Archive for July, 2012

LCG on Circumcision

Sunday, July 1st, 2012

COGwriter

The following is the latest commentary from the Living Church of God (LCG):

By Wyatt Ciesielka | Saturday, June 30, 2012
Outraging Jewish and Muslim groups, a German court recently ruled that infant male circumcision causes “bodily harm” and that “a child’s right to physical integrity trumps religious and parental rights.” Some are wondering whether this decision will be overturned by a higher court. Others are raising questions about religious liberty in Germany. This also raises the questions, “What do the Bible and modern science teach us about infant male circumcision?” And, “What importance does circumcision have for true Christians today?”

Anciently, God prescribed that the male descendants of Abraham were to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth (Genesis 17:10-14). Interestingly, this is generally when a baby boy’s vitamin K levels peak, thus allowing speedy healing.

Is infant male circumcision actually a form of “bodily harm,” as the German court has found? Is it a practice that leaves emotional as well as physical scars, for life, as some opponents claim? Or, is it a practice that actually brings health benefits? A February 2012 study published by the Open Journal of Preventive Medicine reported that “over their lifetime up to half of uncircumcised males will suffer a medical condition” that circumcision would have prevented.

The report also noted that infant circumcision “provides immediate protection” against common pediatric conditions such as renal parenchymal disease, phimosis, paraphimosis and balanoposthitis, as well as a 96 percent decrease in urinary tract infection at age 6 months. Additionally, the study noted, infant circumcision leads to a lifetime decrease in the risk of several types of cancer, whether or not the circumcised male is sexually active or promiscuous.

Furthermore, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has acknowledged, both UNAIDS and the World Health Organization promote male circumcision as helpful in preventing STDs and AIDS (CDC Congressional Testimony, September 29, 2010), and the CDC also reports that “male circumcision has also been associated with a number of other health benefits (CDC Fact Sheet, February 2008). One study of 136,000 boys born in U.S. Army hospitals between 1980 and 1985 showed that of 100,000 circumcised, fewer than one-fifth of one percent experienced even minor complications, none fatal, while the 36,000 uncircumcised boys had ten times the number of complications, including two deaths (Wiswell & Hachey, 1993).

To those who believe in a loving Creator God, such scientific studies are no surprise—they simply demonstrate His wisdom and care for His creation. The Apostle Paul noted that God gave His laws for the benefit of ancient Israel (Romans 7:12). He did not set the Israelites apart through a practice that would do them grave harm; rather, He intervened as their Healer (Exodus 15:26). Even so, today’s Christians need to remember that salvation and spiritual perfection are not attainable “by the flesh” (Galatians 3:3). God commands “spiritual Israel” to worship Him in the Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

As Paul explained, the Old Covenant contained numerous “fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:1; 10). And, as Acts 15:23-29 and elsewhere reveal, physical circumcision is not required for salvation under the New Covenant. In fact, Paul preached fervently against those who were proud of their physical circumcision and who sought to promote it to others as if it were a spiritual requirement or a sign of higher status (Philippians 3:2-3).

The important point is that—whether male or female—under the New Covenant, Christians are to be spiritually circumcised of the heart (Romans 2:29). Christians demonstrate spiritual circumcision by showing their devotion to God and His Law (1 Corinthians 7:19; 1 John 5:2-3) and by being conquered by God “inwardly” (Romans 2:25-29). True Christians are thus “circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:10-11).

To understand more about what God requires of true Christians, please read our Tomorrow’s World article, “Bible Health Laws,” and our powerful booklet, What Is a True Christian?

Thousands of years ago, God told Abraham to implement circumcision:

9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” (Genesis 17:9-14)

Now, although the New Testament teaches that Gentile adult males do not have to be circumcised in order to be Christians (Acts 15:24-29), the Apostle Paul had Timothy circumcised anyway (Acts 16:3).

Even though the apostles ruled that adult Gentiles did not have to be circumcised in Acts 15, my own reading into early church history suggests that many Christians continued to circumcise their male babies after this declaration (though not necessarily in all Sabbath-keeping groups).

The early 20th century theologian J.J.L. Ratton reported:

The early Church at Jerusalem, retained most of the distinctive customs of the Jews, such as circumcision, kosher meats, the Jewish Sabbath, the Jewish rites, and worship of the Temple. Our Lord, Himself, lived the exterior life of a Jew, even so far as the observance of Jewish religious customs was concerned. The early Church of Jerusalem followed His example. The Jews looked upon the Hebrew Christians in Jerusalem simply as a Jewish sect, which they called the sect of the Nazarenes. (Ratton JJL The Apocalypse of St. John: a commentary on the Greek text, 2nd edition. R. & T. Washbourne, ltd., 1915. Original fromt he University of Michigan. Digitized Jun 12, 2007, p. 4)

Now, it should be mentioned that in the second century, non-Nazarene professors of Christ, like the heretic Justin, did not practice circumcision.

According to the fourth century Catholic historian Eusebius, starting in the first century:

James, the first that had obtained the episcopal seat in Jerusalem after the ascension of our Saviour…The first, then, was James, the so-called brother of the Lord; the second, Symeon; the third, Justus; the fourth, Zacchæus; the fifth, Tobias; the sixth, Benjamin; the seventh, John; the eighth, Matthias; the ninth, Philip; the tenth, Seneca; the eleventh, Justus; the twelfth, Levi; the thirteenth, Ephres; the fourteenth, Joseph; and finally, the fifteenth, Judas. These are the bishops of Jerusalem that lived between the age of the apostles and the time referred to, all of them belonging to the circumcision. (Eusebius. The History of the Church, 2005 Book III, Chapter V, Verses 2,3.& Book IV, Chapter 5, Verses 2-4 . Translated by A. Cushman McGiffert. Digireads.com Publishing, Stilwell (KS), pp. 45, 71)

But circumcision was not just the practice with the first and second century bishops of Jerusalem. Epiphanius wrote of this group from the time of 69/70 A.D. until his day, that he called the Nazarenes:

All Christians were called Nazarenes once…They were so-called followers of the apostles…they dedicate themselves to the law…However, everyone called the Christians Nazarenes as I said before. This appears from the accusation against Paul…[Acts 24:5]…For they use not only the New Testament but also the Old…For they also accept the resurrection of the dead and that everything has origin in God…Only in this respect they differ from the Jews and Christians: with the Jews they do not agree because of their belief in Christ, with the Christians because they are trained in the Law, in circumcision, the Sabbath and the other things…(Epiphanius. Panarion 29 as cited in Pritz R. Nazarene Jewish Christianity. Magnas, Jerusalem, 1988, pp. 30-34)

Here is some of what the Catholic scholar Bagatti wrote about some of the gentile Nazarenes in the fourth and probably fifth centuries, that were sometimes derisively referred to as Minim by some Jews:

In fact some Minim of gentile stock, following St. Paul, taught that the Law had been abolished with the exception of the Decalogue…Some Jews…intensified the observance of the Law…especially regarding circumcision and the Sabbath. The Judaeo-Christians in this were in accord with the Jews…(Bagatti, Bellarmino. Translated by Eugene Hoade. The Church from the Circumcision. Nihil obstat: Marcus Adinolfi, 13 Maii 1970. Imprimi potest: Herminius Roncari, 14 Junii 1970. Imprimatur: +Albertus Gori, die 26 Junii 1970. Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, 1971, p. 108)

While it was not a required practice, throughout history, many “Nazarene” Christians have practiced circumcision, not as a commandment, but as a biblically-based concept.

One of the inquisitors in the Middle Ages found that a certain type of “heretic” (in his mind) uniformly observed the Sabbath and sometimes (though apparently not always) observed circumcision (Davis, Tamar. A General History of the Sabbatarian Churches. 1851; Reprinted 1995 by Commonwealth Publishing, Salt Lake City, p. 88).

