Heart surgery

Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. – Deuteronomy 10v16

Circumcision is a tough topic to discuss, especially in ‘mixed company.’ Many years ago when I was teaching a junior high Bible class back at Triana Village one of the young guys innocently asked me, out loud, ‘Mr Parrow, what is circumcision anyway?’ Of course that brought a few chuckles and embarrassed looks, so I took him aside afterward and told him privately. Poor guy was so embarrassed (and probably will be today if he reads this J ).

Circumcision of course is a cutting away of the flesh. The Jewish parents have it done to their sons for religious reasons. Some tribal groups circumcise as a right of manhood. Americans and some other cultures practice it for supposed hygienic purposes. Embarrassing as it might be, it is a part of life and a regular topic in the word of God.

The Jews, since the time of Abraham, have placed a huge importance on circumcision. Many times in the past they have referred to Gentiles (non-Jews) as ‘uncircumcised dogs.’ They were truly proud of their circumcised status. ‘We do it all right! We are the circumcised race. That makes us all sorted with God!’

Sounds like some Christians today, doesn’t it? ‘We do it all right. We dress right, worship right, and preach right. We do all the holy stuff. We do the right things and don’t do the wrong things. We go to church every time the doors are open. We tithe. We give to the poor. We put our kids in Christian schools. We have our small group Bible studies. We are traditional/contemporary/mixed in our worship. We have it all figured out. Our outward show is right.’

Like usual, God cuts right to the heart of the matter – literally. ‘Circumcise the foreskin of your heart.’ Bang. Ouch. Game, set, and match. What was required was not the cosmetic/hygienic/ritual/religious surgery in the flesh, but true heart surgery. Until we rid our hearts of their ‘fleshiness’ the outer works do no good. It is only a painful experience and nothing more. Out of the heart spring all of the issues of life.

If we are ever going to get it right we, like Israel, need to work from the inside out. Someone has put it this way, ‘You have to change your heart before you can change you shirt.’

It is time to quit playing fleshly games. It is time to get serious and do some heart surgery.