by Peacekeeper 23 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I am currently reviewing various doctrines of the WT.
Would it be possible for this thread to focus completely on the issue of birthdays and avoid other subjects & also any digs at the WT over their current policy.
Personally, I believe that birthdays are acceptable but I need concrete reasons / facts to counteract the arguments provided by the WT for their refusal to celebrate birthdays.
Thanks
Peacekeeper
I have read online that somewhere in the bible that Job celebrated his special day, some people think that refers to birthdays. There is no biblical command for or against celebrating birthdays, the WT Society's corrupt thinking would have you to believe it is wrong. They say that it amounts to creature worship, but so does celebrating wedding anniversaries. They will say "but god instituted the marriage arrangement" to which you could reply "Well who instituted the birth arrangement?" It's just a tit for tat argument with an organization that loves to micromanage its member lives.
As a starting point:
The only way you can put a doctrinal spin on Birthdays is by attempting to put yourself in the mind of God and what He might have been getting at, by allowing the few examples that you find in the Bible to be recorded. That's not a very satisfactory way of compiling a theology. The Bible gives no straight answer on the subject, even by inference, period.
2004 thread: So is there a new stance on B-days or what? http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/80178/1.ashx
Would it be possible for this thread to focus completely on the issue of birthdays and avoid other subjects & also any digs at the WT over their current policy.
HAH. No it would not be possible.
INQ
That would be Job's two sons.
They had a great time per the bible!
i think some of the customs that accompany the celebration of birthdays supposedly have an occultic origin.
the candles? the wish? probably some other stuff too.
AlmostAtheist did a pretty comprehensive paper on the topic of birthdays.
If I can find it, I will post a link. Otherwise, you may want to pm him.
-Aude.
ala WTS:
*** w51 10/1 p. 607 Questions from Readers ***
Questions from Readers
• Is it proper to have or attend celebrations of birthday anniversaries?—F. K., Nevada.
Such celebrations have their roots in pagan religions, and not Scriptural grounds. Some Bible commentators suggest that birthday celebrations may have had their origin in the "notion of the immortality of the soul". Astrologers and stargazers laid great stress on offering sacrifices to the gods each year when the stars and planets were in the same position as when one was born. In Egyptian mythology the "birthdays of the gods" were celebrated on certain days, and in Chinese mythology individuals offered special sacrifices on their birthdays to Shou Hsing, the god of longevity. The ancient Anglo-Saxons celebrated the birthday of the "Lord Moon", spoken of as meni at Isaiah 65:11 (margin), by making cakes "called Nur-Cakes, or Birthcakes"; and candles also are of pagan origin.—See Hislop’s TwoBabylons, pages 95, 191-196.
After telling us that December 25 was the traditional birthday of Nimrod, and not of Jesus, the new book WhatHasReligionDoneforMankind? states: "The inspired Scriptures do not give the birth date of Jesus, and it does not matter, for neither Jesus nor God his Father nor the inspired apostles instructed us to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. The only birthday celebrations that the Holy Scriptures mention are those of pagans, those of Egypt’s Pharaoh and of Herod Antipas who marked his birthday by having John the Baptist’s head chopped off. (Gen. 40:20; Matt. 14:6; Mark 6:21) Christ’s disciples of the first century shunned birthday celebrations as being pagan, unchristian!"
Doubtless many things practiced by Christians today were also practiced by pagans; but when these practices are steeped in false worship contrary to Bible principle they become objectionable. The celebration of birthday anniversaries centers the mind on the creature and exalts the creature, giving him and his birth undue importance. Romans 1:25 (NW) warns of those who "venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the One who created". Birthday celebrations could tend to take on this objectionable quality. If Christians wish to come together occasionally for profitable fellowship and relaxation, they do not have to await a day reminiscent of pagan religion. If they wish to present a brother with a gift, they do not have to await the anniversary of the day of his entry into the world, as though that were such a memorable occasion. If the precise day of Jesus’ birth and its remembrance were of no such noteworthiness, whose are?
*** w95 5/15 Flashes of Light—Great and Small (Part 1) ***
[Footnotes]
In time, it was seen that if the most important birth that ever took place could not be celebrated, we should not celebrate any birthday. Besides, neither the Israelites nor the early Christians celebrated birthdays. The Bible mentions only two birthdays, one of Pharaoh and the other of Herod Antipas. Each celebration was marred by an execution. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays because these observances have pagan origins and tend to exalt the ones having a birthday.—Genesis 40:20-22; Mark 6:21-28.
So, the issue is not one of fundamental violation of Scriptural law, but of "principle," primarily a matter of 'creature worship.' For the same reason Mother's Day was vilified.
However, I've never heard of a JW being df'd for celebrating either one. If anything, the action would take the lines of "Well, you're doing something that is strongly disapproved, and therefore we need to discuss with you if you have apostate thinking in general."
Craig
The Witnesses will tell you that there are only two birthday celebrations in the Bible and on those days, someone was killed. Also those celebrating their birthdays were non-christians. thus they reason that God recorded these two birthdays to teach us that they are wrong to observe. But, you have to assume that these two birthdays are telling us that all birthday celebrations, even that of Christians, would be wrong. Because the Bible does not specifically state that they are wrong. What was wrong about the two they cite, is that someone was killed on those days. It was not the act of observing a Birthday in itself that was wrong but the fact that these men used thier birthdays as an excuse to kill people. Here are the two they will read to you: Genesis 40:20, Mark 6:17-28.
Here is a third birthday celebration they conveniently leave out:
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ [ a ] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Noticed how the Angels and men rejoiced on the birthday of Christ? No JW will quote this birthday to you.
The Apostle Paul taught Christians in the early congregation that days of observance were up to the individual Christians. And that no matter what day we choose to observe, we should do it keeping in mind that we are Christians and not using this day as an excuse for loose conduct. However Paul did not prohibit the observing of any days, including birthdays.
5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God
Hope this information helps. Peace, Lilly
