I recently read part of an article on CNN.com that stated, “Saudi Arabia has asked florists and gift shops to remove all red items until after Valentine's Day, calling the celebration of such a holiday a sin”. It went on to quote one scholar in Islamic studies as saying, “As Muslims we shouldn't celebrate a non-Muslim celebration, especially this one that encourages immoral relations between unmarried men and women.”
Is that what Valentine’s Day is all about? Even as Christians, is this how we view the holiday today – as “one that encourages immoral relations between unmarried men and women”? I say, NO! This is not how we should view V-Day. Though our culture does over-market (in my opinion) and many unmarried do participate in immoral relations on this day (and many other days) I think it is important to celebrate Valentines’s Day and celebrate love as God intended it. As married couples we celebrate love to one another which ultimately points to a greater love – one between the Saviour and His bride (the church). This is very worthy of celebration. And as married and unmarried alike, believers should celebrate the love of Christ as displayed through His life, death and resurrection on the cross on our behalf. This is most worthy of celebration.
Though we will probably not find these noble reasons for celebrating Valentine’s Day on a Hallmark greeting card, I think it is important to see this day as an opportunity when all the nation is focused on love to display for them our joy in the Author of Love. We do this every day and today is a unique opportunity to testify before all that “God is love.”
Some of you may be familiar with this book quote, but I never tire of reading it. Happy Valentine’s Day to you – enjoy the celebration!
“He loves you with a first love and with a free love. He loves you with a tender and compassionate love, with an active or doing love, with a passive or suffering love. His love is infinite, without bounds of limits; it is superlative, without comparison; transcendent, beyond comprehension; everlasting, without change; and will have no end or conclusion. He loved you when you were polluted in your sins, and washed you with His own blood; He loved you when you were naked in your soul, and clothed you with robes of His righteousness. He loves you in your sickness and sorrows, and is your Comforter; He loves you in your wants and straits, and is your Benefactor. He loves you in life and is the life of your soul; He loves you at death, and is the stay of your heart; and He loves you after death, and will be your portion forever”. ~Thomas Vincent
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