As sure as death and taxes, all human beings are born on a particular day. Everyone has a birth date. Since God wants people to celebrate life abundantly (John 10:10), could this include celebrating birthdays? Is birthday-keeping innocent fun—or does God hate it? Does it even matter?
If you bought a new computer, you would expect it to come with an instruction manual. Without a manual, you would have to learn how to use it through trial and error—and possibly delete necessary files and software in the process. The instruction manual saves users many headaches.
Believe it or not, you also came with an instruction manual—the Bible! God’s expressed will and purpose is written throughout its pages. Every word of Scripture is God’s message to you—who you are, what you are, why He created you, and how He expects you to conduct your life. Everything you need to know about the true purpose of life is written in God’s Word (John 17:17; Matt. 4:4; II Tim. 3:16-17).When you read the Bible, God is talking to you! He shows you how to live a happy, fulfilling, abundant life. Pick up your “instruction manual” and examine what God says about birthdays.
Birthdays in the Bible
Birthday celebrations are mentioned in the Bible on three separate occasions and, in each case, something terrible occurred. These three accounts bear brief examination.
The first account is in Genesis. Pharaoh, the Egyptian king, celebrated his birthday by executing his chief baker (Gen. 40:1-23). God gave Joseph special understanding of a dream by Pharaoh’s butler and baker, that the baker would lose his life three days after Joseph interpreted the dream. Joseph understood that Pharaoh would use this occasion—his own birthday party—to put his baker to death. As the dream had foretold, the baker was hung at the party.In the second account, the New Testament figure Herod the tetrarch reluctantly ordered the beheading of John the Baptist (Matt. 14:3-11). Notice verse six: “But when Herod’s birthday was kept…” During the dancing and merry-making at his birthday party, Herod got carried away and eventually made a promise that he did not want to keep. As a result, a great servant of God lost his life.The final account is found in the book of Job. The Bible says that Job’s seven sons “went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them” (Job 1:4). These parties were obviously not centered around any kind of celebration related to God, or Job would not have worried that his children may have sinned during these celebration feasts. He was not exactly sure what was going on in their minds, but the very celebration of their birthdays triggered great concern in him (1:5). Apparently, during the birthday party of Job’s oldest son, God allowed Satan to kill all 10 of Job’s children through what appears to be a tornado (vs. 6-13, 18-19).Further proof that these birthday celebrations displeased God is found in Job 3. Take time to read the entire chapter carefully. Job spends much time cursing every aspect of the day of his birth. The loss of all of his children, due to a birthday celebration, stunned and sobered him. His words make plain that there is nothing good about the day of a man’s birth. He openly cursed the day he was born. This will be shown to have greater meaning later in this article.Some who are familiar with these accounts attempt to explain them away by saying that there is no statement contained within them that directly prohibits birthday celebrations. They also ignore Job’s comments described in the previous paragraph. It is true that the above scriptures do not contain a direct condemnation of birthdays starting with the phrase “Thou shalt not…” or something similar. But consider for a moment the central lesson of each of these accounts. They represent the only three birthday parties described in the entire Bible. Absolute disaster occurred on each occasion! If God felt birthday celebrations were something positive and good, why wouldn’t He have recorded one other account where something either good or positive happened? Yet, there is no such account.
What About the Birthdays of Well-known Bible Figures?
Surely the Bible records the birth dates of its most important figures. Does God not want those who serve Him to recognize these most important birthdays? Let’s search for the birth dates of some of God’s greatest servants.
Abraham is referred to three times in the Bible as God’s “friend” (II Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; Jms. 2:23). He is also called “the father of us all” (Rom. 4:16). Many verses demonstrate that he will play a very important role when the kingdom of God is established on Earth at Christ’s Second Coming. However, the Bible does not record the birth date of this truly great servant of God.Moses was referred to as the meekest man on the face of the earth (Num. 12:3). Many verses describe this Bible figure and virtually everyone is familiar with him. The Bible does not tell us when he was born either.The famous King David is called “a man after My [God’s] own heart” (Acts 13:21-22). Much of the Bible describes the life of this man. God used him to record a great many of the Psalms. When the kingdom of God is established on Earth, prophecy records that he will rule the tribes of Israel (Ezek. 34:23-31), called there the house of Israel. Surely the Bible records the date that this towering figure was born. It does not!There is not one verse of Scripture describing anyone celebrating the births of these righteous men. In fact, the Bible is silent on the exact dates of the births of all God’s faithful servants—Jacob, Sarah, Noah, Abel, Samuel, Job, Esther, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Peter, Paul, James (Christ’s brother), and the rest of the apostles. Even the birth date of Jesus Christ goes unrecorded in the Bible!
The Christmas “Birthday Party”?
But what about Christmas? It is in the Bible, isn’t it? Doesn’t it celebrate Christ’s birth? Didn’t the wise men bring presents to baby Jesus because it was His birthday?
Study any reputable encyclopedia or visit a well-stocked public library and you will discover that Christmas was celebrated by immoral, pagan idol worshippers—people who many times sacrificed their children to pagan gods—2,000 years before Christ was born! December 25th originally marked the time of the winter solstice. These idol worshippers held pagan festivals to celebrate the “rebirth” of the sun when the days began to lengthen.
Let’s briefly examine the subject of the “wise men” who gave gifts to Christ. The scripture that describes this is in Matthew 2:1, 11: “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews?…And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”It is commonly supposed that these were birthday presents for “baby Jesus.” But is this what the Bible actually says? Absolutely not! Also, they arrived well after His “birthday.” Notice that it refers to Christ as a “young child” rather than a baby. This is one more reason that the gifts brought to Him could not have been “birthday presents.”
A long-standing, ancient custom of the East was to present gifts when one came into the presence of a king. These men understood that they were in the presence of the “King of the Jews.” The Bible has many examples of people sending gifts to kings or presenting them upon arrival into the king’s presence. This custom is common today when ambassadors or others come into the presence of a world leader.
Finally, notice what the Adam Clarke Commentary, volume 5, page 46, states about what really happened on this occasion: “Verse 11. They presented unto him gifts. The people of the east never approach the presence of kings and great personages, without a present in their hands. This custom is often noticed in the Old Testament, and still prevails in the east, and in some of the newly discovered South Seas Islands.” Gifts were customarily presented to kings. The real intent behind this example should now be clear.
God does not even record the exact day His Son was born. And nowhere in the Bible can you find examples of Christ’s disciples or the New Testament Church celebrating His birthday. However, God does tell us the exact month and day when His Son died (Ex. 12; Lev. 23:4-5; Num. 9:1-5; Matt. 26:1-2; John 18:28; I Cor. 5:7). He expects all true Christians to observe that day annually, in the same month, on the same date (I Cor. 5:7-8). (Read our booklets The True Origin of Christmas, The True Origin of Easter and Christ’s Resurrection Was Not on Sunday to learn more about these pagan holidays and why the Bible states we are to remember Christ’s death instead of His birth.)Think for a moment! Every year, millions of professing Christians celebrate the supposed birthday of Jesus Christ. Yet they do not properly observe the day that Christ died, which God clearly identifies and records in great detail in His Word. He commands His followers to observe this memorial annually. Jesus warned about such misguided professing Christians, saying, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men” (Mark 7:6-8). Each year, during the Christmas and Easter seasons, Jesus’ warning is proven right!How God Views Your Birthday
We have now established that the Bible records negative examples of birthday celebrations, while it is silent on celebrating, or even identifying, the birthdays of all of God’s faithful servants—including Christ.
But what does the Bible specifically say about your day of birth?
Most people think that the day of one’s birth is special. Celebrating it certainly does seem and feel like the right thing to do. Yet, Solomon was inspired to write, “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Ecc. 7:1).Like Job, Jeremiah also cursed the day of his own birth: “Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed…Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?” (Jer. 20:14, 18).If the day of our death is better than the day of our birth, and some of God’s greatest servants said that their birth date was far from being a special day, then how special can this day be? According to Scripture, it is not a time to express joy, sing and expect gifts, simply because one is born into the world on a specific date.
The Day of a Man’s Death
We have just read that the Bible explains the day of a man’s death is better than the day of his birth. This is a stunning statement. Most people do not think of death as particularly wonderful. When it happens to a family member or close friend, it is usually a day of terrible sadness and emotion. No matter how or when death comes, no one celebrates the event. The Bible describes death as an enemy and a defeat. Consider some of the following verses describing death. Keep in mind that the Bible still says this day is better than the day of birth.
Solomon also wrote, “As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit has he that has labored for the wind?” (Ecc. 5:15-16). Does this sound like a day to look forward to? The Bible still states that the day this verse describes is better than the day of one’s birth.The apostle Paul was inspired to write, “For the wages of sin [that you earn by breaking God’s laws] is death” (Rom. 6:23). Death is the penalty for sin. It is not pictured in the Bible as a day of triumph or, as so many like to picture, “as a friend one meets at the end of life’s highway.” Paul also wrote, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) and “…it is appointed unto men once to die” (Heb. 9:27). Sin leads to death. John was inspired to write the definition of sin: “Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4). The penalty—the wages—of sin is death. This is not an event to look forward to.But there is hope!
Jesus Christ is returning to this Earth to rule—to put all things, including His enemies, under His feet. This includes the enemy called death. Notice: “Then comes the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death…So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 15:24-26, 54-56).So this life is a physical, temporary existence. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. Considering this, what is so “happy” about a “birthday” into an ungodly, carnal-minded world, only to die and never see life again? Why celebrate being born into a world that is cut off from God’s divine guidance—a world of misery, confusion, poverty, ignorance, famine and disease—that could erupt into violence at any time?
God can and will give you eternal life. He wants you to have it. He wants you to live life to the fullest and experience the way of life that produces real peace, joy, abundance and security. But life has to be lived His way, according to His rules.
Paul wrote, “For since by man [Adam] came death, by Man [Jesus Christ] came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening [living] spirit…The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (I Cor. 15:21-22, 45, 47-49).When compared to the awesome future God has in store for us—becoming spirit beings who will never taste death and will not be limited to the physical laws of this material universe (read all of I Corinthians 15)—celebrating one’s physical birthday seems foolish.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!
