Friday, July 17, 2009 3:22 PM
From: "Carlos Burman"
Dear Eiko,
You had have many questions..which im happy to answer.
This past few weeks i have many things to prepare and to think about,so i have been more preoccupied.
Please bare with me if i take alittle time to answer all your questions.
Im still writing about you question with regards to birthdays..so i will write this now and i will answer your most recent questions that you sent to day afterwards.
With regards to birthdays..yes birthdays were from Pagan origin...all secular historians and archaeologists would agree with this.
Of course in the Bible apart from Pharoah and Herod who both were not worshippers of Jehovah but were pagan,there is the account of the Magi who Supposedly were there at the birth of Jesus christ,or were they?
Please read this exerpt that i copied and pasted to this email..
Wise men, or Magi, led by a star
Those Magi were actually astrologers from the east. (Matt. 2:1, 2, NW; NE) Although astrology is popular among many people today, the practice is strongly disapproved in the Bible. (See pages 144, 145, under the main heading “Fate.”) Would God have led to the newborn Jesus persons whose practices He condemned?
Matthew 2:1-16 shows that the star led the astrologers first to King Herod and then to Jesus and that Herod then sought to have Jesus killed. No mention is made that anyone other than the astrologers saw the “star.” After they left, Jehovah’s angel warned Joseph to flee to Egypt to safeguard the child. Was that “star” a sign from God or was it from someone who was seeking to have God’s Son destroyed?
Note that the Bible account does not say that they found the babe Jesus in a manger, as customarily depicted in Christmas art. When the astrologers arrived, Jesus and his parents were living in a house. As to Jesus’ age at that time, remember that, based on what Herod had learned from the astrologers, he decreed that all the boys in the district of Bethlehem two years of age and under were to be destroyed.—Matt. 2:1, 11, 16.
Gift giving as part of the celebration; stories about Santa Claus, Father Christmas, etc.
The practice of Christmas gift giving is not based on what was done by the Magi. As shown above, they did not arrive at the time of Jesus’ birth. Furthermore, they gave gifts, not to one another, but to the child Jesus, in accord with what was then customary when visiting notable persons.
The Encyclopedia Americana states: “During the Saturnalia . . . feasting prevailed, and gifts were exchanged.” (1977, Vol. 24, p. 299) In many instances that represents the spirit of Christmas giving—an exchanging of gifts. The spirit reflected in such gift giving does not bring real happiness, because it violates Christian principles such as those found at Matthew 6:3, 4 and 2 Corinthians 9:7. Surely a Christian can give gifts to others as an expression of love at other times during the year, doing so as often as he wants to.
Depending on where they live, children are told that gifts are brought by Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, Père Noël, Knecht Ruprecht, the Magi, the elf Jultomten (or Julenissen), or a witch known as La Befana. (The World Book Encyclopedia, 1984, Vol. 3, p. 414) Of course, none of these stories are actually true. Does the telling of such stories build in children a respect for truth, and does such a practice honor Jesus Christ, who taught that God must be worshiped with truth?—John 4:23, 24.
Is there any objection to sharing in celebrations that may have unchristian roots as long as it is not done for religious reasons?
Eph. 5:10, 11: “Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; and quit sharing with them in the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness, but, rather, even be reproving them.”
2 Cor. 6:14-18: “What fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Be′lial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? . . . ‘“Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,” says Jehovah, “and quit touching the unclean thing”’; ‘“and I will take you in, . . . and you will be sons and daughters to me,” says Jehovah the Almighty.’” (Genuine love for Jehovah and a strong desire to be pleasing to him will help a person to break free from unchristian practices that may have had emotional appeal. A person who really knows and loves Jehovah does not feel that by shunning practices that honor false gods or that promote falsehood he is in any way deprived of happiness. Genuine love causes him to rejoice, not over unrighteousness, but with the truth. See 1 Corinthians 13:6.)
Compare Exodus 32:4-10. Notice that the Israelites adopted an Egyptian religious practice but gave it a new name, “a festival to Jehovah.” But Jehovah severely punished them for this. Today we see only 20th-century practices associated with holidays. Some may appear harmless. But Jehovah observed firsthand the pagan religious practices from which these originated. Should not his view be what matters to us?
Illustration: Suppose a crowd come to a gentleman’s home saying they are there to celebrate his birthday. He does not favor the celebration of birthdays. He does not like to see people overeat or get drunk or engage in loose conduct. But some of them do all those things, and they bring presents for everyone there except him! On top of all that, they pick the birthday of one of the man’s enemies as the date for the celebration. How would the man feel? Would you want to be a party to it? This is exactly what is being done by Christmas celebrations.
These exerpts show that the Magi were only doing as custom required back then to do..to welcome a notable person with gifts in to the world.
They were NOT gods servants and the reason that this account is in the Bible is because it shows how crafty Satan the devil was in being that "star" that tried to get Jesus Killed.
