*** g04 7/8 p. 30 From Our Readers ***
Piñatas I read with interest the article "The Piñata-An Ancient Tradition." (September 22, 2003) It left me with some questions. The ties to false religion are well-documented. But the article seemed to take the position that as long as it doesn't bother someone's conscience, it is OK. What about birthdays and holidays such as Christmas?
S. W., United States
"Awake!" responds: Christians refrain from any celebrations or customs that continue to involve false religious beliefs or activities that violate Bible principles. For example, the Bible definitely puts birthday celebrations in a bad light. (Genesis 40:20; Matthew 14:6-10) However, if it is very obvious that a custom has no current false religious significance and involves no violation of Bible principles, each Christian must make a personal decision as to whether he will follow such a custom.
a christian must make a personal decision - how would this apply to birthdays?
by booby 7 Replies latest watchtower bible
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booby
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sir82
Translation:
A certain GB member has family members who like to play with pinatas, so they are OK.
Alternate possible translation:
Virtually all growth in western lands is coming from spanish speaking Witnesses. We'd better not do too much to piss them off, so we'll throw them a bone or 2.
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PSacramento
A birthday is an anniversary, nothing more, nothing less, if they are ok with anniversaries it makes no sense to be against birthdays which are simply a yearly celebration of an event (in this case a birth).
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booby
good comments - would like to hear more. This whole article sticks in my craw a little bit, seeing how almighty they make themselves in the deciphering of everything. they want to be the final arbiter in all things. *** g03 9/22 p. 22 The Piñata-An Ancient Tradition *** The Piñata-An Ancient Tradition
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isaacaustin
In other words, you must decide as the WT wants you to or you will be Dfed. But it is YOUR decision, the org is not making you do anything. LOL
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pirata
My theory is that somehow this article slipped by the editors and made it into print.
This article pretty much contradicts the Bible teach book which state (ch 16, p. 159, par 12)
'Maybe you feel that the origins of holidays have little to do with how they are celebrated today. Do origins really matter? Yes! To illustrate: Suppose you saw a piece of candy lying in the gutter. Would you pick up that candy and eat it? Or course not! That candy is unclean. Like that candy, holidays may seem sweet, but they have been picked up from unclean places. To take a stand for true worshiup, we need to have a viewpoint like that of the prophet Isaiah, who told true worshipers: "Touch nothing unlean."-Isaiah 52:11'
After reading that article, and the article on toasting (which states that toasting is not okay because of it's pagan origins, but wedding rings are despite their pagan origins), I realized how arbitrary the mandate of what is and isn't clean is.
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booby
I'm with you on the slipped by the editors. like the article on "is it wrong to change your religion" july 2009 awake
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