God’s Sacred Calendar
It is important to note that God has His own calendar. Much could be said about this subject. This brief explanation is vital. Typically, the number of days in God’s year is not the same from year to year. They are based upon the moon—not manmade calculations that include leap years.
God’s calendar includes seven extra 30-day months in each 19-year cycle. This calendar rule, alone, ensures that birth dates would vary widely from year to year throughout one’s lifetime. It is as though the sacred calendar was designed by God to make birthday celebrations impossible to observe, while the Roman calendar was specifically designed to make celebrating birthdays more convenient.
The date of February 29, which only occurs once every four years, creates a special problem for all those with this birth date. However, only one person in every 1,461 is affected by this “leap year” problem. The irregularities of God’s sacred calendar, with its extra 30-day month, occurring seven times in a 19-year time cycle, would affect one person in every eight!
Why It Matters to God
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 acknowledgesomeone 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!
God did not say do not celebrate. He also did not command His people to celebrate. But the Bible has no record of the people of God celebrating their birthdays. Neither in the Old Testament nor in the New Testament. Neither God’s people of the Old nor Jesus, His disciples, and His followers did.
However, based on what God allowed to be recorded in the Bible, there are only two persons who did celebrate their birthdays. One in the Old Testament, King Pharaoh (Genesis 40:20–22), before he met Joseph who was one of the twelve sons of Jacob. And only one person in the New Testament, King Herod (Matthew 14:6–11). Both are negative testimonies. Let us look at their accounts in the Bible.
Pharaoh, the King of Egypt in the Old Testament
Genesis chapter 40 tells us the story of Joseph’s imprisonment in Egypt. During that time, the chief cupbearer of Pharaoh, and the chief baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt. So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the guard, the place where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard entrusted them to Joseph, and he attended to them (Genesis 40:3–4).
As they continued to be in confinement for some time, both the cupbearer and the baker had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its owninterpretation.
In the morning, Joseph came in to check on them. Seeing they were sad, he asked them, “Why do you look so sad today?”
And they said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it.”
Then Joseph replied to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”
The Chief Cupbearer’s dream and its interpretation
Therefore, the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him,
“In my dream, a vine was in front of me. And in the vine, there were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms shot forth and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.”
Joseph then told him the interpretation of his dream.
“This is the interpretation of it. The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand in the same way you did before when you were his cupbearer.”
“But,” Joseph added, “remember me when it is well with you and show kindness, I pray you, to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this prison. For I was indeed kidnapped out of the land of the Hebrews, and I have done nothing that they should put me in the dungeon.”
The Chief Baker’s dream and its interpretation
When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph,
“I also was in my dream, and I had three white baskets on my head. In the uppermost basket there was all manner of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”
So Joseph likewise gave him its interpretation.
“This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift your head from off you and will hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh from you.”
What happened on Pharaoh’s birthday
It happened on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his position again, and he put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. However, he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them.
Yet, the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph but forgot him.
King Herod, in the New Testament
The story was told in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 14, so we read.
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead. And therefore mighty works are at work in him.”
3 For Herod had laid hold of John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 When Herod would have put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they counted him as a prophet.
What happened on King Herod’s birthday
6 But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask. 8 Being previously instructed by her mother, she said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter.”
9 The king was sorry. Nevertheless, for the oath’s sake and those who sat with him at supper, he commanded it to be given to her.10 He sent and beheaded John in the prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
John’s disciples then came and took up the body and buried it. And they went and told Jesus.
What is wrong with the practice of celebrating birthdays
God gave us, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, these records in the Bible which are both negative. These pagan rulers celebrated in remembrance of their birthdays, making merry and drinking which ended by taking off the head of another person. I’m not implying that that is what those who love celebrating their birthdays do, although some do get drunk and do crazy things.
Nevertheless, if God wanted us to adopt this practice, He would have specifically commanded it, even as He commanded His people a memorial to remember Him through the institution of the solemn feast of the Passover in the Old Testament (Exodus 12). This is a perpetual celebration Israel holds once a year. The same Passover feast was renewed by the Son of God in the New Testament during His last supper with His disciples before He was crucified (Luke 22:19). This feast He commanded the disciples and all His followers to do in remembrance of Him until He returns.
Birthday celebration originated in Egypt and is part of pagan practices adopted by the Roman Empire from the places they conquered. Much like how the Romans were influenced by the Greek Mythologies and Deities when they invaded the formerly Greek Empire, making for themselves similar practice of worshipping Roman Mythologies and Deities.
Indeed, the Romans adopted the same, only assigning the idols Roman names. The world today even has each day of the weekassigned in remembrance of these Pagan Gods. Sunday is the venerable day of their solar god, the Sun. Monday in honor of their lunar god. Tuesday, you name it.
Christianity then adopted that Sunday they claim as “The Lord’s Day.” You wonder whom they honor on that day. God sanctified only one specific day of the week for Himself and for His people, and that is not Sunday.
How about the months of the year? January in honor of the Roman God, Janus. February is named after an ancient Roman pagan festival of purification called Februa. March is named after Mars, the Roman god of war. Need I say more?
When the Roman Empire progressed into the religion of Roman Catholicism, they carried all these mixed pagan practices into their culture. The worship of deities was replaced with the worship of the Apostles and venerated saints. That’s why you have all those statues in all their halls of worship.
The Greeks of old have their deities ascribed for every aspect of their lives. Roman Catholicism just switched the names of their Roman deities to the names of the Apostles and Saints canonized by the Vatican. For example St. Matthew the Apostle is taught to be the patron saint or protector of Salerno, Italy, as well as of the bankers, and tax collectors.
Today, Roman Catholics bring their offerings such as flowers, candles, food, etc. at the foot of the statues or pictures attributed to different Apostles and Saints according to their needs. Monetary offerings, of course, go to the box or pouch/basket and where they end up, God only knows.
Every city or village in many Roman Catholic countries has its own respective patron Saint, where once a year its statue is paraded in a ceremonial procession of gullible followers holding candles in their hands. That developed into various religious traditions of men becoming part of the worldly culture.
But there’s nothing new under the sun. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied strongly against such idolatrous practices in Jeremiah 2:26–29.
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed.
They, their kings, their officials,and their priests, and their prophets
say to a tree, “You are my father.” And to a stone, “You gave birth to me.”
For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face.
But in the time of their trouble they will say, “Arise and save us.”
But where are your gods that you have made for yourself?
Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble;
for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah.
Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me,
says the LORD.
God delivered His people from the ways of ancient Egypt by bringing them across the death waters of the Red Sea. In the wilderness, He detoxified them from the things of Egypt with manna from heaven and water from the living rock. Those who looked back perished. As Jesus said in Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot’s wife!” Yes, you can say that again!
“Remember Lot’s wife!”
An admonition to the followers of Christ
Christianity with a little modification just carried these practices over until this present time, birthday celebration, and many worldly practices included and added.
This is not so with the true people of God in the Bible. Not in the Old Testament and not in the New Testament.
“You shall be holy unto Me,” thussays the LORD, “for I the LORD, am holy, and I have separated you from other peoples that you should be Mine.” (Leviticus 20:26)
With the same admonition by the apostle Peter, let me end this message.
As obedient children do not conduct yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as He who has called you is holy, so be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14–16)
Those who love these practices will see nothing wrong with continuing to do them since they say, there is nothing in the Scriptures that forbids us from doing so. Each to his own conviction, but to our own Master, we stand or fall.
LORD, continue to sanctify us in the truth. Your word is truth. Amen.
Birthday celebrations are actually rooted in paganism.
The Encyclopedia Americana (1991 edition) states:
"The ancient world of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia celebrated the birthdays of gods, kings, and nobles."
Authors Ralph and Adelin Linton reveal the underlying reason for this. In their book The Lore of Birthdays, they write:
"Mesopotamia and Egypt, the cradles of civilization, were also the first lands in which men remembered and honoured their birthdays. The keeping of birthday records was important in ancient times principally because a birth date was essential for the casting of a horoscope."
So, there is a direct connection between the Pagan practice of birthday celebrations and astrology (horoscopes and fortune telling).
Not surprisingly then, the ancient Jews did not celebrate birthdays, regarding them as Pagan.
Also, The World Book Encyclopedia(volume 3, page 416) states:
"The early Christians did not celebrate His [Christ's] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone's birth to be a pagan custom."
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_origin_of_birthday_celebrations
Down to the fourth century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom.
http://www.abcog.org/birthday.htm
To satiate this point, notice also the record of the first century historian Josephus: The Jews in Christ’s day knew God’s attitude toward birthday celebrations, “Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children” (Flavius Josephus, Against Apion, Book II, section 26).
http://ow.ly/eVu75
History of celebration of birthdays in the West
It is thought that the large-scale celebration of birthdays in Europe began with the cult of Mithras, which originated in Persia but was spread by soldiers throughout the Roman Empire. Before this, such celebrations were not common; and, hence, practices from other contexts such as the Saturnalia were adapted for birthdays. Because many Roman soldiers took to Mithraism, it had a wide distribution and influence throughout the empire... (Wikipedia. Birthdays. July 12, 2007 version).
Christmas is also relevant because December 25th was the day of celebration of the birthday of the sun-god Mithra.
