Before we share the six reasons why Christians shouldn't celebrate Valentine's day, we want to explain the origin of Valentine's day.
Origin of Valentine's Day:
Because of Saint Valentine’s reputation as a “patron of lovers,” he became synonymous with romance. In the late 5th century A.D., Pope Gelasius I eliminated the pagan celebration of Lupercalia (more on Lupercalia below) and declared February 14 a day to celebrate the martyrdom of Saint Valentine instead. Today, many people celebrate February 14 as a day of love, but it’s highly unlikely that Pope Gelasius I intended the day to commemorate love and passion. Some modern biblical scholars warn Christians not to celebrate Valentine’s Day at all since it’s thought to be based on pagan rituals.
Valentine's day uses some of Lupercalia’s symbols, such as the color red that symbolizes the blood sacrifice during Lupercalia. The color white is also used which symbolizes the milk used to wipe the blood clean and represents new life and procreation. Although Lupercalia is not mainly recognized today, some non-Christians still celebrate this day on February 14th instead.
So now let's jump into the six reasons why Christians shouldn't celebrate Valentine's Day.
1. Valentine's Day has pagan roots.
Above you read the origin of St. Valentine's day, but it's also associated with Roman Catholicism, but it's not a religious holiday and never really has been. Valentine's Day has historical roots that are mainly in Greco-Roman pagan fertility festivals (Lupercalia) and the medieval notion that birds pair off to mate on February 14. God warns us about occult practices in Deuteronomy 18:9-13.
Read Deuternonmy 18:9-13 NIV
9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
2. It is unbiblical to idolize another man/saint/and "gods"
There is only one God, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5; For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, In the book of Exodus chapter 20 verses 1-6 says:
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
3. Christians must flee from sexual immorality
Valentine’s Day is a pagan holiday celebrating eroticism, pagan sex rituals, and fertility. On Valentine's day, many people tend to fornicate, commit lust, and other sins. Continuing with the explanation in reason number 1, God warns us about the occult, and also states in 1 Corinthians 6:18 to flee from sexual immorality.
Read: 1 Corinthians 6:18
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
4. Real Christians demonstrate the command to love one another on a daily basis (not on St. Valentine's Day)
God calls us to love one another. True Christ-followers love our husbands, wives, friends, and family daily. The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:7 that we ought strive continually for “godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. We don't need Valentine’s day to fulfill this command. God calls us to love that is a new commandment given to us found in the New Testament from the book of John verse 13:34.
Read: John 13:34
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
5. Our role model for Christian love is Christ, not St. Valentine
Married husbands and wives should love each other as Christ commands. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:22,25 that wives should submit to their husbands as unto the Lord, (not to the ways of this world). Paul also writes that husbands should love their wives even as Christ also loved the church. You must love each other every day with Christ Love.
Read Ephesians 5:22-33
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
6. Christians must separate themselves from the ways of this world.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:17 to be separate from these things. When reading the scripture above verse 17 you will see that those things we must turn from are:
- unrighteousness,
- darkness,
- the devil,
- and infidels.
Please read from verses 14-18 below:
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
The Bible also tells us to not conform to this world. Read Romans 12:2 NKJV
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
These are the 6 reasons why Christians shouldn't celebrate Valentine's day. We want to know your thoughts on this topic. Please tell us what you think below? We truly hope this post has revealed the truth to you. Our prayer is that your walk with God flourishes and that you continue to live according to His perfect word that is found in the Holy Bible. Thanks for reading and God bless you!
Sources:
Religionfacts.com
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