This is a guest post from a friend of ours who is a missionary doctor working with Muslims. It is a part of his guest series, "Day-to-day Observations from Asia."

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It would sure be nice if, when approaching the New Testament, all of my questions would be answered with short, pithy sound bites that make sense in a cross-cultural situation. 

So what does Paul think of circumcision? In his teachings, he certainly has some entertainingly negative and visually striking things to say about the practice:

I wish those who [teach salvation by circumcision] would emasculate themselves.” (Galatians 5:12)

But in real practice, his actions regarding the cultural aspects of circumcision seem mixed. 

I speak, of course, of Titus and Timothy, two young fellows who both first encountered the ever-opinionated Paul in a decidedly uncircumcised state. Titus and Timothy discussed their condition with Paul, and ended up with different conclusions. Timothy gets circumcised as an adult, and Titus does not. 

But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. (Galatians 2:3)

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews. (Acts 16:3)

(By the way, the very fact this gets talked about in the Bible is a relief to me. 'Twould be a bit embarrassing to discuss it with a typical Westerner, but it definitely is a matter of discussion in the Muslim culture I work in. Maybe the conversations I have here in My Fair City are not so far off of New Testament norms.) 

Paul has Timothy get circumcised “because of the Jews”?  Since when has Paul let “the Jews” bother him?  Does this mean he had Timothy circumcised for cultural reasons? 

And just the opposite, he tells Titus to not get circumcised. 

OK, Paul, what’s the deal?  Just what am I supposed to tell a new Muslim believer who wants to know what to do with his children? 

That circumcision lacks the power of salvation is beyond refute. That, as a cultural marker, it may be reasonable seems possible and even probable. 

That Paul does not have a “sound bite” for the Muslims of My Fair City is manifest. Suffice it to say that I am glad that my folks had me done as an infant.