Trying To Understand Circumcision

Question:

Why do Jews perform ritual circumcision in modern times?  What is the origin of this practice, and how is it spiritual in any way?

I'm just curious…I'm fascinated by religion and think Judaism is very interesting + cool along with other religions, this has just always perplexed me.  It doesn't make sense to me, though, why it would matter to God whether or not boys/men had a certain extra fold of skin, and I can't believe that anyone believes that it does.  But that is not why I'm asking.  I just want to know what you think, for if God created humans, and being uncircumcised was unsanitary, then why wouldn't he just create them without this flaw? Doesn't it just seem slightly bizarre?

My Reply:

In Genesis, circumcision was the sign of God's covenant with Abraham...he and all his descendants must be circumcised on the 8th day after their birth (Genesis 17).  It's also something completely different from what any other nations did, so it would make them stand out among everybody else.  That would explain why God created us with it at first (showing that His people are different from everybody else).

When you look at circumcision today, there are also many medical and sanitary reasons to get circumcised.  It's possible that God had this in mind also.

---Pastor Andy

Why did Abraham make Judaism so hard?

If Abraham had made it a little easier to become Jewish, would Judaism be a great world-wide religion?

For example, if he had omitted the circumcision thing.

My Reply:

It wasn't Judaism back in the days of Abraham, but I know what you mean.

If Abe had omitted anything that God had commanded him to do, then he wouldn't be following God. Actually, Judaism as we know it today isn't anything like "it" was in the days of Abe.
For example, if you'll look at the Patriarchs, their connection with God was based on their relationship with God and faith in Him. The Apostle Paul tells us that God considered Abe righteous through the faith that he had in God, not in keeping with the Law. Granted, they didn't have the Law yet, but God did still require certain behaviors from them, and certain ones, such as circumcision, were more than requirements, they were covenants between God, Abe, and Abe's future children.
Today as Christians, many of us (me in particular) believe that Jesus brought it all around back to how it was in the days of the Patriarchs. We still have standards and expectations that we need to follow, but instead of trying to follow all the laws of Moses, we realize that when in a close relationship with God (through Jesus), we tend to take on (and WANT to take on) God's character and what it means to be His people (and His friends, as the Patriarchs were). 
Most of Judaism today focuses on works, deeds, and tradition. In fact, many get so caught up in all this and their heritage that they don't even believe in God. Orthodox Jews are so caught up in making sure they keep with the law's requirements that they often take God out of the equation, making righteousness fully on their own efforts. 

Heck, if anything, I'd say that "Judaism" in the days of Abe was a whole lot easier than the Judaism that we know today.

---Pastor Andy