... The World Book Encyclopedia notes,
Christmas... In 354 A.D., Bishop Liberius of Rome ordered the people to celebrate on December 25. He probably chose this date because the people of Rome already observed it as the Feast of Saturn, celebrating the birthday of the sun (Sechrist. Christmas. World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3. 1966, pp. 408-417).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday
Long ago, the average person never paid any attention whatsoever to the anniversary of their birth. The initial pattern that developed concerned the celebrating of the birthday of their deity, once each year, at the winter solstice. This is the origin of Christmas, since the winter solstice was considered the "re-birth" or "birthday" of the solar deity (Natalis Sol Invictus, or the Nativity of Sol, the unconquerable). This alone marks the behavior as originating from the rebellion against YaHUaH, Who is the one and only Elohim of Heaven and Earth. Remember that YaHUaH commanded that we not learn the ways of the heathen (Dt. 12).Later, people began to celebrate the annual birth of their king at the same time as their deity, aligning their ruler with the same honors given to their deity. In their minds, their ruler became an anthropomorphic version of their deity. In the east, average people slowly began to celebrate their personal "birth day" once each year on what they believed to be "new year's day." Eventually, people developed the custom of observing their personal birth day on the annual day they were actually born.
http://www.fossilizedcustoms.com/birthday.html
Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts; Origen, glancing perhaps at the discreditable imperial Natalitia, asserts (in Lev. Hom. viii in Migne, P.G., XII, 495) that in the Scriptures sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday; Arnobius (VII, 32 in P.L., V, 1264) can still ridicule the "birthdays" of the gods.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm
In their essay titled "Birthdays, Jewishly," Lisa Farber Miller and Sandra Widener point out that the Encyclopedia Judaica is very blunt on this topic:
"The celebration of birthdays is unknown in traditional Jewish ritual."
... Originally, even as more and more Gentiles began to profess Christ (so much so that they outnumbered those of Jewish heritage that did), the early Gentile leaders also did not endorse the celebration of birthdays. No early church writer endorsed the observance of birthdays by Christians, nor are they ever listed in the early observances of the Christian church.
Therefore, the celebration of birthdays, was clearly not part of "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).
No early religious/church writing from the second century that I have seen (and I have read most that are available) seems to endorse (or even suggest) the celebration of birthdays by any who professed Christ.
Although he was not part of the Church of God, the writings of the early third century Catholic theologian Origen of Alexandria show that, even that late, Orthodox Catholics were against the celebration of birthdays. The Catholic Encyclopedia states:
Origen, glancing perhaps at the discreditable imperial Natalitia, asserts (in Lev. Hom. viii in Migne, P.G., XII, 495) that in the Scriptures sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday(Martindale C. Christmas, 1908).
http://www.cogwriter.com/birthdays.htm
Christmas is coming! Quite so: but what is "Christmas?" Does not the very term itself denote it's source - "Christ-mass." Thus it is of Roman origin, brought over from paganism. But, says someone, Christmas is the time when we commemorate the Savior's birth. It is? And WHO authorized such commemoration? Certainly God did not. The Redeemer bade His disciples "remember" Him in His death, but there is not a word in scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, which tells us to celebrate His birth. Moreover, who knows when, in what month, He was born? The Bible is silent thereon. It is without reason that the only "birthday" commemorations mentioned in God's Word are Pharaoh's (Gen. 40:20) and Herod's (Matt. 14:6)? Is this recorded "for our learning?" If so, have we prayerfully taken it to heart?
- A.W. Pink, Xmas (Christ-mass) at http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualNLs/CHRISTMAS-AWPINK.htm
Only two birthday celebrations are referred to in the Bible. Interestingly, each one is associated with a tragic event (see Genesis 40:20-22; Mark 6:21-27). Equally interesting is the fact that there are no examples in the Bible of any man or woman of God having participated in a celebration of his or her own birthday. Not once do we find that Jesusmarked the anniversary of His birth in any fashion.
The Bible reveals that celebrating our physical birth is not an issue of primary importance to God. He is far more concerned with the development of spiritual character within us and our being born into His Kingdom (Ecclesiastes 7:1; Revelation 21:7; Romans 2:7; John 12:24-25). It is evident that God does not want His people to mimic the world in a self-serving and greedy approach. This certainly includes what one thinks about and how one treats the anniversary of one's birth.
It is good to consider, however, that there is a vast difference between a simple acknowledgment that someone is a year older and observing the fact with a celebration. The date of one's birth is not pagan. The fact that someone is a year older is not pagan. The giving of gifts is not of pagan origin. Certainly, there are a number of milestones in life which are significant. A person's reaching teenage or becoming old enough to drive or becoming of age or becoming seventy or eighty are all events which are perfectly proper for family members and friends to acknowledge. Simple recognition of an achievement is not wrong.
On the other hand, a birthday celebration with its usual trappings, inviting guests, giving elaborate gifts, baking and decorating a cake, lighting candles, and so forth, is an entirely different matter. This kind of festivity tends to accentuate flattery and vanity—the I-me-my attitude—and the get rather than the give way of life. Vanity and glorifying the self, of course, are condemned in God's Word (see Galatians 5:26; II Peter 2:18; Colossians 2:18; I Corinthians 5:6; and Psalm 24:3-4).
Pharaoh's Birthday Celebration: The second time the word birthday is mentioned in the bible is King Herod's Birthday
King Herod's Birthday Celebration
John the Baptist was beheaded at a Birthday party held by King Herod. You can read more about this in Matthew chapter 14.
The Big Problem with Birthdays:
Our society as a whole has taught us to observe our birthday every year and yet birthdays were not observed in the Bible except by pagans and it is no mistake that the actual date of Christ's birth was never revealed in the Bible. It makes sense that if Christ wanted us to observe His birthday He would have mentioned the date at least once. It is no accident that none of Christ's followers observed birthdays, Christmas, Easter or other pagan holidays that we were raised to believe were Christian holidays. We have been deceived throughout history and taught our children and grandchildren that these pagan rituals were Christ based holidays when in truth they have pagan origins. God will not accept a pagan ritual that has been twisted to be a Christian ritual. We need to change
The Bible tells us repeatedly that we are not to observe or follow pagan customs.
- You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them. Lev. 20:23
- This is what the LORD says: Do not learn the way of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, although the nations are terrified by them, Jer. 10:2
- For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matt. 24:24
Featured video Birthdays and their Pagan Origins by Rap Ministries. If you would like to see more from Rap Ministries you can copy and paste the following URL in the Google search bar below: http://rapministries0711.blogspot.com/?m=1
Bible Verses About Birth (Not Birthdays)
King David has been accredited with writing most if not all of the writings in the book of Psalms.
- By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother;s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.Psalms 71:6
- For thou hast possessed my reins thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. Psalms 139:13
- Psalm 148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
Psalm 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. - I Corinthians 11:12
- James 1:18
Bible verses about begotten
- Job 38:28
- Psalms 2:7
- John 1:14
- John 3:16
- Acts 13:33
- I Cor. 4:15
- Heb.11:17
- I P. 1:3
- I John 4:9
- I John 5:18
- Rev. 1:5
- Gen. 17:17
- Ex. 1:22
- I Kings 13:2
- Job. 5:7
- Psalms 58:3
- Proverbs 17:17
- Mt. 2:2
- Mt. 2:4
- Matt. 26:24
- Luke 2:11
- John 3:3
- John 3:5
- John 3:7
- John 3:8
- John 18:37
- I Peter 1:23
- I John 3:9
- I John 4:7
- I John 5:1
- I John 5:18
- Job 34:31
- Psalms 55:12
- Psalms 69:7
- Isa. 53:4
- Matt. 20:12
- Matt. 23:4
A: The Bible uses the word “birthday” (Heb: yom hulledet / Gr: ta genesia) three times: (Gen 40:20)(Mt 14:6)(Mk 6:21). In both of these instances, a ruler had a giant feast to celebrate his birthday: Pharaoh in (Gen 40:20-23) and Herod in (Mt 14:6-12)(Mk 6:21-28). Unfortunately, in conjunction with each feast, both of these rulers ordered that a man be killed: Pharaoh / “the baker” and Herod / “John the Baptist.” Because the Bible only “clearly” mentions the birthday celebrations of these two ungodly men, and no others, especially by God’s people, it is believed by some that birthdays should not be celebrated by Christians or Jews. In fact, some even believe it is “sin” to celebrate them. Let’s look at this more.
***Note: Some believe (me included) that (Job 1:4-5) is speaking about the children of Job celebrating their birthdays (“every one his day”), however, this is not totally certain. It is worth noting though that whatever it was they were celebrating, it does not appear that Job attended the celebrations. Instead, when his children were done “feasting,” Job “sanctified them,” and offered a burnt offering for each of them in case they had “sinned or cursed God in their hearts.”
In addition to what we said above, several other reasons are also given as to why Christians / Jews should not celebrate birthdays.
1. Celebrating birthdays was a pagan custom. In particular, pagan rulers, who often considered themselves like gods (Dan 6:6-9)(Acts 12:21-23)(Dan Ch.3), were well-known to celebrate their birthdays. In the apocryphal book of (2 Maccabees 6:7)(GNT), it says, “Each month when the king’s birthday was celebrated, the Jews were compelled by brute force to eat the intestines of sacrificial animals.” In addition, most of the traditions that we use today to celebrate birthdays like cakes, candles, singing songs, making a wish, giving presents (offering a sacrifice), appear to have pagan roots. These were often used in conjunction with the “birthday” celebrations of idols (i.e. see Jer 7:18).
***Note: The “pagan roots” charge is also used by those who say we should not celebrate Christmas or Easter.
2. Both history and tradition tell us that in Bible times (Old and New Testament), the Jews did not celebrate birthdays. For example, Jewish scholar Josephus said in his writing (Against Apion, book II, Chapter 26) “Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children…” In fact, it appears that the day certain people died was celebrated rather than the day they were born. Unger’s Bible Dictionary says, “The later Jews regarded the celebration of birthdays as part of idolatrous worship. In the early church the term birthdayswas applied to festivals of martyrs, the days on which they suffered death in this world and were born in glory and life of heaven.” This is based in part on (Ecc 7:1).
***Note: For Christians, while the birth of Jesus is certainly worthy of honor, His death and resurrection is the key to the Christian faith. We are told to commemorate this (i.e. the Lord’s Supper), and Christians now worship on Sunday, the day of Jesus’ resurrection, rather than on Saturday, the Sabbath).
3. Not one time in the Bible are we ever told the specific day a person was born, including Jesus. There is certainly a good reason for this.
