JW'S: Birhday question part 2?

Question

If th ebible doesn't specefy that it is wrong, shouldn't it be a matter of conscience, whether you celebrate a birthday or not?

I see this as adding rules to the scriptures that are not there...I also know that this issue has been debated in the governing Body for years and years.

Andy H...I am going to have to call you on that one...It would be a disfellowshipping offense if it were practiced by any witness on a regular basis. You know it and I know it...you are just posing for the cameras.

Papa...Let's use your logic and apply it to wedding celebrations..rings and such which also come from pagan origins..Throwing the boquets...honeymoons and hundreds of other things that Witnesses are allowed to do that have origins in pagan religions.

Answer 1

I too questioned the wisdom of the Watchtower Society for many years.
I educated myself as too what the facts were, not just what they said. You should do the same.
And, of course, they will say you must have faith and follow what the governing body has decided or you will be following Satan. Don't believe them. Question everything!!! Research and study EVERYTHING!! Then make your own educated decisions.
Good Luck!

Answer 2

*** rq lesson 11 pp. 22-23 par. 4 Beliefs and Customs That Displease God ***

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.
There is nothing to debate if you are on Gods side you wouldnt want a day that would only revolve around yourself and your date of your birth and all the pagan pagentry that goes with it.

Weddings are differant in that they have there roots with our creator Jehovah God. And his son Jesus set the example of attending a wedding feast.

Answer 3

The easiest way I've learned to determine whether something is wrong or not since my conversion to the Catholic Church from the JW's is to see if it violates the Ten Commandments. If someone can prove to me that celebrating a birthday is sinful, then I'll stop. Take Halloween: it is not a Christian holiday, but it isn't sinful to celebrate, so we do, simply for fun for children.

Answer 4

Ok you heard it from all these people now ill tell you why WE dont celebrate birthdays,,,,There were only 2 birthdays recorded in the bible the first one(im reading from the new translations)in genesis 40:20-22 talks about how it was pharoahs birthday and they had a feast for him and it goes on to say that the cupbearer he hung up, the second one is recorded in Matthew 14:6-10 and it talks about Herod's Birthday, it goes on to say that he promised his daughter anything she wanted and she asked for a platter with john the baptists head on it,so doing what his daughter asked he had john sent to the prisons to be beheaded....in those 2 birthdays people were killed so the point is that the people who celebrated birthdays were obviously NOT christians at all. and in the history books it shows that early day christians did not celebrate birthdays i hope that answers your question.

Answer 5

“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 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

Jesus also said to his disciples: “You are the light of the world. A city cannot be hid when situated upon a mountain. People light a lamp and set it, not under the measuring basket, but upon the lampstand, and it shines upon all those in the house. Likewise let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.” (Mt 5:14-16) The servant of God should appreciate the reason for which he is given the light, and he should realize that it would be utterly foolish and disastrous for him to refuse to let it shine from him as from a lamp.

Answer 6

It is not a disassociating offense – it is a personal decision.
There are many non-Christen themes involved with many birthday celebrations.

Example:
Birthday cakes date back as far as the Middle Ages when the English would conceal symbolic items such as gold coins, rings and thimbles inside their cakes. Each item was associated with a prediction. For example, a person finding a gold coin in a birthday cake would supposedly become wealthy; a person discovering a thimble would never marry.

Thusly we are warned against them, but not condemned from them.

Answer 7

Could it be that JWs just want to be different and this is one of the areas that they chose? Legalistic at best. What has this subject matter have to do with sharing the gospel? Absolutely nothing. It is just a pleasant tradition of men, regardless of its origin, that people celebrate. Nothing stopping anyone from celebrating a birthday.

Answer 8

“Do not go beyond the things that are written”!—1 Corinthians 4:6.

Answer 9

I should be a personal choice, not the organization's decision.

Answer 10

you did it, didn't you? you unblocked your blocked contacts?
LOL