by Ryan Brenner

Created on: August 19, 2009   Last Updated: August 21, 2009

Should Christians Celebrate St. Valentine's Day

When we think of Valentine's Day in our culture an unpleasant shiver will roll down the spine of many. Worry, fear, nervousness, and for some a sense of loneliness, of love lost, and of love never found permeates this day. For others who have found love the day brings worry of a different kind; stress about dinner reservations, calls to flower shops, and finding that perfect gift flood the day. Some have begun to criticize the day saying that it has become too commercialized, and just another excuse for retailers to make money. Some have abandoned Valentine's Day because it is just not worth the stress and pain that it brings. So, does this mean that Christians should chalk it up to more commercialization and another distraction of our culture, and just abandon the whole thing? To answer that question we have to understand the origin of this day. We need to know why this Valentine's Day even exists.

Around 250 AD a Roman Emperor seeking to increase military enrollment forbade men of military age to marry. Valentine, a priest at the time who had converted to Christianity gave aid to Christians in the empire, and performed marriages for them. Since giving aid to Christians, and performing marriages for anyone was illegal he was arrested and imprisoned. In prison he became a close friend of the jailer's daughter, according to some accounts the two would sit and talk for hours. Valentine fell into the good graces of the emperor, but upon presenting the emperor with the gospel was condemned to a horrific death. According to legend (and we have no reason to believe it is not true) on the day of his death (February 14) he wrote a final letter to the jailor's daughter signing it, your Valentine. Thus, Valentine's Day, and the expression, Be my Valentine were born.

Hearing this story makes me think maybe, we have asked the wrong question. Maybe the question is not should we celebrate Valentine's Day? Maybe, the question is have we lost perspective on this day? I see the point of those who would suggest that this day has become too commercialized. The moment in history that created this day was not about commercialism, it was not about money, and it was not about chocolate. Instead, it was about faith, courage, self-sacrifice, and sentiments of passion that went far beyond a trivial card. It was issues of life and death, and a man who was willing to pay the ultimate price of what he believed.

Should we celebrate this day?

Most definitely this day should be celebrated. This is a day that quite literally celebrates a man who risked it all for love, who was willing to go to prison and face persecution to unite young loves in matrimony. This is what we dream of, these are the stories that touch and move our hearts, but this one is not a fairy tale. This one is the real thing!

This is a man who showed incredible courage in presenting the gospel to a lost and cruel dictator. His courage and passion should be an inspiration and example to all of us. So yes, celebrate; celebrate the gift of love and romance, celebrate the gospel, celebrate the courage of a saint, and celebrate marriage our earthly example of a heavenly union. Celebrate Valentine's Day, but let your celebration go beyond the trivial to the real passion and love that originally created it.

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