Are gender reveal parties unbiblical?
Question:
Hello,
I am bringing this up because my family and I are invited to a party next week. It's a gender-reveal party. I have attended at least two in the past, and I guess they were pretty enjoyable.
I did try to search for some answers, whether they are biblical, and I did find some, but I wasn't sure that the sites I am looking at are really biblical, so I thought I could ask you since your answers are, as always, biblically oriented.
I will be blunt: I do find these parties silly and unnecessary, but the only reason I attended them was that I wanted to support the couple with their potential child as long they were in a biblical marriage. I know it doesn't sound very good, but I want to be respectful about it and be there for them.
As I grow in the Lord, I have questions because I want to make sure I am following a biblical life that God wants us to follow. I have been trying to be discerning on several things, especially on celebrating certain days. Like, I don't want to partake in a baby dedication or infant baptism after hearing how unbiblical it is or celebrate days that enable sin. However, I don't want to overthink things to the point I am adding something to the Bible, which is made clear in Revelations.
Regarding gender reveal parties, as silly as they are, are they unbiblical and wrong?
Answer:
God tells us everything we need to know about life and godliness (II Peter 1:3), but this doesn't mean everything in the world is spelled out. Things like technology change, but it isn't necessarily the technology that is sinful; it is why it is being used.
People did not have ways to determine a child's gender before birth 2,000 years ago. That is a recent side effect of checking a child for problems before birth. There is nothing morally wrong with knowing a child's gender before birth. However, it took away some of the excitement that came with the birth of a baby. Thus, people have tried to blend the revealing of the gender with the traditional baby shower. The parents are excited about their coming child and they want to share their joy with their friends. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15).
Response:
Wow, you gave me a new perspective on this! I guess I must've been too harsh on my view because of how they are. Now that you mention it, it is really nice to see parents sharing their joy with their coming child. I also appreciate the verse you shared at the end.
Well, we just had the party I mentioned earlier. It turned out to be a boy. It was really nice to see everyone happy at the event and being there for the parents.
