23-y-o virgin thinking about getting circumcised

Dear Pastor,

I am a 23-year-old male and I have been reading your column. I have a girlfriend who is 24.

We are planning to get married, but I am having a little problem. I have never had sexual intercourse. My girlfriend had a boyfriend before me, so she has had sex. I told her the truth about myself, and she told me the truth about herself. When I told her that I never had sex, she said that makes me an angel, because at my age, most men would have had sex.

The main reason why I am writing to you is that I am not circumcised, and my grandmother who raised me told me that every man should be circumcised. I spoke to my doctor about it and he said that that is not a bad idea, and he can arrange it for me whenever I am ready. He also told me that it was not necessary, but he would not discourage me from doing it. My doctor told me that he was not circumcised which surprised me.

I have not told my girlfriend that I am not circumcised. That has never come up in our discussion about making love. I do not want to disappoint the love of my life on our wedding night. So I am asking you if I should spend money and have a circumcision done. I asked my mother why I was not circumcised and she said she did not know that it was necessary. Although she found out about circumcision after I was born, she said she could not afford it. So, I am asking you to give me your advice about circumcision.

F.C.

Dear F.C.,

The Bible does not say that every man should be circumcised. Circumcision, however, in the days of old, was a religious practice, especially among the Jews.

In fact, circumcision is the only surgical operation that is mentioned in the Bible, but it was never a requirement for all men. A man who is not circumcised can function just as well sexually as those who are circumcised. Some women prefer their men to be uncircumcised, while others prefer circumcised men. The male who is uncircumcised learns how to take care of his penis, especially when he is having his shower, because with circumcision, it is the foreskin that is removed from the 'head' of the penis.

I would suggest that you ask your doctor to arrange for you to be circumcised. It is not a very expensive operation and it will give you peace of mind. I wish you well and I hope that you would be able to develop a very good relationship with your fiancee.

Pastor