On Birthdays

Fall has me thinking of birthdays. Mine and my two siblings’ are within a month of each other in October and November. Last year, a significant round number for me, had me wanting to spend it with them—a rare treat since we live four Canadian provinces apart. This November, as I take my turn for a guest editorial while The Banner continues to seek an interim and then long-term editor, the theme seems appropriate.

As Reformed Christians we mark the “birthday” of the Reformation on Oct. 31. It’s a recognition of the turning from error, reassessing handed-down tradition, and reestablishing Christ-centered devotion: Solo Christo, Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Soli Deo Gloria.

The 500th anniversary of the Reformation was in 2017, the year I started as a news editor at The Banner. I remember my pastor donning a birthday hat in the pulpit, and I’m pretty sure he blew one of those streamer noisemakers as a perhaps tongue-in-cheek response to the encouragement of Synod 2017 that churches commemorate the occasion.

Growing up I had a classmate who didn’t celebrate her birthday or Christmas. Her family were Jehovah’s Witnesses, and I recall thinking the reason for the lack of particular commemorations was a verse in Galatians admonishing the practice of “observing special days and months and seasons and years” (Gal. 4:10). I remember wondering as a child if this was indeed correct—was it wrong in God’s eyes for me to favor my own birthday over other days God had made? Was it wrong to enjoy being celebrated with my friends and family?

No. I’ve since learned that that passage, and others such as Rom. 15:5, is about the practice of Sabbath and a correction for those overly concerned about maintaining the seventh day observance rather than the first day—Lord’s day—gravitated to by the early church. And Jesus demonstrated celebratory tendencies: the wedding at Cana, feasting and not fasting with his disciples, and joyously taking children onto his knees. Sounds like a party to me.

It’s right to remember and commemorate the things God has done. Congratulating parents on the birthdays of their children is a recognition of the good gifts of God, his blessing of life. When my children were baptized, our church gave us beautifully painted boxes (a gift from a church member) each holding a candle lit in the worship service marking their new life in Christ. We were encouraged to help our children remember their baptisms, perhaps lighting those candles every year. Marking anniversaries of churches, ministries, movements of the church, or statements of faith help us recall together God’s faithfulness, promises fulfilled, the blessing of the work of past generations given to the glory of God.

There’s an opportunity for that this year with the Nicene creed, 1,700 years old. The Banner included a feature on the creed in February; Synod 2025 used the occasion “to commemorate and celebrate the doctrinal clarity” in the creed; and the Office of General Secretary compiled a series of resources for churches to teach the Nicene Creed.

Calvin University and Calvin Seminary celebrate 150 years this academic year, and The Banner has a significant birthday coming up too—160 years since it was first published in New Jersey by the Rev. John Y. De Baun. I’ve been writing for The Banner for three-quarters of 1% of that time (as news correspondent since 2013)—a wisp of mist. But as a publication founded to illuminate truth, its continuation for roughly two human lifetimes is a gift to be cherished. Happy birthday!