Are we to celebrate birthdays?

[Teutonic]

I've heard it said on numerous podcasts that birthday celebrations aren't scriptural, and that the only 'birthday' celebrations mentioned in the Bible ended with bad consequences.

My question is, are we to avoid birthdays completely, even when it comes to our children's birthdays?

[Nayto]

I personally don't celebrate my own or anyone else's birthdays. I wouldn't celebrate my own children's birthdays either if God saw fit to bless me with some.

I don't make a big deal about others celebrating their birthdays.

As you say though, it's not in Scripture so why should we do it?

[Teutonic]

I personally don't celebrate my own or anyone else's birthdays. I wouldn't celebrate my own children's birthdays either if God saw fit to bless me with some.

I don't make a big deal about others celebrating their birthdays.

As you say though, it's not in Scripture so why should we do it?

Correct. In my mind, at a certain point it just becomes a 'today is all about me' kind of thing; a celebration of the ego.

Though I'm sure it will be tough when your kids ask why all their friends have birthday parties and they dont.

[brucebohn]

I personally don't celebrate my own or anyone else's birthdays. I wouldn't celebrate my own children's birthdays either if God saw fit to bless me with some.

I don't make a big deal about others celebrating their birthdays.

As you say though, it's not in Scripture so why should we do it?

No Nayto, neither do I. I have a daughter that I love more than life itself
and she is well aware of this, we are very close. I celebrate EVERY day
I have with her. And I would not have it any other way.
She needs no reminder......

[matthewott]

I have never been a big celebrant of birthdays...my oldest boy can attest to that. I get irritated about birthdays because it seems to be a socially acceptable reason for people to be selfish pricks. That's my NON scriptural take on it

[Staropramen]

I don't see the harm in doing something extra nice for a loved one on their birthday. Taking them out to dinner or whatever.

[wmfinck]

Wow, and I was going to tell Bruce "Happy Birthday" tonight, because his Skype account informed me that today was his birthday, LOL.

I do not really pay much attention to my birthday. But in the past, many people here have wished me a "happy birthday", and I have not despised them, and have often expressed appreciation.

We must keep ourselves from idols.

On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with wishing a brother or sister well on any day, and birthdays are often an occasion to do that.

The bottom line is this: what does Scripture encourage, and what does Scripture forbid?

We should emulate our Saviour.

But the moment we try to forbid something that Scripture does not forbid, we attempt to make ourselves as God. Instead, we must keep ourselves from idols in that respect as well, because we are not God.

Puritanism is rooted in Pharisaism.

The Scripture does not forbid wine, but it does discourage drunkenness.
The Scripture does not forbid Rock music, but it does forbid blasphemy.
The Scripture does not forbid birthday celebrations, but it does encourage brotherhood.

There are a lot of personal choices, and we are not God, so we should not rule over one another's faith.

We praise Yahweh for the fellowship which we have, whenever we have an opportunity to partake of it.

[wmfinck]

PS: These ideas are going to be an integral part of my discussion in Colossians chapter 2, and again to some degree in chapter 3. I had hoped to be there by now, since they are pertinent to several recent threads on this forum, but I will be there by the end of the month.

Melissa and I just had a wonderful week with Mark Downey and his wonderful wife.

I was me. I drank a few beers each evening. I cussed a little. Mark was Mark. He doesn't drink, and if he cussed I might fall off of my chair.

On Friday's program I jested that we were "partying with the Downeys" and Mark felt that he had to qualify that, because he did not want anyone to get the wrong impression. I laughed, but we really do not party in the pop-culture sense of the word, ever.

We love and respect Mark and his wife for who they are, we had a great time all week, and I think that the feelings are mutual.

But we are not Pharisees. We are not going to impose our standards on them. And we do not need to impose our standards, because they seek to emulate Christ.

So do we, as best as we can. And I will bet that Jesus said at least one word that would make an old church woman blush when he tossed the jew bastards out of the temple.


Keep it real, because Christ hated hypocrites a lot more than He would hate the Grateful Dead. Well, maybe the Osmonds or something.

[Teutonic]

I agree. Let's not banish them altogether, but let's not focus too much on something so fleeting as a birthday; which means little when compared to an eternity with Christ.

[Acrimonious]

My wife and I do not celebrate birthdays, but we are meekly gracious for any kindness toward us on those days, so as not to turn people's hearts in bitterness away from us.

Origen had this to say regarding birthdays, for an example of what early Christians thought of the events:

...of all the holy people in the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod) who make great rejoicings over the day on which they were born into this world below. (Levit., Hom. VIII, in Migne P.G., XII, 495)