davidbu@tekigm2.men.tek.com (David Buxton) (10/16/89)
A modern study shows that women married to un-circumcised men have a higher incidence of cirvical cancer. This was the specific statistic. I suspect that a higher incidence of other problems is also likely among women married to un-circumcised men. This is a modern statistic where it is much easier for a man to keep himself clean with a convenient bath or shower each day. Think what the statistics would be back a hundred or thousand years ago. (There are probably studies that claim it makes no difference and you are welcome to subscribe to these) When a baby is born it benefits from the immune system of its mother for a few days. Mother's immunities are still carried around in the babies blood for several days. In the mean time the baby must get its own immune system going. Science has shown that the peak of immunity occurs on the 8th day. This is the day on which the Jews circumcise as directed in the OT. I see that circumcision is no longer a question of ceremonial or ritual law and has nothing to do with salvation, if it ever did (an attitude of dissobedience can indeed cost salvation). This sort of ceremonial law was done away with at the cross. I see it as a health issue, as it is with a surprising number of Moses' health laws. (It is sometimes hard to decide which reflects an eternal health principal and which of the Mosaic ordinances is purely ceremonial) Someone emailed me a text that refers to circumcisian as being of an eternal nature. Paul makes it clear that it is nothing from a spiritual prspective. Perhaps there are eternal benefits in the health context. My two boys were circumcised. The doctor came to get my son, on approximately the 8th day (my wife would know if it was on the 8th day). There was a yelp of pain from across the hall, crying for about 5 minutes. Baby was soon back in mothers arms and in a few minutes sound asleep. That is the way it was for both my boys who are 3 years apart. My mother, a doctor, did a lot of circumcisions for Jews in Toronto. To a Jew, down through the ages, it matters not if a circumcision falls upon the Sabbath; it is done on the 8th day regardless. The 8th day principle stood above the 4th Commandment in the mind of the Jew. Jesus pointed this out when they got on his case for healing the sick on the Sabbath. Jesus is my example of how to keep God's day of rest - He is "Lord of the Sabbath". Enough on that - moving on. Circumcision for a grown adult is quite a different matter. It seems a bit arrogant for anyone who was circumcised as a baby, and of course has no recollection of the pain, to insist that an adult be circumcised. I would recommend circumcision for babies on or near the 8th day. For adults I would simply urge that they be especially carefull of cleanliness and leave it at that. I think that the Mosaic ceremonial and health laws are worth studying to see what health principles can be gleaned. Each of you will come to a different interpretation on what is fulfilled ceremonial and what is still applicable from a health perspective. Example on the matter of fat in the diet (Mosaic law). I am aquainted with some recent work with diebetics who are cured on a fat/oil free diet. I do not wish to judge anybody on what each decides is purely ceremonial and what is health. Peace, Dave