DO NOT SEND CARDS WITH HEARTS AND THE WORD "LOVE" ON THEM!
AVOID CHOCOLATES!
DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO EXCHANGE CARDS EXPRESSING FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE!
"As most scholars will tell you, the modern practice of giving cards to ask/tell someone to “be my Valentine” seems to be a holdover from the ancient sexual lottery.
Christians who may be tempted to compromise need to ask themselves if the origins of Valentine’s Day are biblical or pagan
None who profess Christ should observe this February “holiday”–it simply is not a Christian holiday. It began as a sexual lottery and still has sexual ramifications, even in the 21st century. That is not what love really is all about."
AVOID:BECAUSE
NO AFFECTION WHATSOEVER!
NO KISSING/HUGGING/INTIMACY!!!!!
DO NOT TELL ANYONE, AND I MEAN ANYONE, I LOVE YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU! I ADORE YOU! or C'MERE...YOU LOOK HOT!
BUSINESS AS USUAL PLEASE!
KEEP YOU CHILDREN HOME FROM SCHOOL OR ASK THAT THEY BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE ROOM AND COLOR ANYTHING BUT HEARTS!
...AND NOTHING IN RED CRAYON!
MOVE ALONG...NOTHING TO SEE HERE
Valentine’s Day is observed by many in February. Currently we are seeing many store displays and tv & print ads for it.
In the past, the improperly named Christianity Today (CT) has sometimes seemed to try to justify its position on the holiday by talking about love. For example, its Valentine’s page has begun as follows:
February 141 John 4:7
Let us love one another, for love comes from God. (NIV)
The implication of the above was that the Apostle John somehow supports Valentine’s Day. The misuse of this scripture here is appalling.
But what is the love of God?
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. (1 John 5:2-4)
Valentine’s Day has more to do with lust than love–Valentine’s Day is not from the Father but from the world. Notice what the Apostle John wrote a couple of chapters earlier in the same book:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17, NKJV)
Valentine’s Day is a worldly holiday, essentially built upon lust of the eyes and the pride of life. It will pass away, it is not a true Christian holiday.
An article on Valentine’s Day from CT stated:
So why do people send “valentines” or “love-tokens” to one another on that day? The origin of that tradition is not thought to have any connection with the saint’s day. Rather it comes from an early European belief that the second week of February was when birds began to mate. The idea suggests that lovers should probably exchange notes and gifts on February 14 in conjunction with what nature practiced. It then concludes with “Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is observed as a special day for love and romance. This topic is one of the oldest, and probably most-discussed, issues in history! As Christians, we know that love originates from God and that God is love (1 John 4:16).
35 comments:
In the past, the improperly named Christianity Today (CT) has sometimes seemed to try to justify its position on the holiday by talking about love
...so we at Laptops for Africa, d.b.a. the (improperly named) Continuing Church of God, make sure not to talk about love. We know that the Christ is most pleased when we avoid talking about love and talk instead about law and about why Bob Thiel is God's doubly blessed end-time prophet.
We may need to consider, though, why our leader goes by the name "Bob" when he knows full well that to "bob" is to perform pagan obeisances, and is even a term used for lustfully biting at bright red apples in a water-filled barrel in a game commonly played at Valentine's Day parties.
Back in the days when I was deceived, and the Armstrong organization had schooled me to judge everything contemporary by comparing it to ancient paganism (I blame HWA's love for Hislop), I used to call Valentines Day "VD" (that was back in the day when such diseases were given sexist names).
That's not how we use this holiday today. It is a special day on which we celebrate a relationship which is important to us in our lives, and nobody outside of a small circle of kooks is even thinking of pagans or paganism. That is thousands of years removed! Imagine what would happen if people were allowed to marry outside of their ACOGs. Their spouses would see them as cold and uncaring, even selfish, for not simply getting a card, or small present, or having date night, or some such way of commemorating their love for one another. Our spouses got so screwed over as we all attempted to be good Armstrongites! And not just in this way!
It's so good to be free of the ridiculous "gnosticism", arcane insider garbage of Armstrongism. They took all of the pleasure and positives from our lives and gave us a lifeless Kafkaesque existence in return. We were like super Goths, sans black clothing and hair.
