The Bible says God called His creation of us “very good.” Why then do we so easily believe myths about one part of it being bad?
Click here to see what Christians throughout the ages have thought of circumcision.
Parents might give many reasons for having chosen circumcision, but underlying almost all of them is a negative view of the foreskin.
After all, if the foreskin was seen as a good, healthy, purposeful part of the body then why would we ever seek to have it removed?
Our culture tells us that the foreskin is dirty, disease causing, gross, useless, or even ugly – just something that males are better off without – and many American parents believe these things. Because of this, they allow their doctor to surgically remove their son’s healthy foreskin when he is born. As Christians, this attitude should give us cause for concern.
Believing that God is the Creator who fashioned our bodies helps us to order our thoughts concerning our bodies and their value. Throughout the Bible we can see how wonderful our bodies are and what an amazing job God has done in designing them.
Genesis tells us that God saw everything that He had made and that it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
David praises God for the way he is “fearfully and wonderfully made” by Him (Psalm 139:14).
Paul uses an analogy to explain to the Corinthians how God has “arranged every part” of the body just as He meant it to be (I Corinthians 12:18). This was to help them understand how the body of Christ works together – but the analogy only works because God arranged our real bodies in the same way in the first place, in just the way He meant them to be.
Understanding what the Bible says about how God lovingly and purposefully created our bodies, is it then consistent to believe that the male foreskin only is somehow inherently bad? To believe that males are better off not having this part of their body that God purposefully gave them? That God made something that is disgusting and dirty and useless? No, it isn’t.
A biblical view of the body doesn’t allow us to just amputate parts from children for no good reason.
- A biblical view of the body is one where we view all of our body as good – because God is the one who designed our bodies.
- A biblical view of the body is one in which all parts are valued and their purposes understood and respected.
- A biblical view of the body calls us to care for our body parts properly (e.g. I Corinthians 6:19-20) and to do all we can to preserve the body that God gave us, only turning to removing body parts when they are causing issues which are not able to be taken care of in any other less invasive way.
- A biblical view of the body causes us to praise God for His amazing design of every part.
- A biblical view of the body accepts God’s design rather than seeking to alter it and leave part of the body in a state that God never meant for it to be in.
Taking a biblical view of the body leads us to say no to circumcision.
A biblical view of the body leads us to say no to circumcision.Click To TweetBut wait a second – isn’t circumcision in the Bible? How can we claim that practicing circumcision has no place among Christians when the practice of circumcision was commanded by God and is recorded in the Bible itself?
1. First, we need to make a distinction between modern circumcision (brit periah) and biblical circumcision (brit milah).
We need to make a distinction here.
The type of circumcision referred to in the Bible was a procedure that did not involve removing the entire foreskin, did not expose the glans, and actually preserved the functions of the foreskin since much of it remained intact. Biblical circumcision involved “blunting” or “clipping” the end of the foreskin and did not include separating and removing the rest of the foreskin from the glans, to which it is firmly attached (by God’s design). Modern circumcision, by contrast, does separate and remove. (Click here for a diagram depicting the difference.)
The modern circumcision procedure practiced in America leaves the glans in an unnatural exposed state, rather than remaining an internal organ most of the time, as God designed it to be. Modern circumcision does not preserve the important functions of the foreskin which God purposefully designed it to include. Instead, it permanently destroys these functions.**
It’s inappropriate to attempt to use the Bible to justify modern circumcision because the practices are not the same thing.
2. Furthermore, biblical circumcision was a religious ritual which had nothing to do with a belief that the foreskin is bad or dirty. It had to do with God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Today it is common to hear people in America, even Christians, talk of how they perceive the foreskin to be so dirty and problematic, but that is not why God commanded circumcision and that view of the foreskin is not found anywhere in the Bible. God’s covenant of circumcision with the Israelites was not based in the idea that the foreskin is bad, or that it’s better to remove it from the body – it was a sign of His covenant with them (Genesis 17:11).
In fact, you could very well argue something that was bad or unclean would have never been used as a sign of God’s covenant in the first place. The sacrifices God required were always the best parts of something – the things that should be the hardest to give up – never the leftovers.
God doesn’t view the foreskin as bad, and we shouldn’t either.
3. God has only ever asked one group of people, for a certain period of time, to cut off the end of the foreskin as a sign of His covenant with them. He did not ask them to do so for any other reasons beyond this sacrifice. God has never made a covenant of circumcision with Christians, nor has He commanded us to undergo biblical circumcision for any other reason. If anything, the New Testament tells Christians not to practice circumcision (1 Corinthians 7:18-20; cf. Acts 15:5-10, Galatians 5, Philippians 3). Christians throughout history have agreed. The modern form of circumcision especially has never been in God’s plan or design for our lives.