Thus, it seems that circumcision was (and still is) often practiced by many trying to be faithful Christians. And because of “Judeo-Christian influence” (like from the Bible), this may be why there have always been a relatively high proportion of circumcised males in the USA (though this may be changing).

While the Bible does not list health benefits that come from circumcision, it would make sense that the Creator of the universe would only recommend physical practices that were beneficial for His human creation.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Health Benefits for Circumcision Various studies show health benefits for male circumcision. Have Christians observed circumcision throughout history?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what doctrines the early Christians actually had? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?

Weather Extremes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK

Sunday, July 1st, 2012

COGwriter

While there are weather issues all over, notice the following related to the descendants of Ephraim:

Melbourne’s coldest day in 17 years
MELBOURNE is beginning to thaw after some of the coldest temperatures in almost two decades snap froze the city today. The mercury hit just 8.5 degrees Celsius in the city at 3.11pm – the lowest maximum temperature since 1995.

July 1, 2012 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/melbournes-coldest-day-in-15-years/story-fn7x8me2-1226413654703

Cold, wet conditions break record for south east
Brisbane is experiencing its coldest and wettest June since 1999…June 27, 2012 http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/06/27/3533971.htm
June one of the most miserable ever

June was one of the wettest, dullest and coldest on record, according to newly released figures.
Provisional data indicates that it was the wettest June since 1860, a spokesman for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said. It was also the dullest since 1909 and the coldest since 1991. Average rainfall over England and Wales, including an estimated figure for June 30, was 157mm – 231% of the average for the period 1981-2010, and on a par with the 1860 readings.June 30, 2012 http://icscotland.icnetwork.co.uk/news/uk/tm_headline=june-one-of-the-most-miserable-ever%26method=full%26objectid=31295829%26siteid=50141-name_page.html
Vancouver’s stormy summer on pace for record cold

Vancouverites may love to complain about their “bummer summer,” but it’s not just casual griping any more. Current temperatures are on track to make this June the coldest on record.June 14, 2012 http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Vancouver+stormy+summer+pace+record+cold/6778531/story.html

Coldest day on record [New Zealand]
Cantabrians expecting to wake to another bone-chilling morning can at least take comfort from official figures showing that Wednesday was Christchurch’s coldest day on record.Further chaos and disruption is expected on roads this morning after temperatures dipped several degrees below freezing overnight.  The cold snap is a hangover from Wednesday’s heavy snow, when the maximum temperature at Christchurch Airport in the official 24-hour period from 9am that day reached a pitiful 0.4 degrees Celsius.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) said that was the city’s lowest day maximum in nearly 149 years of record-keeping. June 8, 2012 http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7063146/Coldest-day-on-record

And of course, in 2012, many other parts of the world are facing flood and/or drought conditions (and, here is a link to an recent item about the USA: Flooding in Florida, Fires in Colorado, MidWest Heat, & Possible Tornadoes to Georgia).

Speaking of the Anglo-descended nations, in a recent co-worker letter, Dr. Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God wrote:

So it seems that the “beginning of sorrows” has certainly been escalating in Ephraim and Manasseh! Maybe it will help some few people to actually “wake up”! (Meredith RC. LCG Co-worker letter, August 15, 2011)

The sorrows and troubles are just beginning and will get much worse. Hopefully, people will wake up.

Droughts and floods contribute to food shortages, higher food prices, and sometimes famines.

My 2009 book, 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect mentioned the following was about to happen:

Odd weather patterns result in food shortages and natural disasters. Matthew 24:7
The world is actually in a berserk transition, as the real age of peace is not yet here. It may be a period of chaos. It is the beginning of sorrows Matthew 24:8

Jesus taught:

7…And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:7-8).

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

The Bible also shows we should expect to see a time of much higher food prices (cf. Revelation 6:5-6). Australia is not expected to be exempt.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?

TW on Egypt’s Future

Sunday, July 1st, 2012

Mohamed Morsi (Photo by Mohammed Bin Abdullah)

COGwriter

The latest TW News & Prophecy from the Living Church of God has the following:

What is Egypt’s future?

