“For unto us a Child is born…” (Isa, 9:6 NKJ).
December 25 has been resisted by some as Christmas Day because of:
- The improbability of shepherds being in the field during such a cold time as December (winter).
- The pagan celebration of Saturnalia which falls on the same day (some believers fear that a pagan holiday was “borrowed” by the early Christians and given the “new dress” of Christian respectability.
- The fact that the Eastern and Orthodox segments of the Church all celebrate the nativity on January 6. Some scholars seem to feel that the closer religious groups are to the original geographical sites of Bible events, the more accurate they are as to details.
This would mean that the present-day groups closest to the Holy Land who celebrate Christmas on January 6 may know something the rest of us farther away have missed.
I am not trying either to defend or to question the authenticity of December 25 as the birthdate of Jesus. It really does not matter. However, an interesting quote has surfaced that does point to December 25 as the correct date of our Lord’s birth.
Unto Us A Child Was Indeed Born
Justin Marty, Tertullian and Chrysostrom all state that in the public archives at Rome a registry existed of the census under August Caesar by which the Lord’s birthday was conclusively established.
Tertullian gives the words as he found them in the Roman archives, “Mary, the mother of Jesus.” Chrysostrom asserts that through the public records of taxing preserved at Rome the date December 25 had long been known to the Christians of that city.
Whatever the case, and whether we’re talking about yesterday or today (or any other day), we can say with the prophet:…unto us a Child is born….!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.