As Christians we need to make sure that we are using our faith and the Bible as our starting point when evaluating cultural practices, and modern circumcision is not consistent with a biblical view of the body and of God as our wonderful creator. Rather than valuing the body that God designed, modern circumcision actually destroys part of God’s design, and viewing the foreskin in a negative light implies that God did not know what He was doing when He designed man and that we can somehow improve upon His design by altering it.
If you understand the foreskin to be a good, healthy, normal part that God purposefully designed into the human body, then you have no reason to seek its removal. If you think the foreskin is gross, dirty, or useless then you don’t have a biblical view of the body. Please take the time to understand the foreskin and its purpose in the body – and in all things, praise God for His wonderful design!
- Does a Biblical view of the body allow for circumcision? - December 3, 2015
Christine Hubel says
Great article!
Sarah Silcox Martin says
This is one of the clearest, well written, informative articles for Christians ever written on this subject. I have shared because I have pastors arguing with me that God commanded circumcision.
Melanie R. Childers says
The Bible calls circumcision, MUTILATION.
Hannah says
Thank you for this excellent writing that really gets to the core of the issue. I will gladly dispel the various medical myths (circumcision decreases infections, whole genitals are hard to clean etc.) all day long if it helps people spare their sons from genital cutting, but at the root of this is whether or not we believe God when he said his creation is very good.
James Mac says
I’ve always thought it very odd that some Catholics are unaware there is nothing less than a Papal Decree specifically forbidding the practice:
“Therefore, it commands all who glory in the name of Christian, at whatever time, before or after baptism, to cease entirely from circumcision, since, whether or not one places hope in it, it cannot be observed at all without the loss of eternal salvation.” ~Pope Eugene IV
http://catholicism.org/cantate-domino.html
Allyshia Berger says
Amen
Michelle Gresham says
“In fact, something that was bad or unclean would have never been used as a sign of God’s covenant in the first place. The sacrifices God required were the best parts of something – the things that should be the hardest to give up – never the leftovers.”
THIS. YES.
Ryan Watson says
Amy this is absolutely fantastic! Thank you <3
Sylvia Joy Swan says
Amen 1000x!!!! Thank you!!! <3
Senika Eastman says
Amen!
Kazik Kaczon says
Circumcision is abuse
Kayla Scott says
Well just saying buuuuutttttt we have lots of seemingly ‘useless’ parts – appendix can be removed (obviously when they want to burst) and you’ll still live without it and don’t have problems. Same with wisdom teeth another seemingly ‘pointless’ extra. Tonsils that cause breathing problems get removed. Juuuusssst saying.
Pete says
Check out the side effects (reduction in life expectancy, some even say) you acquire if your appendix is removed. Tonsils are a part of the immune system. And wisdom teeth have only started causing frequent problems recently in our history due to reduced jaw size. They were once just some more teeth:)
Even all of these things are only removed if they cause problems, at least nowadays. Routine removal of them is rapidly declining. But they certainly cause problems much more frequently than the foreskin does!
Sylvia says
The foreskin is NOT just some “useless skin”. It has sensitive nerve endings called “fine touch nerve endings” that are found on the fingertips and lips. The head of the penis ONLY has crude pressure/pain receptors. The foreskin also is the only mechanical AKA moving part of the penis – providing a gliding movement during sec that eliminates chafing and discomfort. It also is 50% of the penile skin. There are also more functions that Drs do not yet know of, such as estrogen receptors.
Back years ago the tonsils were thought of as “useless” and were removed routinely, then they were discovered to provide immune function, as well as the surgery to remove them had risks and complications. Circumcision has far more risks and complications than the chances of a man ever needing a circumcision in the first place. Most of the worlds men are intact and zero issues whatsoever. One study in Denmark found that only one in 17,000 men required a circumcision for medical reasons. Yet 10% of circ’d boys will develop adhesions and/or meatal stenosis. The complications are real. My sister and I see them daily. My sister – an OR nurse – used to help with 40 circ revisions a week correcting these complications I mentioned.
Christine says
They are not useless parts – they have a function as long as they remain healthy. Fortunately, if they become unhealthy, we can live without them. The default should be to keep all body parts as long as possible, treating with medicine before amputating them. We do not preventatively remove appendixes, breasts, tonsils, prostates, thyroids, wisdom teeth, gall bladders, or any other optional body parts. The foreskin is the only one that our culture treats differently – it is considered harmful without having done any harm! This needs to stop!
