Can't make it to church - 1st January 2017

So it's New Year and as far as many people seem to have it Christmas is over – presents opened, and possibly changed, broken or consigned to the ‘cupboard’ and I notice that some took their lights down on Boxing Day too!

The break from work is almost over too. Last night we were counting down the seconds of the old year and now we are counting down the sleeps before school and work starts - funny how often we spend our lives wishing, or fearing, the days ahead as they diminish isn't it?

Today, like every day, we have a day of fresh starts and yet on the first day of a new year it seems the hopes we have and the resolutions we make are somehow all the more important and our plans all the more special. That said, here we are looking towards a new year in which we pray for peace and yet this resolution-filled day is, for the Church, even more special for it is also the day in which we reflect upon the Naming and Circumcision of Christ - and this, as far as I am concerned, is much more important.

The Christmas season is more than ‘ho, ho, ho’, it’s more like ‘ho, ho, holy cow – as Stephen is martyred, Innocents are slaughtered bring us to today; a day which speaks of covenant and a name and sacrifice made real as Jesus the infant, the Christ, sheds His innocent blood for us, through circumcision.

The Church celebrates circumcision – but why, what does this have to do with us (especially the non-Jewish us) today?

Well it's all about covenants – a (and I quote) ‘solemn and binding agreement’ between Abraham and God, the account of which we find in Genesis 17.9-12:

"God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring,"

Circumcision was a visible physical sign that set God’s people apart from the rest of those around them. It made it easy to prove that they'd beaten their opponents in battle (in Uganda they collected ears!) and reminded them that in the shedding of their blood they were one of the people of God – and had to live up to all that meant!

Blood was shed in the making of the contract and would be shed again when the Messiah came – without the shedding of blood there could be no forgiveness (Leviticus 17 and Hebrews 9) – and we, as Christians, look to the cross and the blood shed for us there as fulfilment of this.

And it had to be done. On the eighth day every boy child, in obedience to God’s command, would be circumcised. This is the initiation into the family of faith just like our baptism, which many parallel it to. Later the boy would be carried into the place of worship and would read the holy scriptures and having done so would walk from the scroll as a man at his BarMitzvah. Some like to parallel this with Confirmation but I don't think that's as helpful as some might think –ask me later).

So God made man, Jesus, has taken on flesh and taken a sign in His flesh – He is aligned and accepted and made one with the people He has come to save. But the naming, what of that?

 A couple of years back I played in Romeo and Juliet where the question, “What’s in a name?” appears – and that's a good question indeed. Call a rose by any other name and it would still be what it is and smell as fragrant, but names are in fact more than a label, they bring meaning and depth to that to which that are attached.

There are family names, I'm Victor Michael Cornelius – Vic when all goes well, Victor when in trouble and should my Mum have used all three, well that meant I was totally busted, didn't it?

We use family names and names that speak of our hopes – an Australian child received the name ‘Skipper’ in the hope it would lead to his son becoming captain of one of the national sporting sides when he got to be a bit older.

I got ‘Victor’ because it was my Dad’s name and ‘Cornelius’ as a family name – for names speak of belonging too.

In Luke 2 we mention of how the Christ was named Jesus; the name the angel gave Him when he appeared to Mary. Jesus is Yeshua (or Joshua) and that ‘God saves’ name is not only a fitting name for this child but something of a statement of intent too. And this Jesus is also ‘Immanuel’: ‘God is with us’ -  a name we find cropping up in Isaiah 7.

Today is about family: As one of God’s people in the family of faith and as a member of a family of flesh – and in Jesus the two come together in a most splendid way.

The Word made flesh takes upon Himself the covenant and becomes part of the family of faith that He has come to save. He has become one of us in becoming flesh and become one of the people of God (which as God He already was) in that flesh (incarnate) creation that is the babe of Bethlehem.

Jesus, in being named is also affirmed as being part of an earthly family - He belongs at that level too. He is is in the world and is fully part of it. He's not playing at being man, He is fully man and fully part of the people, His people, He came to save.

