NEVER CELEBRATE ANY OCCASION WITHOUT JESUS
“He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord.” ROM 14:6
Sakkie Parsons
Someone wrote to me, and simply out of curiosity, wondered what guidelines the Word gives us regarding birthdays. Should we celebrate birthdays with the joy that usually accompanies them, or should we rather not celebrate birthdays at all?
This is one of those cases where we do not find a direct black-and-white answer in the Word, but I do believe that our Lord gives us guidelines in His Word that we can follow when it comes to this matter.
Before I get to that, just this:
As far as I know, the Word tells us of two birthdays of individuals that were celebrated with a party or a feast.
Both were unbelievers, and the one mentioned in the New Testament was absolutely cruel and exceptionally wicked.
In the Old Testament, we read about Pharaoh’s birthday celebration, where Joseph’s interpretation of the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker came true.
Genesis 40:20–22 [AMP]
Now on the third day (which was Pharaoh’s birthday), he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the heads [the status] of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker [by inviting them also among his servants].
He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and the cupbearer once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand;
but Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted the meaning of the dreams to them.
In the New Testament, we read about the birthday of Herod that was celebrated. You can read this in, among others, Matthew 14 from verse 6 and Mark 6 from verse 21.
I’ll give the example from Matthew 14:
Matthew 14:6–7
But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod,
so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.
I said that, in my opinion, there are indeed guidelines given to us about whether we may celebrate birthdays, among other things, and I’d like to share that with you:
Firstly, we have no evidence in the Word that our Lord is against the practice of celebrating birthdays. On the contrary, in the case of Pharaoh, our Lord demonstrated how He used His follower—in that case, Joseph.
We do, however, read the following comment in the Word, which would also include the matter of birthdays:
Romans 14:5–6
One person regards one day as better or more important than another, while another regards every day the same [as any other]. Let everyone be fully convinced (assured, satisfied) in his own mind.
He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord [he who eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God]; while he who abstains, abstains for the Lord and gives thanks to God.
As for myself, I am thankful and joyful every day that I am alive and healthy. But on the day of my birth, and perhaps this is due to my human nature, there is much more gratitude and joyful gladness that our Lord has granted me another wonderful year to live – for Him, for my loved ones, for my fellow man, and for myself.
I know there are people who, among other things because of their faith, do not celebrate birthdays.
If you, like me, enjoy celebrating your own and others’ birthdays, and someone comes to you with their faith-based reasoning against it, then remember Romans 14:5–6 as well as the following:
Colossians 2:16–17
Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or in regard to [the observance of] a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.
Such things are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance [the reality of what is foreshadowed] belongs to Christ.
In the New Living Translation, Colossians 2:16 reads as follows:
So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
Just never celebrate anything without JESUS.
Colossians 3:17
Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
1 Corinthians 10:31
So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God.
Greetings,
Sakkie
Email: bediening@sakkieparsons.co.za
Website: www.sakkieparsons.co.za
Cell: 083 457 6669
Jude 1:24-25 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
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