Why dont jehova witnesses celebrate birthdays?

Question

Where does it say in the bible not to celebrate birthdays & holidays like Thanksgiving and so on? Is it something that they made up themselfs?

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses believe strongly in God Jehovah and in his Son Jesus Christ.

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.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20050101a/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/rq/article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/15/article_01.htm

Answer 2

There are only 2 Birthdays mentioned in the Bible one at Genesis 40:20-22 and the other at Matt 14:6-10 both of then associated with bad events if Jesus wanted us to celebrate birthdays he would have included his but it is NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN THE BIBLE AS TO WHAT DAY IT IS ....!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and No CHRISTIAN in Jesus time celebrated them either and if you look up the customs associated with them a lot of it is associated with demonism see the following references 1. the history of the Christian religion and church during the first three centuries August Neander 1848 P.190 2. the Imperial Bible Dictionary By Patrick Fairbairn 1874 Vol 1 P.225 3. Schwabische Zeitung magazine supplement to Zeit and Welt April 3,4 1981 P.4 4. The Lore of Birthdays by Ralph and AdelinLinton 1952 P.8,18-20 does this answer your question Gorbalizer

Answer 3

As some brought out, all birthday celebrations recorded in the Bible ended up in horrible things happening.
But also, the only one's mentioned were celebrated by those that did not worship God. They worshiped false Gods.

The servants of God never celebrated their birthdays. So to fully follow the ones who live according to God's will, we likewise don't observe our birthday as a couse for celebration. Each day that we are alive we should give thanks to God.

Answer 4

My former Jehovah's neighbor once told me that this is not done,
because it NOT commanded in the Bible to do so.
I don't really have anything furhter, b/c we were kids. THe idea I came away with is that if you give into celebrations of self, or cultural norms, you are going to associate with selfish people. All fo life is supposed to be right action in the name of glorifying the Lord. Why would you celebrate yourself, then?

Answer 5

It doesn't say NOT to.
Jehova's witnesses just believe the comercialization gets in the way of true worshp of Jehova.


And On the birthdays, every birthday in the bible was celibrateed with death.

Answer 6

I'm not J.W. but I THINK it has something to do with all the mishaps that are associated with the ones recorded in the Bible. John the Baptist beheaded. Some where else in the O.T.

I wish they understood the PURPOSE of Holy Days in the Bible even for this day and time. Sheesh.

Answer 7

The JW way seems to be based partly on asceticism. This is probably better than accumulating worldly junk.

Answer 8

Bad theology

Answer 9

they believe holidays are worshiping idols. they believe you only worship god but you are actualy worshiping god during holidays example [christ]mass see the word christ in christmas its about jesus

Answer 10

Because basically it's just another day.