• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

Can Christians celebrate birthdays?

St_Worm2

Simul Justus et Peccator
Site Supporter
Jan 28, 2002
28,085
45,773
68
✟3,092,123.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Married
This is not my week.
First people said wearing pants and makeup is sinful, now i feel guilty about that. Then I heard christians should never celebrate birthdays because they're pagan and evil. I Don't know what to do. Im feeling like i cant do anything anymore I'm just so depressed. My mom isn't a christian so I don't know what to do! If i tell her Birthdays are evil she will think I'm crazy. What can I DO. Celebrate or not? I miss my early Christian years.... when all of this guilt didn't happen and I was closer to God. Now i feel nothing but Guilty 24/7. :tantrum: IF YOU WANT TO
Are Birthday Celebrations Christian?

Hi AlyssaJulianna, you have to be careful who you listen to. The "church" you got your information from looks like legalistic cult based upon the former teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God. The funny thing is, what the RCG has chosen to teach, Armstrong's original teachings, are the very thing that Armstrong distanced himself from before he died. He returned to a regular or orthodox Christian understanding of the faith. IOW, do not listen to these guys!

As far as the birthday celebrations go, like everyone else here (save one), the Bible and God have nothing bad to say about them, so go, have fun, enjoy .. :D

Indirectly however, the Bible does say a lot about them and how important every minute detail of your life is to God. Did you know that every hair on your head is numbered and known to God (Matthew 10:30)? Also, please take some time to read and study Psalm 139. I think you will be amazed at what it has to say about how deeply God knows and cares for you and how important you are to Him (and Psalm 139 is just a place to begin understanding that) .. :)

God bless!! (Numbers 6:24-26)

Yours and His,
David
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

WithLoveFromAlyssa

Love makes a choice, it has a voice...
Jul 7, 2012
1,547
173
29
Somewhere around Nashville <3
✟17,459.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
Hi AlyssaJulianna, you have to be careful who you listen to. The "church" you got your information looks like legalistic cult based upon the former teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God. The funny thing is, what the RCG has chosen to teach, Armstrong's original teachings, are the very thing that Armstrong distanced himself from before he died. He returned to a regular or orthodox Christian understanding of the faith. IOW, do not listen to these guys!

As far as the birthday celebrations go, like everyone else here (save one), the Bible and God have nothing bad to say about them, so go, have fun, enjoy .. :D

Indirectly however, the Bible does say a lot about them and how important every minute detail of your life is to God. Did you know that every hair on your head is numbered and known to God (Matthew 10:30)? Also, please take some time to read and study Psalm 139. I think you will be amazed at what it has to say about how deeply God knows and cares for you and how important you are to Him (and Psalm 139 is just a place to begin understanding that) .. :)

God bless!! (Numbers 6:24-26)

Yours and His,
David

Thank you Worm =] i will read that psalm.
 
Upvote 0

Angelfrog

Rock, paper, JESUS! I win!
Oct 22, 2009
882
86
Sitting on a cloud in England.
✟17,363.00
Gender
Female
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Kingdomfirst. Do you actually believe this argument or is it an elaborate form of Christian trolling? Serious question.

See, anyone can make this sort of rediculous argument as well, observe:

1: Deut. 14:21 "Do not eat anything you find already dead. You may give it to the foreigner residing in any of your towns, and they may eat it, or you may sell it to any other foreigner. But you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk."

2:So the Bible says Do Not and then mentions goats meat and milk. But does that mean I can't mix meat and dairy products? I'd better not, just to be on the safe side.

3: Wait, meat and dairy, isn;t that... A cheeseburger? :confused:

4: Hey, everyone, eating cheeseburgers is a sin! God says not to! Anyone who eats Macdonalds is going to Hell! Repent ye sinner and eat only Tofu and broccoli!!!

Which is pretty much what you've done with the above article. Taken a couple of out of context examples, wrapped it in badly applied scripture and used them to scare someone with OCD. Nice one.

Missed the point completely, but that's how it goes.

Christians are not under the Mosaic law, but under "The law of the Christ" study what that is, and you will really benefit from it.


I don't think it's missed the point at all. In fact- kudos to pumpitup for a perfect example of how to play Twister with Scripture. Spin the arrow, pick a verse and get so convoluted with thinking it has a completely different principle than it does that we end up on our backsides in a heap of over-thinking!

And yes, we're under Grace and the law of Christ.... which has no indication whatsoever that celebrating a birthday is a sin.

