I saw something in the context of a conversation with some very close friends.  It came to light, so to speak, as we shared the content of a book that had been urged on us by another good friend, Jon Zens.

The author, Tim Wilson had come to know Jon years ago a when he contacted Jon after reading an article in Jon’s SEARCHING TOGETHER magazine.  The title of the book is: “Worthless People.”

I shared with my friends that it is Tim’s story. He was born in Africa to American missionary parents, and was pretty much abandoned to the Africans – the “worthless people” who saved him.  It is a very interesting book!

Among other things Tim writes about the practice of “cutting the women,” (female circumcision).  In the context of our conversation here on Friday I saw this as the kind of circumcision that what has been calling itself “church” has been practicing on women, and right from the beginning – Luke 24:11

What’s been calling itself “church” is designed only for the pleasure of men, the preeminence of men, the experience of spiritual intimacy (such as it is) only for men – the passion of the Christ only for the men – none of it to be shared with the women, that is taboo.

All of the African tribes do not practice the “cutting” the women, but all of what has been calling itself “church” certainly does.

Some years ago now I came to understand the prohibition against the mark of the beast, 666, “the number of a man,” Revelation 13:18, 14:11:  “There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” as “Don’t let man do a number on you.”  Or in light of what I am sharing here:  “Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.” Galatians 5:2 NIV

Women are not included or thought of as equal partners.  If that were true then the women would have to be included in spiritual relationships and all that that includes of the oneness that was in the Godhead from the beginning including all the intimacy, all the passion, all the ecstasy, all the satisfaction, all the validation, all the giftedness, and all the identification…

This is not to ignore:

“A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.” Romans 2:8, 9

Here is what I would call the racial, economic, gender neutral-version: (Galatians 3:28)

“A person is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  No, a person is a Jew if they are one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from men, but from God.”

This speaks of the spiritual version of Old Testament circumcision, which was designed for cleanliness and sensitivity:  (Acts 7:51: “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” KJV)  Spiritual circumcision is a circumcision of a different order.  It is gender neutral, and it is designed to increase sensitivity to spiritual intimacy, not dull it.

We are not speaking of the lust of the flesh or fleshly intimacy here, but the spiritual intimacy that is ours in relationships that comes from God… gender neutral.

Love!