***Note: Having a desire to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the early church set aside the day of Dec 25th, however, there is controversy about this date).
So, are these valid reasons for Christians to avoid celebrating birthdays? Yes, I believe they are. BUT, does they mean that Christians “shouldn’t” celebrate birthdays? Not necessarily.
Let’s look at this a different way. The Bible also does not tell us avoid celebrating birthdays, nor does it say that celebrating birthdays is “sin.” (The Bible doesn’t even say that it was wrong for Pharaoh or Herod to celebrate their birthdays.) Celebrating birthdays could fall under the category of “Christian liberty” (verses in next paragraph). In other words, when the Bible doesn’t “clearly,” and “specifically” tell us something is sin, it is up to each individual Christian to determine what they believe is right for them in eyes of God, according to their interpretation of the Bible. Some other examples of this are things like: getting a tattoo, smoking, gambling or playing the lottery, etc…
Having said this, if you read my studies on things like tattoos, smoking, gambling, drinking, etc…, I urge Christians to avoid using their “liberty” to do these things because of the possibility that doing them might harm their witness to others, and could possibly cause a weaker Christian to “stumble.” (Paul speaks of this in places like: Rom 14:1-23, 1 Cor 8:1-13, 1 Cor 10:23-33.) Will celebrating our birthday cause these things? I don’t really see this as much of a possibility. Therefore, I don’t see much of a problem with celebrating birthdays.
However, while there may not be much of a problem with celebrating them, perhaps the Christian should consider several things in regards to this.
1. Will the WAY you celebrate harm your witness, or cause others to “stumble?”
2. The Bible tells us to do ALL things to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31)(Col 3:17,23). Is God getting the glory in your celebration?
3. Are you looking to be the center of attention? Do you want to be “special?” Are you expecting to be showered with gifts? Perhaps Biblical concepts like “dying to ourselves” (Gal 5:24)(Col 3:5)(Eph 4:22), or “humbling ourselves” (Mt 23:12)(1 Pet 5:6-7)(Col 3:12)(James 4:6,10) might be worth considering. I love the words of the words of John the Baptist in (Jn 3:30), “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.”
If I am honest, I admit that I enjoy being recognized on my birthday, and I do appreciate those who take the time to wish me a “Happy Birthday.” However, I am also noticing that as I get older, and as I grow in my faith, I find myself less and less interested in celebrating my birthday. Perhaps part of this is that I don’t want to think about how old I am getting 🙂 , but as I grow nearer and nearer to the time of my departure from this planet, I find myself more and more thankful for the day of my “rebirth” (Oct. 27, 1994) rather than my birth. The day that I was forgiven of all my sins through Jesus Christ. THIS is the birthday that truly deserves a celebration. This is the birthday where God gets the glory!
P.S. In relation to the Jews, it should be noted that many Jews today do not forgo the celebration birthdays. In fact, the mar mitzvah / bat mitzvah is celebrated when boys reach 13 years old, and girls 12 years old.
P.S.S. One more thing worth mentioning is that while birthdays might not have been “celebrated” by God’s people in the Bible, it is clear that the day a person was born was not “forgotten” since we see the ages of people being mentioned over and over (Gen 17:1)(Gen 23:1)(Ex 30:14)(Num 8:24-25)(Josh 14:10)(2 Kin 22:1)(Lk 2:42 – Jesus was 12).
The first individual to celebrate a birthday was Adam. Well, considering that he wasn't "born," the stickler will argue that he didn't really have a "birthday"; but nonetheless, his first day on earth was quite eventful.
Adam was created on the first Friday, the sixth day of creation, after G‑dfinished setting the cosmic birthday table with the heavens and earth; sun and moon; plants and trees; beasts, fowl and fish. Shortly after Adam's creation, still on the same Friday, G‑dformed and breathed life into Eve.
The results were considerably worse than a bad stomach acheThough there is no record of them partaking of a birthday cake, they celebrated by partaking of another delicacy—the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. The results were considerably worse than a bad stomach ache.
We celebrate the birthdays of Adam and Eve every year. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, isn't observed on the day when the world was created, but six days later, on the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. That is the day when everything truly began; the day when the Creator's vision of dwelling in a human-crafted home went into motion.
An Intimidating Guest
"And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned" (Genesis 21:8).
According to one opinion expressed in the Midrash, this feast celebrated Isaac's thirteenth birthday; the day when he was "weaned" from childhood and assumed the responsibilities of a Jewish adult. According to another opinion, this feast occurred on his second birthday. Either way, it was a birthday celebration.
According to tradition, Isaac was born on Passover. As such, the "great feast" must have featured matzah and kosherfor Passover cuisine. But the cuisine wasn't the main attraction—it was the distinguished guest list that included all the who's who of the time.
One of the VIPs was Og, the king of Bashan, a gargantuan man with superhuman strength. He condescendingly commented: "Why is everyone fussing over this child? With my pinky I can end his life!"
G‑d wasn't too pleased with this hubris. "Just wait. You will live to see hundreds of thousands of this boy's descendants. In fact, your end will be at their hands..."
The first scriptural reference to a birthday party is in the Book of GenesisAnd that's precisely what happened—years later when he was vanquished by the Moses-led Israelitearmies.
A "Memorable" Birthday Party
The first scriptural reference to a birthday party is in the Book of Genesis. Pharaoh hosted a grand birthday party for all his ministers. During the course of the party he remembered two of his chamberlains, his chief butler and baker, whom he had incarcerated because of their negligence while on duty. Exactly as a Hebrew youth, Joseph, had foretold three days earlier, Pharaoh pardoned the butler and restored him to his post. The baker, on the other hand, was sent to the gallows.
Until 120 Years Old... Really!
A common Jewish birthday wish is, "May you live until 120." In the Torah we find a personality who lived until 120—on the nose. We're talking about Moses, the greatest prophet of all time, who was born and passed away on the same date—the 7th of Adar.
Centuries later, when Haman wished to exterminate the Jews, he threw a lottery to determine the most propitious month to implement his nefarious plan. Haman was elated when the lottery chose the month of Adar, "this is the month when Moses, the Jews' savior, died!"
But Haman didn't know that Adar is also the month when Moses was born. And the auspiciousness of a birthday offsets any negative qualities associated with death. The rest is history...
A Mournful but Ultimately Joyous Birthday
The redeemer was born the moment after the destructionThe saddest day on the Jewish calendar is the 9th of Av, the date when – among other tragedies – both holy temples were destroyed, leading to our nation's exile from the Holy Land. Nevertheless, our sages tell us that despite the sadness and pain, this is the birthday of Moshiach, our future redeemer:
"On the day that the Holy Temple was destroyed, a Jew was plowing his field when his cow suddenly called out. An Arab was passing by and heard the low of the cow. Said the Arab: 'Jew, Jew! Unyoke your cow, free the stake of your plow, for your Holy Temple has now been destroyed.' The cow then lowed a second time. Said the Arab: 'Jew, Jew! Yoke your cow, reset the stake of your plow, for the Redeemer has now been born...'"
The redeemer, and with him the potential for redemption, was born the moment after the destruction.
Birthdays are few and far between in the Bible. As a matter of fact, birthdays are only mentioned three times in Scripture. After we take a closer look at these three Bible birthdays, we will tackle the question of whether Christians should celebrate birthdays.
Birthdays In The Bible
Pharaoh
(Genesis 40:20) Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials.
Our first birthday in the Bible belongs to the Egyptian Pharaoh. He celebrated this day by giving a feast to all of his officials. In these officials presence, Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position, but had the chief baker hanged.
Job’s Sons
(Job 1:4) His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. NIV
And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. KJV
Many versions of the Bible describe Job’s sons as feasting in their houses, every one on his day. Most scholars agree (his day) is referring to their birthday. As you can see above, the New International Version refers to it as being their birthdays.
Herod
(Mathew 14:6) On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much
(Mark 6:21) On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
The Bible says on Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod so much that he promised to give to her whatever she asked. Her mother prompted her to tell Herod, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” Although grieved, because of his oaths and his guests, the king ordered that her wish be granted and sent to have John beheaded in the prison. John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.
Should Christians Celebrate Birthdays?
Although the Bible does not condemn the celebration of birthdays, some people believe there is indirect evidence in God’s Word that Christians should not be involved in birthday celebrations.
The first thing they point to is how every time birthdays are mentioned in the Bible, it as always linked to someone or something that was bad. Pharaoh had his baker killed. Herod had John the Baptist beheaded. It is believed by some that all Job’s children were killed during a birthday party for Job’s oldest son. They also point out the Scripture that says the day of death is better than the day of birth (Ecclesiastes 7:1).
For most Christians, these are not convincing enough arguments to prove it is wrong for a Christian to celebrate birthdays. Most would agree, birthday parties are a simple but effective way to show someone how much they are loved, appreciated, honored, and respected. The Bible says to give everyone what you owe them, including honor and respect (Romans 13:7).
Regardless of which side of this argument you may be on, (Romans 14:5-6) is a couple of good Scriptures to leave you with.
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Birthday is the Anniversary of the birth Of a person ,Birthday is a special day people celebrate the day they are born . They are celebrated in different cultures , Examples like Birthday parties, Birthday gift , birthday cards.
Many religions celebrate this event each year and they celebrate to remember their founders,it is a special holiday in mostly countries like Christmas,Mawlid, Buddha's birthday ,Jammashtami and Krishna .
Some people who celebrated Birthday in the Bible
Both the New and the old testament there is two people who celebrated Birthday ,they are Pharaoh and Herod .let know how they celebrate this event.
Pharaoh (Genesis 40:20,22)
After the third day was passed ,it is a day Pharaoh was born so it was Pharaoh birthday ,in the end of the celebration he hanged the chief Baker as Joseph had interpreted to them .
Herod (Mark 6:21-29)
When King Herod said to the girl ,"Ask anything you want and I will do it for you "the girl requested for the Head of John the Baptist.
So in the end of each event that is birthday ,some human is being killed.
Some questions you can ask yourself before you celebrate as a Christian.