BB
"What did the paper clip say to the magnet?" "I find you very attractive."
"What did the stamp say to the envelope on Valentine’s Day?" "I’m stuck on you!"
"Why didn’t the skeleton want to send any Valentine’s Day cards?" "His heart wasn’t in it."
"Why did the sheriff lock up their valentine?" "She stole their heart."
"What do you call two birds in love?" "Tweethearts!"
"How can you tell when a squirrel is in love?" "It goes nuts!
"
"I thought I won the argument with my wife as to how to arrange the dining room furniture. But when I got home the tables were turned."
"What did the calculator say to the pencil?" "You can count on me."
"How did the telephone propose to his girlfriend?" "He gave her a ring!"
There is no legitimate link between paganism and the death of St. Valentine. There is also nearly no link between the modern commercial holiday of Valentine's Day and either paganism or the commemoration of the death of St. Valentine.
I believe that HWA and his minions enjoyed being self-righteously contrarian. The commonly accepted holidays became the focus of this need to dominate the moral high ground. Some of the popular American holidays were found to have pagan or naturalistic connections and this was a satisfying pretext to beat up on other religions and to seem to stand apart, in righteous solitude, from the pack.
Where this dogma falls flat on its face is in the lack of thorough application. If these Armstrongists had really been concerned about the pagan pedigrees of modern practices, they would have had a special department in Pasadena devoted full-time to ferreting out all that is noisome. And it would have to be full-time because one could argue that paganism is everywhere. It would have been a dream assignment for really dedicated legalists. But instead you find an uneven application of the dogma - some practices are condemned and others are not. Wedding rings, as I understand, are pagan. Maybe even wearing jewelry itself. Christmas sales are pagan. Thanksgiving originated with pagan Native Americans and just as pagan Pilgrims. Who knows what a zealous researcher might find.
It seems apparent that this dogma is not about seeking spiritual purity but is about being distinctive - thinking that you are better than others because of special knowledge. As Byker states, it is a kind of Gnosticism. But you don't want to take it too far. Just enough to make a good splash.
I read above that Valentine’s Day had sexual connotations. I sure hope so! I sent my wife a Valentine message and I am taking her to lunch for Valentine Day. Got my fingers crossed. Oops is it bad to cross your fingers.
Jim-AZ
Jim hit the nail on the head, and I loved Tonto's corny jokes!
According to Catholic Online, Saint Valentine "is a third-century Roman saint widely celebrated on February 14 and commonly associated with 'courtly love.'" February 14 is his feastday, and he is the patron of "Love, Young People <&> Happy Marriages." The "plain truth" is that little else is known for sure about the man!
see https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=159
And, what's wrong with sexual/romantic desire? If God/Nature (depending on your perspective) equipped humans with this desire, how can we say that it's evil or wrong? Didn't Christ say that lust was a sin only in the context of marriage - when one has actually made a commitment to be exclusively faithful to another person? If all sexual desire is wrong, Christians have some splaining to do!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Let's not be Super Goths anymore!
This reminds me of a cartoon in the newspaper.
Two guys were sitting near each other at the bar drinking. The one guy was grouching away angrily about how Valentine's Day is just a scam to get people to spend their money.
The other guy said, “Yeah, I don't have a girlfriend either.”
BB said:
That's not how we use this holiday today. It is a special day on which we celebrate a relationship which is important to us in our lives, and nobody outside of a small circle of kooks is even thinking of pagans or paganism.
SO I guess a "little" paganism is ok, there BB? Shower Curtain Bob left out Lupercalia and all the wickedness that went along with it, which I won't waste my time repeating.
Gotta tell ya BB, I'm a little disappointed in you, as I thought that you were one of a handful of "sane" posters here on Banned, but to hear you defend the Babylonian Mystery Religion is too much for me to stomach. I won't bother you again.
LXX
Weren't many of the rituals of the OT pagan in origin? Was circumcision a new thing to Abraham? Temples and animal sacrifices a new thing to Moses? Or did God use what was common and gave it new meaning?
Must I always straighten out Bob Thiels messes? Anyone?
Here is one fact about Valentines day that even apostle and false prophet Robert Thiel don't know:
Did you know that St. Valentine is also the patron saint of bees? He sure is. At first, this seems rather strange. But when we consider that honey has been a longtime aphrodisiac, it begins to make a little more sense.Honey is representative of love as well as bees, which are obviously symbols of pollination (or procreation). The aphrodisiac properties of honey are thought to lie in the regulation of hormones, something the ancients knew intuitively. They would give newlyweds a bottle of mead, which is an alcohol originally brewed from honey. This is why we have the term, “honeymoon,” for those who’ve been just married.Understandably, he’s also the patron saint of beekeepers, who arguably need quite a bit of protection from a saint considering that they spend all day around stinging insects to bless us with the greatness of honey.
https://www.heifer.org/blog/st-valentine-patron-saint-of-beekeepers.html
In reviewing this post and comments about Valentine’s Day I was surprised at that some appeared believe that love required a sexual union. While love may contribute to sexual bonding in marriage sexual bonding can also be defined as lust when it lacks love. If the valentines and associated gifts are given to express true love it should not be connected to any form of a sexual relationship. In the world today a person needs to check their motive before trying to judge what God considers something is right and wrong.
No problem,LXX. You'd already lost me on the other thread where you had speculated that President Trump is the King of the North. Today is 19 Shevat 5780 so as much as I'd like to believe that about President Trump, it's totally preposterous because the end times are about 220 years yet in the future. We really have to save the planet from the effects of global climate change so that we can even make it to the end times.
Also, if you study the works of the antenicene fathers, you will realize that the Catholic Church of God was an outgrowth from Paul's gentile churches, who were under Noahchide law, (read James's edict!) and were led by an historically documentable chain of individuals who were sequentially trained and ordained starting with the original apostles. How do you deal with sin? Jesus Christ blots it out! How do you deal with all of the paganism of the past? You sublimate it, co-opt it, overwrite it with Jesus Christ. Steal the winter solstice, and claim it for Jesus so that nobody even remembers a single pagan thing about it. Christ purifies!
This is basically what I've been stating all along in my posts for probably the past ten years. You must be a relative newcomer, or surely you would have picked up on it.
BB
LXX, the big problem with your argument is that it is based on the false premise that there is such a thing as "Babylonian Mystery Religion." That is a 19th century lie propagated by influential Scottish Presbyterians and believed by credulous American Millerites. It has no basis in historical or cultural fact.
I think valemtines day Is too sexually oriented today But it is a time to show appreciation for one you love Don't like the day myself because but because I ain't got nobody a'la Louis Prima and David Lee Roth Sour geapes,I guessed
7:34
As a 7 year old kid I learned that most of the eldest churches in western Europe were build on ancient cultic sites.
Since my catholic grandparents were nice folk, I could see the practicality in doing so as well as the symbolism of such a move. I did not suspect sinister motives for building churches over cultic worship centers.
In the movie Malena, this "goddess of a woman" walks past a church on a square. It contains all the pillars still of the Roman temple as outer wall. I went there to see it.
Armstrongism argued that all languages were defiled too. A word like mazzeltov, or good luck, has astrological connotations.
At the international Feast sites ministers always joked about what language would ultimately be spoken in the Kingdom, each arguing their native tongue.
Over time I only remember the jocular nature of the (long winding) sermons, I was not so much affected by pharasaic outlook. The dominating culture in the Bible belt I grew up in deemed everything human as wrong anyway, darkness VS light and armstrongism was a breath of fresh air for protestants coming from that tradition.
Heck even Santa Clause was chased from our village one year since it had pagan origins. Today I wonder if the PT subscription list in my area had something to do with the protestants becoming aware of the origins of Santa?
Times have changed now.
Although the "black stockings" community in their original break with catholicism produced MANY papers arguing why the Muslim Ottoman ruler of the day was more preferable a leader and a better man than the Catholic Habsburg leader and his Roman buddies.