In the recent Egyptian election, Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi emerged the victor (Agence France-Presse, June 25, 2012). During the vote count, Egypt’s Supreme Council of Armed Forces issued a declaration claiming for itself legislative power and control of the budget and the drafting of a new constitution in a move that some have characterized as a “complete coup” (BBC June 18, 2012; Telegraph, June 14, 2012).

However, the Muslim Brotherhood is now the largest party in the Egyptian parliament and apparently growing in influence (The Week , May 4, 2012). Several weeks ago, at a presidential rally, a popular Muslim cleric commented about what would happen if Mohammed Mursi were elected president: “Our capital shall not be Cairo, Mecca or Medina. It shall be Jerusalem with God’s will. Our chants shall be: ‘millions of martyrs will march towards Jerusalem’… The United States of the Arabs will be restored on the hands of that man [Mursi] and his supporters. The capital of the [Muslim] Caliphate will be Jerusalem with God’s will… Yes, we will either pray in Jerusalem or we will be martyred there'” (emphasis ours). A video of this event aired on Egypt’s religious Annas TV and went “viral” when it hit YouTube (Al Arabiya News , June 7, 2012). Mursi has since suggested that the longstanding peace agreement with Egypt and Israel be reconsidered in order to “build ties with Iran to ‘create a strategic balance’ in the Middle East” (Agence France-Presse , June 25, 2012).

These sobering comments may seem far-fetched, but they fit well with end-time Bible prophecy. The prophet Daniel foretold of a coming King of the South (apparently a combination of Arab states) that will attack a coming European Beast power (King of the North) which will ultimately overrun the King of the South. Egypt figures prominently in this prophecy and could be a catalyst that helps bring together this King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43).

The events we are witnessing in Egypt and across North Africa and the Middle East could bring about the fulfillment of these long-pondered prophecies. For more on this intriguing topic, please review our free booklet, The Middle East in Prophecy.

Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi (his last name is sometimes spelled Mursi or Morsy in English) was also in the secular news:

After taking the oath, in which Mursi promised before God to “uphold the republic, to respect the constitution and the law…After the short swearing-in ceremony on Saturday, Mursi went to Cairo University, where he delivered his first speech as president. The speech was attended by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the SCAF.

In an address that began “Allah is greatest,” Mursi said Egypt would continue on its democratic path.

Outside the university, protesters called for Tantawi’s execution, the Egyptian daily Al-Masry al-Youm reported.

Mursi also reiterated his support for the Palestinians, saying that Egypt would “stand by” them until they “regained all their rights.”

However, he added that the country would also stand by its international treaties.  http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=275806

As far as the constitution goes, which one will Dr. Morsi uphold?  In addition to Egypt’s current constitutional confusion, this is the same Dr. Morsi who declared the Koran to be Egypt’s constitution a few days earlier (see Egypt’s New President Declares Koran is the Constitution).

Now getting back to the prophesied future of Egypt, notice a few other items that the Living Church of God has also reported related to that:

The northern Sudan, anciently referred to as Cush, was once part of the Egyptian empire—a region where the future King of the South may headquarter (News and Prophecy. World Ahead Weekly Update, May 24, 2007).

Egypt probably will be the King of the South…historically they have been…The King of the South is probably Egypt or possibly Saudi Arabia (Meredith RC. Where are we now in Bible prophecy? Sermon, Charlotte, NC, April 30, 2011)

