I know that jehovah's witnesses do not celebrate birthdays. but is it wrong if you go to like a restaurant on someones birthday. if there is no paganism involved such as presents or blowing out the candle is there anything wrong with that?
2006-09-19 00:04:52 · 11 answers · asked by nw 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is the celebration itself rather than one or two specific paganisms that make birthdays an issue for Jehovah's Witnesses. There is no specific line that is crossed separating a celebration from a simple get-together, so each Witness decides for himself how he will handle situations like this.
If a Jehovah's Witness felt that it might confuse non-Witnesses or stumble a fellow Witness, he would likely not attend even if the event did not personally bother his conscience.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/w/1997/1/1/article_01.htm
2006-09-19 06:07:06 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
. Not all beliefs and customs are bad. But God does not approve of them if they come from false religion or are against Bible teachings.—Matthew 15:6
Birthdays: The only two birthday celebrations spoken of in the Bible were held by persons who did not worship Jehovah. (Genesis 40:20-22; Mark 6:21, 22, 24-27) The early Christians did not celebrate birthdays. The custom of celebrating birthdays comes from ancient false religions. True Christians give gifts and have good times together at other times during the year. But just going to a restaurant on someones birthday is not wrong if it is not done to celebrate the birthday
2006-09-19 00:20:12 · answer #2 · answered by I speak Truth 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I understand your feelings about that. I found this information about-
"4. Birthdays: The only two birthday celebrations spoken of in the Bible were held by persons who did not worship Jehovah. (Genesis 40:20-22; Mark 6:21, 22, 24-27) The early Christians did not celebrate birthdays. The custom of celebrating birthdays comes from ancient false religions. True Christians give gifts and have good times together at other times during the year."
If you like, there were a lot of information about your question in the official web site
2006-09-22 09:50:19 · answer #3 · answered by Ana 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthday because they are trying to imitate the early Christians and God's people in Bible times. There's no account of any follower of Jehovah God and even Jesus along with his disciples that celebrate birthdays. Only those who are not Jehovah's people recorded in the Bible celebrated birthdays. Although it is not wrong to give & receive gifts to someone as long as there's respect and love. God's people though can have celebrations for their own love ones like what Job did to his own sons (Job 1), and other examples too. That's a personal decision and we always remember that celebrations do not cause stumbling to those who have weak conscience. You and your family can have a good time without being against the Bible principles. Someone will say “well there’s no verse in the Bible that tells you NOT to celebrate birthdays”. Using illegal drugs & use of nuclear/chemical weapons are not in the Bible but it doesn’t mean that it is okay to use them. You have to get the sense of the Bible teachings to know what is correct and wrong. Jesus is our great Exemplar. Is there any Bible record of him celebrating his own and any other birthdays?
So if a JW goes to a restaurant with the purpose of celebrating birthday, it is his own decision and the decision which he will answer to God.
2006-09-19 03:00:32 · answer #4 · answered by trustdell1 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
HOW IMPORTANT WERE THE PEOPLE OF GOD?
The patriarchs, prophets, the judges, the kings, the disciples and the apostles birthdays, or any other day except the passover?
When birth or death? Of Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Levi, Kohath, Amram, Moses and Aaron, all the judges, and Jair, Eli, Samuel, David, Solomon, all the kings, to Babylon captivity Matt.1:1-17 and Jesus when is his birth?
Rom.14:5-12;
what days will you observe when you stand before Christ and God?
When dining or dining out, say blessings and thanks to the provider of all things. Matt.6:9-13; John 14:14; 16:23; In Jesus name.
2006-09-19 01:32:37 · answer #5 · answered by jeni 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays because they consider it to be "worship of the self." If you want to have dinner with your friend, that's fine. But to do so on his or her birthday might send a mixed message. Just have dinner with them when you both feel like it because you want to spend time together. If that happens to be her birthday and she's fine with that, then no, there's nothing wrong with it. But if she feels uncomfortable, don't do it, and don't pressure her. Respect their beliefs. Don't try to circumvent them.
I have a friend who is a Jehovah's Witness. He doesn't buy his wife birthday presents or Christmas presents. But he does buy her "suprises" about every month, just because he loves her and he wants to make her happy and make her feel special. Presents are fine in this way. I'm not suggesting that you buy your friend something every month, just that if you want to give her something, do it just because you see the "perfect thing" for her, and give it to her because she's your friend and you want to. But DON'T do it anywhere near her birthday or Christmas, so she doesn't feel like accepting your gift violates her religious beliefs.
2006-09-19 01:51:49 · answer #6 · answered by Shanshan 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I dont think theres anything wrong with that. I used to be a jehovah's witness years ago when i was young, i think the whole point of it is because you aren't supposed to make 1 day any more special than any other. Its a stupid rule, whats the harm in having a good time?
2006-09-19 00:06:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Birthdays are not pagan. I know many pagans and birthdays are not a pagan celebration to them. Birthdays, at least in America, are just a part of our culture. Its just a time for family and freinds to get together and celberate a life for the x number of years that life has been here.
Life is precious, so why not celebrate it as a gift of God and blessing to our family and friends?
2006-09-19 00:08:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
As a Christian I celebrate the Lord's birthday and anyone else's
if they are of a mind to do so.
I Corinthians 13;8a, Love never fails!!!!!
9-19-6
2006-09-19 00:24:08 · answer #9 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
There is nothing wrong in celebrating the anniversary of one's birth day or wedding day. There is not one verse in the bible that commands people not to celebrate birthdays. The Watchtower loves to take a verse and read something into it that is not there.
The day of the birth of Jesus was celebrated. Celebrate the day of your birth is you wish or anyones, be itthe day of the birth or a few weeks later or years later.
2006-09-19 00:29:35 · answer #10 · answered by WhatIf 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