I'm not here to argue what constitutes a pure or a defiled state of doing. The purists might be right in essence, although I'd rather drink a beer with the gentle (no not gentiles :-)) I do know a bit about propaganda though.
Nck
The lies you tell the Ocelot. Your married.
So typical of the churches to focus on the minor side issues or on rituals and ceremonies rather than the important issues of taking care of those in need (James 1) and living an ethical life. It's so much easier for those on the fourth floor of the Hall of Administration to focus on these minor issues than to focus on the fruit of the spirit. When you think of people like HWA, GTA, RCM, does kindness, gentleness, patience, purity, "above reproach", selfless, not greedy for money, etc. come to mind? They would rather focus on length of men's hair (don't let it touch the collar or the ear), length of a woman's skirt, and don't use the words "Gosh" or "golly". Can I say, "He had a gash on his leg" or do we have to say, "He had an open wound on his leg." Mainstream churches focus on rituals (Ash Wed. Advent colors, etc.) because it is easier than opening up the church's family life center and kitchen to those who need assistance. How about using your kitchens to teach single mothers and widowers how to cook? How about offering some assistance to pregnant women so that they don't go the easier route of an abortion? My hope is that many churches, both the churches of God and the mainstream churches start to close down as the older generation dies off. They deserve to shut down. Their demise would not be noticed in most cases.
We've seen how birds fit into Valentine's day now bees So THAT S how we got this birds and the bees routine
Mr Armstrong wrote The Missing dimension in Sex with its drawings of genetilia after committed incest with his daughter Then Garner Ted wrote Modern Dating after making Shirley pregnant before marriage And to think I used to devour the message in these books
Old news The Ocelot.
Anonymous said...
LXX, the big problem with your argument is that it is based on the false premise that there is such a thing as "Babylonian Mystery Religion." That is a 19th century lie propagated by influential Scottish Presbyterians and believed by credulous American Millerites. It has no basis in historical or cultural fact.
February 14, 2020 at 8:21 PM
Wow 8:21! You get the "stupidest thing ever said on Banned" award. Let me guess: You don't have a bible and are now an AA (Armstrong atheist).
Unlike you, I believe in scripture, especially the part where it describes the Babylonian Mystery Religion EXACTLY. Where you ask? Well you figure that out for yourself smart guy. You denying scripture is up there with another blogger who claims that we have 220 years left before the end of this age. Ridiculous. And there's this really massively powerful and wealthy CULT in Rome you may want to look into.
I have a nice parting gift for you too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MRmxfLuNto
LXX
It has always been a mystery to me that HWA constantly cited and relied upon the Jews as the preservationists of the law, the traditions, the calendars, the history, etc. For some unknown reason, he deferred to James Ussher, Archbishop of the Church of Ireland in the 1600's for his chronology rather than the normal Jewish sources.
Ussher was instrumental in identifying the correct letters of Ignatius, who along with Polycarp was one of the antenicene fathers, a disciple of John, personally trained by him, and one of the links in the chain or succession whom I mentioned above. Of course, HWA and Herman Hoeh wrote Ignatius off as being Catholic. Their hero was Polycrates of Ephesus, due to his stance in the Quartodeciman Controversy.
HWA had his conspiracy theories about a dark century in church history that was not really dark. There is actual history, and as for his theory on Simon Magus, another antenicene father, Irenaeus, wrote extensively about Simon, and actually made sure that Simon's writings were destroyed as heresy.
I am beginning to understand why Dennis indulges so much in repetition. Apparently, if we don't continually remind readers of our findings and beliefs, the newbies don't realize where each of us as regulars stand, and what our findings and beliefs are.
BB
Got it, 11:02. But please tell me, in what branch of cryptography does km become LXX???
BB
LXX must really, really like Hislop and Woodrow (well, Woodrow in his former persuasion).
I work as a journalist, and have tried for years to get COG ministers to speak on the record against Valentine's Day.
Sometimes they said they were too busy. This year, I offered phone numbers to a fellow journalist so he could have "balanced" coverage of the day. He simply stared at me. Our boss didn't endorse the idea.
RSK said...
LXX must really, really like Hislop and Woodrow (well, Woodrow in his former persuasion).