If we're going to squeal 'PAGAN ORIGIN!!!!" at everything and run hiding, doesn't that make us sad, legalistic bound little Christians, afraid to live this life of abundance that Jesus spoke of?

Not to mention that we'd do very little but sit in churches quoting Bible passages all day. (Which is itself a bit dodgy...see below! :) )

Invited to a wedding?

Sorry- can't go. Too pagan. Wedding cake has origins in fertility rites. Too many 'superstitions' and non- Christian traditions and rituals. The bride might carry a horseshoe shaped bouquet and that's a superstitious worldy belief.

Don't be near someone with a cold, in case they sneeze and someone says 'Bless you' which is a superstition about not letting bad spirits in. Better stay away from the risk of being near them.

Don't, for pity's sake, buy a calendar- as all the days and months are named after Roman deities- which must mean you're sinning if you own one or even use the names 'Monday, Tuesday' etc. You'll have to name then 'This is the day the Lord has made 1, This is the day the Lord has made 2......' Better not use January and so on, either. Go all Star Trek and use numbers (as long as they don't add up to 666 at any point of course!)

Don't celebrate Easter, as even the very name is pagan.

While you're at it- don't go into a church building that has rows of seats or pews facing the front. You are aware, of course that that way of doing things was adopted directly from pagan temples around 326 AD?
Yikes- going into church is sinful.....

I could go on ad nauseum.......

Are these silly examples?
Well, of course they are- but the arguments are every bit as valid as objecting to birthdays.

I'm pretty sure we were never meant to become 'Pharisees Mark II'
 
Upvote 0

nuttypiglet

Newbie
Mar 23, 2012
639
2
✟23,299.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Kingdomfirst. Do you actually believe this argument or is it an elaborate form of Christian trolling? Serious question.

See, anyone can make this sort of rediculous argument as well, observe:

1: Deut. 14:21 "Do not eat anything you find already dead. You may give it to the foreigner residing in any of your towns, and they may eat it, or you may sell it to any other foreigner. But you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk."

2:So the Bible says Do Not and then mentions goats meat and milk. But does that mean I can't mix meat and dairy products? I'd better not, just to be on the safe side.

3: Wait, meat and dairy, isn;t that... A cheeseburger? :confused:

4: Hey, everyone, eating cheeseburgers is a sin! God says not to! Anyone who eats Macdonalds is going to Hell! Repent ye sinner and eat only Tofu and broccoli!!!

Which is pretty much what you've done with the above article. Taken a couple of out of context examples, wrapped it in badly applied scripture and used them to scare someone with OCD. Nice one.

Of course if they had freezers and food preservatives at the time, you do realise scripture would have been very different.
Thou shalt defrost every 6th day and never unplug your freezer. Thou must givest time to thaw thy meat.
 
Upvote 0

J0SHUA

Aug 30, 2013
672
52
✟24,922.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
You can, sure. Just as you can go out and murder 10 people. Should you? Well, probably not. It's the same with non-God sanctioned holy days. Your birthday is not a holy day.

If God didn't want us to celebrate birthdays He would specifically tell us. God tells us murder is a sin, He doesn't tell us celebrating birthdays is a sin. Just because something isn't holy doesn't mean you can't celebrate. I highly doubt God is offended when He sees His child celebrate a birthday. It's innocent fun and brings the family together. It's not like we worship the birthday person
 
Upvote 0

Alvis

Harry Potter
Aug 30, 2013
1,438
25
Here
✟1,906.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Single
If God didn't want us to celebrate birthdays He would specifically tell us. God tells us murder is a sin, He doesn't tell us celebrating birthdays is a sin. Just because something isn't holy doesn't mean you can't celebrate. I highly doubt God is offended when He sees His child celebrate a birthday. It's innocent fun and brings the family together. It's not like we worship the birthday person

That's spurious reasoning. So if God wanted us not to rape children, he would have told us not to? Really? That's a poor argument.

God is offended whenever anyone sins against him. Remember, one sin sends you to hell for eternity. Worship of the self is the ultimate sin of pride. Remember what caused Lucifer to fall? Self worship. Pride. If glorifying the self is not a sin, what is? Also, anything that elevates yourself or family above God or worshiping God is a sin. God does not wink at sin no matter how much you try to rationalize it.
 
Upvote 0

SayaOtonashi

Newbie
May 19, 2012
1,960
81
USA
✟26,681.00
Gender
Female
Faith
Methodist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Democrat
That's spurious reasoning. So if God wanted us not to rape children, he would have told us not to? Really? That's a poor argument.