Astounding, amazing, confusing too (after who ever heard of God putting all that off and becoming mortal?) and that is what today is so very important for us.

In the Old Testament reading 'God has put His name on  His people - He has called them His; this means that we too who are members of the family of faith which puts its trust in the God of the Jews (YHWH) also have His name on us. How cool is this?

The New Testament confirms the humanity of Jesus and the adoption we have into this family of faith (for we are as Christians members of a Jewish sect) grafted on as part of that same family of faith. How amazing is this that we who 'were far off' have become one with and part of that family which comes through the covenant God created with Abraham. It is immense and amazing isn't it?

So, January the first – not about making resolution we will never keep, for they like the diaries we promise to keep each year will soon fade and fall away, but a day to remember the place we have in the family of faith and the family of flesh and to reflect on what this means for us in the coming year/s.

To decide to be a better Christian and a better family member perhaps?

To decide to trust in God and the people of God for the things we might think we need to handle alone?

To decide to let our acceptance into God's family and the name He has given us set us free to do what He has called us to be, and to do, as part of that spiritual household in, and among, the family of flesh to which we belong?

The Collect
Almighty God,
whose blessed Son was circumcised in obedience to the law for our sake
and given the Name that is above every name:
give us grace faithfully to bear his Name, to worship him in the freedom of the Spirit,
and to proclaim him as the Saviour of the world;
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Numbers 6:22-27
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel:
you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. “

So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Galatians 4:4-7
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Luke 2:15-21
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Post Communion Prayer
Eternal God, whose incarnate Son was given the Name of Saviour: grant that we who have shared in this sacrament of our salvation may live out our years in the power of the Name above all other names, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Baptism and Covenant Theology - Part the Third

Which I didn't to have! But there we are, always good to keep playing and thinking about stuff and so we continue with Paul's word's to the Colossians as found in chapter two:

'In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.'

Brian Chapell1 leads me into a place whereby Paul's words are thought of as acting as a reminder that salvation comes through faith, and that the rite of circumcision that once signified the benefits of Abraham’s covenant has been replaced by baptism. A thought that finds some support in Calvin's Institutes as it lead me to a place where the fulfilment and truth of baptism are likewise the truth and fulfilment of circumcision too  - signifying one and the same thing (this is what notes from various lectures tell me).

One of the biggest concerns I have when trying to see the baby for the bathwater is that Paul's teaching is more often than not a remedy against error and heresy rather than him trying to establish a theology of whatever is before us - in this case baptism. Different tacks are taken when correction rather that establishment are the key and these, whilst 'fit for role' are often confusing for parctice :-)

In the Romans two (28-29) passage I understand the 'circumcision of the heart' to be a mark of the believer, whether circumcised in the flesh or otherwise, and more accurately of one who is not merely a follower of 'The Way' but is also a disciple. This would fit in with other passages (old and new) that talk of the uncircumcision and the way that uncircumcised who keep the laws have the 'circumcision of the heart' and put those who are circumcised in the flesh, who do not, to shame.

It does therefore talk of Jew and Gentile who have this inner circumcision - where the place of baptism is makes for interesting conjecture.

The Romans six 'baptism into Christ Jesus' and the reality that baptism finds its fulfilment in the cross makes the 'buried with him' all the more real as we pass below the surface of the water (a reason I prefer immersion to sprinkling) and are buried beneath the waves. That said, NT practice was to do that with the sprogs rather than flick water at them. We are baptised into the merits and benefits of Christ (and His salvific and atoning act) in exactly the same way that the covenant of circumcision brings the Jews into the benefits of Abraham.

I can understand your desire for separation and wonder if this owes as much to your baptist stance as the seeking interchangeability does for those who are of the paedobaptism persuasion?

