Confusing the beginning and the end

“The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.”
Romans 2:25-27 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.2.25-27.nlt

One of the most interesting things about reading the Bible, or any ancient literature I suppose, is seeing how little human nature has really changed in thousands of years. Apparently, people have had the tendency to confuse the beginnings and the endings of things for most of human history. 

In this passage Paul gets on the people about circumcision. It appears the people had confused circumcision as an end rather than a beginning. To them, as long as they were circumcised they were complete. However, Paul says that circumcision was just the beginning. He thought that circumcision led to obedience and THAT was the key. 

Other times when I read this I would just chuckle and think "Oh silly people. Don't you get it?" But today I had a different thought. I thought, "Oh man the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

But first let me say that I think circumcision was great. Well maybe it was not great for the kid getting the knife, but it was great from a spiritual perspective. Spiritual things can be really loosy-goosy and intangible. Having something physical that helps us to relate to God and the spiritual world is very positive.

Back to the apple. You see, I think that sometimes our baptisms and praying the salvation prayer can be the same as circumcision was for the ancient Jews. I have heard things like this before in my circles.

Did you hear about John Smith?

No

He killed 5 people with a dinner fork because the steak was overcooked.

Wow, Oh my.

He killed himself with a butter knife.

Wow.

But he is okay. I remember when he was 10 years old he prayed the prayer of salvation. He is with Jesus now.

That may be an exaggeration… But the point is clear. John Smith may have confused his prayer as an ending when it should have been a beginning.

Paul wanted us to realize that circumcision, and baptisms, and the salvation prayer are beginnings. They should start us on the path to things like being friends with Jesus, doing the things Jesus would do, loving people, serving people, and introducing others to Jesus. We need to make sure that we cherish our spiritual beginning, and let it be a wonderful springboard to further spiritual development, not an anchor that ties us down.

Dear Jesus

Help me not confuse my spiritual beginning with an ending. I want to be friends with you and keep learning what being a Christian is like. When I don’t want to obey You (And we both know that happens a lot) help me remember that I had a beginning and that was not an end and there is an end but it hasn’t come yet.

Love Ya

Tom