Do you think of Valentine’s Day as a Christian holiday? We all know about Christmas celebrating Christ’s birth and incarnation, and Easter celebrating the Lord’s resurrection. But what about Valentine’s Day?
In the year 270 the Roman Empire was under stress from nations along their borders. Christians were faithfully sharing their faith, reaching the lost, and birthing churches all over the Roman Empire. The church was encouraged by Apologists (defenders of the faith) such as Clement, Oryen, Ignatus, Polycarp and Chrysostom. This period was also a time of severe persecution and Christian martyrs. Claudius was the ruling emperor and had a hatred for Christianity.
During this time enlistment in the Roman army had fallen. Men preferred to get married, stay home and raise a family rather than spend their lives in the army. Love was getting in the way of military recruiting. So, Claudis passed a law forbidding marriage.
Living in this period of anti-Christianity and anti-marriage was Valentine, a Christian pastor in Rome. He knew the Bible taught marriage was good and honored by God. So he took it upon himself to preach on marriage and to perform Christian marriages — contrary to Roman law. Valentine was taking a great risk but like Peter he believed, “We ought to obey God rather than men,” (Acts 5:29).
Valentine was arrested where he clearly witnessed to Emperor Claudis. This angered the emperor and he demanded that Valentine recant his faith in Jesus Christ and submit to the godless tyranny of Rome. Valentine staunchly refused. The Christian pastor was condemned to torture and death. As the Apostle Paul, he was beheaded for his faith in Christ. He became a martyr for the cause of his Lord.
Before his death he wrote a note allegedly written on Feb. 14 to the woman he loved and had hoped to marry. He signed the note “love from your Valentine.” This apparently was our first Valentine’s Day card. Today Valentine’s Day is hidden now by commercialism, cupids, chocolate and candle-lit dinners — all of which are good. The truth is that Valentine was in love with his Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave his life for the God he loved.
This my friends is true love! “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins,” (1 John 2:2). Read John 3:16 and add something to your Valentine’s Day — tell someone about God’s love for us that sent His Son to the cross for our salvation! Be bold for Jesus — take a risk! Happy Valentine’s Day.
Dr. David Bouler of Global Faith Ministries, Chattanooga, Tennessee, contributed this column to the Journal Review. He can be reached by email at debouler@aol.com.