1.How many prophet or Jesus disciples celebrated Birthday in the Bible.
2.who is my founder as a Christian and did he celebrate birthday.
3.if Birthday was not important or there is nothing wrong with it,why did God let them write something about it .
Birthday celebrations are a big part of our Western culture: birthday cakes and gifts are part of this tradition. But what has God to say about it? Is it only innocent fun? Does it really matter what we do as followers of Christ in such occasions, in other words can we choose to celebrate it or not as part of our so-called “Christian liberty”? In this essay we will endeavor to answer those questions by looking at the Word of God, but also what early Church history and what first century Judaism (Jesus/Yeshua was a first century Jew) has to say about this topic. Finally, we will take a brief look at ancient customs associated with birthday celebrations.
Birthdays in the Bible
Birthday celebrations are not often mentioned in the Scriptures; in fact throughout the whole Protestant canon of the Bible there is only two direct mentions made of birthday celebrations. We will also see another couple of places, where some scholars believe mentions are made of birthday celebrations.
Salome with the head of John the Baptist by Hans Baldung Grien
The first account in the Protestant canon of Bible is found in Genesis 40:1-23. In verse 20, we read: “Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.” The second account is found in the Gospels. In Matthew 14:6, we read: “But when Herod's [Antipas, who reigned from 6 AD to 39 AD] birthdaywas kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod”. And in Mark 6:21 the following is said: “And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthdaymade a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee.” During this birthday feast, John the Baptist was tragically beheaded.
In those passages of the Scriptures, we see two powerful men celebrating their birthday with great pomp. This is consistent with what we know of Ancient Middle Eastern history and customs. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states: “The custom of observing birthdays of great men, especially of kings, was widespread in ancient times.” The Smith's Bible Dictionary agrees: “The custom of observing birthdays is very ancient; Genesis 40:20; Jeremiah 20:15 and in Job 1:4 etc., we read that Job's sons "feasted every one his day." In Persia birthdays were celebrated with peculiar honors and banquets, and in Egypt those of the king were kept with great pomp.”
The book of 2 Maccabees gives us another account of birthday celebration. Although not found in the Protestant canon of the Bible, the book of 2 Maccabees was originally used by Alexandrian Jews as part of their canon of Scriptures called the Septuagint. The authors of the New Testament were quoting from the Septuagint in their writings. The book of 2 Maccabees is still considered canonical by the Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the Assyrian Eastern tradition and most of the Western Orthodox tradition. It is considered non-canonical by Protestants and modern Jews. Still, both Protestants and modern Jews consider this book from interest on an historical level. This is how we will use this book in this essay. Concerning birthday celebrations, we read an interesting account in 2 Maccabees 6:1-9.
“Not long after this, the king sent an Athenian senator to compel the Jews to forsake the laws of their ancestors and no longer to live by the laws of God; also to pollute the temple in Jerusalem and to call it the temple of Olympian Zeus, and to call the one in Gerizim the temple of Zeus-the-Friend-of-Strangers, as did the people who lived in that place. Harsh and utterly grievous was the onslaught of evil. For the temple was filled with debauchery and reveling by the Gentiles, who dallied with prostitutes and had intercourse with women within the sacred precincts, and besides brought in things for sacrifice that were unfit. The altar was covered with abominable offerings that were forbidden by the laws. People could neither keep the sabbath, nor observe the festivals of their ancestors, nor so much as confess themselves to be Jews. On the monthly celebration of the king’s BIRTHDAY, the Jews were taken, under bitter constraint, to partake of the sacrifices; and when a festival of Dionysus was celebrated, they were compelled to wear wreaths of ivy and to walk in the procession in honor of Dionysus. At the suggestion of the people of Ptolemais a decree was issued to the neighboring Greek cities that they should adopt the same policy toward the Jews and make them partake of the sacrifices, and should kill those who did not choose to change over to Greek customs”
- New Revised Standard Version
In this passage of 2 Maccabees, we learn of a pagan king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who desecrates the Temple by false worship, sexual immorality and unclean sacrifices. He also forbid Jews to keep God’s commandments and obliges them to partake in idol worship, including celebrating his birthday once a month.
As we have read earlier, birthday of great men were celebrated in ancient times. This was part of what we would call today cult of personality. In fact, many Greek and Roman leaders were worshipped as gods. Antiochus IV Epiphanes was one of those Greek leaders claiming to be a god. Concerning Egyptian Pharaohs, the Ancient History Encyclopedia states that they “were equated with the gods and with the duties and obligations due those gods. As supreme ruler of the people, the pharaoh was considered a god on earth, the intermediary between the gods and the people, and when he died, he was thought to become Osiris, the god of the dead.” Celebrating their birthday was a form of worship.
As for Herod Antipas in Matthew 14:6and Mark 6:21, it is certainly with the same spirit and because of the same cult of personality that he was celebrating his birthday. In fact, one of his nephews Herod Agrippa on one instance at least is depicted as being worshipped as a god. “So on a set day Herod [Agrippa, who reigned from 41 to 44 AD], arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:21-23).
We find two more mentions of possible birthday celebrations in the Scriptures. One is found in Hosea 7:5, in which we read: “In the day of our king Princes have made him sick, inflamed with wine; He stretched out his hand with scoffers.” According to Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible and Wesley's Notes, this passage can possibly refer to a birthday celebration or an annual coronation celebration. In any cases, this is associated with drunkenness and ungodly behaviors. The other instance is found in Job 1:4-5.
“And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointedday, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.”
A number of commentators believe that “each on his appointed day” is to be understood as mentioning birthday celebrations. This is the case for the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary, the Clarke's Commentary on the Bible and also for the Smith's Bible Dictionary. The Pulpit Commentary reads:
“Verse 4. - And his sons went and feasted. "Went and feasted" seems to mean "were in the habit of feasting" (Rosenmuller, Lee). In their houses. Each had his own residence, and the residence was not a tent, but a" house." Job and his sons were not mere nomads, but belonged to the settled population. The same is implied by the "ploughing of the oxen" (ver. 14), and indeed by Job's "yoke of oxen" in ver. 3. Every one his day. Most commentators regard these feasts as birthday festivities. Each son in his turn, when his birthday arrived, entertained his six brothers. Others think that each of the seven brothers had his own special day of the week on which, he received his brothers at his table, so that the feasting was continuous. But this scarcely suits the context. And it is admitted that "his day" (in Job 3:1) means "his birthday." The celebration of birthdays by means of a feast was a very widespread custom in the East (see Genesis 40:20; Herod., 1:133; 9:110; Mark 14:21). And sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. This by itself is sufficient to show that the feasts were occasional, not continuous. Constant absence of daughters, day after day, from the parental board is inconceivable.”
If these are birthday celebrations, as those commentators believe, we notice that Job wasn’t taking part into those feast days. He would rather “send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts” (verse 5).
As we have seen so far in those passages, birthday celebrations and/or personal feast days are essentially the fact of self-deified rulers and if they are not, as in the case of Job’s children, they may potentially result in sin.
First century Judaism and early Christian history on birthdays
Now that we have studied the several instances in which the Scriptures mention birthday celebrations, let see if first century Judaism and early Christian history has anything to teach us about such celebrations. We ought to remember that Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) was a Jew, which makes it relevant for us to know what was first century Jewish view, and subsequently early Christian belief, in regard to such celebrations.
In fact, first century Judaism is not silent on the subject. Josephus (37 to 100 AD), a Jewish scholar and historian born in Jerusalem to a father of priestly descent wrote about birthday celebrations in his two-volume work in defense of Judaism titled Against Apion. In book II and chapter 26, we read:
“Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess; but it ordains that the very beginning of our education should be immediately directed to sobriety. It also commands us to bring those children up in learning, and to exercise them in the laws, and make them acquainted with the acts of their predecessors, in order to their imitation of them, and that they might be nourished up in the laws from their infancy, and might neither transgress them, nor have any pretense for their ignorance of them.”
A bust of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus
The Jewish Encyclopedia somehow agrees when stating: “There are no positive data in the Bible or in rabbinical literature concerning birthday festivals among the ancient Jews. This silence on the subject is, however, no warrant for the conclusion that the Jews altogether abstained from following a custom which was general among the Egyptians (Gen. xl. 20), Persians (Herodotus i. 133), Syrians, and Greeks. Even if not common among the people, yet kings and princes probably practiced it, following the custom of their heathen contemporaries.” Here we learn that birthday celebrations were not common among the people and were in fact borrowed from the heathens when practiced by kings and princes. In the Encyclopaedia Judaica, we read: “The celebration of birthdays is unknown in traditional Jewish ritual. A comparatively late exception, however, is the *bar mitzvah and the bat mitzvah. The only reference to a birthday in the Bible is that celebrated by Pharaoh (Gen. 40:20). In Reform and Conservative synagogues, special prayers of thanksgiving are recited on the occasion of significant birthdays (e.g., 50th, 70th, 80th, etc.) and at silver and golden wedding anniversaries.” In modern times, the topic of birthday celebrations is somewhat of a controversy in Judaism. While many Jews celebrate birthdays, some like Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapiro (1871-1937) find no mention of such celebrations in rabbinic literature and believe that such celebrations is antithetical to “the Jewish trait of humility.”
Since early Christianity was still closely connected to first century Judaism, we should not be surprised to find birthday celebrations mentioned in a negative way. Indeed, in The Westminster Handbook to Origen (2004) edited by John Anthony McGuckin, we read :
“[w]hen commenting on Herod’s birthday as mentioned in Matthew 14:6, Origen castigates those who revel in their birthdays and recalls a Philonic text [Philo being a Hellenistic Jewish] that he had once read (De ebriatate 208): “Indeed one of our predecessors has observed that the birthday of Pharaoh is recorded in Genesis and recounts that it is the wicked man who, being in love with the affairs of birth and becoming, celebrates his birthday. But we, taking our cue from that interpreter, discover that nowhere in the scriptures is a birthday celebrated by a righteous person.””