Here's a bit more grist to the mill either way (I'll do arguments against and sacramental stuff shortly)

Hope this helps

V


1 A Pastoral Overview of Infant Baptism, Gregg Strawbridge; 2003, Presbyterian and Reformed
 ISBN 10: 0875525547

Baptism and Covenant Theology - Part the Second

Moving on we know that in the OT the believer's children were circumcised as a sign of the covenant in accordance with Genesis seventeen:

'This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring,'

Now here we have initiation into a people group and not a profession of anything other than discomfort from the focus of it (the child) in sight (or hearing). Now if this is the outward sign of the inner grace that is God's offering of relationship and the outer circumcision of the flesh is to be matched by the 'circumcision of the heart' that we would today call 'discipleship'; as we find in Jeremiah nine:

'The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh - Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.'

Circumcision is an interesting thing to behold in the NT for we find Paul telling us that those who are uncircumcised but keep the law will find their uncircumcision regarded as circumcision and this will pour condemnation on those who are circumcised but fail to keep it (the law). The sign alone does not confer membership of the covenant for it is more than physical it is a 'matter of the heart - by the Spirit, not the letter of the law.

This, I feel confirms my stance that baptism confers membership of the place where discipleship may be made real rather than conferring discipleship (or the covenant) in itself. It is the place where potential for discipleship and membership of the club is made accessible. The OT's circumcision is replaced by the NT's baptism  and as Titus three tells us:

Jesus saved us, not because of what we have done as righteousness but according to his own mercy by baptism and the presence of God's Holy Spirit heralding us into new life. But I hear some turn to Acts two and, thinking they've won a point and pointing to Peter, tell me how Peter says:

'Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'


But this washing confers salvation with the baptism acting as an appeal to God for the benefits and merits of that which were won for us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it's not our profession or our acts or even decisions but the coming and being baptised (if we are to believe 1 Peter three). And so as we find circumcision replaced by baptism as the sign of making the covenant ours we receive the circumcision of the Spirit, the ‘circumcision of Christ’ (Colossians two) and are 'buried with Him in baptism’ and receive also the fulfilment in the resurrection of Him also.

So it does seem to me that if we accept the premise that circumcision is interchangeable with baptism insofar as covenant theology is concerned then there does appear also to be merit in the the practice of baptising kids. This, along with 'oikos' and the fact that this was a practice that was to be found in the NT from the earliest days does strengthen a claim for such practices.

But don't take my word for it (I know I don't and I'm aware that throwing this off the top of my head is a recipe for madness rather than concord) - we will have to look at the sacramental approach and the reasons for refusal too.

Which will have to be parts three and four (and probably five too).

But remember, I've never claimed to be bright ;-)

Daily Office - Jan 1

The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus

Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits;

Who forgives all your sins and heals all your infirmities;
Who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with faithful love and compassion;
Who satisfies you with good things,  so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

The Lord executes righteousness and judgement for all who are oppressed.
He made his ways known to Moses and his works to the children of Israel.

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy,  slow to anger and of great kindness.
He will not always accuse us, neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,  nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his mercy upon those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,  so far has he set our sins from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,so is the Lord merciful towards those who fear him.
For he knows of what we are made;  he remembers that we are but dust.
Our days are but as grass; we flourish as a flower of the field;
For as soon as the wind goes over it, it is gone, and its place shall know it no more.
But the merciful goodness of the Lord is from of old and endures for ever on those who fear him,
and his righteousness on children’s children;

On those who keep his covenant  and remember his commandments to do them.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven,  and his kingdom has dominion over all.

Bless the Lord, you angels of his, you mighty ones who do his bidding and hearken to the voice of his word.

Bless the Lord, all you his hosts,  you ministers of his who do his will.

Bless the Lord, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion;
bless the Lord, O my soul.

Genesis 17.1-13
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.’ Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, ‘As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.’

God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old, including the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring. Both the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money must be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.

Romans 2.17-29
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law, and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth, you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself?

While you preach against stealing, do you steal?

You that forbid adultery, do you commit adultery?

You that abhor idols, do you rob temples?

You that boast in the law, do you dishonour God by breaking the law?

For, as it is written, ‘The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’

Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So, if those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.

The Collect
Almighty God,
whose blessed Son was circumcised
in obedience to the law for our sake
and given the Name that is above every name:
give us grace faithfully to bear his Name,
to worship him in the freedom of the Spirit,
and to proclaim him as the Saviour of the world;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.