Christians and Birthdays

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Why I'm continuing...

So regarding this topic, birthday and birthday celebrations are specifically mentioned in only three places in the entire Bible. Notice how these celebrations aren't benevolent.

Genesis 40:20-23

20 Now on the third day it turned out to be Phar’aoh’s birthday, and he proceeded to make a feast for all his servants and to lift up the head of the chief of the cupbearers and the head of the chief of the bakers in the midst of his servants. 21 Accordingly he returned the chief of the cupbearers to his post of cupbearer, and he continued to give the cup into Phar’aoh’s hand. 22 But the chief of the bakers he hung up, just as Joseph had given them the interpretation. 23 However, the chief of the cupbearers did not remember Joseph and went on forgetting him.

In case it is unclear, during Phar’aoh's birthday he put his chief baker to death by hanging.

Matthew 14:1-13 and Mark 6:21-29. Since Matthew and Mark recite the exact same event I'll cite the verses from Matthew.

1 At that particular time Herod, the district ruler, heard the report about Jesus 2 and said to his servants: “This is John the Baptist. He was raised up from the dead, and this is why the powerful works are operating in him.” 3 For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him away in prison on account of He•ro′di•as the wife of Philip his brother. 4 For John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to be having her.” 5 However, although he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they took him for a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday was being celebrated the daughter of He•ro′di•as danced at it and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Then she, under her mother’s coaching, said: “Give me here upon a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 Grieved though he was, the king out of regard for his oaths and for those reclining with him commanded it to be given; 10 and he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the maiden, and she brought it to her mother.

And now notice the following sobering scene unfolding in Matthew 14:12-13:

12 Finally his disciples came up and removed the corpse and buried him and came and reported to Jesus. 13 At hearing this Jesus withdrew from there by boat into a lonely place for isolation; but the crowds, getting to hear of it, followed him on foot from the cities.

The most important thing to note is that death is a key feature in these scriptural references. One ends with a hanging and the other ends with a beheading. You could say that God’s Word reports unfavorably about birthday celebrations. Well if the Bible reports unfavorably about birthday celebrations then why is this event practiced annually by Christian’s world-wide and by those who hold high positions within the Church; even those professing to be "God's representatives on Earth"?

To begin let's look back at the two biblical cases of Pharaoh and Herod. It is well known that most Pharaohs were pagan worshipers. Egyptians were known for their many pagan practices including the worship of a triune godhead in the form of Amun-Ra, Horus and Re.

Herod, on the other hand, wasn’t exactly a pagan but he was an avid celebrator of pagan customs, and so much so that the Jewish Encyclopedia writes, “All the worldly pomp and splendor which made Herod popular among the pagans, however, rendered him abhorrent to the Jews, who could not forgive him for insulting their religious feelings by forcing upon them heathen games and combats with wild animals.”

So that explains Pharaoh and Herod, but then what exactly are the origins of birthday celebrations. Note the similarities between modern day birthdays celebrations and what is written in The Lore of Birthdays (New York, 1952) by Ralph and Adelin Linton on pages 8, and 18-20:

“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 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 [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. . . . Birthday greetings and wishes for happiness are an intrinsic part of this holiday. . . . Originally the idea was rooted in magic. . . . Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day.”

In other words the celebration of birthday has pagan origins, and it goes back well before the birth of Jesus. Did you see "rooted in magic?" There is one scripture that specifically states not to practice magic:

(Leviticus 19:26) “‘YOU must not look for omens, and YOU must not practice magic.

There are also many scriptures that show the practice of magic as something offensive to God.

(Deuteronomy 18:10-11) 10 There should not be found in you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, anyone who employs divination, a practicer of magic or anyone who looks for omens or a sorcerer, 11 or one who binds others with a spell or anyone who consults a spirit medium or a professional foreteller of events or anyone who inquires of the dead.

(2 Kings 21:6) 6 And he made his own son pass through the fire, and he practiced magic and looked for omens and made spirit mediums and professional foretellers of events. He did on a large scale what was bad in Jehovah’s eyes, to offend him.

(2 Chronicles 33:6) 6 And he himself made his own sons pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hin′nom, and practiced magic and used divination and practiced sorcery and made spiritistic mediums and professional foretellers of events. He did on a grand scale what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah, to offend him.

(Isaiah 2:6) 6 For you have forsaken your people, the house of Jacob. For they have become full of what is from the East, and they are practicers of magic like the Phi•lis′tines, and with the children of foreigners they abound.