Origen was a scholar and early Christian theologian (185 to 232 AD) who wrote a number of commentaries on the Bible and had a great influence on early Christianity. Another early Christian apologist, Arnobius of Sicca(284 to 305 AD) wrote, visibly holding in contempt birthday celebrations and speaking of Roman leaders: “Who, with licentious violence, undermine and wrest away the chastity of matrons and maidens, - these men you name indigites and divi; and you worship with couches, altars, temples, and other service, and by celebrating their games and birthdays, those whom it was fitting that you should assail with keenest hatred” (Against the Heathen. Book I, Chapter 64).
While we might disagree with first century Judaism in regard to the Messiah, while we might not agree with all that was written by early Christian commentators and apologists, those quotations still give us a fair idea of what was the New Testament writers view on birthday celebrations.
Birthdays and paganism
The reasons for the first century Jews and early Christian believers to not celebrate birthdays are not to be found only in their understanding of the Scriptures, but are also to be understood in correlation with the pagan customs associated with birthday celebrations. According to Kathryn Argetsinger in her research titled Birthday Rituals: Friends and Patrons in Roman Poetry and Cult(Classical Antiquity, 1992), the “people of late republican Rome celebrated at least three types of dies natales. In the private sphere, Roman men and women marked their own birthdays and the birthdays of family members and friends with gift giving and banquets. In the public sphere, the natales of temples and the natales of cities were observed; these “birthdays” were actually the anniversaries of the days on which particular cults, or cities, had been founded.” Each of these types of birthdays was accompanied with religious rituals. According to the same authors, each private birthday was linked to a personal deity to whom an individual would make an offering in exchange for protection. Kathryn Argetsinger affirms in her research: “[W]hen relatives, friends, or clients celebrated a relative or patron’s birthday, they were bound, if they were truly pious, by the same sort of specific cult requirement as they were on their own birthdays.” Birthday greetings were religious acts accompanied by three type of offerings made to an idol or to the “genius” [the guardian spirit of a person] of an individual: incense, rituals cakes, and wine (Does that sound familiar?). Some ancient sources cited by the author seem to refer to the “genius” as being “some internal part of the self,” part of “a man as well as well as an external deity.” They were some “sort of ego extension into the divine sphere.” The Roman poet Horace, in one of his writings, Ode 4.11, reports going as far as sacrificing a lamb on one occasion for the birthday of his patron Maecenas. The author concludes: “In undertaking celebration of another’s birthday a Roman undertook in part a religious obligation expressed by annually renewed vota[wishes] and ritual,” and “through this act of piety a Roman gained a new network of divine as well as earthly friends and patrons.”
Mural from Pompeii. Domestic sacrifice with a genius familiaris and Lares (household gods).
Naples: National Museum. Lares are represented on the left and on the right, top level.
Such belief is not exclusive to Romans. In their book titled The Lore of Birthdays (1952), 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.” Furthermore, in the same book we read:
“[T]he idea [of birthday greetings and wishes for happiness] was rooted in magic. The working of spells for good and evil is the chief usage of witchcraft. One is especially susceptible to such spells on his birthday, as one’s personal spirits are about at that time. Dreams dreamed on the birthday eve should be remembered, for they are predictions of the future brought by the guardian spirits which hover over one’s bed on the birthday eve. Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day. Good wishes bring good fortune, but the reverse is also true, so one should avoid enemies on one’s birthday and be surrounded only by well-wishers. ‘Happy birthday’ and ‘Many happy returns of the day’ are the traditional greetings”
And:
“Birthdays are intimately linked with the stars, since without the calendar, no one could tell when to celebrate his birthday. They are also indebted to the stars in another way, for in early days the chief importance of birthday records was to enable the astrologers to chart horoscopes”
By reading those descriptions of pagan birthday celebrations, we better understand why the early believers would refrain from celebrating them. Such celebrations are highly connected with pagan worship and even the occult. Looking back at those ancient beliefs, this is no surprise that a very controversial individual, Anton Lavey (founder of the Church of Satan), writes in his book titled The Satanic Bible (1969): “After one’s own birthday, the two major Satanic holidays are Walpurgisnacht and Halloween (or All Hallows’ Eve).” Of course, Anton Lavey has a different take on birthdays. He merely sees birthdays as glorification of oneself: “Every man is a god if he chooses to recognize himself as one. So, the Satanist celebrates his own birthday as the most important holiday of the year.” For ancient civilizations, birthday celebrations were rather a way to connect with the gods and with the society at large. In any case, both self-glorification and worship of personal gods is condemned in the Bible.
On a side note, it should of interest for believers that the Scriptures do not mention the date of birth of the greatest man who ever lived, the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ). It shows how unimportant it was for early Christians the date of someone birth in a world in which gods, kings and even common people were celebrating their birthdays in a religious manner. In fact, concerning December 25th, and according to M. J. Vermaseren; C. C. Van Essen in their essay titled The Excavations in the Mithraeum of the Church of Santa Prisca on the Aventine (Journal of Biblical Literature. 1966): "One should bear in mind that the Mithraic New Year began on Natalis Invicti, the birthday of their invincible god, i.e. December 25th, when the new light […] appears from the vault of heaven."
What should a believer do?
The Bible does not condemn acknowledging someone’s age. In fact, the Bible makes a connection between age and wisdom. In Proverbs 9:11, we read: “For by Wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life” (Holman Christian Standard Bible). Life is a gift of our Heavenly Father, for which we should rejoice everyday of our life. “By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You” (Psalm 71:6). In the meantime, the Bible does not encourage self-glorification. On the contrary the Bible teaches humility and self-denial. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus Christ said to the disciples: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”Paul agrees, who wrote: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:12-14). By showing love towards God and towards our neighbors and by denying ourselves we become children of God. In our individualistic society, this is so important to feel recognized. Many people will feel offended because they were not wished a “happy birthday” or because they didn’t receive the expected gift on their birthday. Meanwhile, the Bible tells us “[i]t is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Another important aspect of birthday celebrations to consider is the pagan customs associated with those celebrations. The Bible warns us strongly against pagan customs and against mixing the proper worship of God with ungodly practices. This is true not only in the Tanakh, the Old Testament, but also in the apostolic writings. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-16, we read: “And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.” Some customs and traditions may seems innocuous, but God gives us clear boundaries stones so that we may not fall back into sin after having become one of his children. We need to remember whom we worship and from whom we are receiving a true and genuine gift: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). We ought to have a discerning spirit and to be cautious in our deeds, including how and why we do celebrate birthdays. We need to remember who is our God so that we can remain holy. Therefore, let’s “[c]ome out from among them and be separate” and God “will be a Father to[us],” and we “shall be [His] sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) says the Scriptures. Amen!
The celebration of birthdays often include very self-indulgent behavior, and sometimes obvious sinful behavior, such as excessive drinking, fornication, and various other forms of covetousness. These are all sins in and of themselves, as is the celebration of birthdays, even apart from them.
There is not simply just one line you can point to for determining where 'celebrating birthdays' originated. This may be why the question arises periodically today about whether or not its okay to celebrate birthdays. This article should help to make you CERTAIN where those IN THE FAITH should stand in regard to this TRADITION.
PRAYER
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
I wouldn't be much of an example, or a good servant, if I failed to start you off on the right foot. Please take a moment to ASK THE FATHER to open your mind to the Truth, to make your heart flesh (not stone), to take away the stiffness of neck, and to let you have ears to hear. The Scriptures instruct us to ask YHWH when we 'lack wisdom' or to gain knowledge:
Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Jesus (Yeshua) Himself said inMatthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
ORIGINS
The next step a Believer should take is to look into the WORD OF GOD. God can reveal much truth through what is said, or not said, in the Scriptures. This is another way to 'put on the mind of Christ' and to have our will transform to match God's Word/Will. Let's see what we can glean then by BLOWING THE DUST OFF OUR BIBLES and reading about our subject matter.
THE SCRIPTURES
In the Beginning
The very first place you can pinpoint a celebration of a person's birth in the Bible is in in the very first book - Genesis - which means "in the beginning."
Genesis 40:20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: 22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet did not the chief butlerremember Joseph, but forgat him.
The first occurrence shows the Egyptian Pharaoh celebrating his own birthday with a birthday feast that gathered all his servants. The Pharaoh was a priest, king and god to the masses and this was a root of the reason for their celebrations. Originally, the birth of common people was not celebrated, but only the birthdays of the gods; and later kings and great ones. As time went on, and since each day had a god associated with it through astrology, as the common people observed these they began to associate the celebrations with their own birthdays as well.
“For beneath and above everything in Egypt was religion. ... We cannot understand the Egyptian—or man—until we study his gods.” (Will Durant, The Story of Civilization. Vol. 1: Our Oriental Heritage. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1935, p. 197)
In Egypt, the Pharaoh was revered as a god. According to belief of Egyptians, the first Pharaoh was the god Ra - the sungod. After him, other gods ruled such as the son of Osirisand Isis, called Horus. Horus was considered as a pre-image of all Egyptian Pharaohs, and Pharaohs were his terrestrial embodiment. Each real Pharaoh was considered as an offspring of Ra through Horus. The Egyptians were very much interested and influenced by astrology. The course of the stars and planets were charted and tracked being used to forecast events and to bring enlightenment on people or issues.
So it was natural for the Pharaoh to be lifted up in PRIDE and to CELEBRATE the day 'he graced the lives of the people' by being born. The day of the 'little gods' birth was charted by astrologer priests and was commemorated on the anniversaries, thereafter, during the Pharaoh's lifespan.
Leviticus 18:3-4 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. Ye shall do My judgments, and keep Mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
The Genesis passage reveals some things from God's mind to those willing to listen:
- The PAGAN god-king Pharaoh was EXALTED in this celebration.
- The event culminated in the DEATH of the baker.
- The servant of the true God remained in prison and did NOT partake of the festivities.