Sean says
I was taught, in High School Biology class (40 years ago), that the appendix serves a purpose in the “monkey ancestors” but not in humans. Of course, I do not believe that humans evolved from monkeys, but for years I wondered why it existed since God created it. Lo and behold, several years ago I read that recent studies found that the appendix serves as a reservoir for good bacteria.
And just as the appendix (and the tonsils, for that matter), does in fact serve a purpose in the body, so does the foreskin.
Stuart Page says
I’m sorry, there’s two points here and you seem to have missed something. God specifically spoke telling his people to circumvise their children, which was the original. As such, circumcision cannot be a bad thing else why would God have commanded it? Then, with the coming of Christ, he made a new covenant with the people, no longer requiring such sacrifices as were made previously.
littleimages says
Stuart, you’re onto something by calling it a sacrifice. What was the nature of all Old Testament sacrifices? Please check out the article. It addresses the point you brought up, especially with its note about sacrifices (under point #2).
Sylvia says
God also commanded animal sacrifices, stoning of rebellious children and slaughter of entire cities in the Old Testament. Should we continue to follow those commands because “they aren’t bad”?? God used death and suffering for His glory and purposes, but Christians Know that murder is not something He wants us to continue. Old Covenant is now null and void- Jesus was the last blood sacrifice and baptism had replaced circumcision on the New Covenant!
Susie says
The Biblical circumcision was completely different from modern “high and tight” which actuall rips theforeskin off the glans and takes away all 16 functions (including the prepuce which is the male clitoris). Biblical circ was completely different than the mutilation performed in America. The American circumcision has a history of being done to decrease/stop masterbation by decreasing feeling. Research before you cut another baby boy or girl. Thank goodness female circumcision was outlawed in 1997. Next step is male circ.
Jason says
The Biblical cutting of the tip was also almost certainly ‘done to decrease/stop masterbation by decreasing feeling’ too as the most pleasurable tip was / is removed but this causes many problems also, some of which the US circ was designed to correct but in turn causes other problems.
Gail Ludwig says
Thank you so much for this, truly. The more we spread correct information, the faster this practice called circumcision will end.
Julie Michelle Gentry says
This is the issue y’all are really worried about? Sigh. Jesus was circumcised. So, I did to my son what Mary did. How about y’all focus on Islamic terrorism? Or, if you think circumcision is abuse, then you better think the murder of unborn children is too. Get a REAL issue.
Sylvia says
First of all, ancient Biblical circumcision was different from modern. It removed much less – and left the function and purpose of the foreskin intact. Men could easily “uncircumcise” themselves as the Bible talks about (I Corinthians 7:18a) by stretching it down. It wasn’t until AD 150 that circumcisions became more harmful, removing most or all of the foreskin.
Jesus was also sacrificed on a cross. Should we also follow that with our children? Just because it happened to Jesus does not mean that God expects it of Christians. Jesus’ death was the last blood sacrifice and now baptism has replaced circumcision in the New Covenant. Jesus shed his blood for us and does not command us to shed our blood for Him.
Jason says
The Biblical circumcision most certainly did not leave ‘the function and purpose of the foreskin intact’ for many reasons: Many functions are lost, one of the most pertinent being the sphincter muscle extending into the tip which keeps the tip closed to keep germs and feces out to protect the urethra. It can also cause scarring which can prevent proper movement riskin pain, weakness leading to further damage / infection risk and risk of the foreskin not stretching over the glans properly and more risk of it trapping behind the glans,. The cut can let infections in and the tip is for many the most pleasurably sensitive part. Stretching the foreskin does not return the foreskin’s functions lost from the Biblical type tip cutting, it just makes an open foreskin look longer.
Sylvia says
Also, besides long term complications, many boys suffer hemorrhage and infections from this unnecessary cosmetic surgery. It is estimated that 100 boys die in the USA each year from circumcisions. Others even suffer destruction or amputation of their penis. I have personally witnessed many complications. As well as my two sisters who are nurses. There are even men reading these posts that have suffered lifelong complications. Problem is that nobody talks about them.
Susie says
Wow. You did. It even research circumcision if you think that modern circumcision is the same as what Jesus had done. Research! That’s what this site and so many others are for. It is so sad that boys won’t get to fully enjoy their sexual experiences someday due to heir parents wanting their penis to look a certain way. The snip done in Biblical times was tiny compared to the modern “high and tight” performed in America.
