by blondie 53 Replies latest watchtower bible
*** g87 9/8 9 Future Prospects for Protestantism-And for You ! *** “On Judgment Day, God will certainly not ask us: Have you celebrated impressive Reformation festivals, but rather: Have you listened to my Word and kept it?” This agrees with what Jesus said: “My brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”—Luke
I suppose he won't ask if we celebrated birthdays either!
From what I heard, a CO instructing a pio school specifically said it was NOT a DF offense.
Actually because many JW women are married to non jws birthdays and xmas are sorta not on the elders radar. The watchtower likes to promote husbandly subjection and tells them they may prepare xmas diners (I assume b-day cakes) by holiday supplies what ever their husband tells them too. THen when the festivities start act like a recluse. Remember these are all conscience matters. JWs cant do interfaith so the elders could consider this interfaith. THe odd thing is it is hard to do so because many faiths celebrate xmas and bdays.
From what I have seen many JWs go over their wordly relatives houses on holidays. I assume you are fine as long as you dont bring or accept a gift. At least around here. Infact to tell the truth I think it is the gift giving that pisses the WT off. Because I know of too many JWs that celebrate stuff but don't give gifts or decorations and the brothers do nothing. Well thats not true. They give early or late gifts. It varies. Like I know an elder whos self employed and sends out gift baskets in november/december. Even though he sends it with a card explaining it is not an Xmas gift. JWs are so legalistic. It is funny.
Looked both in the KS book and my 'secret' letter file. Can't find any specific reference to indicate this is a df'ing offense. However they can make anything stick if they choose to do so.
The reports I have from Brooklyn are that many bizarre things are happening with respect to removal of elders. Elders being removed right and left at some elder group's whim, so df'ing should be easy. All they have to do is say that "So and So has demonstrated by his course of conduct that he is no longer considered one of Jehovah's Witnesses." That will be the end of that. The Bethel CIA (AKA Service Department under J. Edgar Jaracz)continues it's unkind and uncaring rule as the "benevolent dictatorship."
Celebrating a birthday is not a DF'ing offense. That's why you won't find any references to it being so in WTS publications.
Nevertheless, the Society wants JWs to believe it is. When I was still a JW, I certainly thought so. Now how would I get that impression other than from WTS publications and oral comments by JWs in authority?
About ten years ago I was arguing about birthdays with a JW on Usenet, and I said I thought it was overstepping the biblical line for the Society to make it a DF'ing offense. He pointed out that it wasn't, and I did extensive research and found out that he was right. JW elders have told me the same thing from time to time.
In spite of this, I know that some people have been DF'd for celebrating birthdays. Obviously neither they nor the elders knew the facts -- and that's obviously by design.
AlanF
4/15 Awake or Watchtower, I can't remember which one, says it now a conscience matter to celebrate your b-day or not..
AlanF, if the dfing took place, it had to be sent to the Society. If they saw why they were df'd, which they would, and it was an incorrect charge, they would question the jc as to why they came to the conclusion to df.
I suppose one needs to qualify which birthday is being celebrated! If it?s Jesus? birthday, the "flock" book directs a Judicial Committee be appointed. However, if someone celebrates his or her own birthday, then technically, it isn?t a DF offense. However, like some have mentioned here, I?ve heard of some being DF for celebrating birthdays.
Interestingly, Nathan Knorr, evidently, celebrated his own mother?s birthday until she died, after moving her into Bethel, when she was in her early 90?s. I heard of this from a close and dear friend, now deceased, Worth Thornton (quoted in Ray Franz?s books as being a "bouncing-board" for the GB in the 70?s regarding doctrinal issues. He had been Knorr?s "secretary" for many years, and did some writing, main writer of the Informant, and was one of the "heavys" before leaving Bethel in the early 60?s). According to Worth, Knorr had the Bethel Kitchen bake a special cake, that had to exactly have the number of candles matching his mother?s age! Funny isn't it?
Minimus?
I understand where you?re coming from, but you?re appealing to logic, something foreign to the JW belief system. In all the cases that I?ve been involved with (circa 50+ judicial committee cases when I was an elder?I?m ashamed of most of this now, please forgive), when a JC determines to DF someone, the Society rarely comments or challenges the decision, right? Do you know of any case where the DF card was sent to headquarters, and some bozo there, wrote back to say "don?t do it!"
---Here?s a recent quote from the WT (10/15/98):
Questions From ReadersMany
of Jehovah?s Witnesses observe wedding anniversaries. A birthday is an anniversary of when you were born. So why celebrate wedding anniversaries and not birthday anniversaries?Frankly, there is no need for a Christian to celebrate either. Still, that does not mean that the two are equal in import or that Christians must view the former (wedding anniversaries) as they do birthday celebrations.
As noted, it can be said that both are anniversaries because an "anniversary" is ?the annual recurrence of a date marking some event.? It could be an anniversary of any event?the day you had an automobile accident, saw an eclipse of the moon, went swimming with your family, and so on. It is clear that Christians do not turn every "anniversary" into a special day or have a party to commemorate it. One should consider the aspects of an event and decide what is fitting.
