Not a sin to a Catholic, but a sin to a Jehovah's Witness.

[Silent_Notes]

I’m not sure whether this belongs in Non-Catholic religions. Mods please move this if i’m wrong.

Hello,

One of my good friend is a Jehovah Witness, and she doesn’t celebrate Birthday parties, yet she had dishonoured her parents when she lied about about attending one of my other friend’s. Excusing herself as, “It’s only lunch”.

Now i want to invite her. She is normally keen to attend (but i can tell she deliberately omitted the reason when i asked her, “why not?”), and as the title suggests I need help clarifying if i’m capable by persuading her to go against her religion’s teachings.

I would gladly understand if she won’t come.
**

Thank you in advance,**
S.N.

 

[Sum_Fidelis]

To be exact,JW:s do not celebrate own birthdays so I think you can ask her. And as far as I can see you are not doing wrong. When two religions meet this happen often,understanding is the key,not judging. They look at the world in a very different light then others,but we must as christians be kind to them anyway. God bless.

 

[grasscutter]

Go ahead and invite her. She’s you friend. If it helps her to reframe the occasion and call it “lunch”, I don’t see that as a big deal. I mean, she could be at a restaurant when any number of strangers are celebrating their birthdays and it would be unreasonable for her to avoid all restaurants in order to prevent herself from being exposed to birthday celebrations.

Also, it’s cool that you would be understanding if she declines.

 

[Silent_Notes]

To be exact,JW:s do not celebrate own birthdays so I think you can ask her. And as far as I can see you are not doing wrong. When two religions meet this happen often,understanding is the key,not judging. They look at the world in a very different light then others,but we must as christians be kind to them anyway. God bless.

Thank you!
I will definitely ask her. Maybe her parents is not aware of that.
Where can I find a source to back it up? Is there an official document i can quote? Watch Tower?

Edit: It’s culpable, not capable.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’m not sure whether this belongs in Non-Catholic religions. Mods please move this if i’m wrong.

Hello,

One of my good friend is a Jehovah Witness, and she doesn’t celebrate Birthday parties, yet she had dishonoured her parents when she lied about about attending one of my other friend’s. Excusing herself as, “It’s only lunch”.

correction, she attended lunch with friends. we can make no judgement about whether or not she violated tenets of her faith, since we only know of them by hearsay, nor can we say she dishonored her parents, as we don’t know that either, and even if we did, have no right to pronounce such a judgement.

Invite her to the party, leave it up to her conscience whether or not she attends. Don’t try to manipulate her decision, nor would you comment or criticize her either way.That is what adults do for other adults.

 

[Mumbles140]

To be exact,JW:s do not celebrate own birthdays so I think you can ask her. And as far as I can see you are not doing wrong. When two religions meet this happen often,understanding is the key,not judging. They look at the world in a very different light then others,but we must as christians be kind to them anyway. God bless.

I’m not so sure about this. I worked with a Jehovah’s Witness and he did not go to anyone’s birthday celebrations in the office. He wouldn’t even eat a cupcake if someone brought them in for their birthday. While your friendship with her may be important, so is respecting her religious beliefs. Even if she already sinned by lying to her parents about a similar situation, would you really want to cause her to sin again? I would definitely recommend inviting her, but letting her know you understand if she can’t make it (don’t really push for a reason on this if you already know it - it could cause embarrassment!). Perhaps you and her can do a separate lunch ‘just because’ so you don’t miss out on spending that time together, but she’s not put in an awkward/sinful situation.

 

[teachccd]

I’m not so sure about this. I worked with a Jehovah’s Witness and he did not go to anyone’s birthday celebrations in the office. He wouldn’t even eat a cupcake if someone brought them in for their birthday. While your friendship with her may be important, so is respecting her religious beliefs. Even if she already sinned by lying to her parents about a similar situation, would you really want to cause her to sin again? I would definitely recommend inviting her, but letting her know you understand if she can’t make it (don’t really push for a reason on this if you already know it - it could cause embarrassment!). Perhaps you and her can do a separate lunch ‘just because’ so you don’t miss out on spending that time together, but she’s not put in an awkward/sinful situation.

I 100% agree with this post. JW’s are not allowed to partake in any celebrations outside of their wedding anniversaries. It may not be sinful but it is really against your better judgment to put her in an occasion to disobey her tenets of faith. No, it is not a sin for us to celebrate a birthday (hence Christmas comes to mind which they do not celebrate) but we should be repectful of one’s beliefs. Let her know that you know that they do not celebrate birthdays per se but that you would like to have lunch with her at another time if she can. To invite her knowing that this is contrary to her faith puts her in a bad position and that is not what friendship is all about.

I have a Jehovah’s Witness friend that I have known for 12 years now. When we did work together he would give me things “around” the time of my birthday and I would always tease him by thanking him for my “birthday” gift. He would chuckle but I never put him in a position to go against his faith. It’s just not prudent and to me it is disrespectful… teachccd

 

[Silent_Notes]

Whoa, thank you for all your responses. Very insightful. :yup:

Not only that it hurts to put her in that situation, the cards she receives during her birthday by oblivious friends end up in the bin untouched. I was one before i knew she was a JW.

Anyhow, I will certainly invite her for dinner. Someday.
Thanks once again.

 

[T_More]

I was a cradle JW until my mid twenties. If an active JW were to only attend someone elses’s birthday party, they would be in trouble with their local elders if they were caught.

 

[catsrus]

To be exact,JW:s do not celebrate own birthdays

To be exact, jws celebrate no one’s birthday. At all. Ever.
And T More is correct that to do so is to end up in trouble with their congregation elders if found out.
So, invite her out of friendship knowing she will most likely refuse. And if she does not, that is between her and her god.

 

[teachccd]

…that is between her and her god.

John 1:1 New World Translation…

 

[PJM]

=Silent Notes;7584007]I’m not sure whether this belongs in Non-Catholic religions. Mods please move this if i’m wrong.

Hello,

One of my good friend is a Jehovah Witness, and she doesn’t celebrate Birthday parties, yet she had dishonoured her parents when she lied about about attending one of my other friend’s. Excusing herself as, “It’s only lunch”.

Now i want to invite her. She is normally keen to attend (but i can tell she deliberately omitted the reason when i asked her, “why not?”), and as the title suggests I need help clarifying if i’m capable by persuading her to go against her religion’s teachings.

I would gladly understand if she won’t come.
**

Thank you in advance,**
S.N.

***If we can accept a defination of sin as: SAYING NO TO GOD; then I recon it is a sin; although [not grave matter].

Even If there God is different that our’s it remains a matter of personal intent: Do I choose to sin; OR do I chose NOT to sin.

Denail of any "known [read as beleived] right; bcome a WRONG; and therefore is sinful.***

Perhaps; this person could be asked for the foundation and merit of such a proabition?

God Bless,
Pat