William F. Dankenbring
I do not believe that when Christians celebrate birthdays they are sinning, however it is interesting that something we have all been raised with actually has its' roots in paganism.
While I am not surprised by this, I realize the trouble these celebrations can cause. People expect a gift or card or both, some disappointed when someone doesn't remember a birthday, even angry because the tradition in America is so deeply rooted in the minds of everyone, that the culture as a whole thinks someone is bad or evil if they ignore birthdays.
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all the mandated holidays that we were raised with, I say mandated because the culture as a whole thinks something is wrong with us when we give them all up to relieve ourselves of the burden of gift buying, parties and trying to remember something that is not very important to God.
When we feel "obligated" to give a gift or send a card, it is a burden. I think gifts can be wonderful, why do they have to be on a date the culture has ordained, why can we not give when we feel led by the Holy Spirit and leave all the mandatory human giving alone.
The only celebration that I get excited about is the one Christ gave us to remember, and that is His death, burial and resurrection at the Lord's Supper. Nearly everyone I know celebrates birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, Easter and Thanksgiving, the holidays God never told us to observe, while nearly entirely ignoring the Lord's supper that Christ Himself commanded us to observe in remembrance of Him.
I am not saying we should all give up these things, but I am saying that we should stop judging anyone who has unburdened themselves by leaving them alone.
Perhaps if we spent more time observing the Lord's supper as commanded in the Word, to observe every week as God told us to do, we would be so enveloped with Him that we would feel no need for all the other man made celebrations.
John 5:44
"44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?"
1 Corinthians 11:24-25
"24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."
Mark 7:7-9 "…7' BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' 8" Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men." 9 He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.…"
When we celebrate all the man made holidays but neglect the celebration Christ commanded us to do, who are we honoring? Just a thought!
