Can Christians celebrate birthdays?

[BrianJK]

I don't think Alvis understand Romans 14...

 

[J0SHUA]

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!

Job was a sissy? No offense but surviving that strong of a depression is a lot less sissy than not being able to ask a girl out. Just so you know girls aren't going to ask you out when they see a guy that just wants to argue. Don't take it personally I just don't know why you called Job a sissy. I'm sure you would want to die as well if you were just throw onto a street to survive as a homeless man surrounded by people that would only put you down

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

I think that could apply to our birthdays. Direct all of the glory to God on your birthday. It's not self worship. When it's someone's birthday we like to make them feel better just because it's innocent fun and love. It doesn't mean we look up to them as a god

 

[Alvis]

I don't think Alvis understand Romans 14...

Oh, you mean the chapter that doesn't talk about birthdays? Do go on with that. Let's rip more Bible verses right out of context and abuse them to suit our needs. I'm sure God just loves that.

 

[Girder of Loins]

Oh, you mean the chapter that doesn't talk about birthdays? Do go on with that. Let's rip more Bible verses right out of context and abuse them to suit our needs. I'm sure God just loves that.

The only person ripping verses here is... you.

Wait, I retract that claim. You haven't even posted a reference yet! So never mind, you're good!

 

[Alvis]

Job was a sissy? No offense but surviving that strong of a depression is a lot less sissy than not being able to ask a girl out. Just so you know girls aren't going to ask you out when they see a guy that just wants to argue. Don't take it personally I just don't know why you called Job a sissy. I'm sure you would want to die as well if you were just throw onto a street to survive as a homeless man surrounded by people that would only put you down

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

I think that could apply to our birthdays. Direct all of the glory to God on your birthday. It's not self worship. When it's someone's birthday we like to make them feel better just because it's innocent fun and love. It doesn't mean we look up to them as a god

Job deserved what he got. God himself judged so. He was rebuked and put in his place for being a whiner. Moving on.

All it says is eat or drink... try reading it in context next time. Anything that puts anyone or thing above God is an idol. Get rid of it.

 

[St_Worm2]

Remember, one sin sends you to hell for eternity.

Really? According to whom .. If you mean non-Christians, OK, but this board is for Christians only. And to saints the Lord has this to say (in small part):

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him." Psalm 103: 1-4, 8, 10-13​

"I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." Isaiah 43:25​

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin,we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 1:9-2:2
​

 

[J0SHUA]

Job deserved what he got. God himself judged so. He was rebuked and put in his place for being a whiner. Moving on.

All it says is eat or drink... try reading it in context next time. Anything that puts anyone or thing above God is an idol. Get rid of it.

I suppose I could put bold on the words you might have missed if it helps. "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." We aren't putting our birthday above God when we celebrate, instead we put Him above and give Him glory. It's not self worship when we eat a pop tart, but it is good to give the glory and thanks to God for giving it to us.

And that guy was right -- Romans 14 teaches not to pass judgement on others.

"Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand." (Romans 14:4) We are children of God who give Him glory for our birthday. Why do you condemn us of that? I also thanked God for the apple he let me eat yesterday, does this mean I'm self worshiping by feeding myself something that tastes good?

It also goes on to say:

"One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God." (Romans 14:5-6)

I observe my birthday in honor of the Lord. You abstain from your birthday and give thanks to God. Just because it doesn't specifically state "birthday" that doesn't mean a birthday can't apply. We're brothers in Christ who choose a different area in 14:6. We should also be loving one another, not condemning one another.

 

[BrianJK]

Oh, you mean the chapter that doesn't talk about birthdays? Do go on with that. Let's rip more Bible verses right out of context and abuse them to suit our needs. I'm sure God just loves that.

"One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." - Romans 14:5

Nothing there about days at all?

 

[Alvis]

"One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." - Romans 14:5

Nothing there about days at all?

Nothing about BIRTH days, learn 2 read.

It is talking about Sabbath days. Is the US educational system truly this bad? This is sad.

 

[BrianJK]

You see the word "Sabbath" in that passage?

Also, do you completely limit the application of Christian liberty to food and what you interpret to only be "Sabbath"?

I'd prefer to keep this cordial, at least on my side. I'll leave the insults to you.

 

[J0SHUA]

"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,

'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.'
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." (Romans 14:10-13)

 

[Alvis]

"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,

'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.'
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." (Romans 14:10-13)

That's great. What is the context of the chapter talking about? What is the sin being addressed here?

 

[J0SHUA]

That's great. What is the context of the chapter talking about? What is the sin being addressed here?

Probably something similar to James 4:

"he who judges his brother, judges the law"
"he who judges the law, is not an observer of the law but a president;"
(James 4:11)

I believe this refers to you, President Alvis.

