Acts 20:35 says, âthere is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving", and birthdays afford the opportunity to appreciate the joy of giving. People don’t seem to understand what … Earthquakes These contained a Bible text for each day, and many Christians put a tiny photograph on the pages corresponding to the birthdays of fellow Bible Students. Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Celebrate Christmas. Cats: When the Bible does not forbid a practice, an Eisegesis approach to rule-making allows even the most shallow of reasoning to claim the practice as wrong, which is what the Watchtower has done with birthdays. questionable doctrine > Forbiddance of beliefs and behaviour on the basis of paganism is one of the most illogical, misused, and contradictory lines of reasoning within the Watchtower. Jehovah's Witnesses are members of a Christian-based religious movement. My friend is a Jehovah's Witness and I know they don't celebrate Easter, Christmas etc. Jehovah’s Witnesses have good times with their families and friends. Celebrations of a nation’s flag. The Bible does not show Jesus or his apostles celebrating birthdays and The Watchtower claims the absence of any record of the date of the birth of Jesus or his apostles indicates that "God does not want us to celebrate any of these birthdays". It does so in several guises, though each of the following lines of reasoning is in actuality the same point: Whilst presented as several angles of support, it effectively is a single line of reasoning. It was not a Jewish practice to observe annually the date of oneâs birth, and hence the Bible does not stipulate the celebration of birthdays. Do Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate holidays? Nor does he forbid celebrating ones birth anymore than he forbids accumulating good oil. Weddings are laden in paganism, including the ceremony, cake, dress, burning of candles and the wedding ring. It does not state to build kingdom halls; in fact early Christians met in homes, but that does not make kingdom halls unchristian. The early Christians did not celebrate birthdays. Consider four aspects of birthday celebrations that show why God is not pleased with them. It was indeed a birthday gift from Jehovah, to be used in proclaiming his name. However, both of those events are presented in a bad light.—Genesis 40:20-22; Mark 6:21-29. Are we expected to believe Jehovah was tardy in removing an offensive practice from his people; or was the ruling against birthdays a man made rule introduced late in Watchtower history, as an attempt to segregate Witnesses from the general population? Could I explain that I cannot honour his birth in case he goes wayward in the future? (1) The Jewish Bar Mitzvah is a birthday-like celebration, held on the 13th birthday of a Jewish boy and 12th birthday for girls, but this custom only developed in the Middle Ages. This is quite different that the Watchtowerâs suggestion we be ashamed of the day of our birth. The intention of these passages is not an opinion about birthday celebrations, but rather the importance of working on gaining a character of wisdom. Birthday Celebrations Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Celebrate Birthdays? The Jewish non-practice of birthdays(1) does not make birthdays wrong, as the Bible neither specifically promotes nor condemns them. Cross or Stake 2. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not stand … The Watchtower here misrepresents Solomonâs intent, as is readily apparent when continuing to read this Bible passage. Last Days They try to follow the perfect example of God, who spontaneously gives good things to his children. 14:6-10. Although the Bible does not explicitly forbid celebrating birthdays, it does help us to reason on key features of these events and understand God’s view of them. The Bible, however, condemns the use of magic, divination, spiritism, or “anything like this.” (Deuteronomy 18:14; Galatians 5:19-21) In fact, one reason why God condemned the ancient city of Babylon was that its inhabitants practiced astrology, which is a form of divination. This is not simply an oversight, for it does record two birthday celebrations by those not serving God. Many of them kept small books called Daily Heavenly Manna. The reasoning against birthdays gives insight into the manner in which the Watchtower formulates doctrine. Consider four of these aspects and related Bible principles. —Gen. Such a concept does nothing more then reinforce the conditional nature of a Jehovahâs Witness parents love towards their children. The first Watchtower mention against birthdays was in 1951. This extends beyond necessary daily activities, such as bathing, eating, drinking, and working. David was required to supply the foreskins of 200 slain Philistines as a dowry to King Saul (1 Sam 18:27). TERMS OF USE “Even though I don’t get presents on my birthday, my parents still buy me gifts on other occasions. Jehovahâs Witnesses are not allowed to celebrate birthdays, based on what are claimed to be Scriptural reasons. The angels celebrated the birth of Jesus. Pagans have done virtually everything we do, including most of what a Jehovahâs Witness does day-to-day. Jehovah - God's Name? I would have to buy; My own cake. So why celebrate wedding anniversaries and not birthday anniversaries? Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays because we believe that such celebrations displease God. If the moral of these stories was against birthday celebrations, than the stories should end with the warning that birthdays are not for followers of God. There is no proof that Jesus was born on December 25; his birth date is not recorded in the Bible. May grace and strength be given me to do with my might what my hands find to do." However, when deconstructed each point shows poor logic, and the Watchtower condemnation of birthdays contradicts Bible principles. I didn't know this! Great Crowd and Other Sheep Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays because we believe that such celebrations displease God. Jehovah’s Witnesses have to fill out a monthly report that … You should come to my house and see what a real party is like!”—Eric, age 6. As a result, Joseph was called to interpret a dream of Pharaoh, and promoted to second in charge of Egypt. The inclusion in the Bible was not related to the birthday, but rather the importance of the death of John the Baptist to the formation of Early Christianity. 40:20; Matt. Trinity. (1 Kings 9:16 NIV). The site gives the following as reasons for the refusal of Jehovah’s Witnesses to join other Christians in 25 December celebration of birthday of Jesus Christ. home > You will be indoctrinated into thinking secular society is evil. But they do not participate in holidays and celebrations that are linked with pagan gods (as is true of such holidays as Easter, New Year’s Day, May Day, and Mother’s Day). âAre Cats for Christiansâ (see jwfiles.com/wt_ex_jw_corner/cats.htm 20th Jul 2012) is a great satire on how the Watchtower approach to rule making can be used to forbid anything, such as cats being unchristian, if so desired. The article starts by saying the following: (Isaiah 47:11-15) Jehovah’s Witnesses are not preoccupied with the roots of every custom; yet when the Scriptures give such pointed indications, we do not ignore them. For conscientious reasons, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not take part in holiday activities [Picture on page 17] Early Christians did not celebrate their birthdays [Picture on page 19] “This is not mere child’s play, but the vestige of a fertility rite, the eggs and the rabbit both symbolizing fertility” Whilst the majority of Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays because it is forbidden, if tomorrow the Watchtower decided to state birthdays are acceptable, few would object on Scriptural grounds. 6:14-17) Like the early Christians,* they do not even celebrate birthdays. The modern view of birthdays is what counts, and people do not associate birthdays with paganism, idolatry, or murder. This affects Witness children most, and later this is often remembered as one of the areas of greatest embarrassment and loss in childhood. These include Christmas, Easter, and even birthdays. For example, the following Watchtower quote is from 1940. The greatest day of my life was the birth of my son; the greatest wonderment, and happiness. Audio download options Ask a Witness why they cannot celebrate a birthday and the first reason given will most likely go something like this: This is based on comments such as the following: It is correct that two birthday parties are specifically mentioned in the Bible, neither was for worshippers of Jehovah, and someone was killed at both. Jesus’ apostles and early disciples did not celebrate Christmas. God does not object to commemoration, with a number of yearly festivals, memorials, and celebrations in the Jewish calendar. Jehovahâs Witnesses celebrated birthdays until the 1950âs. Blood Transfusions If you observed someone deliberately run over by a car and killed, would you stop driving cars? However, neither were standard birthday parties, but that of kings. I have heard of many Witnesses that celebrate birthdays in secret. They don't believe in military service, national anthems or voting. Having to fill out field service reports. They also don't celebrate other national holidays or birthdays in an attempt to remain separate from the world. The life a of Witness is filled with pagan practice, such as the wearing of neckties and perfume, celebrations with piñatas, flying of kites, and even use of the calendar, which is named after Roman Gods. Copyright © 2021 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Celebrate Birthdays? It is common for a Witness to receive gifts after their baptism, or even be provided a celebratory meal, yet it is unknown whether they will continue in good standing to the day of their death. It is inconclusive that early Christians avoided birthdays as a universal stance, as there were many sects of Christianity by the end of the first century. âIs it just coincidentalâ that the Bible has an account showing the danger of a noonday siesta, or would most people feel that to be reading too much into the passage? So why celebrate wedding anniversaries and not birthday anniversaries? A lot of Jehovah’s Witnesses do celebrate with their children the birthdays of their children. I like it that way because I get surprised.”