For example, God specifically instructed the Israelites to celebrate annually the day when his angel passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and the resulting exodus of his people in 1513 B.C.E. (Exodus 12:14) When Jews, including Jesus, subsequently commemorated the anniversary of that event, it was in obedience to God?s direction, and they did not do so with a party or with gift-giving. The Jews also treated as special the anniversary of the rededication of the temple. Though commemorating this historical event was not commanded in the Bible, John 10:22, 23 suggests that Jesus was not critical of its being done. Finally, Christians have a special meeting on the anniversary of Jesus? death. Of course, this is done out of obedience to a clear command found in God?s Word.?Luke 22:19, 20.
What about wedding anniversaries? In some lands it is common for husband and wife to take note of the anniversary of their entering the marital state, an arrangement that God originated. (Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-6) Certainly, the Bible does not put marriage in a bad light. Jesus both attended a marriage celebration and contributed to the pleasure of the occasion.?John 2:1-11.
It thus would not be strange that a couple might on their wedding anniversary take time to reflect on the joyfulness of that event and on their resolve to work for success as a couple. Whether they focus on this happy occasion in private, just as a couple, or they have a few relatives or close friends with them would be for them to decide. The occasion should not become a mere excuse for a large social gathering. On this occasion Christians would want to be guided by the principles that apply every day of their lives. So whether one takes note of a wedding anniversary or not is a personal matter.?Romans 13:13, 14.
What, though, about taking special note of a birthday? Do we have any indications from the Bible about such an anniversary?
Well, early in this century, Bible Students, as Jehovah?s Witnesses were then known, did take note of birthdays. Many of them kept small books called Daily Heavenly Manna. These contained a Bible text for each day, and many Christians put a tiny photograph on the pages corresponding to the birthdays of fellow Bible Students. Also, The Watch Tower of February 15, 1909, related that at a convention in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.A., Brother Russell, then president of the Society, was ushered onto the platform. Why? He was given a surprise birthday present of some boxes of grapefruit, pineapples, and oranges. That gives us a glimpse of the past. To put matters in their context, recall that during that period, Bible Students also commemorated December 25 as the anniversary of Jesus? birth, or birthday. It was even customary to have Christmas dinner at the Brooklyn headquarters.
Of course, since then God?s people have grown spiritually in many respects. In the 1920?s increased light of truth enabled them to see the following:
Jesus was not born on December 25, a date linked to pagan religion. The Bible directs us to commemorate the date of Jesus? death, not the anniversary of his or anyone else?s birth. Doing so accords with Ecclesiastes 7:1 and the fact that how a faithful person?s life turns out is more important than the day of his birth. The Bible has no record that any faithful servant celebrated his birthday. It records birthday celebrations of pagans, linking these occasions with cruel acts. Let us get the background of those birthday anniversaries.
The first is the birthday of the Pharaoh in Joseph?s day. (Genesis 40:20-23) In this regard, the article on birthdays in Hastings? Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics begins: "The custom of commemorating the day of birth is connected, in its form, with the reckoning of time, and, in its content, with certain primitive religious principles." Later, the encyclopedia quotes Egyptologist Sir J. Gardner Wilkinson, who wrote: "Every Egyptian attached much importance to the day, and even to the hour of his birth; and it is probable that, as in Persia, each individual kept his birthday with great rejoicings, welcoming his friends with all the amusements of society, and a more than usual profusion of the delicacies of the table."
Another birthday celebration mentioned in the Bible is Herod?s, at which John the Baptist was beheaded. (Matthew 14:6-10) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979 edition) provides this insight: "The pre-Hellenistic Greeks celebrated the birthdays of gods and prominent men. G[ree]k genéthlia designated these celebrations, while genésia meant a celebration commemorative of the birthday of a deceased important individual. In 2 Macc[abees] 6:7 we find reference to a monthly genéthlia of Antiochus IV, during which the Jews were forced to ?partake of the sacrifices.? . . . When Herod celebrated his birthday he was acting in accord with a Hellenistic custom; there is no evidence for the celebration of birthdays in Israel in pre-Hellenistic times."
Admittedly, true Christians today are not preoccupied with the roots and possible ancient religious connections of every practice or custom, but neither are they inclined to ignore pointed indications that do exist in God?s Word. This includes that the only birthday celebrations of Biblical record are of pagans and linked to instances of cruelty. Hence, the Scriptures clearly place birthday celebrations in a negative light, a fact that sincere Christians do not disregard.
Consequently, while it is entirely a private matter if Christians choose to take note of their wedding anniversary, there are good reasons why mature Christians abstain from celebrating birthdays.
there are good reasons why mature Christians abstain from celebrating birthdays.
Does this mean there are bad reasons immature Christians partake in celebrating birthdays?
So arent they admitting some JWs do celebrate birthdays?
XqsThaiPoes,
The Society (as blondie has often pointed out) uses buzzwords and expressions, to control their worshipers (they like to "push" the "guilt-button"). So, when they use the expression "mature Christians," they really mean those who submit to their authority and direction, since the Bible does not really say anything about "abstaining from birthdays," does it? I suppose that they imply that those who decide to celebrate birthdays are "immature." However, like some have said on this thread, some have been DF for celebrating their own birthday or encouraging others to do the act.