"Every Egyptian attached much importance to the day, and even to the hour of his birth: and it is probable that in Persia ... each individual kept his birthday with great rejoicing, welcoming all of his friends with all the amusements of society, and a more than usual profusion of the delicacies of the table." - M'Clintock & Strong's Cyclopedia, Vol I, p. 817 Leviticus 18:3-5 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do:and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. |
The second place in the Scriptures that we will turn to is often known as "the oldest book" of the Bible - Job (pronounced with a long "o" sound like 'lobe').
A Righteous Man's Reaction
Job 1:1-5 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
So this perfect man of God thought that the birthday feasting of his children may have caused them to sin and also to 'curse God in their hearts' (or possibly to break the first commandment). Job invested both his time and wealth in performing sacrifices in an attempt to appease God. He did this because of his valid fears over his children's 'lifting up of themselves' in drinking and reveling on 'their own special day'.
Some folks cast doubt that the references here to "his day" concerns birthdays but the context and the history bear this out as truth. Job, himself, makes the same reference a couple chapters later: Job 3:1-3 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day [NKJV, RSV, NIV: the day of his birth]. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. [No one would know it was a man-child if this meant just 'conception' - all references showing "conceived" and "bare" went together and depicted the actual birth. See Gen 4:1,17; 21:2; 29:32-35; 30:5,7,17,19,23; 38:3-5; Ex 2:2; 1Sa 1:20; 2:21; 2Ki 4:17; 1Ch 7:23; Isa 8:3; Ho 1:3,6,8]
Notice how the specter of DEATH again accompanies the birthday feastings in the later verses of the first chapter:
Job 1:14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
The Job passages reveals some things from God's mind to those willing to listen:
- Only Job was called PERFECT and UPRIGHT - not his grown up children.
- The servant of the true God remained faithful and, not only did NOT partake of the festivities, but actually 'stood in the gap' in attempt to seek God's forgiveness for his children.
- The event ultimately culminated in the DEATH of Job's self-indulgent children.
The King's Birthday Bash
There is one more biblical example of a birthday. It may be found in Matthew 14 and Mark 6.
Matthew 14:1-5 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. Matthew 14:6-12 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
The event was recounted in similar fashion by Mark.
Mark 6:17-28 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
Reading from The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, by Bromiley, page 515... "Josephus (BJ vii 3.1) refers to Titus' celebration of his brother's and father's birthdays (genethlia) by slaughtering Jewish captives. By the time of the NT, genesia could be used to designate the birthday celebration of a living prominent person, hence Mt. 14:6; 6:21. When Herod celebrated his birthday he was acting in accord with Hellenistic custom; there is no evidence for the celebration of birthdays in Israel in pre-Hellenistic times."
"Among the early Greeks, it was the birthdays of the gods which were important, not those of men."- (Ralph and Adelin Linton, The Lore of Birthdays, 1953, p. 17)
The Gospel passages reveals some things from God's mind to those willing to listen.
- The adulterous puppet-king for Rome, of Idumean descent, (and his false Roman gods) was the one EXALTED in this celebration.
- The event culminated in the DEATH of John of Baptist.
- No servants of the true God did partake of the festivities.
So we have viewed the three examples in the Bible of birthday celebrations. Each of them involvesNON-BELIEVERS in the celebration, NO BELIEVERS JOIN the celebration and each of these birthday parties culminates in at least one person'sDEATH. What do you see from Scripture? Not enough? Then you will want to keep reading.
Other Birthday Afflictions For God's People: "Titus here celebrated the birthday of his brother Domitian by setting 2,500 Jews to fight with beasts in the amphitheater." - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Caesarea In 2Maccabees 6:7, there is the reference to the monthly genéthlia of Antiochus IV, during which the Jews were forced to partake of the sacrifices. Josephus (Wars of the Jews, vii. 3. 1) refers to Titus’ celebration of his brother’s and father’s birthdays (genéthlia) by slaughtering Jewish captives. "Antiochus decreed pagan worship throughout his kingdom, and sent Athenaeus to Jerusalem to enforce it. The temple was reconsecrated to Jupiter Olympias (2 Maccabees 6). Pagan riot, reveling, and dalliance with harlots took place within the sacred precincts. The altar was filled with profane things, sabbath keeping was forbidden, the Jewish religion proscribed. The Jews on the king's birthday were forced monthly to eat of idol sacrifices, and to go in procession carrying ivy on Bacchus' feast. Pigs' flesh was offered to Zeus on an altar set on Jehovah's brazen altar, and the broth sprinkled about the temple (Josephus Ant. 12-13)." - Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Jerusalem "Antiochus's general, Apollonius, dismantled Jerusalem, and from a high fortress slew the temple worshippers. Antiochus commanded all on pain of death to conform to the Greek religion, and consecrated the temple to Jupiter Olympius or Capitolinus. Identifying himself with that god "whom his fathers knew not," and whose worship he imported from Rome, he wished to make his own worship universal. The Jews were constrained to profane the sabbath and monthly on the king's birthday to eat of the idol sacrifices, and to go in procession to Bacchus, carrying ivy." - Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Antiochus |
The wisdom of Solomon was very famous through his time even until today. Solomon was inspired to write,Ecclesiastes 7:1 “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.” [This is why Yeshua/Jesus told us to commemorate His death at Passover rather than His birth.]
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
The true Christian (also called Messianic) Church never observed the birth of Christ. In fact, the date of Christ's birth is unknown. [See articles Should We Celebrate The Nativity?and When Was Jesus Born? and Christmas: The Greatest Story Never Told ] The groups and individuals near to this ministry do not observe the pagan-originated Christmas or the birth of Jesus on any day. So if we do not celebrate the birthday of Christ, our Savior, how can we then exalt ourselves OVER and ABOVE Him and praise ourselves? As the Savior Himself said:
Matthew 10:24 The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord.
Let us consider the record of His birth in Scripture:
Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings (news) of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
Is not this an indication of celebration? Notice that the text says that this "great joy ...to all people" is in a future context as noted by the words SHALL BE. When is there to be great joy to all people? Not until the Kingdom of Christ is come, that is when there will be great joy unto all people! This time of "great joy that SHALL BE" told of by the messenger of God does not refer to Jesus' human birth! A saviour being born sounds like a reason for this joy, one might say, but...had Christ saved anyone at that point? Was He anyone's saviour at that point? Had He overcome all temptations to be worthy to act as our intercessor? No, not at this point ...but Christ would live 33 1/2 years before He had overcome all temptation and was sacrificed for our sins and that is when He became our Saviour! Let us continue on in our study.
Heavenly Hosts' Example
Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
To whom is the glory given here? Was it to the little baby Jesus? Or do we see the glory and praise being given to God in the highest? This is not to say that Jesus becoming flesh was not a great thing, but it is not by His birth that we are saved, neither are we told by God to celebrate it. Does the Scriptural record witness that annually, at this day of Jesus' birth (whichever day it truly was), the heavenly host would once again offer up praise and glory to God in the highest in honor of Jesus' birth? No! Nowhere! Never! If we take the "ideals" of the pagan christmas day and begin to apply them to God's true feast days, then how are we any better than Constantine who blended paganism with the faith once delivered to create modern Christianity?
We will search the scripture for further information together. Shall we?
The Shepherds Example
What did the shepherds do upon witnessing this event? Did they praise the infant and exchange gifts between themselves? Let us read more from Luke's record:
Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Please notice that the shepherds gave all praise and glory to God! They did not exalt the day of Jesus' birth nor mark the day in anyway. Interesting, isn't it? Let us read on.
A King is Born?
Should we celebrate that He was born a King?
Matthew 2:1 "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."
Jesus was born to be King but was not King at the time of His birth (Actually, Herod was king of Judea at this time!) We must take notice that His kingdom is a great future-coming rulership:
Matthew 2:6 "And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel."
Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."
The government of God under the Kingship of Christ has not yet been established on this earth or there would be lasting peace. So should we celebrate the birth of Christ as King now? Before being given over to a death sentence, Jesus had said:
John 18:36 "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
Christ was born for a great purpose...but it is that purpose that is to be rejoiced in, not His birth. Our rejoicing and hope lies not in the fact that He was born as a helpless infant, but that He became our great Saviour through enduring all trials and overcoming all things, perfect, blameless, without blemish or spot--for only by His death can we attain our resurrection. He was born so that His life, death, and resurrection would bear witness to God the Father, and not to exalt Himself.
Ralph and Adelin Linton, The Lore of Birthdays, 1953, pp.51-52: "When the early Christians were trying to fix the date of Christ's birth, many of the Church Fathers ... proclaimed that there should be no attempt to celebrate it, as this was an impious pagan custom."
"...In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his [Jesus] birthday. It is only sinners who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into this world" - Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 Edition, published by the Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1908, Volume III, "Christmas": "Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts; Origen ... asserts (in Lev. Hom. viii in Migne, P.G., XII, 495) that in the Scriptures sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday."
Not all beliefs, traditions and customs are bad. But God does not approve of them if they come fromfalse religion; or are against Biblical precepts or teachings. The true saints of God knew this and had the wisdom to discern the truth. They were to come out and be separate. They were to not adopt the vain customs of the heathen. They were to think lowly of themselves and not share the glory of God with another.
You have seen that the Bible casts a dark picture of the celebration of birthdays. You have read the historic and academic authorities that prove that the true followers of God did not observe birthdays with celebrations. Still not convinced? Then read on, my friend.
EARLY BELIEVERS
The next witnesses against birthday celebrations are from further historical and academic sources. What did the earliest recorded Christians think about celebrating the astrological date of one's birth? The abbreviated list that follows reveals the truth of the matter - God's people did not partake of this worldly custom.
The famous historian Titus Flavius Josephus lived in the first century - a contemporary with Christ - and he wrote:
"Nay, indeed, the Law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess; but it ordains that the very beginning of our education should be immediately directed to sobriety. It also commands us to bring those children up in learning, and to exercise them in the Laws, and make them acquainted with the acts of their predecessors, in order to their imitation of them, and that they might be nourished up in the Laws from their infancy, and might neither transgress them, nor have any pretense for their ignorance of them." (Josephus. Translated by W. Whiston. Against Apion, Book II, Chapter 26. Extracted from Josephus Complete Works, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids (MI), 14th printing, 1977, p. 632).