Ultimately, the “Arab Spring” will not produce widespread “Western-friendly” democracy throughout the Mideast! Consider that, after 57 years in exile, the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood is now Egypt’s “best organized political movement” (The New York Times, June 19, 2011). Months after Egypt’s supposed move toward democracy, Egyptian “mobs” are attacking pro-democracy “liberal activists,” while “hundreds of thousands of Islamists” are working toward “transforming Egypt into an Islamic state” (Wall Street Journal, August 2, 2011)! Although many do desire peace, a terrible conflict is brewing, and Muslim fundamentalism is spreading…Scripture reveals that before Jesus Christ’s return, there will be a final war between a “king of the South” (a leader of the Middle Eastern regions now primarily under the sway of Islam) and a false form of “Christianity” dominated by the “king of the North” and a blasphemous “Holy Roman Empire.” (Cieselka W. Islam: At War with Christianity? Tomorrow’s World magazine, Sept-Oct 2011, p. 27)

Right now…various Islamist groups—often foolishly called “moderate” by the mainstream media—are coming to power in Egypt, Tunisia and other African and Middle Eastern nations after the uprisings of the “Arab Spring.” The prophesied “King of the South” will soon emerge as these nations seek a “Mahdi”—a powerful religio/poltical leader who will bring them together under Islam. This “King of the South” predicted in Daniel 11:40 will no doubt be headquartered in Egypt or Saudi Arabia, not in Iran as some confused people foolishly predict. (Meredith RC. TW Subscriber letter, November 10, 2011)

In addition to Daniel 11:40-43, Ezekiel 30:1-5 discusses an Arabic confederation that supports Egypt before the Day of the Lord that will not do well. This is further support that the Egyptians will most likely have significant involvement with the king of the South (as does the fact their land does not escape the wrath of the King of the North). 

Dr. Morsi, unless he changes, will not be the one who will be the final King of the South.  Yet, he (presuming he lives long enough), as well as the group he is associated with, would certainly be expected to support that type of Islamic confederation.

Events supporting the rise of the final King of the South are happening. Watch (Mark 13:37).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? What does the Bible say?
Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices Were their faithful Arabs who held to original Christianity?
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.

Registration for Fall 2012 Classes for Living University Begins Today

Sunday, July 1st, 2012

Living University

“All the World
Is Our Campus”

COGwriter

The Living Church of God announced that registration for the Fall 2012 semester for Living University begins today:

Living University
Registration for the Fall Semester/Semester I Living University courses will begin on July 1. Classes begin August 15. This semester we plan to offer 17 different courses—two are new! For those who have never taken LU courses, be sure to visit our website at www.livinguniv.com and complete an Application for Admission to the university—this will allow you to register for a class. The website also provides detailed information on our programs, fees, courses, and much more. We encourage you to consider taking a class for credit if you want to work toward a degree or certificate. Or just “audit” a course if you desire the content without the stress of exams and papers. Those age 65 and over are eligible to audit one course per semester, tuition-free. If you have questions, please e-mail or call Michelle Bottella at michelle.bottella@livinguniv.com, or 704-708-2294. Below we highlight three different courses being offered this semester.
THL 200 – Principles of Christian Living: This course covers topics that are closely related to our Christian lives: the purpose for human life, human nature, belief, values, morality, ethics, dating, marriage, family, career planning and interpersonal communication. Because of the nature of the topics, course material is both interesting and immediately applicable to one’s life. The lecture core is a set of contemporary lectures by Dr. Douglas Winnail dealing with the foundations of Christian living for successful life in today’s world.
THL 211 – Old Testament Survey I: In this informative and detailed course, Dr. Douglas Winnail deals with the Law and the Former Prophets, focusing on background, content, structure, geography and teachings of each book, as well as outstanding people and events. Emphasis is on the Old Testament Scriptures as the background and foundation for understanding the New Testament.
THL 236 – Camp Leadership: This important class is designed to provide instruction and training for leadership at our “summer camps.” The material covered in this class is intended to help train current and future camp leaders. It will prepare students for service as a Christian camp counselor or activity leader. Emphasis is on techniques of Christian camp counseling and leadership, camp safety, activities and program development. Individuals wishing to serve at our summer camps in the future will definitely benefit from this course.

Living University registration for the Fall 2012 semester can be began at www.livinguniv.com.

Living University is essentially an online institution (though some classes in person can sometimes be taken) and is affiliated with the Living Church of God.