2007-05-01 10:59:34 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
sxanthop:
2 Timothy 3:16,17
says nothing about birthdays.
2007-05-01 11:22:44 · update #1
Most of the man made religious rules are not contained in the controlling scriptures in any religion.
2007-05-01 11:04:01 · answer #1 · answered by nikola333 6 · 3⤊ 4⤋
There are 2 b-day celebrations written of in the bible.
Both are associated with death,
does that sound favorable to you?
@ Gal. 4:10,11 we r told:
YOU are scrupulously observing days and months and seasons and years (11) I fear for YOU, that somehow I have toiled to no purpose respecting YOU.
As others have already said here, we do take the Word of God, literally, so, w/ 2 unfavorable reports of this sort of celebration, we do shun these. Also, the 1st century Christians Never had such celebrations. It was the Pharoah's who had these sorts of celebrations. Pagan, Not of Christ.
Now, as for what proud_sexy said we Do celebrate Weddings, Anniversaries, Baby Showers, Graduations,
Bar-B-Q's...
it's wholesome gatherings that r important.
Ecc. 3:12,13--"There is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good during one's life; and also that every man should eat and indeed drink and see good for all his hard work. It is the gift of God"
There is another Scripture (I can't find it @ the moment)
that says: the things that man does, marking the festal moons and seasons is a disgusting thing to Jehovah God.I'll keep looking for it.
2007-05-09 10:59:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do Bible references to birthday celebrations put them in a favorable light? The Bible makes only two references to such celebrations:
Gen. 40:20-22: “Now on the third day it turned out to be Pharaoh’s birthday, and he proceeded to make a feast . . . Accordingly he returned the chief of the cupbearers to his post of cupbearer . . . But the chief of the bakers he hung up.”
Matt. 14:6-10: “When Herod’s birthday was being celebrated the daughter of Herodias danced at it and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Then she, under her mother’s coaching, said: ‘Give me here upon a platter the head of John the Baptist.’ . . . He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.”
Everything that is in the Bible is there for a reason. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Jehovah’s Witnesses take note that God’s Word reports unfavorably about birthday celebrations and so shun these.
How did early Christians and Jews of Bible times view birthday celebrations?
“The notion of a birthday festival was far from the ideas of the Christians of this period in general.”—The History of the Christian Religion and Church, During the Three First Centuries (New York, 1848), Augustus Neander (translated by Henry John Rose), p. 190.
“The later Hebrews looked on the celebration of birthdays as a part of idolatrous worship, a view which would be abundantly confirmed by what they saw of the common observances associated with these days.”—The Imperial Bible-Dictionary (London, 1874), edited by Patrick Fairbairn, Vol. I, p. 225.
What is the origin of popular customs associated with birthday celebrations?
“The various customs with which people today celebrate their birthdays have a long history. Their origins lie in the realm of magic and religion. The customs of offering congratulations, presenting gifts and celebrating—complete with lighted candles—in ancient times were meant to protect the birthday celebrant from the demons and to ensure his security for the coming year. . . . Down to the fourth century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom.”—Schwäbische Zeitung (magazine supplement Zeit und Welt), April 3/4, 1981, p. 4.
“The Greeks believed that everyone had a protective spirit or daemon who attended his birth and watched over him in life. This spirit had a mystic relation with the god on whose birthday the individual was born. The Romans also subscribed to this idea. . . . This notion was carried down in human belief and is reflected in the guardian angel, the fairy godmother and the patron saint. . . . The custom of lighted candles on the cakes started with the Greeks. . . . Honey cakes round as the moon and lit with tapers were placed on the temple altars of [Artemis]. . . . Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes. . . . Lighted tapers and sacrificial fires have had a special mystic significance ever since man first set up altars to his gods. The birthday candles are thus an honor and tribute to the birthday child and bring good fortune. . . . Birthday greetings and wishes for happiness are an intrinsic part of this holiday. . . . Originally the idea was rooted in magic. . . . Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day.”—The Lore of Birthdays (New York, 1952), Ralph and Adelin Linton, pp. 8, 18-20.
2007-05-01 18:08:09 · answer #3 · answered by sxanthop 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think the reason why JW's don't celebrate birthdays is because they not only aren't scriptural, but they are actually a form of self-worship. People didn't even celebrate birthdays for a very long time; it originated with the pharaohs of Egypt, and then only royalty could celebrate them. Jesus didn't celebrate His birthday, and certainly not on the pagan Winter Solstice.
2007-05-01 18:07:41 · answer #4 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Where in the bible said that Jesus did it? why he didn´t do it?
or any apostle or someone follower of God before christ, show me in the bible. it is a pagan celebration truly christians don´t false yes.
There are only two birthday both was unbeliever Genesis 40 and when potifar kill John the baptist.
Why Jesus never did it? ask yourself this question?
2007-05-01 18:05:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
If one celebrates birth day how religion comes in between . There is nothing to do with birth day. All these activities are earthly and should be enjoyed. Does any religion says that there should be no sexual relations? How for we follow religion .Do our duty and keep one self away from orthodoxies and spiritual activities.
2007-05-09 07:18:24 · answer #6 · answered by baba 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Scripture you are talking about:
2Ti 3:16
All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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What it's saying is that the word of God is inspired by God and what it is used for in the bible. It has nothing to do with your question at all. I am pretty sure that God isn't going to hold it against us for celebrating a birthday even if it's not mentioned in the bible. God is more concerned about our hearts being changed towards doing good to others.
2007-05-09 16:02:09 · answer #7 · answered by AC 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think that is only Jehovah's Witnesses that are forbidden to celebrate any holidays. That includes b-days and anniversaries of every kind.
2007-05-06 14:41:01 · answer #8 · answered by proud_sexy_mommy 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
can you take a look at Galations 4:3-11.......dig deep and ask for the understanding of these scriptures
2007-05-09 11:04:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
nowhere. that's a JW tradition I don't really understand, but I don't think it's practiced in other Christian denominations.
I personally don't see celebrating another God-given year of life as a bad thing, no disrespect JWs.
2007-05-01 18:04:31 · answer #10 · answered by Hey, Ray 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