Valentine’s Day dey come and many people around di world dey prepare to celebrate di holiday with dem loved ones.
But you ever stop to think about di origin of valentine’s day and whether e be biblical belief or not?
The origin of Valentine’s Day
According to history, Valentine’s Day originate from di Catholic church’s feast day for Saint Valentine, one Christian martyr wey live for di 3rd century AD.
Di story say Saint Valentine defy di Roman emperor’s ban on marriage and continued to perform weddings in secret, and as result, dem kill am on February 14th.
Is Valentine’s Day Biblical?
Some Christians dey argue say Valentine’s Day no be Biblical belief because e no dey mentioned for Bible.
Dem claim say di holiday don commercialize and don become more about romantic love and material gifts than about di true meaning of love and sacrifice wey Saint Valentine represent.
SWEET RED VALENTINES
Do you know the occult origins of Valentine’s Day – the festival that we are all celebrating today?
The core root of Valentines day is pagan. It was originally the Roman festival called Lupercalia, which honored the God of Fertility Faunus.
Lupercalia… pic.twitter.com/limlasycV4
— NeoSpirituality (@neospirituality) February 14, 2024
Valentine’s Day and Christianity
On di other hand, others dey argue say Valentine’s Day fit be seen as Biblical belief because e celebrate di values of love, kindness, and selflessness wey dey core to di Christian faith.
Dem point to verses like 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, wey describe di characteristics of true love, and John 15:13, wey say “Greater love has no one than this: than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
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Reaction from Nigerian Christians
For Nigeria, many Christians dey divided on di issue. Some see Valentine’s Day as harmless celebration of love and relationships, while others view am as pagan holiday wey no get place for Christian faith.
“I no think Valentine’s Day na Biblical belief,” say pastor John, one Christian leader for Lagos. “Bible no mention am, and e no be part of our Christian tradition. We suppose focus on celebrating God’s love for us, rather than romantic love.”
Conclusion
As many people don voice opinions, we go deduce say whether you believe am or not, people go accept wetin dey their minds.
“I think Valentine’s Day fit be great opportunity for Christians to show love and kindness to one another,” said sister Mary, one Catholic Nun for Abuja.
“E no be about di commercialization or di romantic love, but about celebrating di values of love and selflessness wey dey at di heart of our faith,” she added.
In conclusion, whether or not Valentine’s Day be Biblical belief na matter of interpretation.
While e no dey mentioned for Bible, di values of love and kindness wey e celebrate na certainly Biblical tenet. As Christians, we fit choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day in way wey honour God and reflect di true meaning of love and sacrifice.