February 15, 2020 at 12:53 PM
HAHA!!! You people crack me up. I have heard of Hislop, but never of Woodrow.
My journey into Armstrong-cide started back in the late 60's, when my dad was in the military. I remember the day the two suits showed up. Changed our lives forever, to this very day. Was baptized in '86, I did a stint at ACBS in the late 80's under Meredith. I've been in GTA's group, etc and know the WCG inside and out. Even got to hear that bizarre old man Waterhouse speak. I knew Herman Hoeh personally. I still have about half of my immediate family trapped in the LCG. I've got some street cred.
I mention two things and everyone loses their minds:
1. Valentine's Day is pagan.
2. I accept Rev 17 as fact. (BMR)
And it's very tacky to try to guess someone's identity. I have no idea who or what a "km" is. Supply an anonymous email and I will contact you outside of Banned.
LXX
Your posts and ideas demonstrate a certain amount of mental instability. So, no off-blog contact. Say what you have to say here.
BB
LXX said: “I have heard of Hislop, but never of Woodrow.”
For your benefit Ralph Woodrow is the Christian author referenced who based his book Babylon Mystery Religion on Hislop’s dubious research. He later replaced his widely popular book with The Babylon Connection? debunking Hislop’s theory (see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Woodrow). I once believed Hislop’s disproven theory as Woodrow once promoted and many other evangelicals like the late Jack T. Chick did too, but after reading Woodrow’s replacement book I no longer do, and understand like the late Robert A. Morey noted in “Ten reasons why Christians and Catholics do not agree” there are solid scriptural reasons to reject Catholicism and its doctrines and practices that don’t rely on Hislop’s and other similarly inspired “conspiracy theories” of dubious pagan connections (see https://faithdefenders.com/ten-reasons-why-christians-and-catholics-do-not-agree/).
Anonymous said...
LXX said: “I have heard of Hislop, but never of Woodrow.”
For your benefit Ralph Woodrow is the Christian author referenced who based his book Babylon Mystery Religion on Hislop’s dubious research. He later replaced his widely popular book with The Babylon Connection? debunking Hislop’s theory (see https://en.m.wikipedia.org
Thanks 3:58. I'm always open to new research and sources, as opposed to some strange people here who think quoting scripture or rejecting paganism is "mental instability". I think a true sign of mental instability is rejecting an open offer for anon. communications, like a coward. I am not afraid to discuss topics outside of Banned, in a friendly manner.
LXX
I remembered being mired in Mesopotamian history class and being surprised to find Hislop's infamous "Ninus" to be nowhere in the various king lists. He was about as much of a historical figure as "Prester John" or Ctesias' "monopods".
I frequently quote scripture, and I reject pagan traditions that are truly harmful, like child sacrifice and temple prostitution. I have also welcomed off-board communication from time to time over the years, have rescued people from abuse and have recovered property stolen from others not connected with Armstrongism. I've also been a bouncer at a race track, and worked security at a major celebrity event for several years.
Reach deeper and guess again.
BB
Recently I talked to a Protestant minister who claims to be very careful not to appear to be doing anything wrong. Though he said he wouldn't go into a grocery store that sells alcohol (afraid someone will think he'll have a beer) he held a Valentine's Day dinner.
I said he was walking a fine line by having a dinner to celebrate a commercialized version of a Catholic saint's day that was a re-engineered pagan fornication festival. His reply was, "That's why we called it a 'Hearts Banquet'."
Interesting 5:13
Due to "not wanting to cause offense to Muslims" I read one city changed upcoming "carnival" to "dressing up festival". I know of commercials with girls in Tirolian wear wearing necklace with a cross being changed to necklace with a heart.
It seems Muslim influx is changing society into a society resembling that of Armstrongite/Hislopian. What many describe as current societal CHANGE and the replacement of Christian symbols, I recognize as something I learned decades ago from little booklets written in the good old USA......... LOL... :-) :-)
Nck
Moderators, please consider deleting the board spam posted in this thread at 7:42 AM. It is not responsive to the thread topic, unless the poster is perhaps intending to confess his uncontrolled lusts that disqualify him as a Christian.
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