Nougat 18

We often think of syncretism as mixing of one religion with another (like traditional with Christianity); but what happens when it’s two dominant, mainline religions? Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“Listen—I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Messiah will be of no benefit to you.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:2‬ ‭TLV‬‬

A sticking point on circumcision? To the extent that it had the potential to split the Church (as usual, it’s the ‘little things’ that make the difference). This was the major point of contention between Paul and Peter.

We may recall that for Peter and the other disciples, the ‘uttermost part of the world’ didn’t technically include people worth evangelizing. Some of that may have been prejudice, but it was more likely to be motivated by distance, culture and fear of the unknown. But to the uttermost they went; partly in response to large scale persecution they faced as ‘people of the Way’.

In Acts 15, we’re introduced to the first, “ecumenical council” meeting held in Jerusalem, where the fate of the new converts was decided. The main agenda item: circumcision. Was it a necessary mark of Faith? This was a weighty matter as the Law and the Covenant were weighted on this. Circumcision predated the Torah. It is Abrahamic (see Genesis 17), although Moses had his own experience in the wilderness. He almost lost his sons because he failed to circumcise them prior to returning to Egypt.

That was part of the Jewish visual identity. It symbolized their faith in a God for Whom nothing was impossible; and set the Jews apart as Abraham’s heirs and God’s elect (chosen people).

One may wonder, what about all those others, the Gentiles? I’m not totally sure. Because a few Gentiles did get smuggled in pre-Jesus: like Tamar (Judah’s daughter in law), Moses’s wife; the Gibeonites, Rahab, Ruth and Naaman. The women wouldn’t have been circumcised but their children were.

As they grappled in Jerusalem on whether to impose circumcision or not, it became apparent that the bigger issue was the grounds of salvation. And, subsequent to his death and resurrection; salvation for the world is through Jesus (Acts 15:11-21). Does that mean the covenant with Abraham carried no merit? No (though interestingly enough, the disciples seem to have been challenged by ‘genital mutilation’ among men).

This was to become one of the clear distinctions between Jews and Christians. For the believers, Christ sums up and supersedes the Law and Prophets. It means that we no longer adhere to those Laws slavishly, because in Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law. And since we’re included in the Abrahamic Covenant through our Faith in Jesus, circumcision is not a criterion for salvation.

It was thus more than mere syncretism at stake when the Galatian church met; it was acceptance of Jesus as the means of salvation. He remains the Way today. Let’s keep our faith grounded solely in Him.

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May all we seek be found in Christ