Well said, Darlene.

All of those holidays should be left to an individual’s conscience. The celebrating of them is not a sin, found in any scripture. But I myself would not celebrate anything where an untruth is found. Christmas is based on many false assumptions, as well most of the other celebrations. Although, to celebrate a birth of anyone is not based upon a lie.

The main principal in order to be a follower of God through his son is that we pay more than the usual attention to the words he speaks.
The Watchtower leaders are guilty of pulling his words out of the heart and minds of their followers. They have been able to accomplish this by creating a two class group. One class dies and immediately goes to heaven ( according to them but not according to scripture. ( 2 Timothy 2:16-18)
” Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.”

The apostles didn’t allow the teaching that the resurrection for the many has begun after Christ’s resurrection, yet the Watchtower, like most of Christendom teach it.

Their is one hope, just as the scriptures teach, one faith, one mediator.
The WT governing body tell their members , millions of them, that Jesus is not their mediator.
Yet they pray through Jesus name.
This religious group are not in the words of God.
They don’t even know who Christ’s other sheep are. ( simply the gentiles of the surrounding nations that accepted the teachings of Christ through his Apostles whom he sent to the world. ( Matthew 28:19-20 )

It’s not “THE other sheep’… but CHRISTS” other sheep, denoting ownership. Both the Jew and Gentiles are given the opportunity to become subjects of God’s coming Kingdom.

( Romans’ 1:16) -”
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

When Jesus returns, he will then say, ” Why say Lord Lord and you do not do what I say. ”
Instead, they pass the bread and wine away from themselves. They make disciples of the Watchtower instead of disciples of Christ. ( John 6:53 ) ” “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”

I agree, The JW’s must submit to every teaching their governing body prints or given in oral talks.
I know, I was born into this religion.
For example, If anyone does not agree to every JW doctrine, an elder arrangement is formed and then they ask the individual who questions the JW teachings:

“Do you believe the Faithful and discreet are providing spiritual food at this time?”
If your answer is no, or I am not sure.’
You are quickly dis-fellowshipped from the congregation as an apostate.

Hi Andrew. Enjoyed your reply…don’t go letting yourself down now and go first footing all the brothers and sisters after midnight this coming Sunday😁

1] Other Scriptures contradict the words in this verse. (See above scriptures)

2] It doesn’t appear in any manuscript of Matthew before the third century A.D.

3] Early Christians did not follow the instruction to baptize in the formula in Matthew 28:19

4] Eusebius had an original copy of Matthew and doesn’t quote the words

5] The Catholic Church confess to changing the words

6] A Hebrew text of Matthew exists that doesn’t contain the words

Another thing I find interesting is that I find most people base their beliefs on what the Bible doesn’t say as opposed to what it does say. I also find it interesting that the Bible says absolutely nothing about an incarnation. However, we are told that God was manifest in Jesus. When one takes the time to look these words up for definitions, manifest means “to show plainly; to make to appear distinctly, — usually to the mind; to put beyond question or doubt; to display; to exhibit.” Of course, “incarnate” is found nowhere in the Bible but, the definition is “to embody or represent (a deity or spirit) in human form.
My explanation of this to my grandchildren is: God made himself evident (His will or Spirit) through the man Jesus Christ. Jesus became a “conduit” to God through obedience which allowed Jesus to work in direct alignment with God’s will, in His power, and with His authority. These were God-given attributes that Jesus availed himself to through obedience. God did not become Jesus rather he worked through Jesus [Acts 2:22] Jesus did not become God but allowed God’s Spirit to make God’s will, His word, and His plan, flow through his humanity (“the Father that dwelleth in me).” [John 14:10] It is simply translating the will of God (a Spirit) into the acts/demonstration of Jesus (a man). Because of Jesus Christ’s obedience, God’s purpose was exemplified and demonstrated. God’s purpose was fulfilled, and man was redeemed.
I would be interested in knowing your thoughts.
Respectfully,
Darlene

How did the Magi know it was Jesus’ birthday? Neither Bible or any other account tells us. Does the bible mention they came on his birthday? Neither Bible or any other account tells us. Not even king Herod knew the exact age, only Jesus would have been two years and under.

Jesus birthday was celebrated Matthew 2:11, they brought Him treasures and presented Him gifts. Just saying!!

Hi Clayton,

I enjoy reading your articles on various topics and are well written!

Two points that I would like to pick up on, and that is, in your article “Why I am not a JW”. I myself, as mentioned in a previous reply to you, that I was at one time a Trinitarian, celebrated Birthdays and Xmas, and being a Scot, celebrated New Year, and being a Catholic, celebrated other customs and festivities as well; I went from religion to religion, examining them thoroughly, realising that no religion claiming to be Christian can be perfect, as we ourselves are imperfect!

In time I came across JWs, invited them in and put then thoroughly to the test, again and again and again, just as I did with other members of other professing Christian faiths, even clergy, and found JWs to be the nearest to biblical Christianity, that I could find!

“3. The Watch Tower Society forbids their members from celebrating Birthdays”

“4. The Watch Tower Society Forbids Christmas Day Celebrations”

I will lump both together, as both in reality are “birthday” celebrations. As you pointed out, there are reasons given why JWs do not celebrate “Birthdays” and “Christmas” and you see them as a weak excuse (as I see it) for not celebrating such!