(Jeremiah 27:9-10) 9 “‘“‘And as for YOU men, do not listen to YOUR prophets and to YOUR practicers of divination and to YOUR dreamers and to YOUR practicers of magic and to YOUR sorcerers, who are saying to YOU: “YOU men will not serve the king of Babylon.” 10 For falsehood is what they are prophesying to YOU, for the purpose of having YOU taken far away from off YOUR ground; and I shall have to disperse YOU, and YOU will have to perish.

More examples can be found in the first chapter of Daniel as well as Micah 5:12.

If you are a Christian then how can you knowingly celebrate your birthday if this event has pagan origins? In all good conscience it would be reasonable to say a Christian wouldn't.

Did you know the origins of most holidays and celebrations today have pagan origins? It’s true. Research it. Please pray for God's help in your path to discover biblical truths. If you wish to see the truth God will make a way open for you but you have to be sincere about your desire to know the truth.

Last edited by kxmode on 11 Sep 2010, 10:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Is this a continuation of a locked thread?

No it's not. This is a new topic.

1) Do you have any idea what they are talking about in the old testament when they mention children passing through the fire?

2) Just because a couple individuals did something evil on their birthday, how does that make birthdays evil?

There are several "religions" that were practiced in the old testament. All of these were detestable to God for their cruelty and false beliefs. As a Bible student the one I'm most familiar with is Baal worship, which share the custom of "passing of children through fire." The way in which this was accomplished varied but in most cases it generally involved throwing children in pits of fire as a sacrifice. In some cases the children of Kings where sacrificed to Baal. Can you imagine sacrificing your children or grand-children in a fiery death? I couldn't.



Pagan origins. Please reread my original post.

If someone murders fifty years ago and isn't caught does this make the person no longer guilty of a crime? You would probably say NO WAY! Well this is what celebrating birthdays is like. The origin, or the "crime," of this celebration is paganism. Time doesn't wipe the origins out of existence. Therefore celebrating birthdays is tantamount to saying, "I am celebrating a pagan custom." As a Christian can you in all good conscience continue this annual celebration knowing what birthdays really are?

Does that mean we can't have Christmas anymore since that replaced a pagan practice as well? Like Christmas, birthdays have also been sanitized of pagan practices.

Yes. Other than the name, Christmas, there is NOTHING in Christmas that is even remotely Christ like. Why would you want to celebrate something that has nothing to do with Jesus' birth? People should celebrate his death not his birth. The most important thing Jesus did for us was to die and provide his perfect life as a ransom sacrifice to cover our sins. Perhaps I will detail the origins of Christmas in another thread when I have time to do the research.

You can get more answers by studying the bible, and seeking the truth. John 8:32 says "YOU will know the truth, and the truth will set YOU free." Pray to God for guidance to help you find the truth. For earnest seekers he will open the way.

Jesus of Nazerteth was born in August or September.

Later on the Church co-opted the Saturnalia which is the celebration of the winter solstice. Yay! The days are getting longer.

ruveyn

If you consider anything of pagan origins to be 'evil' and to be shunned by Christians, bear in mind that you'd have to give up a heck of a lot more than birthdays and Christmas. Most, if not all, of the very basic fundamentals of civilised human life - agriculture, weaving, pottery, metalwork, music, writing, the use of medicinal plants - were invented by pagan cultures and had pagan rituals and/or gods associated with their practice. Either acknowledge your debt to those cultures, or walk your talk and go back to wearing furs and tilling the ground by hand...

(2 Timothy 2:23) Further, turn down foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing they produce fights.
(1 Timothy 1:4) nor to pay attention to false stories and to genealogies, which end up in nothing, but which furnish questions for research rather than a dispensing of anything by God in connection with faith.
(1 Timothy 4:7) But turn down the false stories which violate what is holy and which old women tell. On the other hand, be training yourself with godly devotion as your aim.
(Titus 3:9) But shun foolish questionings and genealogies and strife and fights over the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile.

This thread is for the minority, honest-hearted people who are earnestly seeking biblical truths.

Let me get this straight, you want to promote Biblical truth by starting off with proclaiming birthdays and holidays are evil?
Keeping in mind that I am a Christian, I really have to ask: do you have any medications you are supposed to be taking?

This Timothy chap seems to have spent a lot of time thinking of ways to not answer questions.

Heh. Yeah, it does seem that way.