—Gregory, age 11. birthdays. Global Flood of Noah For example, the following Watchtower quote is from 1940. Nor would it be appropriate for a Christian to attach special significance to the fact that a ring had a “birthstone,” since the Christian witnesses of Jehovah do not celebrate birthdays, pagans being the only ones mentioned in the Bible as celebrating birthdays. Like all good parents, Witnesses express love to their children throughout the year, including giving them gifts and having enjoyable gatherings. Genesis 40:20-23 contains the account of Pharaohâs birthday celebration, during which a baker was hanged. The penalty for celebrating my birthday would be the following: Nobody at my party. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe it is a sin to celebrate birthdays, which they dismiss as heathen superstition or rooted in “ancient false religion.” The prohibition can be found in the Watchtower Society’s Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1 What Does God Require of Us? Should not consistency force the Watchtower to forbid these wedding traditions? As this not the case now, the reasoning is no longer relevant. The Watchtower makes the claim that birthdays are to be avoided due to being pagan. Solomon does not forbid being happy, or attending a banquet. However, it was not the birthday, but the death of the baker that is key to the story, as it was in fulfillment of a prediction by Joseph, showing the prophetic ability of this follower of God. Claiming birthdays as sinful is a classic example of Watchtower eisegesis; that is, misinterpreting a text to introduce one's own agenda and bias. Birthday celebrations have pagan roots. If we are to assume the inclusion of something bad in the Bible is to warn against such things, despite no statement to that affect, then endless more rules can be conjured. No, they do not even celebrate Christmas or Easter because Jesus is not placed at or above the level of importance of Jehovah God. For some reason a Witness is allowed to participate in most wedding practices, but forbidden to throw confetti. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate holidays that they believe do not fit true Christianity. The only commemoration that Christians are required to keep involves, not a birth, but a death—that of Jesus. The first Watchtower mention against birthdays was in 1951. The denomination was founded in the … Pharaoh killed the inhabitants of Gezer and gave the city as a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon's wife. To single out birthdays alone as giving undue importance is a contradictory Watchtower stance. Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Celebrate Birthdays? Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays because we believe that such celebrations displease God. Although the Bible does not explicitly forbid celebrating birthdays, it does help us to reason on key features of these events and understand God’s view of them. To provide a basis in understanding why Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays, it is important to consider that Jehovah's Witnesses place the highest priority on basing their beliefs, their standards for conduct, and organizational procedures on the Bible.So then, there needs to be an honest examination to Bible references and principles regarding birthdays. Why don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrate Christmas? This is telling as to how solid the Scriptural grounds for such a doctrine is. Later, the Magi presented the infant Jesus with gifts that were accepted by Joseph and Mary. They feel that these and many other customs have pagan origins or reflect a … According to Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, these celebrations originated from the belief that on a person’s birthday, “evil spirits and influences have the opportunity to attack the celebrants” and that “the presence of friends and the expression of good wishes help to protect the celebrant.” The book The Lore of Birthdays says that in ancient times, birthday records were “essential for the casting of a horoscope” based on “the mystic science of astrology.” This book adds that “birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes.”. The Watchtower continues the reasoning, referring to Ecclesiastes 7 to suggest that birthdays attach excessive honour or importance to an individual. Neither story makes such a statement, as this was not to purpose of these accounts. 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