Today's Scripture Reading (March 6, 2021): Romans 4
In "My Ancestor Was an
Ancient Astronaut," Indonesian author Toba Beta comments that "you are the fairy tale told by your ancestors." It is an interesting concept that
sometime in the past, someone might have been telling stories about you, proclaiming
their dreams of what you might accomplish in your life. All of the possibility of
your family is placed in you and your siblings. You are unique, and the reality
is that there are things for which each of us is uniquely gifted, even if the
world does not acknowledge those talents. So, we have a choice. We can work to
uncover the fairy tale in us, the one our ancestors told, or become bitter
about the things we lack or how some people treat us and ignore the dream our
ancestors possessed as to who we might become.
The opposite is more likely. We
dream about the things that our ancestors might have done. I am proud that hanging
out in the family tree branches are University presidents, authors, and ancestors
who emigrated to North America in the mid 17th century (the 1600s). Back
in England, I am a descendant of Sir William Atte Wode, the Captain of the King's
Guard at the Palace of Westminster during King Edward III's reign. I am not
sure that Sir William ever dreamt about me, but I know that I dream about him.
As the early church began to
emerge out of Judaism, the question arose about what to do with their great
ancestor Abraham. Abraham was the beginning of Israel's story and several other
ethnic groups in the Middle East. Israel was proud that they were the descendants
of the first Patriarch, and one of the things that set Abraham apart from all
other leaders of his era was the concept of circumcision. The idea of
circumcising males did not begin with the giving of the law to Moses; it started
generations earlier in the days of Abraham. And for the people, the proud identification
with Abraham was found in the practice of circumcising the male. To share in
Judaism and the promise of Abraham meant that males needed to be circumcised.
In Judaism, this circumcision
happens on the eighth day after the male child's birth, even if the eighth day
falls on the Sabbath. Circumcision is done at conversion for those who convert
to Judaism, and this would have been the argument for Gentiles who converted to Christianity. If
Christianity wanted to maintain its relationship with Abraham, it seemed evident
that circumcision was part of that identity.
Even followers of Islam agree. In
Islam, which also identifies with Abraham as a sacred ancestor, circumcision
happens much later in life, either in late childhood or early adolescence, and
is without as much ceremony as is found in Judaism, but the idea is still
present. Identification with the ancestor Abraham means being circumcised.
Paul is arguing against the idea of
circumcision for Christians, and part of his argument is that Abraham's faith
did not begin with circumcision. Circumcision came later. According to the story
found in Genesis, "Abram
believed the Lord,
and he credited it to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). But the rite
of circumcision wasn't given until Genesis 17, fourteen years later.
So,
if Abraham could be righteous for fourteen years without being circumcised, why
do we believe that we have to be circumcised to be part of Abraham and his
righteousness. Paul argues that forced circumcision on Gentile believers just
didn't make sense. Abraham was the father of all who believe and are circumcised,
but he is also the spiritual ancestor of all who believe and are not
circumcised. In this case, Paul argues that belief is what is necessary to be
counted as the spiritual descendants of Abraham, and not circumcision.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Romans 5
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