"Some one of those before us has observed what is written in Genesis about the birthday of Pharaoh, and has told that the worthless man who loves things connected with birth keeps birthday festivals; and we, taking this suggestion from him, find in no Scripture that a birthday was kept by a righteous man. " (Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol IX Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew Chapter XXII, p429)
The Imperial Bible-Dictionary (London, 1874), edited by Patrick Fairbairn, Vol. I, p. 225 says:
"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 notion of a birthday festival was far from the ideas of the Christians of this period in general.”(The History of the Christian Religion and Church, During the Three First Centuries; New York, 1848, Augustus Neander - translated by Henry John Rose, p. 190.)
M'Clintock & Strong's Cyclopedia (Vol. I, p. 817) says the Jews "regarded birthday celebrations as parts of idolatrous worship ... , and this probably on the account of the idolatrous rites with which they were observed in honor of those who were regarded as the patron gods of the day on which the party was born."
"Birth-day: The observance of birth-days was common in early times (Job 1:4, 13, 18). They were specially celebrated in the land of Egypt (Gen. 40:20). There is no recorded instance in Scripture of the celebration of birth-days among the Jews. On the occasion of Herod's birth-day John the Baptist was beheaded (Matt. 14:6)." - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionarynone
Grolier's The New Book of Knowledge, 1979, p. 289 states: "The early church fathers frowned upon the celebration of birthdays and thought them a heathen custom."
Origen of Alexandria, in 245 A.D., wrote in a dissertation on Leviticus that:
". . . none of the saints can be found who ever held a feast or a banquet upon his birthday, or rejoiced on the day when his son or daughter was born. But sinners rejoice and make merry on such days. For we find in the Old Testament that Pharaoh, king of Egypt, celebrated his birthday with a feast, and that Herod, in the New Testament did the same. But the saints not only neglect to mark the day of their birth with festivity, but also, filled with the Holy Spirit, they curse this day, after the example of Job and Jeremiah and David."
The writings of the late third century Catholic theologian Arnobius show that, even that late, most Catholics were against the celebration of birthdays as he wrote: "...you worship with couches, altars, temples, and other service, and by celebrating their games and birthdays, those whom it was fitting that you should assail with keenest hatred." (Arnobius. Against the Heathen (Book I), Chapter 64. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 6. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1886.).
TESTIMONY FROM OTHER WORKS CONCERNING THE OCCULT ORIGINS OF BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
ASTROLOGY
Jeremiah 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
DEFINITION: "Judicial [to judge or decide] astrology--more important branch of thisoccult art--depended for its predictions upon the position of the planets in the "twelve houses" at the moment of the birth of a human being. The calculations necessary to settle these positions were casting the horoscope or the diagram of the heavens (thema coeli) at thenativity." "From the start astrology was employed for the needs and benefit of daily life ... in connection withreligious worship. According to the belief of the early civilized races of the East, the stars were the source and at the same time the heralds of everything that happened, and the right to study the "godlike science" ofastrology was a privilege of the priesthood. This was the case in Mesopotamia and Egypt, the oldest centres of civilization known to us in the East." - New Advent, Catholic Encyclopedia (online)
“Birthdays are intimately linked with the stars, since without the calendar, no one could tell when to celebrate his birthday. They are also indebted to the stars in another way, for in early days the chief importance of birthday records was to enable the astrologers to chart horoscopes” (The Lore of Birthdays, p. 53).
Linda Rannells Lewis in Birthdays, "Birthdays have been celebrated for thousands of years. In early civilizations, where the development of a calendar made an organized reckoning of birth dates possible, the horoscopes of ruling monarchs, their successors and rivals had to be cast with care and birthday omensmeticulously examined, for the prospects of the mighty would affect the prospects of the entire society."
Rawlinson’s translation of Herodotus includes the following footnote: “Horoscopes were of very early use in Egypt… and Cicero speaks of the Egyptians and Chaldees predicting… a man’s destiny at his birth"...
Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend : "The date, hour, and place of birth may be the clues to good or bad fortune as determined by the complex computations of astrologers, numerologists, and geomants. Prudential ceremonies either at birth or at stated anniversaries,depending on the system of computation, are good insurance. Memorial services, or sacrifices at tombs or before ancestral tablets, are in some places customary on the birthdays of the deceased. The function is a mixture of natural affection, the desire to keep the deceased at peace and therefore to keep his ghost from troubling the living". -- Page 144.
Astrology is a pagan practice condemned by the Creator God because it provokes Him to jealousy. We should turn to him with all our questions, desires and longings - not signs in the stars, witches, psychics or other false gods.
Isaiah 47:13-14 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.
PARTIES
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CAKES & CANDLES
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MAKE A WISH
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GENII
The wishes over a birthday cake are said to be granted by your personal genie (genii or djinn). The additional connection of the birthday to these characters should be poignant to the reader.
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SATANIC PRIDE
The man or woman who fears YHWH should pay attention to the following quote by reknowned Satanist, founder and High Priest of the Church of Satan and author of the Satanic Bible - Anton Szandor LaVey.
"The highest of all holidays in the Satanic religion is the date of one’s own birthday. This is in direct contradiction to the holy of holy days of other religions,which deify a particular god who has been created in an anthropomorphic form of their own image, thereby showing that the ego is not really buried. The Satanist feels: ‘Why not really be honest and if you are going to create a god in your image, why not create that god as yourself." Every man is a god if he chooses to recognize himself as one. So, the Satanist celebrates his own birthday as the most important holiday of the year. After all, aren’t you happier about the fact that you were born than you are about the birth of someone you have never even met? Or for that matter, aside from religious holidays, why pay higher tribute to the birthday of a president or to a date in history than we do to the day we were brought into this greatest of all worlds? Despite the fact that some of us may not have been wanted, or at least were not particularly planned, we’re glad, even if no one else is, that we’re here! You should give yourself a pat on the back, buy yourself whatever you want, treat yourself like the king (or god) that you are, and generally celebrate your birthday with as much pomp and ceremony as possible." [The Satanic Bible (Anton Szandor LaVey, (Air) Book of Lucifer – The Enlightenment, Avon Books, 1969, Ch XI, Religious Holidays, p. 96) regarding Birthdays]
CONCLUSION
Dear reader, is it enough for you yet? Through prayer and study, have you seen THE PLAIN TRUTH?
The truth about BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS is that they come from PAGANISM. It is a commonly held fact that the original first century Christians did NOT observe their birthdays with celebrations.
For those in the Church of God (former RCG or WWCG or their off-shoots) movement, that denomination also did teach against observance of birthday celebrations - although its members (including leaders) sometimes departed from that practice personally while teaching the polar opposite from the pulpit. Others try to claim that since ages of people are counted in the bible that this means they celebrated birthdays - THE PLAIN TRUTH IS THAT THIS IS WRONG. Obviously, the people of the Bible at least noted the date of their birth because Scripture often records their ages. However, there is a huge difference between merely marking a day and celebrating it. The biblical record shows no man or woman of God celebrating a birthday. Clearly, birthday celebrations do not have a God-ordained origin and should be shunned.
What is the spirit of a "birthday celebration"? Does an annual "birthday celebration" give honor to YHWH? Do you answer "well, He made me?" Then give Him honor and be obedient. Do not adopt the pagan customs of the world!
Does one humble himself and give ALL glory to God in a "birthday celebration"? The Bible constantly counsels mankind to beware of the DANGERS OF PRIDE. Why is there this constant caution? Because, pride deposes God as the Sovereign of our lives. It puts the "I" in idolatry. When pride controls us, we cease to recognize God as the Master - we cease to put Him first. (ref. Deut 8:11-20; Psalms 12:3,4; 52:7; 101:5; Proverbs 6:16; 8:13; 16:5; etc).
Satan is the father of pride and self-exaltation. It is the carnal mindset that wants to raise oneself up in the eyes of others saying "me - me - me!"
THE PRIDEFUL FIVE "I WILLS" OF SATAN Isaiah 14:12-14 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I willascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High |
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Who does your birthday celebration exalt?
The birthday celebration obviously does not exalt God, but yourself. A converted believer should not take pride in himself, nor should he exalt himself. To not admit that this is true makes one a liar.
Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
What should my attitude be?
A converted believer should realize his true position as a brand plucked from the fire and act accordingly.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
A converted believer should "come out and be ye separate." The ways of this world are not ours.
Who does your birthday celebration give glory to?
The birthday celebration is in the birthday celebrants honor - theyget the glory (and the gifts!). It also gives honor to the abominablefalse pagan gods that the tradition is rooted in. We cannot have it both ways - either we are the world's ... or we are Gods. The converted believer should live for giving God the glory in all things. To do otherwise is gross idolatry and spiritual whoredom.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Corinthians 10:20-23 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
What should I do?
Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may provewhat is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
If the holy spirit transforms you then you will desire to be obedient to God's law thereby offering your own life as a living sacrifice do do HIS good will and give HIM the glory. The spirit within the converted believer will make it possible to do the right thing. Do not be like this perishing world and the unregenerate within it.
Romans 8:5-9 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Can I give presents to my children on other days just because I love them so?
Absolutely! Any loving person desires to give good gifts to those near and dear to them. We must disassociate the pagan observances of false holidays to pagan gods with good wholesome family-type fun.
Luke 11:10-13 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
What if people make fun of me for not partaking in birthday celebrations?
1 John 3:12-13 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
1 Peter 4:1-5 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings (partying), banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
John 15:18-19 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
The world will indeed think you are strange - just like they do about not observing the major pagan holidays like Easter and Christmas. Why? Because if they validate your belief then they convict themselves of wrongdoing - their conscience won't allow that because the carnal mind is enmity (against) God.
How do I move forward from here?
1 Peter 5:6-11 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 4:17-20 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ;
Ephesians 1:17-19 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Revelation 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. |
Love to You Saints in Christ Jesus, Kenneth M. Hoeck
for
Truth On the Web Ministries
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