"There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?" (James 4:12)

 

[Alvis]

Probably something similar to James 4:

"he who judges his brother, judges the law"
"he who judges the law, is not an observer of the law but a president;"
(James 4:11)

I believe this refers to you, President Alvis.

"There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?" (James 4:12)

That's Seer Alvis.

I believe you need to brush up on your bible reading, friend.

 

[J0SHUA]

That's Seer Alvis.

I believe you need to brush up on your bible reading, friend.

lol are you serious. You have clearly seen what the bible teaches, so I'm just gonna go live according to the Bible, not president alvis. Enjoy your endless arguing and complaining about girls not asking you out

 

[Angelfrog]

Just for the record, tomorrow is my son's 18th birthday. We will celebrate it, we shall sing happy birthday to him, we have cards and presents for him and our family has sent things for him. And we shall do it all without once having done ANYTHING remotely like worshipping him or making him equal with God in any way shape or form! What we do says, 'We love you and we're so glad you were born!"

And I know that teens can have their centre of the universe moments- but he really won't see any of tomorrow as being about exhalting himself.

And...in a week and a half we'll do it all over again for my birthday. Without having sinned one teensy, weensy litle bit.

Meantime- I rather like what this guy wrote. He was talking about the whole issue of Christians celebrating Christmas and other events and the matter of personal liberty and causing others to stumble etc in these matters:

If a brother tells us he is offended by our exercise of liberty, yet does not mean he is tempted to sin, he should be instructed to repent of his judgmental attitude. If he confronts us about our liberty, because he views it as a clear violation of God’s revealed will in Scripture, then let him show where the specific custom is prohibited in Scripture. If he offers no clear prohibitions, but has drawn his conclusions based merely upon a process of rational deduction and speculation about what offends God, he is showing symptoms of Phariseeism. One of the defining traits of the Pharisees was their habit of creating moral and spiritual standards based on a process of deduction from Scripture. Pharisees set up their own standards and held others accountable to them. They based all their standards for Israel upon their ideas of “symbolic respect” – that is, upon those things they speculated were offensive to God.

Interestingly enough, those who do not feel free to eat meat offered to idols are regarded by God not as spiritually strong, but as weak in faith.

Rom 14:2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

It is a principle of basic Bible hermeneutics that God wrote the Bible and included in it everything we absolutely need for living the Christian life (2 Pet 1:3). Doctrines upon which He wanted his people to build their faith, He gave clearly with explicit instruction. Moral standards or church practices He regarded as significant, He laid out in clearly stated commands. Whatever He deemed important He stated directly and emphasized by recurring themes.

We must understand that God left nothing out of the Bible. This means that even after watching the modern American church, He doesn't wish that He had made a better distinction between liberty and immorality.

I'm off to blow up balloons.......

 

[Alvis]

lol are you serious. You have clearly seen what the bible teaches, so I'm just gonna go live according to the Bible, not president alvis. Enjoy your endless arguing and complaining about girls not asking you out

And enjoy your wonderful religion. I'm sure it will serve you well in the real world.

 

[BrianJK]

And enjoy your wonderful religion. I'm sure it will serve you well in the real world.

The world where the Bible does not prohibit celebration?

 

[nuttypiglet]

The world where the Bible does not prohibit celebration?

Yes lol and perhaps we should inform the Jews to stop their celebrations. Such as the passover.

 

[Ark100]

OP...even though I didn't read the wall of text you copied and pasted from that 'church' site.

I just want to caution you about what you let in your life, heart and mind. Remember what the word of God says.

To guard your heart for out of it flows everything, all issues and that's basically IT. Seeing you seem to be a naive person, you have to be very careful.

Until you get good and well grounded and firmly rooted in the word of God, stay away from contents, sites, people, articles etc that will corrupt you or your mind.

Feeling bad cause some 'misinformed' people told you wearing makeup or pants is a sin, and then another one about birthday?

Like really? its pagan to celebrate birthday? its most of these same people that cry the same about Christmas as well. You need to ignore their rants and just do what pleases you because the word of God has already confirmed and sealed itself.

For those who think its pagan, let them not do it, no one bothers them, they only dont know how to live in freedom as Christ as given us.

But you being a child of God and you choose to live in the freedom Christ has given you on that cross, you celebrate birthdays, Christmas, and everything else that it out there knowing that you do it unto God, yourself, and others and God sees and approves of it.

Lastly i believe you are very naive, and somehow fragile. i urge you to stay away from reading those things that will really mislead you or cloud your judgement about God. Set your heart and mind on the things of God, only read articles about the things of God, who He is and how He can use you to impact others' lives.