Birthdays and the Like
From some recent correspondence with another country, along the lines of...
“I ‘get it’ on the Xmas and Easter and Halloween” (though I was pretty drunk on what I experienced in my youth, and have been brainwashed unknowingly by society, sentiment, emotion, and Hallmark advertising to believe). But what about birthdays, anniversaries, and the like?”
_______________
Excerpt from the answer....
1) All of these things must be taken case by case—if it’s Spiritually good to “celebrate” such secular events, yes—fine, if not, no—don’t;
2) Any “lust” is out of the question—“Gimme gimme gimme a gift,”... I can hardly wait; blah, blah”... “If you REALLY loved me”... and, “So what’s so bad about _____?”—with bitterness, or lust, or great disappointment and heartache (indicating self-addiction, not “love”). These things and the “blackmail” that goes with them can’t be catered to or tolerated in a child or spouse or relative or neighbor. They are absolute proof of the sinful evil at the root, in THEIR case, this time;
3) CLEARLY, the Second Birth is more to be treasured than the first?! And the Marriage Supper of the Lamb one million times more REAL than the shadows and training ground of other relationships. Do we ACT that way???!!! Really? Is it OBVIOUS to everyone around you where your REAL priorities lie?
4) Did Paul, Peter, John.... ANY of those guys have ANYTHING to say that indicated they recognized EVEN JESUS’ BIRTHDAY, let alone their own? Interesting...
5) refer to number one!! : )
4/3/2002
