Yes, most Seventh-day Adventists do celebrate birthdays because we see them as excellent reminders of the life God has blessed us with. And we celebrate them the same way everyone else does—with friends, family, presents, and a special meal.
But these decisions boil down to personal conviction. Each Adventist may have different reasons to celebrate or not celebrate.
That’s why we’re about to explain:
Let’s begin!
Why most Adventists celebrate birthdays
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Seventh-day Adventists celebrate birthdays because these milestones are times of gratitude for the gift of life. After all, each birthday marks another year we’ve lived, affirming how we’ve grown and how we’ve been blessed. They’re an opportunity to show the love of Christ to important people in our lives, whether family, friends, or church members.
And while the Bible doesn’t directly address whether we should or shouldn’t celebrate birthdays, it does show us people rejoicing in their children’s important milestones.
For example, Abraham threw a party when Isaac was fully weaned (Genesis 21:8).
John the Baptist’s parents had a gathering to celebrate his birth, naming, and circumcision (Luke 2:57–60).
And when Jesus Christ turned twelve, he was deemed old enough to go to the Passover celebration with his parents (Luke 2:41–42).
So regardless of whether the Jews or the early church had birthday celebrations, both the Old Testament and New Testament affirm celebrating various achievements in life. And many of these achievements had to do with the particular age of a child.
And because the Bible doesn’t say anything against celebrating birthdays, Adventists are left to make their own decision about it. The Seventh-day Adventist Church encourages following personal conviction in the celebration of such holidays.1
And most Adventists do choose to celebrate birthdays.
For one, we believe that God, as our creator, loves to see us live and prosper.
He had a role in our development from our earliest moments (Psalm 139:13). And He cares about us so much that He knows the number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7).
He loves watching us grow—not just growing physically but growing in maturity and wisdom—and birthdays are a great way to commemorate that.
Second, the Bible tells us that it’s good to enjoy life (Ecclesiastes 8:15). And it encourages us to rejoice for each day we’re given (Psalm 118:24).
Along those lines, here are some other reasons Adventists celebrate birthdays:
- To show gratitude to God
- To spend time with family and friends
- To show appreciation for our loved ones
- To remind children that they are a special part of our family and that we love watching them grow
- To remind adults and seniors that they will always have a place in our family and that we admire their wisdom and maturity
- To remind church members that we care about them and they have a place in our church family
- To enjoy a special meal or dessert
- To enjoy the blessing of giving and receiving gifts
So what might an Adventist birthday celebration look like? Find out next.
How Adventists celebrate birthdays
Photo by Gracious Adebayo on Unsplash
Adventists celebrate birthdays just like anyone else. Most celebrations involve gathering together with friends and family to enjoy food and gifts. But the way we celebrate birthdays has more to do with our own culture and family traditions than religion.
However, there are some general principles and practices Adventists might embrace when celebrating birthdays.
For one, most try to avoid throwing over-the-top parties. Much of this has to do with honoring God’s call to use money responsibly (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Instead, they might settle for a peaceful, joy-filled day with their loved ones. They may have a home-cooked meal or go out to eat at a local restaurant. And even open up a bottle of sparkling grape juice (as a tasty, non-alcoholic alternative).
Like many families, they’ll have a cake or another kind of tasty dessert and receive presents from their loved ones.
The church family might get involved by placing birthday announcements in the church bulletin. If the church is hosting a potluck after the worship service on Sabbath, congregations might even sing happy birthday or get them a birthday cake to share.
On the Sabbath day closest to their birthdays, some Adventists give a special offering along with their tithe to thank God for another year of life. This is known as a Birthday Thank Offering.
Of course, it’s all up to each person how they choose to celebrate. But in the end, most Adventists use the occasion to remind their loved ones how much they value them.
Why some Adventists might not celebrate birthdays
Although very few Adventists avoid celebrating birthdays, there are three key reasons why Adventists—and other Christians in general—might make the personal decision not to do so. They are:
- The Bible doesn’t command people to celebrate
- Some modern birthday traditions have pagan roots
- Birthdays might encourage selfishness
It’s true that the Bible never commands believers to celebrate their birthdays.
But if you follow this line of thinking, you’ll start to realize the Bible doesn’t mention a lot of things that people do today (like driving cars or using the internet).
But just because these things aren’t mentioned in the Bible doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do them.
Likewise, just because something has pagan roots doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate it or use it in everyday life. And it’s a good thing, too, because many things have pagan connotations in some way, shape, or form (just look at the names of the days of the week!).
Instead, God wants us to pray for guidance and use the reason He has given us to decide what to do concerning things the Bible never mentions or things that have pagan roots. The key is making sure our actions uplift biblical principles.
And as far as being selfish goes, it all depends on how you celebrate.
You don’t have to have an over-the-top party. You can have a simple one at home and look for ways to make your birthday a blessing to others, such as using the occasion as a way to earn money for a non-profit organization.
Above all, birthdays can be a blessing through the simple fact that you’re taking time for meaningful connections with people.
Personal conviction guides Adventist birthday celebrations
While some Christian denominations don’t celebrate birthdays, the Adventist Church isn’t one of them.
Most Adventists enjoy these occasions, but not because of specific religious rules. Rather, we approach the holidays based on personal choices.
The majority of us who celebrate birthdays have found many meaningful reasons to do so—whether it’s spending time with family, bringing thanks to God, or finding joy in another year of life.
And now that we’ve covered what Adventists believe about birthdays, aren’t you curious where they stand on other holidays like Christmas, Easter, and New Year?
