Can someone please help I have been wandering why we don't celebrate birthdays, the reasoning book doesn't help much and i havent been able to talk to the elders in a while because of the wheather here in logan west viginia
2007-02-17 17:35:22 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Even schoolchildren among Jehovah's Witnesses well-understand why god-honoring persons refrain from birthday celebrations. Witness schoolchildren in West Virginia are also familiar with using telephones during inclement weather.
Regarding birthday celebrations, bible students are encouraged to consider:
: 0% of faithful biblical Jews celebrated birthdays
: 0% of first century Christians celebrated birthdays
: 100% of birthdays celebrated in the bible were by debauched enemies of God (See Mark 6:17-29; Gen 40:19-22)
Bible historians (M'Clintock, Strong, and others) have noted that faithful Jews of the bible did not celebrate birthdays, and that ancient pagan birthday celebrations were at least partially intended to honor the patron gods of the particular day.
By comparison with such paganisms, the bible does not even tell us the birthdates of Jesus or ANY of his apostles!
Since such celebrations are not required in true worship, and can easily become a distraction, so Jehovah's Witnesses focus their attention elsewhere. In particular, they are focussed on the preaching work which *IS* a requirement for Christians:
(Luke 10:1-17) [Jesus] the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.
2007-02-19 15:40:04 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Hum If what two of the answers said is true then they have the wrong idea of what the term Pagan is. Its a person or group of people that lived to far away from anyplace that had an organized religion and worship the the elements that they have to work with everyday instead( Earth,Air,fire,water and spirit). The people mentioned are prechristion rulers but part of the Hebrew Sept's.The Jewish religion mentions them and has specific rules for what they can and cannot do if they need to stay at one of their dwellings. due to the time of day ,weather,season,illness.
The bible its self does not forbid the celebration of the number of solar years you have lived on this Earth.That is strictly your religions rules.
Jehovah is simply the other name for the Creator of all things used in the Jewish texts until Moses created Monotheism and said the creator told him that his name was only Yahweh. Until then the Jewish religious system used both names. thus the we,us and other plurals.
And a hello I was born in Morgantown, West Vir.
2007-02-17 18:13:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dear David,
Your question shows exactly why nobody should use "the reasoning book" as a guide in life. Consider that God is making it possible for you to stop talking to the elders and talk to Him instead. Read the Bible from cover-to-cover and ask for God's help when you have questions. God has promised to give us the help we need but not through any false prophets.
Go to the Source Document which is the awesome uncreated Creator's Word.
Note to James - Moses did not "create" Monotheism and the creator did not say that his name was "only" Yahweh. By adding that 4 letter word you have changed the meaning of the scripture.
"Jehovah is simply the other name for the Creator of all things used in the Jewish texts until Moses created Monotheism and said the creator told him that his name was only Yahweh. Until then the Jewish religious system used both names. thus the we,us and other plurals."
2007-02-20 03:15:02 · answer #3 · answered by JOYfilled - Romans 8:28 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your definition misses the mark. I know what a cult is because I used to be associated with one: the Jehovah's Witnesses. A cult keeps its members in line through control and fear. With the JW's, it's fear of losing your family/loved ones if you quit being a JW. Legitimate religion does not do this. Since my family left the JW's, we found the Catholic Church and have found home. The Church keeps its members because She teaches love. We do not remain because we are forced, but because we have the freedom to choose. This is the mark of true religion, of God.
Please make sure you know what you are talking about next time before making these kinds of comments, because there are a lot of people out there who've been through serious trials. What you make fun of, they bear the scars
2007-02-17 19:36:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
There are only 2 birthdays mentioned in the bible and they involve two kings who did not worship God. They worshiped pagan gods. And both birthdays had beheadings of One was John the Babtist Gods faithful servent and the other involved a beheading of the chief baker of a king. Jesus did not celebrate his birthday. Also you never read about Gods faithful ppl celebrating birthdays. But they do mention weddings and other gathering. Ask your parents or someone else who you trust their opinions.
2007-02-17 17:45:51 · answer #5 · answered by CHAEI 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
It is evident that you are not one of Jehovah's Witnesses. If you were, you would not be seeking an answer to your question in an open forum where uninformed and misguided people could have a field day with your comments. You are not fooling me in the least.
2007-02-17 18:33:11 · answer #6 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Birthdays are not allowed by the Watchtower because two pagan rulers in the Bible killed people on their birthdays. The Pharaoh of Egypt killed his baker (Gen 40:20) and King Herod killed John the Baptist. (Matt 14:6). Is the actions of two wicked rulers sufficient enough proof that God condemns the celebration of birthdays? Is there any evidence in the Bible that proves that a Christian who celebrates a birthday is worthy of eternal death? It is apparent that the forbidding of birthdays did not make it into the ten commandments nor is it listed in the sins that God hates in the New Testament. Don't you think that God would have commented directly on the sin of celebrating birthdays if he provided such a harsh punishment as eternal death?
God Bless You
2007-02-17 17:41:00 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 5⤋
David: The "dos and don'ts" associated with any religion are mere endeavours within LEGALISM - not spirituality. The practice of abstaining from observing birthdays is another hallmark of legalism, associated with cultic practises. Cults tend to subscribe to practices of "dos and don'ts" and in the event, that those legalistic practices are continuously, adhered to, you will become [a process] laden with psychosis attributed to an identity crisis [P.I.C] . My lovingly advice to you is separate yourself from this cult or you will suffer all kinds of problems in your later, [adult] years. Please heed my advice and believe me, righteousness through self-denial is not righteousness but sickness !
2007-02-17 17:53:24 · answer #8 · answered by guraqt2me 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
This person is a liar and should be ashamed for bringing reproach and shame on those who truly love God. Do not be misled by him.
2007-02-17 18:08:24 · answer #9 · answered by Sparkle1 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
To better understand Jehovah Witnesses and their cult, I suggest you review the following site:
2007-02-17 18:05:13 · answer #10 · answered by Ask Mr. Religion 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