Should Christians Celebrate Valentine's Day?

[Paradise67]

Hello there! I happened to do some reading about Valentine's Day and wanted to get some input as to whether Christians should be celebrating it. It evidently comes on the feast day of two different Christian martyrs named Valentine, but supposedly the customs associated with it may likely come from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia which took place every February 15. This festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature.

I'm just wondering, if we want to keep our worship to God clean, should we be celebrating something that gives honor to some false gods? Can somebody help me out here? Thanks!

 

[notuptome]

Not if they are diabetic or allergic to roses.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[Enow]

Hello there! I happened to do some reading about Valentine's Day and wanted to get some input as to whether Christians should be celebrating it. It evidently comes on the feast day of two different Christian martyrs named Valentine, but supposedly the customs associated with it may likely come from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia which took place every February 15. This festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature.

I'm just wondering, if we want to keep our worship to God clean, should we be celebrating something that gives honor to some false gods? Can somebody help me out here? Thanks!

Regardless of the background on Valentine's Day as if anyone today celebrates it in respect to its origin; if you wish to honor the Lord that day by showing love towards someone you love, hardly any condemnation will come of that.

 

[Grace777x70]

Paul said that we know there is no such thing as idols. He was talking about meat being used as a sacrifice to idols in temples.

He said to eat the meat that is in front of you when served by others and don't ask questions about it - for the sake of the weaker in the faith that don't know there is no such thing as an idol. But if it offends a weaker brother don't eat it.

Valentine's Day is in line with this meat eating principle that Paul talked about.

I would say 99% of people have no idea about Valentine's Day. It's simply a day picked out to show your affection towards others. Us Christians should be doing that to each other constantly and not wait for a "special day"...but enjoy it if those around you do think of it as special.

 

[Grace777x70]

Not if they are diabetic or allergic to roses.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

LOL..how about a trip to Hawaii?..would that count? Well...unless we are allergic to sun and sand.

 

[Paradise67]

I understand your point, but I'm just trying to see things from God's point of view and not from man's.

 

[Paradise67]

Now that I can definitely agree with!

Paul said that we know there is no such thing as idols. He was talking about meat being used as a sacrifice to idols in temples.

He said to eat the meat that is in front of you when served by others and don't ask questions about it - for the sake of the weaker in the faith that don't know there is no such thing as an idol. But if it offends a weaker brother don't eat it.

Valentine's Day is in line with this meat eating principle that Paul talked about.

I would say 99% of people have no idea about Valentine's Day. It's simply a day picked out to show your affection towards others. Us Christians should be doing that to each other constantly and not wait for a "special day"...but enjoy it if those around you do think of it as special.

 

[notuptome]

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

As a man thinks in his heart so he is. If you think you are celebrating a pagan holiday then you are and you should cease. If you are celebrating in respect to the Lord then let no man judge you. Only remember the weaker that you do not offend them.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[Paradise67]

Thanks Roger, I appreciate your thoughts. I am trying to see it from God's point of view and not man's. Do you think that God himself would be offended? It seems like exclusive devotion to him and him alone is something that is very important to him in the scriptures.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

As a man thinks in his heart so he is. If you think you are celebrating a pagan holiday then you are and you should cease. If you are celebrating in respect to the Lord then let no man judge you. Only remember the weaker that you do not offend them.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[notuptome]

Thanks Roger, I appreciate your thoughts. I am trying to see it from God's point of view and not man's. Do you think that God himself would be offended? It seems like exclusive devotion to him and him alone is something that is very important to him in the scriptures.

I believe we have great liberty in Christ. God knows our hearts and the Holy Spirit would bring great conviction of sin if we were to become pagan in our conduct.

Some weaker Christians may not exercise the same degree of liberty but we should not force them to receive more than they can bear.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[Silverwings]

What could it possibly hurt?

 

[Willie-T]

Paradise67, huh? Interesting nick.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Romans 14:

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.


If you're going to "regard" a day, "regard" it unto the Lord. God looks at the heart and knows whether or not He is worshipped by those who "regard" Valentine's day.

And, in agreement that we should always be mindful of our actions and whether a stumblingblock would be placed in another believer's way.

 

[PrynceNY]

You are displaying love for that special someone in your life. I don't see how God would be offended by that. Even he stated to love your wives as christ loved the church.