You mention “silence” from scripture, but, that in itself is a weak reason for celebrating such. In the NT (and this applies to OT faithful Jews also) there is not a single instance of a faithful servant of Jehovah and Christ celebrating any birthday and we must ask ourselves why!

Birthdays, and is not Xmas supposedly the birthday of Christ?

From my initial research “birthdays” seem to be rooted in magic, astrology, witchcraft and mythology and more! Scholar Ralph Linton in his book:

“The Lore of Birthdays” on page 20 has this to say:

“Originally the idea [of birthday greetings and wishes for happiness] was rooted in magic. The working of spells for good and evil is the chief usage of witchcraft. One is especially susceptible to such spells on his birthday, as one’s personal spirits are about at that time. Dreams dreamed on the birthday eve should be remembered, for they are predictions of the future brought by the guardian spirits which hover over one’s bed on the birthday eve. Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day. Good wishes bring good fortune, but the reverse is also true, so one should avoid enemies on one’s birthday and be surrounded only by well-wishers. ‘Happy birthday’ and ‘Many happy returns of the day’ are the traditional greetings”.

Linton goes onto say, on pages 8, 18-20:

“The Greeks believed that everyone had a protective spirit or daemon 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…”

The bible demands of God’s servants to touch nothing unclean, to keep away from certain practices that would spiritually contaminate them.

As far as I am concerned, the birthday celebration is not just about the birthday, everything entailed with it, cakes, candles, gift giving are all of pagan origin and what does the scripture say to Jehovah’s faithful servants “Get out of her my people, touch nothing unclean” and that is why Jehovah’s faithful servants, past and present have nothing to do with “birthdays”!

Then we have Josephus, the 1st century Jew, who was also a historian, who tells us that no faithful Jew on their kith and kin ever celebrated a birthday, note what he says:

Josephus in his “Antiquities of the Jews” – Translated by W. Whiston. Against Apion, Book II, Chapter 26.

“Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the birth of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess…”

So, even in the 1st century ce no Jew celebrated a birthday and all Christians were initially Jews, Christ, his apostles and other early primitive disciples, all Jews!

Clayton, your point and objection as to why JWs do not celebrate birthdays, including Xmas is very weak indeed!

You are correct of course, that the bible does not specify or command that a servant of God not celebrate a birthday, we must ask why they didn’t!

There are several possible reasons?
As mentioned previously, birthdays are connected to magic, myths, and astrology…the latter being strictly forbidden by Jehovah and as all first flowers of Jesus were of Jewish stock with a Jewish heritage this also goes to explain why none of them celebrated a birthday, not even that of Christ himself!

When did professing Christians begin to celebrate birthdays?

The NT is precise on certain holy days, such as the Passover and Pentecost, no date is mentioned in the NT, why, not even the month is mentioned, nor does the NT record the exact date of Jesus’ birth and no reference to one’s birth date using either the lunar of solar calendar.

One would reasonably think, that if it was acceptable for a Christian to celebrate a birthday, we would expect at least one of Jesus’ Jewish apostles to have celebrated such, but, the NT evidence is that, none did and using “silence” is a very weak excuse to say the least, especially with the above information to hand!

When Jesus and his apostles were alive on earth, they foretold of an apostasy and many Christian sects began to appear and deviated from the straight path and it wasn’t until sometime in the 4th century ce (c. 318?) that apostate Christians began to celebrate birthdays, especially that of Christ, just as at one time they never joined the armed forces, but then later did, just as we see today and with the blessing of the various religious clergy!

Clayton, your criticism of JWs and birthdays is null and void and clearly unwarranted, as JWs’ views on birthday celebrations has nothing to do with the WT*, as the evidence shows!

The other criticisms about JWs and the WT, I will let others deal with.

However, I still enjoy your articles against the Trinity, at least we are both in agreement!

* Some are confused and bandy about the term “WT”, as if it is a person or persons! The WT is a bible based magazine, a tool used by JWs in disseminating things pertaining to the bible, life stories, experiences and other matters.

The good news though is Jesus is King and I believe I have been brought to His fold. Over the past couple of years Ive had a complete makeover mentally and spiritually. Ive been studying for over a year now, and recently professed my faith publicly with baptism and am looking forward to the opportunity of glorifying God and loving Him forever.

I use the ESV as my translation of choice, along with many other study tools. The one important thing that I have come to understand about any truth is that it HAS to always confirm itself. Too many people simply do not actually take the time to study the written Word (which of course does confirm itself repeatedly throughtout the OT and NT) or much of anything for that matter. They too often repeat what they have heard from what they believe to be reliable sources, and don’t take the time to actually consider or cross reference it. They speak quickly, and listen slowly (Hah! see what I did?)

Anyway, sorry for prattling on, Thank You very much for your efforts!

Hi John,

Thanks for you comment. I apologize for such a delayed response.

For John 1:1, the Greek text does not translate into English in the same word order. The last clause in English in most Bibles is, “and the word was God. In Greek, this clause is “kai theos en ho logos.” There is no direct article “the” in front of the word “God” in Greek. So respectfully, it does not literally end with “the God” as you communicate.

But here is the difficulty -the absence of the article before the word “God” does not automatically make it “a God.” It could also be translated as, “was divine,” or, “was God.” Here is a video that goes into this verse with more depth: https://historicalfaith.org/john-1-and-the-trinity/ Thanks again for you commentary. May God bless your studies!