God is offended whenever anyone sins against him. Remember, one sin sends you to hell for eternity. Worship of the self is the ultimate sin of pride. Remember what caused Lucifer to fall? Self worship. Pride. If glorifying the self is not a sin, what is? Also, anything that elevates yourself or family above God or worshiping God is a sin. God does not wink at sin no matter how much you try to rationalize it.

You are wrong it's waht you do with your birthday. God speaks of abuse and of abusing children.
 
Upvote 0

Krillin

Yup
Apr 30, 2013
728
36
✟16,076.00
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
That's spurious reasoning. So if God wanted us not to rape children, he would have told us not to? Really? That's a poor argument.

God is offended whenever anyone sins against him. Remember, one sin sends you to hell for eternity. Worship of the self is the ultimate sin of pride. Remember what caused Lucifer to fall? Self worship. Pride. If glorifying the self is not a sin, what is? Also, anything that elevates yourself or family above God or worshiping God is a sin. God does not wink at sin no matter how much you try to rationalize it.

Jesus was invited to parties, and he attended. :doh:
 
Upvote 0

Alvis

Harry Potter
Aug 30, 2013
1,438
25
Here
✟1,906.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Single
You are wrong it's waht you do with your birthday. God speaks of abuse and of abusing children.

Yes, if you honor God and go to church or write a check to your local church, then God is pleased. But to waste on self worship, is a grave sin before God.
 
Upvote 0

Girder of Loins

Future Math Teacher
Dec 5, 2010
2,869
130
31
United States of America
✟26,461.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
This is not my week.
First people said wearing pants and makeup is sinful, now i feel guilty about that. Then I heard christians should never celebrate birthdays because they're pagan and evil. I Don't know what to do. Im feeling like i cant do anything anymore I'm just so depressed. My mom isn't a christian so I don't know what to do! If i tell her Birthdays are evil she will think I'm crazy. What can I DO. Celebrate or not? I miss my early Christian years.... when all of this guilt didn't happen and I was closer to God. Now i feel nothing but Guilty 24/7. :tantrum: IF YOU WANT TO READ WHERE I GOT MY INFORMATION IT IS BELOW

This is what ive read On birthday celebrations:
Why does God care whether or not you celebrate birthdays? After all, it is a chance for you to give presents to someone and make him or her feel good. What could be wrong with this?
Here is what God commands: “Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the heathen are dismayed by them. For the customs of the people are vain” (Jer. 10:2, 3).
After God freed Israel from slavery, He clearly instructed them, “After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein you dwelt, shall you not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, where I bring you, shall you not do: neither shall you walk in their ordinances” (Lev. 18:3). God commanded that they not defile themselves with the practices and customs of the surrounding nations (vs. 24-29). “Therefore shall you keep My ordinance, that you commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that you defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God” (vs. 30).
This is an emphatic command from God. He does not want His servants dabbling in the customs of this world.
But what about those who reach age 80, 90 or 100 years old—should we ignore altogether the many years of life experiences they have gained? No. In our current society, where senior citizens are routinely ignored and considered to be a burden, it is certainly permissible to acknowledge someone who has reached a considerable number of years. Someone who has lived through two world wars, the Great Depression, the Atomic Age, the creation of the modern nation of Israel, the Cold War, men walking on the moon, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Kennedy assassination, civil rights marches, race riots, the rise and collapse of the Berlin wall, and the worldwide growth of the Internet, has reached an age where special honor should naturally be conferred upon them.
Proverbs 16:31 states, “The hoary [white or gray] head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.” People who have lived to great age, sometimes reflected by pure white hair, often have great wisdom and experience to share with younger generations. Simple acknowledgment that they have reached age 70, 80, 90 or 100 shows them honor and appreciation. It is not wrong to acknowledge that one has reached a milestone in a long life.
What we have described above is far different than celebrating birthdays with all of the usual pagan traditions! Celebrating the day of one’s birth, as though it were a special occasion, is wrong. It violates God’s command. It keeps people selfishly focused on their temporary, physical lives, when God’s purpose is to give mankind eternal life in His Family. True Christians should be focused on how their lives are preparing them for rulership on this Earth at the Return of Jesus Christ.
Realize that God hates all pagan customs and traditions—birthday celebrations are not an exception!