The Bible is a truthful book..it does not lie...just because within the Bible bad practices are related by many and that wars tooks place and other sins does not mean that these people are good and should be copied.
(Romans 15:4) For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.
No True christians after Jesus birth, celebrated his following birthdays...Jesus never instructed others to do so either...only once false teachings and pagan culture seeped in to true religion after the 1st century had finished is when practices such as celebration of birthdays and christmas ,aswell as easter and other celebrations started to being accepted and celebrated as christian.
Today many people have no idea that birthdays are something pagan and actually against the Bible.
Many see it as harmless fun..many people think its strange NOT to celebrate them.
Those who know the origin of Birthdays and Christmas often are not bothered or dont care..
However a true christian who takes to heart and sincerely wants to please Jehovah God,listens to his voice and does what he says..thus we do not Celebrations for these reasons.
I will write you back with regards to the email you sent today(17th July) soon.
Carlos
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Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 11:55:51 -0700
From:
Subject: Re: Birthday celebrations
To:
Hello good evening Br Carlos,
I quickly browse your letter which contains lots of information obviously I need to survey more.
I think you are right. Birthday celebration is pagan origin, but there's one more big description of birthday celebration in Bible you seemed to deliberately ignored. Why you need to ignore? Because is it an inconvenient fact?
The birth of Jesus, which was celebrated by three Magi from the East, probably Zoroaster priests. Although some say they brought three gifts and not sure how many people though, it is certain they were Magi.
I admit they were neither Jews nor Christians, but the birth of Jesus was celebrated by Magi. We don't care who they were at this point. This story was mentioned in Bible. It is not against the Bible to celebrate someone's birthday.
Three Magi were wise enough to tell a wrong direction to Herod. Therefore Jesus was able to get away from the hands of Herod.
How do you interpret this episode? This occupies a very important role in the beginning of Christianity itself.
I respect your way not to celebrate birthday. Many people celebrate birthday of close friends and family. It's a custom, but also it's up to our freedom or choice to or not to do it regardless of whether we are Jehovah's Witnesses or not. What I just want to insist is birthday celebration is not against Bible.
Christmas is the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the biggest festival in Christianity.
If Christmas were against the Bible, Bible couldn't have mentioned the three Magi episode.
By the way I intend to come to attend the Sunday discourse. Because you are so responsible to my questions. I need to reply in simply attending your shining stage. This is not from a feeling of obligation, but I am just willing to do it. I'm off on next Sunday. I'll do my best to attend it with my best partner of my life, I mean my wife. Please expect, she is very pretty.
I haven't read your reply on resurrection. I'll write to you as soon as I read it.
Do you say Magi celebrate the birth of Jesus, not the birthday of Jesus?
Sincerely yours,
Eiko
--- On Wed, 7/8/09, Carlos Burman wrote:
From: Carlos Burman
Subject: Birthday celebrations
To:
Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2009, 8:07 PM
Dear Eiko
Once again i email....fairly close to each email.
Its been very wet these 2 weeks hasnt it...
i hear that Tsuyu should be finished by next week at some point..so i look forward to less rain but i also dont look forward to very hot sunshine and humidity.
Well i dont think theres a perfect weather.
Anyway,i hope you fine and well...this Sunday i have the Public discourse,so of course if you would like to hear it,please come as usual.
Anyway,another year gone and another year older in your life and the rest of mankiind...im sure you dont enjoy looking each year at yourself gettig older and older.
Well,Jehovahs witnesses realise we do get older and of course we do keep a track of our age each year other i wouldnt know my birth date or that i will be 30 years old in a couple of months time.
From the outset,The bible does not discourage generous giving to a loved one..nor does it discourage having a feast or a party as long as it is done in moderation.
However,Jehovahs witnesses follow Gods word...and anything that is associated with anything unclean in Gods eyes we shun.
The Bible at no time mentions that a Christian should celebrate thier birthday.
Furthermore,looking at where birthday celebrations started and in what light True christians back in Bible times used to regard them,helps us today to know whether we should follow such a tradition or not.
There is nothing in the scriptures indicating that christians celebrated an annual birthday.
Infact,there are just 2 references in the Bible to birthday celebrations.
Likely you know them both.
Both persons were not servants of God.
The first was that of Pharaoh of Egypt. It was marked by the hanging of Pharaoh’s baker, who had been in prison with Joseph. (Gen. 40:18-22) Commenting on Genesis 40:20, Dr. Adam Clarke observes: “The distinguishing [of] a birthday by a feast appears from this place to have been a very ancient custom. It probably had its origin from [the] notion of the immortality of the soul, as the commencement of life must appear of great consequence to that person who believed he was to live for ever.”
