quick and dirty: not man's praise

Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. 
(Romans 2:27-29 ESV)


I guess a real blog should actually say something, so here goes for a post. I started a new bible reading plan this week. I'm never good at keeping these things, so ask me how it's going in like 8 months. Then ask me again in like 5 years. But by then I'll already have a book deal and stuff so you won't need to ask, you could just pay $15 at Borders to find out.


Anyway, the reading plan is basically: read 10 chapters from all over the bible every day, in some random-systematic way that's supposed to show you how interconnected the meta-narrative of the Bible really is. (meta-narrative is your word of the day, look it up and use it in a sentence). Which means if I want to mini-sermon on a verse, which I always do, I will have no shortage of variety of material to choose from. Legit.


That brings me to the paragraph I quoted at the top from Romans. Here Paul is summarizing his thoughts on what makes a Jew a real Jew, and his main point is that circumcision is to be from the heart, not just physical. While it would be true to say that Paul, and basically all Orthodox Christianity, do not mandate circumcision for all believers (you could go to Acts 15, or just read Galatians), I don't think that's the point here. I think the final phrase is the kicker for Paul: His praise is not from man but from God. A gentile that underwent circumcision was not doing so to attempt to justify himself before God, that would be silly. He would be trying to justify himself before the Jews, gain acceptance in their circles. What is more important for the new gentile convert to do, Paul says, is to seek praise from God: to give Him all our mind and heart, which is 'spiritual' circumcision.


This is not strange to hear in churches and in Christian books and music, but a distinction I'd like to point out is that in not seeking praise from men, we still do not hold no rules. In living by the Spirit we do not abandon all letters. For who wrote the 'letter' (the same word translated commonly elsewhere as "Scripture") but the Holy Spirit? The gentile Christian may not need to mutilate his privates to gain favor with God, but he still must guard his way according to God's Word, or else it will become unpure (Ps 119:9)!


That's all for now. Maybe my next post won't be written devoid of sleep!

Blogging is apparently as cool as Twitter nowadays

Apparently this is what all the hip people do today, so I'm blogging. hey!