Origin of Birthdays
Then where did birthday celebrations come from? The astonishing answer is from the pagan practice of astrology! Thousands of years ago, when men looked up into the night sky and charted the stars, they invented calendars and calculated the birth dates, to the very hour, of kings, rulers and their successors. These ancient pagan astrologers meticulously examined horoscopes and birthday omens because they believed that the fate of the rich and powerful might affect an entire society. Even to this day, men have been putting their trust in horoscopes instead of God.
In ancient Egypt, the pharaohs ordered businesses to close on their birthdays and gave enormous feasts for hundreds of servants. In ancient Greece, wealthy males joined birthday clubs composed exclusively of men who shared their birth date. Once a month, the club celebrated with a feast. When a member died, he left money to help pay for future parties. In Persia, noblemen observed their birthdays by barbecuing an ox, a camel and a donkey and serving hundreds of small cakes to the celebrants.
In ancient Rome, the emperor gave huge parties in honor of his own birthday, which included parades, circuses, and gladiatorial combat. The celebration of days was so important to the average Roman citizen that the Roman calendar designated a majority of days for some form of celebration—including many birthdays of gods and famous men.
The Roman calendar, with its emphasis on continual celebration, has had great influence on modern society. Consider the following quote about the origin of the Roman calendar:
“Our [Roman] calendar is not Christian in origin. It descends directly from the Egyptians, who originated the 12 month year, 365 day system. A pagan Egyptian scientist, Sosigenes, suggested this plan to the pagan Emperor Julius Caesar, who directed that it go into effect throughout the Roman Empire in 45 B.C. As adopted it indicated its pagan origin by the names of the months—called after Janus, Maia, Juno, etc. The days were not named but numbered on a complicated system involving Ides, Nones, and Calends. It was not until 321 A.D. that the seven-day week feature was added, when the Emperor Constantine (supposedly) adopted Christianity. Oddly enough for his weekdays he chose pagan names which are still used” (Journal of Calendar Reform, Sept. 1953, p. 128).
Modern birthday parties and celebrations by children take their form mainly from Germany, where the birthday child received gifts, chose a menu, and received a candle-ringed butter or jam cake. The book The Lore of Birthdays, by Ralph and Adelin Linton, gives a brief look at the history of birthday celebrations: “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 book continues: “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 [the god 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.”
Saying “happy birthday” to friends and loved ones was society’s superstitious way of protecting them from evil spirits. Birthday thumps, bumps, pinches, etc., were said to bring luck and send away evil spirits. Party snappers, horns and other noisemakers were also intended to scare off bad-luck spirits.
It should now be clear that birthdays are not only unbiblical, they are pagan!
Are Birthday Celebrations Christian?

Repeat after me...

Legalism. All this is legalism.

Sure, people talk about the "meat and bread" of the Bible, but what about the water? Sure, you need wood on a fire to keep it going, but too much will smother the flame. You need to keep a steady supply of head knowledge in your walk with Christ, but it NEEDS to be complimented by some Holy Spirit sugar. Listen to John Piper, then go listen to Bethel Music. Listen to Joel Osteen, then turn on some Hillsong Live. You need both!
 
Upvote 0

J0SHUA

Aug 30, 2013
672
52
✟24,922.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
No, rape would fall under murder or sexual immorality. You aren't being prideful when you celebrate a birthday unless you said something like "bow down to me for it is my birthday" haha. It's also mostly others that are celebrating it anyways, which is an innocent act of love. Job celebrated getting his belongings back with a feast. There is no sinful pleasure in celebrating a day, especially if you give thanks to God for it. When we have a birthday we celebrate and give thanks to God for allowing us to live another year as His follower.
 
Upvote 0

Alvis

Harry Potter
Aug 30, 2013
1,438
25
Here
✟1,906.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Single
Also, the bible doesn't speak of blood transfusions or going to the hospital.

Actually, it does. It says to abstain from blood and consuming blood. So the JWs are right on that.

Hospitals are fine, if God wants you to go, go. Faith healers are frauds, so you're better off with a professional medical staff than a quack like Benny Hinn.
 
Upvote 0

Alvis

Harry Potter
Aug 30, 2013
1,438
25
Here
✟1,906.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Single
No, rape would fall under murder or sexual immorality. You aren't being prideful when you celebrate a birthday unless you said something like "bow down to me for it is my birthday" haha. It's also mostly others that are celebrating it anyways, which is an innocent act of love. Job celebrated getting his belongings back with a feast. There is no sinful pleasure in celebrating a day, especially if you give thanks to God for it. When we have a birthday we celebrate and give thanks to God for allowing us to live another year as His follower.

False.

Any form of self exaltation is worship. Job also was a sissy who wished to die. God yelled at him for his sin before God. He is not our example.

Every day is a gift from God, so why take a whole year for granted? We don't have tomorrow!
 
Upvote 0