Keeping days & Feasts: St Valentines Day

14th February 2011, hej

We live in a society which has values, which are very different to God's and they rub off on us (for more see the new value set .

Until recently about the last 20 years the effects of strict puritan protestantism in the English speaking world had diminished the effect of the round of saint days each with their rituals of superstition which had afflicted and rendered unproductive the world in the Middle Ages. At one point in the 17^th century England and Catholic Europe kept over 100 days (of 365) as saint's 'holydays' disrupting work, and contributing to poverty.

One of those days was dedicated to St Valentine.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum (oldest written greeting 1415). http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day

Even the most sympathetic of commentators are very frank as to its pagan origins. An example is,

The modern St. Valentine's Day celebrations are said to have been derived from both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. As per one legend, the holiday has originated from the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalis/Lupercalia, a fertility celebration that used to observed annually on February 15. But the rise of Christianity in Europe saw many pagan holidays being renamed for and dedicated to the early Christian martyrs. Lupercalia was no exception. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius turned Lupercalia into a Christian feast day and set its observance a day earlier, on February 14. He proclaimed February 14 to be the feast day in honor of Saint Valentine, a Roman martyr who lived in the 3rd century. It is this St. Valentine whom the modern Valentine's Day honors. http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/history_of_valentine.htm

Another commentary says,

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "christianize" celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed .. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

Whereas nobody knows when this Valentine died, as they don't even know the precise year let alone the day, it well known that Lupercalia, honouring a similar principle as is understood today, was kept on that day. Men killed a goat stripped its hide and ran naked down the streets slapping women, who hoped by this act to become fertile.

Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman "lottery" system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day

Should a protestant Christian keep St Valentine's day knowing its origins? That the day was kept knowing its pagan rites were unacceptable?

The difference in Christ

The Christian seeks to be a follower of Christ. Jesus was a Jew in belief and practice (see Bible and Culture ). Jews kept feasts ordained of God as part of the Law

Three times thou shall keep a feast unto me in the year. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou came out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD. (Exodus. 23:14-17)

There is record Jesus was taken by his parents to Jerusalem, according to the Law, every year.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. (Luke 2:40-42)

Throughout his ministry Jesus went up to all the feasts. John mentions it in passing,

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (John 5:1)

At another feast Jesus became involved as the centre of activity,

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. (John 7:1-2)

Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. (John 7:14)

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37)

The feast where Jesus instituted the symbols of the bread and the wine was part of the preparation for the Passover.

In Jesus' day Jews also, as a nation, made offerings in the temple on each new moon and sabbath

And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD: (1Chronicles 23:30-31)

Many of the early followers of Jesus were proselytes, or non-Jews, who had fully converted and kept all the Law.

It was not until Peter baptised the Roman centurion Cornelius that Gentiles who were not proselytes joined the followers. When many Gentiles who were in far flung parts of the Roman empire became followers of Jesus who had not previously kept the law, the Jews who were followers began to apply pressure that the new converts (as they did) fully keep the Jewish Law, including feasts and sacrifices. They also began to insist that it was a matter at the core of salvation.

There was also the issue of eating meat- of which much had been offered to an idol.

This led to Paul writing one of his most misunderstood passages regarding keeping days

Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him which eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him. Who are you that judge another man's servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regards the day, regards it unto the Lord; and he that regards not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eats, eats to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and giveth God thanks. (Romans 14:3-6)

In context Paul speaks of the very same issue to the Colossians,

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his stake; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 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: (Colossians 2:14-16)

Some have taken what Paul wrote to the Romans to mean that we may keep any day, if it is “unto the Lord”. But this cannot be sustained. Idolatry was forbidden, and the only days that they would be judged on keeping are the ones instituted by God which are the sabbaths, new moons, and the 3 feasts [Unleavened bread (Passover) the feast of harvest, (firstfruits/Pentecost) and the feast of ingathering (Tabernacles).

It appears there was permission by grace to not keep them. But there was no permission to make up holydays as people saw fit. There was specific condemnation for those who adopted any custom of the pagans.

For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 18:29-30)

We must judge Paul's view by the fact that he himself even until very late, just before he was captured and sent to Rome, is recorded as going up to Jerusalem to keep the feasts.

saying, I must by all means keep this feast that comes in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. (Act 18:21)

From Paul we learn that if we do not as proselyte Jews keep the Jewish feasts, new moons and sabbaths it must be because we are fully persuaded and “to the Lord do not regard it.” The implication is that we must in all points understand the feasts, new moons and sabbaths.

The implication is that we must consider everything that is done as whether it is a thing that ought to be done- by the standards of the Lord.

What it's all about

St Valentine's day is about a particular sentimental-romantic love featuring sexual attraction.

It is a fact that sexual 'love' was highly thought of in the Hellenistic world, but yet the word for it was not used in the Bible. Not once.

In the Greek New Testament, there are three different words used which can be translated by the English word "love":

*agapê (love, charity) and words derived from it

*philia (friendship, love) and words derived from it

*storgê (natural affection), only as astorgos (lacking natural affection) in Ro.1:31 and 2Tim.3:3.

A fourth Greek word for "love", eros (attraction, sexual love) is not found in the Greek NT, neither the word itself nor as root of another word. http://www.lrz.de/~hr/bible/loves.html

The stories (legends) of the St Valentines include one of a man making illegal marriages. Even the thought that such a man might be a 'saint' implies a value placed on unquenchable forbidden attraction. Valentine means 'strong' & 'vigorous' in Latin.

The modern world, as it has become more secular, has increasingly made an idol of sexual attraction, in song, in movies and in advertising images. Of all the many relationships from religion, to nation, to business and to caring, the sexual one has been given highest priority in popular culture. Valentine's day captures that, and in being 'St Valentine's day' connects it to customs which were about placing power in the memorial of a dead person to achieve a good outcome in a sexual relationship. Saints days were about “good luck”. This is not far from the pagan customs for fertility.

To the true servant of Christ, all fertility is given of God and it is given at his time and according to his grace, as shown in the lives of the Fathers of Israel. Even a wife is from God,

House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. (Proverbs 19:14)

All else is to give God's power to another. We might ponder that we may not wish to even name such a day, let alone keep it.

And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. (Exodus 23:12-13)

When we love

There is also the implication in St Valentines Day that one day of 365 is 'a day' to express love. Only 'eros' applies, as agapê and philia are to be always present, every day and every waking moment.

Agape never fails: (1Corinthians 13:8)

We are to love the LORD our God with all our heart, and soul and might, and our neighbour as ourselves every day, all day. As servants of Jesus we must escape lust, in all its forms, and add to faith agape

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness agape. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:4-8)

For more The Feasts