In my earlier post on the above subject, I gave Biblical foundations against its celebration by true saints. I hereby answers some questions posed in order to avoid "the trumpet giving an uncertain sound" on this heathen practice that has penetrated deep and hard into the body of Christ.
1. BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS?
a. "Learn not the way of the heathen...for the customs of the people are vain" (Jeremiah 10:2,3). Birthday celebrations are of heathen origin and practice (check online). It is very striking that it was never mentioned among the saints in both the Old and the New testaments, except among the heathen like Pharaoh and Herod.
b. "And be not confirmed to this world" (Romans 12:2). This is clear enough for any who desires to please God.
c. "Love not the world... If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (I John 2:15-16). This is not human verdict.
2. NONESSENTIAL?
The issue of worldliness was not classified as nonessential in the Bible. "...know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?" (James 4:4). "Be not conformed to this world...that ye may prove...the perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). It is a matter of consecration to do the perfect will of God. Daniel fasted without an ointment while Jesus commanded we should clean up while fasting. This kind can be classified as nonessential, but not the issue of worldliness.
3. RIGHT MOTIVE AND MANNER?
While you may deceive your heart that you have a right motive, the fact is that there cannot be a right motive for worldliness. You cannot spiritualize worldliness and be in the perfect will of God. You make mention of right motive and manner in order to justify self. Valentine and Christmas days are also of heathen origin. Can you celebrate those days with right motives? Those are the days the volume of sins in the world multiply in the name of God. Jesus said unto them, "Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15). You cannot bring clean things out of what is intrinsically evil. Jesus said it. How do you conclude that you will make more genuine converts out of those who attend your birthday with the mindset of merriment than those that you use other biblical means to win?
5. MISINTERPRETED BIBLE VERSES?
a. "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteems any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean" (Romans 14:14).
b. "One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" (Romans 14:5).
c. "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days" (Colossians 2:16).
Those passages can be wrongly used to justify any form of evil practices. Contextually, Paul was trying to settle issues on what was commanded in the Old Testament, like what to eat and what to not eat, days to observe as holy days or sabbath days, etc and enlighten them that observing those abrogated laws or not observing them are non-essentials. These passages cannot be used to justify what is intrinsically evil and what is clearly a heathen practice.
6. MOST PEOPLE DOING IT?
Yes, without the exemption of preachers. The world has gone churchy and the church has gone worldly. Jesus already said "Narrow is the way" that leads to heaven and only few find it. We are to follow the faith of our fathers but not their backslidding. Most great preachers never had time for birth day celebrations at the beginning of their ministry but are now basking in the euphoria of popularity and praises of people. "Come out from among them and be ye separate. Pray for our preachers.
7. GO TO HELL?
Celebrating birth days is just an offshoot of worldliness. The root is in the heart that enjoys celebration of self, achievements, applause, conformity to the world, praise of men and at times flattery. The Bible is clear: "Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate" (2 Corinthians 6:17)
8. CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS CELEBRATORS.
We are not to judge the worldly or those who lack this consecration. Preachers can emphasize crucifixion of the root problem of self. When self is totally crucified, the branches will wither. It is enough if the Church does not give recognition to it in the Church and the preachers themselves don't indulge in it. Many of these celebrations are to fill the void in human depraved hearts like inferiority complex, superiority complex, love for recognition, praise, etc. of which the truth of the Scripture should be used skilfully to deal with those things.
9. SHOULD I ATTEND?
Jesus honored many invitations on feasting not because He was hungry or He took delight in pleasure. He gave His reasons: "They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick". Even though He did not organise any feast, He attended purposely for the purpose of saving souls. No harm in honouring invitations to clean feasts that will give you an opportunity to sincerely win souls.
10. CONCLUSION. Remembering, reflecting re-strategising and reconsecrating to God privately on your birthday is normal. It can be done any day without announcements. You can praise God daily for seeing the new day or even year without announcing to the world. The only disciple who organised a feast that Jesus attended in the Bible was Matthew. It was a celebration of when he gave his life to Christ and he made it purely evangelistic (Luke 5:27-32). It is time believers clearly separate from the world and celebrate Jesus on the day they gave their lives to Christ or, if they have forgotten, celebrate their conversions, if they must celebrate. It will glorify Jesus more. Who will start it? Let the world celebrate their own birth days and let the spiritual celebrate their spiritual birth. "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit...they that are in the flesh CANNOT please God" Romans 8:5,8.
Culled from facebook.com/Johnson.olaleru
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