- “Do Adventists Celebrate Christmas?” Seventh-day Adventist Church. [↵]
Related Articles
More Answers
Do Seventh-day Adventists Celebrate Holidays?
Wondering whether your Adventist classmate or coworker keeps the same holidays you do? Perhaps you want to include them in some festivities, but you also want to respect their beliefs. Thus, you’re unsure of how to navigate the holiday question. Will they accept your invitation to the office Christmas party?
The Adventist Haystack (It’s Not What You Think) + 4 Recipes
Haystacks are basically a taco salad—with an Adventist spin on it! Most versions are vegetarian and offer an endless combination of tasty toppings. We eat them often because they’re healthy, scrumptious, and easy to make.
Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe in Medical Care?
The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in and supports evidence-based medical care. In fact, medicine has played a significant part in our history, and today we run a major health system with hospitals, medical schools, and clinics throughout the world.
Why do Adventists Emphasize Religious Liberty?
Adventists see religious liberty as an essential human right. After all, God endowed humanity with freedom of choice from the very beginning. So we believe it’s best for governments to also support their citizens’ rights to worship based on their convictions.
All about Adventist Elementary Schools
The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates the largest Protestant education system in the world. A big part of this system is our K-8 elementary schools, or primary schools, as they’re known in other parts of the world.
What Are Pathfinder and Adventurer Clubs?
Like the boy or girl scouts, Pathfinders and Adventurers learn about nature and life skills. But what makes these clubs special is their purpose to bring young people closer to Jesus.
13th Sabbath Offering: What It Is and Why It Matters
While the previous 12 Sabbaths of the quarter feature an established Adventist ministry and its current giving needs, the 13th is a rotating spot reserved for current mission projects.
A Look at Adventist Colleges and Universities
On the outside, Seventh-day Adventist universities may not look much different than other college campuses. But the real differences are beneath the surface.
What Is ASI (Adventist-Laymen’s Services and Industries)?
ASI, which stands for Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries, is a membership-based organization that provides support for Seventh-day Adventist laypeople (Adventist professionals who aren’t pastors).
What Are Adventist Evangelistic Meetings?
The Seventh-day Adventist Church puts a huge emphasis on sharing the gospel through evangelism, or sharing the gospel through preaching, teaching, and testimony. One of the ways we accomplish this is by organizing public events called evangelistic meetings.
Christian Summer Camps—A Cherished Adventist Ministry
School’s out, the sun’s shining, and your kids are thrilled to have the summer ahead of them. Then three days in, you hear, “I’m bored…”
Do Adventists Have Their Own Bible?
Adventists have some unique beliefs—you might be able to name some of them right now. The seventh-day Sabbath. Death as a sleep. Hell as nonexistence.
What Is Vespers?
Friday rolls around, and you’re spending time with your Adventist friends or relatives when they mention they’re going to vespers tonight.
Adventist Pastors
What is the role of a pastor in the Adventist Church? The position itself, at least as far as a local congregation is concerned, is not much different from that of pastors in other protestant denominations.
The Leadership Structure of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a representative form of structure that connects its 90,000-plus congregations across the globe and gives its members a part in decision-making. Though the Church was incorporated in 1863, this system came about during the church’s reorganization from 1901 to 1903. It includes four levels of organization.
Everything You Need to Know About Sabbath Meals
For Seventh-day Adventists, sharing a Sabbath meal with friends and family is one of the most special and memorable parts of the Sabbath.
What to Expect When You Go to an Adventist Church
If you’re attending an Adventist church for the first time, you may wonder what it’s really like. While each Adventist church is unique in its collective personality and local culture, Adventist church services are generally similar to most other Protestant church services.
Adventist Education
Seventh-day Adventists have historically upheld the importance of a well-rounded, high-quality education. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching and learning, the Adventist Education system operates on the principle of educating the “whole” person.
Evangelism
Evangelism is simply sharing the truths of the Bible with someone else. And Adventists are all into it.
Everything You Need to Know About an Adventist Church Potluck
Every so often, usually on a schedule ranging from once a week to once a month to once a quarter, an Adventist church will have “fellowship dinners,” often casually referred to as potlucks.
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal is a songbook used worldwide by many Adventist congregations during their worship services. Since its publication in 1985, it has helped foster praise to God while reminding church members of our mission and drawing them closer to Jesus.
Everything You Need to Know about Sabbath School
Sabbath School is the Bible study component of the church program at most Seventh-day Adventist Churches. It’s a time of Bible study on a specific topic or lesson. Instead of listening to a preacher, people interact with one another, making it a great opportunity for building friendships.
What Are Seventh-Day Adventist Sermons Like?
In nearly every Seventh-day Adventist Church, the sermon is the focal point of the main service—similar to many Protestant Christian denominations. It is a time of biblical instruction by the pastor, who shares what they’ve been studying in the Bible and preparing over the previous week.
Who Are Adventists
The Seventh-day Adventist Church—“Adventists” for short—is a Christian denomination of ordinary people who seek to follow Jesus and live out His mission in this world. Established in 1863, we hold to the Protestant principle of sola scriptura, which means the Bible guides everything we do.
How do Adventists choose what to eat?
Food blogs overwhelm the internet; food fads are all the rage; and copycat and healthy versions of food are the subject of many a get-together.
Didn’t find your answer? Ask us!
We understand your concern of having questions but not knowing who to ask—we’ve felt it ourselves. When you’re ready to learn more about Adventists, send us a question! We know a thing or two about Adventists.