abraham had to do it as an adult, so the adult gentiles need to be circumcised when they profess Christ as Lord and Savior.

Paul: Come on Peter, why require them to be circumcised? It is not necessary.

[Interjection: What if I said let’s do away with baptism and communion and that there is no room for them in the Christian faith!? You would laugh me off, correct? But this is exactly what’s happening here.]

Peter: Are you out of your mind Paul!? God demanded it in the Bible…… besides, what’s the big fuss, we’ve done this for thousands of years and it’s a clip clip and it’s over with. It is easier to do it rather than fight about it. Come on Paul.

Paul: It is not about carrying on for the sake of carrying on Peter. I was never there man but you were. Don’t you remember Jesus’ teaching and preaching………..  so I say, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
End dialogue

So how do churches today set themselves apart? Entire denominations stand on tenets as Baptism at what age and by which method? Tenets of Communion and what it means and how it is handled? Tenets of Spiritual gifts and which one trumps others?

Is this what Jesus preached or man devised? Let’s follow the example of the apostles and unite. No matter how long it’s been like this, it is time to make it right.

So have you thought about these questions; Did God intend to have so many divisions within His church/ Is it God’s plan for man to fight over what Jesus said or meant/ Is God looking at us delighted about our divisions or sad? Simple questions begging a simple answer, and that answer is; we have created the divisions and we need to undo it and reunite. It is possible not impossible. Why? Because it is indeed God’s plan for us to be united in Him. Till next week 🙂