Valentine’s Day has come again. This holiday has morphed beyond a traditional Catholic holiday into a day that most celebrate – if only because of the romantic love with which it’s associated. It’s become a day to send a card, flowers or candy to a loved one, or take someone you love out for a romantic dinner. What could be nicer than to celebrate love?

But is it really love that is being celebrated?

Please don’t misunderstand – the idea of a man and a woman acknowledging and showing their love for each other is not inherently evil. However, dressing up a very wonderful emotion – that of a love God ordained in a marriage relationship – in some very pagan symbols and traditions is a problem. The origins of Valentine’s Day, pictures of cupids, the giving and receiving of cards and so forth are all based on ancient pagan religious observances, and have simply been incorporated into a Christian label and modern secular celebrations.

What is the origin of Valentine’s Day?

Vertical Thought, and our parent organization the United Church of God, have published a number of articles over the years covering the pagan origins of Valentine’s Day and why a true follower of God should not observed this modern pagan holiday. If this concept is new to you and you want to understand why these pagan connections are a problem for those who sincerely wish to obey God, then please take the time to read some of these helpful articles:

- Valentine's Day: What's Wrong With Showing Love?

- Teen Bible study guide: Valentine’s Day

- St. Valentine, Cupid and Jesus Christ

- Where did Valentine's Day come from?

At the heart of Valentine’s Day is the wrong celebration of love. The problem with pagan celebrations was that they connected sex with the worship of pagan gods and so lust replaced love. Instead of the proper use of sex in marriage it was used in fertility rites. None of that honors the One True God and His definition of marriage between a man and a woman.

But wait! If we don’t seek to honor other gods, or engage in fertility practices and do show love the way God intends, isn’t Valentine’s Day OK?

No, it’s not! God is clear on the worship He wants from us, and to adapt pagan practices in our worship of Him is unacceptable to Him.

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” (John 4:24, NKJV). So, what is a “vertical” thinker to think? Simply think God’s truth.

What about other holidays?

If it is wrong to celebrate a day like Valentine’s, then is it OK to celebrate days like Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and so forth? Very simply, the difference is intent and history. Days like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day were founded on a desire to honor parents (which is godly, see Exodus 20:12). Thanksgiving Day was to be an annual reminder of God’s blessings upon the United States. While national holidays such as these are not set aside in Scripture as holy convocations and are not observed as such, they respect principles that highlight elements of God’s way of life.

But what’s the difference between the God of the Bible and the gods of ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece or any other pagan culture? Everything!

The gods of pagan cultures were gods of fertility, crops, weather and the like. That is, the religion taught that the gods could be controlled or influenced by what humans did. The Bible shows that it is we who are to be directed by, influenced by, and to take on the character of God. These are polar opposite viewpoints: worshipping the creation rather than worshipping the Creator (Romans 1:20-25).

Valentine’s Day has no place in the worship of the true God. Using symbols and religious practices from pagan worship is an affront to Him because it goes against the characteristics we need to have to be in His family. Rather than engaging in false worship, why not observe the Holy Days God ordained to show us His plan of salvation for mankind? Then the love we show one another will be based on truth and not ancient paganism. For more information on God’s Holy Days please read Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?

Show genuine love and concern toward others every day, and avoid the ancient pagan symbols exemplified by Valentine’s Day.