December 25 is celebrated by Christians all over the world. It is a ritual and dedication to Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. Many say that it used to be a pagan holiday. That may be true and the yule tree was symbolic of some other celebration. The church may have merged all holidays into one through an edict of the central church organization in the days of the medieval Christian religion. Does it really matter? Maybe it does to some people. It is noted by certain scholars that the Bible records the evidence that the shepherds were in the field tending their flocks by night, which would not have occurred in the middle of December in the Northern Hemisphere. They would have been protected from the winter weather. Some have noted that according to the sixth month time period between the birth of John and Jesus that the birth of Christ was either in September or October, which would align with shepherds and the flocks out in the open fields at night.
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-2-8/
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-1-24_1-27/
Since many websites have estimated that John was probably born in the last of March, then six months later Jesus was born, maybe in the last of September or early October.
https://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/biblical-evidence-shows-jesus-christ-wasnt-born-on-dec-25
The truth is that the date is not exactly known. Since most Christian churches set aside a date to reverence the birth of Jesus Christ, I tend to celebrate on that date and thoroughly enjoy the holiday spirit and wonderful atmosphere of love at that time of year. It's a beautiful time of year, and I hope the exact date will remain a common entity with all Christians. If the entire Christain religion, including all denominations, decided that September 30 was the actual date of Christmas then that would be OK with me. The real symbol of Christmas is that of a tiny newborn infant. Despite all the evil that was totally enveloping the young couple of Joseph and Mary, trying to kill the infant Jesus in those days, God did not allow it to happen. Instead, all the world celebrated the birth of Christ, with a bright star showing the location, and wise men traveling from the East following the same star. God even revealed where the baby would be born to those who he wanted to know it and hid it from those who were determined to kill him. A spiritual presence protected him with angels watching all around and protecting him.
Those same angels and Holy Spirit watch over all Christians today and keep their feet from trodding a pathway of irrevocable temptation. If a very innocent and helpless child is enveloped by all the heavenly host, also is a Christian protected today who has taken on the same Spirit of God that was given by Jesus to his followers. That spirit of wisdom grows daily by reading and studying the words of Christ, which emboldens and lifts up his followers into a spiritual body. If we lift up Christ, he draws all men unto him.
There are more innocent infants who are killed today by abortion than all humans killed in all wars. If God gave us the example by protecting his infant son with all the host of heaven, we too should protect our innocent children who have not even breathed a breath of air yet. We should set a star in our memories for each and every child that is about to visit our world. Let them at least have a chance to begin a life and add infinitely to the development of a better world. All the Artificial Intelligence and the exorbitant amount of money spent on defending our country to keep us safe from terrorists around the world means nothing if we cannot protect the innocent lives of the unborn.
http://www.htmlbible.com/abortstats.htm
We are thinking at this time of Christmas about the ancient Biblical times of Jerusalem and Israel. There were many times in Middle Eastern history, including in ancient Israel, that there existed idolatry and the terrible practice of sacrificing human children to the pagan god Moloch. It was a giant hollow metal idol, which would be heated up on the inside until it was red hot. Live babies would be laid on top of his burning arms and sacrificed. There are more babies sacrificed today in abortion to idols of selfishness, career, fear of scandal, and for the lack of time or consideration to take care of them than were sacrificed to pagan idols in all of human history. There have been more humans killed in abortion than the Black Death. It is truly a modern-day plague on mankind.
“And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.”
Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and pray for all those who are considering having an abortion. Pray for the unborn children of God. Pray for those who have had an abortion that God will heal their hearts. Forgive them and pray that God will give them a benevolent nature, a love for the unborn.
by Cliff Rhodes
December 24, 2017