Debra Stewart says
We are the true circumcision (Philippians 3).
B.Maurene White says
‘Our culture tells us that the foreskin is dirty, disease causing, gross, useless, or even ugly – just something that males are better off without – and many American parents believe these things.’ Is it really ‘our culture’ or does the 2 billion+/year ‘circumcision industrial complex promote these myths, superstitious, non-evidential untruths through the mouths of circumcising doctors and others? Certainly with the image of the circumcised male being dominant in North America, reasons for the image evolve in popular culture, usually without much scientific research.
Cal Leach says
You are exactly right….That is PART of the reason female mutilation should be addressed FIRST..
Ronnie Collins says
No!
James Valeros says
No. Especially given that – and this is key – the Bible is man-made fiction. Same goes for those other two versions of fiction.
Darillyn Lamb Starr says
I believe in the Bible, and a large percentage of the people I know do too, and that includes many doctors, many of whom perform newborn circumcisions. I think they are in effect saying “Well, God, you did a pretty good job designing the body, but you made one big mistake. Don’t worry, though. We geniuses will fix it for you!”
Alicia Stewart says
I always say this “God gives us perfect baby boys and we tell him he got it wrong”
Bethany Grannan says
Andie Michelle Gonzales I love this!
Donny Wilmer says
Murder is justifiable homicide if, even decades after the fact, you kill your mother’s obstetrician who chopped off your dick (he’ll be back one day to take DEEZ NUTS !)
Myriam Hanska says
No, if you carefully read the Bible: https://issuu.com/bertaux-navoiseaumichel/docs/circumcision__the_bible_falsified.d
Indi Kaur Sidhu says
Abraham * Sarah.
Karen Ingram says
Nope, many places in the New Testament basically say “don’t do it”.
Melody Joy McCue says
Thank you for sharing.
Cassie says
Okay So I agree. But my question is WHY did God command Abraham to start cutting babies 8 days old? Especially if cutting of the just the tip (in a real biblical circumcision) is still very painful. Why to babies? I am curious of why God commanded that specific sacrifice. I know that is a tough question to answer. We don’t have to do it now as Christians, okay great. But what about those poor baby boys in the Biblical times????
Heyley says
I LOVE this article, it is so well thought out and written. I wish more Christians in the US would read this, soften their hearts, and open their eyes. Unfortunately most people, in the name of “tradition” want to stay blind, or become angry and defensive because their conscious bothers them about their decision to not question circumcision. But when we know better, we do better. Thank you for writing this, I hope eventually enough Christians will realize what they’re taking away from their boys and end the mutilation.
Erin says
I like how you explained all this. Do you know if doctors will offer the more biblical way of circumcision? I’m trying to learn as much about this as possible. Thank you!
Chris Toth says
{Genesis 1:27-29, 31} So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. [# including foreskins and clitoral hoods…]
And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. And God said, See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the land and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
The Bible doesn’t say anywhere that foreskins are unclean or that they need to be completely removed for hygenic reasons, so what right do parents or doctors have to suggest that. God’s Word is not fiction, it’s true.
{Acts 11: 9} The voice spoke again from heaven, ‘Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.’
Saint Paul teaches that we must not allow ourselves to be circumcised as that separates us from Jesus who sacrificed His Blood for us. Jesus was circumcised at 8 days of age as a new beginning of the New Covenant, sealed with His Blood, as in His first Blood Sacrifice for the world. Eight means new beginnnings in the Bible. Jesus’s circumcision at 8 days of age was the new beginning of the New Covenant. Jesus was circumcised for us so we don’t have to circumcise our baby boys anymore, then Jesus died on the cross so that we don’t have to sacrifice animals anymore. If God hadn’t commanded circumcision to Abraham and Moses, then Jesus would not have been circumcised, the only one born without a sinful nature sacrificed His Blood for us, as an 8 day old Baby and on the cross.
{Colossians 2: 11} In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
God only wants our hearts circumcised, not our flesh anymore. Circumcision in the Old Testiment was symbolic of the removing of sin from our lives.
And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
{Deuteronomy 30: 6} And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
Audra says
Hi Amy 🙂 I tried to email you, but I’m not sure if it went through. I have a personal question and would love to ask through email. Hope to hear from you. Thank you so much for this amazing article. 🤗
Endar Malkovich says
Wonderful explanation, except you’re justifying circumcision. Abraham misunderstood God’s intention which had nothing to do with the penis.
Joe says
What would you say God’s intention was, in your opinion?