Should Christians Post Birthday Greetings, Accept Gifts, or Sing the Song?

Most people don’t think twice about birthday customs.

Online greetings. Wrapped gifts. The familiar song.

But if you’re trying to live set apart from the world, these simple actions raise deeper questions.

After publishing my essay on birthdays, I received thoughtful follow-up questions from readers — so here are three of the most common ones, answered biblically and clearly:

1. Is it wrong to post birthday greetings on social media?

Not necessarily. It depends on the spirit behind it.

Private messages (texts, quiet notes, or DMs) are often fine. They show love without feeding the spotlight. But public greetings — on walls, group chats, timelines — can unintentionally draw attention to the person in a way that echoes the world’s self-centered culture.

We live in a time where people expect public praise and online affirmation. But Christians are called to humility, not hype. If your greeting builds up and honors God — not just the person — it may be appropriate. If it fuels vanity or creates a performance atmosphere, better to skip it.

2. Is it okay to accept a birthday gift?

Yes. Receiving a gift isn’t sinful. In fact, refusing a kind gesture can appear cold or self-righteous.

The key is how you receive it:

• With gratitude, not entitlement

• With a spirit of thankfulness to God, not celebration of self

You might say: “Thank you for thinking of me. I’m grateful for another year God has given.”

Even Yahshua accepted gifts — gold, frankincense, and myrrh from the wise men. Mary poured out costly oil at His feet. Yet Christ never sought praise. His focus remained on His Father’s will.

3. What about singing 'Happy Birthday'?

There’s no command that says, “Thou shalt not sing birthday songs.” But wisdom asks: What does this song represent?

In most settings, it centers the moment on the person. It’s not just a tune — it’s a cultural tradition designed to make someone feel special, celebrated, and entitled to attention.

This may seem innocent. But it reinforces the world’s value system: glorify the self.

We don’t avoid the song because of the melody. We avoid it because of the message. In our church and family culture, we choose to quietly thank God for the life He’s given. A simple statement like “We’re thankful God gave you another year” is more meaningful than a song built on tradition.

This isn’t about rules. It’s about righteousness.

God doesn’t call us to follow the crowd. He calls us to think deeply. To examine customs. To choose gratitude over vanity. Discernment over ritual.

In the soon-coming Kingdom of God, the spotlight won’t be on human achievements, popularity, or birthdays. It will be on Christ, the King of kings. He alone is worthy of praise. Until then, our daily aim is simple:

To decrease, that He may increase.
To glorify the Giver — not the gift.
To be different — in love, truth, and action.

Read: Should Christians Celebrate Birthdays? What the Bible Really Shows

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