ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 17, 2026
Can I confess something? I laugh each time I come across the passage in 1st Corinthians 7, where Paul wrote, “Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision.” I’m so glad Paul gave those already circumcised permission not to try to reverse it, especially back in the first century. As far as I know, plastic surgery was not very good back then. So much of Paul’s teaching is about not going backwards—what’s done is done. And for those circumcised, Paul does not want them to think about it anymore. Instead, he wants them to move forward and obey the commandments of God, specifically those taught by Jesus. Of course, some would have argued with Paul and said that circumcision was one of the commands of God, but for Paul there is a new commandment: “To love the Lord your God and love your neighbor.” Don’t allow people to back you into a corner on some fringe issue of faith. Instead, just tell them: “I am not stuck on reversing my circumcision.” I’m pretty sure that will baffle them enough to give you time to slip away and go about the work of loving God and loving neighbor.
Keep me seeking ways to better love you, O Gracious One of All Creation, for I desire to love my neighbor as was defined by the parable of the Good Samaritan, among other wonderful teachings of Jesus. Amen.