 

[Magenta]

Truly. Anyone who loves is of God, for love is of God, and God is love, and the greatest
commandment of all involves love, for God first, and others as ourselves second.

 

[Depleted]

Hello there! I happened to do some reading about Valentine's Day and wanted to get some input as to whether Christians should be celebrating it. It evidently comes on the feast day of two different Christian martyrs named Valentine, but supposedly the customs associated with it may likely come from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia which took place every February 15. This festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature.

I'm just wondering, if we want to keep our worship to God clean, should we be celebrating something that gives honor to some false gods? Can somebody help me out here? Thanks!

I'm still not big on Valentine's Day. I just don't like pretending there is a special day to celebrate love, when love is supposed to be 7/24/365.25. And I really don't like that it has always been an excuse to buy something, and whatever the something is (card, flowers, candy, a night out, etc.) it doesn't last anyway. (I'd probably be better at it if it was Can of Olive Oil day, since a can of olive oil last a year, so it would be a good reminder when to pick up a new can. lol)

But that said, I'm 60 years old, and you're the person who just taught me the supposed history of Valentine's Day. Do you really think it's worshiping a false god when folks don't even know it has anything to do with a false god to begin with? Kind of like celebrating National Trenton Tartans as a baseball team, when there is no such team to celebrate.

I'm into not making following God so tradition-oriented as to get all legalistic over little things like this. (This kind of thing has always been the beginning of the end of a theocratic society.)

I've got no problems with anyone who wants to celebrate Valentine's Day anymore than I have problems that most people do not buy their can of olive oil on February 14th either. And I don't intend into making either even relatively important.

How about going with "How can I serve God today" instead?

 

[Depleted]

LOL..how about a trip to Hawaii?..would that count? Well...unless we are allergic to sun and sand.

Oh goodie! I can't wait for hubby to wake up to tell him you invited us on a trip to Hawaii!

(Wouldn't this be fun to start that rumor on this site. "Hey, everyone! Grace is sending us all to Hawaii." lol)

And, just in case, just kidding, everyone!

 

[Blain]

God looks to the heart more than anything, if you celebrate Valentines day to show love and affection and that you care about people then I bet this brings God joy, I highly doubt anyone celebrates it for pagan reasons. I agree that such love should be shared all the time not just one day but if you think about it even the Jews had certain holidays especially made to honor God even Jesus followed these holidays, so it's no surprise to have a holiday especially made to show love and care.

 

[Depleted]

I understand your point, but I'm just trying to see things from God's point of view and not from man's.

God's POV,

Isaiah 43
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
4 Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
peoples in exchange for your life.
5 Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you.
6 I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”[/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]8 Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
who are deaf, yet have ears!
9 All the nations gather together,
and the peoples assemble.
Who among them can declare this,
and show us the former things?
Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right,
and let them hear and say, It is true.
10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
11 I, I am the Lord,
and besides me there is no savior.
12 I declared and saved and proclaimed,
when there was no strange god among you;
and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.
13 Also henceforth I am he;
there is none who can deliver from my hand;
I work, and who can turn it back?”[/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]14 Thus says the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I send to Babylon
and bring them all down as fugitives,
even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,
the Creator of Israel, your King.”[/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]16 Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea,
a path in the mighty waters,
17 who brings forth chariot and horse,
army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
18 “Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
20 The wild beasts will honor me,
the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.[/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]22 “Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob;
but you have been weary of me, O Israel!
23 You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings,
or honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
or wearied you with frankincense.
24 You have not bought me sweet cane with money,
or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins;
you have wearied me with your iniquities.[/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]25 “I, I am he
who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
and I will not remember your sins.
26 Put me in remembrance; let us argue together;
set forth your case, that you may be proved right.
27 Your first father sinned,
and your mediators transgressed against me.
28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary,
and deliver Jacob to utter destruction
and Israel to reviling.[/FONT]
[/FONT]
(Ha! I can't figure out where to end God's POV, since this keeps going.)

 

[Grace777x70]

Oh goodie! I can't wait for hubby to wake up to tell him you invited us on a trip to Hawaii!

(Wouldn't this be fun to start that rumor on this site. "Hey, everyone! Grace is sending us all to Hawaii." lol)

And, just in case, just kidding, everyone!

LOL...Yep..Happy Valentine's Day....ya'll are invited to Hawaii - during the millennium 1,000 year reign ( that is ...if that is true as we have been taught it is...)