We had our son circumcised in the hospital the day we brought him home (so he was 3 days old). Both his father and I didn't want it done (dad isn't circ'd), but due to the pressure of family, buckled and had it done anyway. I regret it all the time. The reason (according to family) to have it done was religious - which I still don't get (we are Christian) - they say it's in the bible...yet, for a long time I didn't understand how those laws effect us now...

We basically had our minds made up before the birth that we didn't want to have our son circumcised.. But BOTH our mothers were there the day the pediatrician came in and asked about circ'ing. We said "no", but as soon the Pediatrician left the room, both moms started ranting about how it's in the bible, and not only that, they knew people who had to have it done later in life and how painful it was.

So after about an hour of debating, we reluctantly said, "fine, we'll do it." It's not something I can say I beat myself up over. I just wish I had prepared myself more at the time. The only info I was finding was about cleanliness, etc (but to me none of the info was concrete enough for me to justify it, which was why we originally decided no). But after the whole bible schpiel we got, we didn't want to be "wrong" and have our son possibly suffer through needing to be circumcised later in life.

Now I know better and like I said I wish I would have done a lot more research to "defend" our decision (even though I really shouldn't have had to). Don't get me wrong. I have a wonderful and usually supportive family, this is just one of those things I should have stuck up for my beliefs on more.

When I found out I was pregnant with our second son, I decided I needed to get answers before making the same decision. Both my husband and I don't want to have our son circumcised. Having so much regret with the first circumcision, I don't want those same feelings without a sound reason to back them up. I hated the idea of the circumcision the first time it was done; I didn't understand why it needed to be done. Didn't God create us the way he wanted us to be?

"But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. "

Circumcision today is traditionally performed as part of a Jewish ceremony by a religious circumciser. There are usually family members invited and a pastor or priest there to read a scripture before, during, or after circumcision.

Jesus was circumcised because he was Jewish - If you are not Jewish, the law and covenant that was given to Abraham simply does not apply to you!

²⁵For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ²⁶So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? ²⁷And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? ²⁸For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh . ²⁹But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men , but from God .

"The requirement for circumcision relates to the Old Testament Jews, and to them only, according to the covenant given to Abraham."

¹What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh , has found? ²For if Abraham was justified by works , he has something to boast about , but not before God. ³For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD , AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS ."

⁴Now to the one who works , his wage is not credited as a favor , but as what is due. ⁵But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, ⁶just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works :

⁷"BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN , AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.

⁸"BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."

⁹Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." ¹⁰How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; ¹¹and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, ¹²and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

¹³For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; ¹⁵for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation .

¹⁶For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

"The Biblical covenant with God was that boys would be circumcised and the Jews (or anyone converting to Judaism, which was possible) had to obey all the rules - such as not eating pork (or various other meats such as shellfish), not eating (or preparing) meat and milk together, not touching a menstruating woman, offering various sacrifices and a plethora of others."

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"There is a passage in the bible that says something along the lines of "you may not circumcise in the name of Christianity". It's most clearly expressed in the Letter to the Church in Galatea."

¹It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

²Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. ⁴You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Circumcision is more of a personal decision or a "covenant" that you are making with God - so is it one that you should be making for your child? I personally do not believe so. I believe that if he does decide to be circumcised, it is something that should be his choice later in life because of a personal conviction. Either way, God will not cut you off for your decision.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love .

¹²Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation .