Don't you feel sad on your birthdays?
Or like your missing out on holidays?
WHY don't Jehovah Witnesses celebrate anything?
Like independence day, its a day to celeberate YOUR freedom, why can't you even celebrate that?
2007-09-11 06:25:31 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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!
Jehovah's Witnesses practice strict political and nationalistic neutrality, so they do not celebrate nationalistic holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day.
Other holidays derive from false religion, and so are incompatible with pure worship as adulterating interfaith. For example, Easter derives from the pagan god Oestre and celebrates "rebirth" and "fertility" instead of commemorating Christ's Last Supper and death as Jesus commanded:
(Luke 22:1-22) [Jesus] dispatched Peter and John, saying: “Go and get the passover ready for us to eat.” ...14 At length when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them: “I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it becomes fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”
Seemingly innocuous holidays may have only a tangential connection with false worship, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day (although arguably derived from ancestor worship). Understated observance of these is not generally considered interfaith by Jehovah's Witnesses, but it is too easily misunderstood in some cultures.
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/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001215/article_01.htm
2007-09-11 06:30:21 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 15⤊ 3⤋
First, thank you for taking time to ask us instead of just believing what people tend to say about us. (Misconceptions about Jehovah's Witnesses abound and unless people ask us directly, they are often told what are really misconceptions.)
We do celebrate :) We celebrate weddings, the birth of a baby, some celebrate their wedding anniversary, Witness kids can celebrate the end of the school year and we have fun gatherings all the time (complete with music and dancing!)
Some imagine that we never eat turkey, cake, or give and receive presents- that is not true. We can eat turkey any time (although we generally wait untill right after everyone else has had a turkey day because there are GREAT prices on turkey then!)
I give my kids/friends/spouse presents whenever I feel inclined to do so and when I can offord it (instead of when society tells me I must whether I can afford it or not)
In my family, we have "surprise day" which we do out of the blue and without warning. On surprise day we have done everything from treasure hunts where each clue leads to a gift and another clue until the kid finds the 'BIG present'. We have sprung trips on our kids- to West Edmonton Mall and Disneyland... they are not deprived of fun, presents or celebrations. Celebrations and fun is not what we are opposed to.
The simplest way I know to explain our position on holiday celebrations is to begin with Exodus 20:3 and 4. This is the part of the 10 commandments that says "3 You must not have any other gods against my face....5 You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion,"
He is clear. we must not be induced to serve other gods.
God requires exclusive devotion.
The celebration of birthdays traces back to the ancient worship of the goddess Aritmis- who was honored with cakes and candles which the ancients believed had the ability to grant wishes. This worship has evolved over time but birthday celebrations induce people to participate in ritual that was for another god.
Christmas, although it claims to be Christian, began as a celebration of the unconquered sun. Have you ever wondered what decorated trees, lights, green and red, santa, elves, etc. etc. have to do with Jesus? The truth is that these are ancient Pagan rituals and symbols directly from the worship of pagan gods.
Easter likewise- what do eggs and bunnies have to do with Jesus? Nothing. They come from the ancient worship of a fertility goddess named Oestre (see the similarity in the name?) Eggs and bunnies are fertility symbols.
Jehovah's Witnesses know that these celebrations honor pagan gods and so we will have nothing to do with them because we want to serve God with exclusive devotion.
We do observe the one event that Jesus commanded his followers to observe and that is the memorial of his death (not his birth, or ressurection) It is observed on the annual anniversary of his death according to the ancient Hebrew calendar.
Am I sad that I do not celebrate the holidays like other people? No! I do not feel the least bit sad about not celebrating and I don't miss it a bit. If anything, I am thankful to not be manipulated by the gross commercialism that seems to make slaves of the non-Witness world every time a holiday rolls around.
Finally I will make this point: What gift would have more meaning to you? The obligatory one that someone gave you "because it was Christmas" or the one they gave you out of the blue because they really wanted to give you a gift?
I prefer the latter...
2007-09-11 16:27:16 · answer #2 · answered by Val W 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I knew from an early age why we didn't celebrate holidays and birthdays. I always felt proud that we were obeying Jehovah. I never felt sad not to celebrate.
Now that I'm an adult, (and still a Witness) not celebrating these days is simply normal for me. They are just like any other day. I don't in any way feel deprived.
2007-09-11 12:34:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I use to celebrate all the Holidays until I read the Bible and studied with Jehovah's Witnesses.
Once I learned that these were wrong I just stopped celebrating them. My Wife and I were baptized in Aug. 1996. My Family was very upset and pretty much turned on me because I would no longer celebrate these worldly holidays, but I knew I was doing what was pleasing in Jehovah God's eyes.
Jesus never celebrated these days. We are wise to follow in Jesus footsteps.
Every day is a day to be thankful, each day we live is a blessing from Jehovah. We don't need to pick days out of the month to celebrate and be happy.
My Family that are not Jehovah's Witnesses talk to me now but I know they are still not happy with my decision to become a Jehovah's Witness.
But they see the positive changes I have made in my life since becoming a Witness and I know deep inside they know we have the truth.
But they would rather keep celebrating holidays even though I have reasoned with them from the scriptures.
We need to stand for the truth.
We need to live by God's ways because his way is the best way.
We would not be here right now if it was not for Jehovah God wanting to create.
2007-09-11 08:13:23 · answer #4 · answered by Jason W 4 · 13⤊ 1⤋
The only sadness I experience on my birthday (really a few days afterward since the day comes and goes without my taking note of it at times) is the fact that I am getting older. Never occurred to me to celebrate this date. I do not feel I am missing anything when it comes to holidays.Jesus said "the truth will set you free" (John 8:32) Knowing the truth about these celebrations is liberating, not burdensome. (1John 5:3) Our desire is to serve our heavenly father "in spirit and truth", the way he wants to be served. (John 4:24) We do not attempt to blend true worship with false (2Corinthians 6:14-15)
That being said, I must add that Jehovah's Witnesses DO celebrate other occasions, most notably the anniversary of the death of their Lord, Jesus Christ on Nisan 14 which falls in March/April. (Saturday March 22, 2008 after sundown) Jesus himself commanded that he be remembered in this way.
My family, and most Jehovah's Witness families that I know, celebrate milestones like anniversaries, graduations, and appointments to special privileges in Jehovah's service.
Our lives are rich and fulfilling. We do not need to compromise our faith to enjoy life.
2007-09-11 15:45:07 · answer #5 · answered by babydoll 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Sweetheart, I lived in the world for nearly 45 years...and trust me, there is NOTHING that I miss that's out there. The Bible says for us to stay 'separate' from the world. Now, if we dress like everyone else.. celebrate pagan holidays like everyone else... watch the same entertainment that everyone else watches...blow out birthday candles or light fireworks or sing anthems or salute or say pledges to a country's flag.... just like everyone else ...JUST HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT?
The world is a scary place, with people only looking out after their own pleasure, and disregarding what GOD thinks about it all... no. There's nothing I miss out there.
2007-09-12 11:10:45 · answer #6 · answered by themom 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, Not In The Least.
I wasn't always a Witness...
No I Do Not Miss It !!!!!!!!!!!!
As a matter of fact,
I Always used to call my birth date day,
My "Bad Luck Day."
I Have Never Had a Good or Decent B-date celebration...EVER!
I Always Had Better Days On Any Friday the 13th!!
REALLY.
No, I do not miss, celebrating
Fake, Made up, False, Pagan Origin Traditions of Men.
Independance Day is a national holiday.
It is the tradition of men, not of God.
We don't pledge our alligence to any;
except Jehovah, and His Son, Jesus.
Jesus is our Savior, our King, our Master,
our example to follow.
We do celebrate things.....
We commerate the Death & Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Weddings & the Anniversaries there of.
Baby Showers.
Graduations.
Baptism.
Bar-B-Q's are always Yummy!!!
It's wholesome gatherings we look to attend.
And u say, "why can't J's W's"....
We all are created w/ freewill, we can if we want to.....
We don't want to.
We do & don't do things...to be pleasing to our God, Jehovah.
To bring Honor & Glory to Him & to His Name.
2007-09-11 09:34:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 2⤋
Jehovah God wanted us to use his name. Matthew 6:9, Jesus told us that we should pray: "Our Father in the heavens, let your NAME be SANCTIFIED." Also Isaiah 43:10 also brings out that Jehovah said, "You are my WITNESSES." God is a Title. Even with Arabs. A good dictionary will show you, “Allah” is a shortened form of the Arabic term meaning “the god", this is not a name. The title “God” is neither personal nor distinctive. In the Hebrew Scriptures the same word (ʼElo‧him′) is applied to Jehovah, the true God, and also to false gods. The Imperial Bible-Dictionary says: “It is everywhere a proper name, denoting the personal God and him only; whereas Elohim partakes more of the character of a common noun, denoting usually, indeed, but not necessarily nor uniformly, the Supreme. . . . The Hebrew may say the Elohim, the true God, in opposition to all false gods; but he never says the Jehovah, for Jehovah is the name of the true God only. He says again and again my God . . . ; but never my Jehovah, for when he says my God, he means Jehovah. He speaks of the God of Israel, but never of the Jehovah of Israel, for there is no other Jehovah. He speaks of the living God, but never of the living Jehovah, for he cannot conceive of Jehovah as other than living.” Hope This Helps
2016-05-17 06:37:01 · answer #8 · answered by slyvia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't feel sad because it's just another day to me. I get gifts and celebrate the good things in life all throughout the year, not just on one special day.
Besides, Ecclesiastes 7:1 says the day of our death is better than the day of our birth because at your birth, you have no reputation or anything, so what is there to celebrate? What is so special about our birth, anyway? If Jesus and the apostles didn't see the importance of celebrating their birth, why should I?
2007-09-11 08:20:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 11⤊ 1⤋
No I'm not sad when my birthday comes it's just like any other day 2 me. Not celebrating holidays it's because it came from pagan teaching,and I don't have to spend a lot of money on then eather!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-09-11 10:46:00 · answer #10 · answered by away_mama 2 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Once you know something is inappropriate, why miss it? It is wrong.
JW do other things like care for their families and friends, give gifts to their beloved ones, celebrate anniversaries, do gatherings (where music is played and there is lots of food for the people invited and that also include people that are not JW but of course JW know, they also dance), they provide for the needed ones and that also include people that are not JW but of course JW know.
Who wants more, that is enough love! They don't need to wait for a certain day to show appreciation or love.
2007-09-11 09:12:46 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 1⤋