The second, some 1,800 years later, was the birthday of Herod Antipas. The account in Mark 6:21-24 reads:
“But a convenient day came along when Herod spread an evening meal on his birthday for his top-ranking men and the military commanders and the foremost ones of Galilee. And the daughter of this very Herodias came in and danced and pleased Herod and those reclining with him. The king said to the maiden: ‘Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.’ Yes, he swore to her: ‘Whatever you ask me for, I will give it to you, up to half my kingdom.’ And she went out and said to her mother: ‘What should I ask for?’ She said: ‘The head of John the baptizer.’”—See also Matthew 14:6-11.
Regarding the account of Herod’s birthday, Dr. Richard Lenski comments: “The Jews abhorred the keeping of birthdays as being a pagan custom, but the Herods even outdid the Romans in these celebrations, so that ‘Herod’s birthday’ (Herodis dies) came to be a proverbial expression for excessive festival display.”
How are we to look at these two birthday celebrations? Is it just coincidental that they are mentioned and that both were for persons not having God’s approval? Or could it be that Jehovah deliberately had these details recorded in his Word, which he says is “beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight”? (2 Tim. 3:16) At the very least it can be said that these two accounts Biblically put birthday celebrations in a bad light, as a practice of those estranged from God.
Its also worth noting that,the day of Jesus birth was never recorded in the Bible..only his death which was very important.
“The notion of a birthday festival was far from the ideas of the Christians of this period in general.”—The History of the Christian Religion and Church During the First Three Centuries, by Augustus Neander.
As time passed and there was a falling away from pure Christianity, what began to be commemorated was the death, not the birth.
“The reverence in which the martyrs were held led to an undue attachment to the scene and day of their death. By a happy thought the day of a martyr’s death was called his birthday. The places where the martyrs had died were regarded with a holy awe. . . . On the anniversary days the services [in the churches] were largely devoted to recalling his services and character. . . . It must be remembered, however, that these [annual] memorial services were no part of the general order of the Church.”—History of the Christian Church, by Dr. John F. Hurst, Vol. 1, pp. 350, 351.
So even though the Bible does not contain a specific prohibition against birthday celebrations, Jehovah’s Witnesses have long noted the Scriptural indications and have not celebrated birthdays. In this, they harmonize with the pattern of the earliest Christians.
Also, while there is no Bible justification for annually celebrating the date of a Christian’s death, we can agree that the day of death is better than the day of his birth. Thus we should concentrate, not on the day of birth but on each day imitating Christ and reflecting God’s image. Should we die, then we will have glorified God by our way of life, and he will surely remember us.—Heb. 5:9; 11:6; Phil. 3:8-11.
What is the origin of popular customs associated with birthday celebrations?
“The various customs with which people today celebrate their birthdays have a long history. Their origins lie in the realm of magic and religion. The customs of offering congratulations, presenting gifts and celebrating—complete with lighted candles—in ancient times were meant to protect the birthday celebrant from the demons and to ensure his security for the coming year. . . . Down to the fourth century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom.”—Schwäbische Zeitung (magazine supplement Zeit und Welt), April 3/4, 1981, p. 4.
“The Greeks believed that everyone had a protective spirit or demon 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.”—The Lore of Birthdays (New York, 1952), Ralph and Adelin Linton, pp. 8, 18-20.
Basically, Jehovah God has told his servants to be a clean people in every way especially when it come to spiritual cleanliness. Leviticus 11:44..Jehovah hasnt changed...hes the same God with the same standards....Malachi 3:6
Even to a non christian who has researched to see where Birthday celebrations came from would see that birthdays were never from Jehovah God..they have pagan origin....its tradtions are from man and are wholly against Gods standards as to getting involved with anything to do with spiritism and magic.
Thus Jehovahs witnesses do not object to meeting with family and friends who share there same principles to eat and drink and perhaps at times to exchange a gift..we are a happy people who reflect a happy God.
We just dont go against Gods word and use our Bible trained consciences to make a good decision and please Jehovah God..and we find more Joy in obeying him than in celebrating 1 day a year our birthday.
Hope to speak to you soon again.
Carlos Burman
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Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:32:41 -0700
From:
Subject: Happy birthday to me
To:
Hi Br Carlos..
I have been wondering your whereabouts since I haven't heard from you for two weeks.
I just hope you are well and you are enjoying your stay in London fully, fully and fully.
So you are coming back on the 27th of June, that is the day after tomorrow.
I've got to work on Sunday evening. I turn 48 on the 28th of June, so we're going to have a small party at home Sunday afternoon. I'd like to invite you though if I recall correctly you don't celebrate anyone's birthday. I think it has nothing to do with religion, it's just a tradition. But it is totally up to you. Tell me why you don't celebrate anyone's birthday.. it's my question this time.
So I think I attend Thursday meeting on 2nd of July. Hopefully we see again on the day.
Your friend,
Hiroshi
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