Birthday celebrations

Is there any reason Christians should not celebrate birthdays? I have checked all the dictionaries I own. Some say that celebrating birthdays was a common feast for everyone in the OT, a time of rejoicing, others say that the celebration of a birthday was reserved for royalty (and scripture refers mainly to pagan royalty, with the exception being Job's sons - Job 1:1-4).

Thanks for your help.

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Don Awalt

The Watchtower Society strictly prohibits the celebration of birthdays, I see it mentioned in the Logos resource "The challenge of cults and New Religions", page 93.

For the rest it appears not to be an issue. "Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered" says "There is no specific prohibition against celebrating birthdays in Scripture, nor is there anything to indicate we should celebrate them" and then goes on to amplify.

Vivian Matheson

Thanks, Don! That's pretty much how I see it too, but I have been challenged by a couple of friends to come with a Biblical acceptance of celebrating birthdays. These friends believe that they are entirely pagan, and t/f it is a sin to celebrate them.

I am more drawn to Col 2:16-23 than to anything else (esp v 16) - but I thought I'd check it out and see if anyone had a different thought.

tom

I am more drawn to Col 2:16-23 than to anything else (esp v 16) - but I thought I'd check it out and see if anyone had a different thought.

Just a FYI... discussing theological positions are against the rules on these forums. We are to talk about Logos's products, and that is what Don did by pointing to a couple of resources within the Logos environment.

Don Awalt

Here is the rest of what Bible Questions Answered says in case it is helpful or you decide the book may be of value in your library:

The Bible does mention two individuals celebrating birthdays: the Egyptian Pharaoh in Joseph’s time (Genesis 40:20), and King Herod in the time of Jesus (Matthew 14:6; Mark 6:21). Some point to these non-believing individuals as evidence that celebrating birthdays is wrong, some form of pagan ritual. However, the Bible does not state, or even hint, that it was wrong for Pharaoh or Herod to celebrate his birthday. Neither does Scripture anywhere discourage anyone from celebrating a birthday.

In his epistle to the Romans, Paul is addressing the issue of which day should be the day of worship, but this could also apply to birthday celebrations: “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. 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. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:5–8).

The bottom line for Paul is that each man should be fully convinced that he is doing what God wants him to do. If one person chooses to celebrate birthdays and he sees nothing wrong with it, he should celebrate with a clear conscience. If, however, he feels celebrating is against his conscience, he should not celebrate. Conversely, if one does not celebrate birthdays for reasons of conscience, that is fine, as long as it does not become a source of pride and he does not look down on those who do celebrate. As with all issues not specifically addressed in Scripture, we have the freedom to celebrate or not celebrate birthdays, according to personal preference.

fgh

I think it's originally a Gentile/Pagan custom.

According to one of my commentaries, Josephus says that it was forbidden for Jews during his time, but I haven't found the reference. If true, it may well explain why it [seemingly] took a while for the early Church to start celebrating Christ's birth as a separate event. The celebration of His baptism seems to be older.

For most of Christian history I believe the day to celebrate has been the day of the saint the person is named after. Birthdays, I'm told, came much later. In southern Europe I don't think they've quite caught up even now.

JT (alabama24)

Our friend George liked his 39th birthday so much, he celebrates it every year!

tom

Our friend George liked his 39th birthday so much, he celebrates it every year!

Same here, but it was for my 21st birthday.

Vivian Matheson

Thank you, everybody.

And Tom, I did not know that I was breaking the rules to ask about these kinds of things. So I am sorry if I was out of line. Is there any other Logos forum where we can have honest spiritual discussions (after our own efforts in research,of course)?

DAL

but I have been challenged by a couple of friends to come with a Biblical acceptance of celebrating birthdays. These friends believe that they are entirely pagan, and t/f it is a sin to celebrate them.

I am more drawn to Col 2:16-23 than to anything else (esp v 16) - but I thought I'd check it out and see if anyone had a different thought.

Ok, then challenge them to come with a Biblical rejection of celebrating birthdays. Just because something is/was pagan doesn't mean is bad. Ear piercing was pagan, but was also used for slaves under the law; hence the song: "Pierce My Ear" lol; The cross was pagan, whether they think it was a cross shape, stake or T - it was still pagan, but our Lord died crucified; etc. Also challenge them as to why change doctrine and contradict their teaching for so long -- ah let me guess, the light keeps getting lighter that's why they didn't know any better, even though transplants were allowed at first, then the Holy Spirit said they're not allowed, but after searching the Word of God there's no evidence that prohibits them (Flip-Flop) so it's left to the person's own criteria. But wait! Didn't the Holy Spirit say transplants were not allowed, what do you mean there's no evidence in the Word/Bible that prohibits them?....Ah, the prophet must've gotten it wrong again. Same goes for birthdays...

My advice (two cents) is try to teach them the truth in love and if they don't want to hear the truth, then let them continue believing lies. Don't cast your pearls to them anymore.

DAL