At Christmas, we celebrate birth. To be specific, we celebrate THE Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The first celebration of Christ’s birth, of course, happened on that Holy night in Bethlehem, as recorded in the Gospels.
According to historians, “The precise origin of assigning December 25 as the birth date of Jesus is unclear. The New Testament provides no (specific) clues in this regard. December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221 and later became the universally accepted date.”
The actual birth date of Jesus should not matter most—what matters is that He truly was born and truly came to save us—He is “Immanuel, God with us” (Matt. 1:23).
This wonderful historical, faith-filled holiday of Christmas has given rise to some of the most beautiful music, moments and worship in Christian churches throughout the centuries. We ought to take full advantage of these opportunities every year, to uplift believers and to share the Good News with those who do not yet know Him.
Another time churches celebrate birth and children is through the annual Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, a time when Christians and others honor and recognize the sanctity of all human life—from womb to tomb.
In 2026, Sanctity of Human Life (SOHL) Sunday will be observed on Sun., Jan. 18. To help churches highlight the day, Oklahoma Baptists and Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children have teamed up to produce resources for pastors and churches. These resources help teach and reinforce a Biblical respect for life.
When you go to oklahomabaptists.org/life, you will find life-affirming sermon outlines, prayer points, powerful videos and more.
A new resource for this year’s emphasis includes training videos designed for small groups, student ministries and Sunday School classes. The content of this video curriculum originated at Falls Creek, where leaders with Hope Pregnancy Ministries offered a breakout session for students. The video curriculum goes over the biblical teaching to uphold life and warns about the danger of abortion. This curriculum is life-changing and life-saving.
Another opportunity to celebrate birth and life will take place at the 2026 Rose Day Pro-Life Indoor Rally, inside the Oklahoma State Capitol on Feb. 4. The keynote speaker will be author and actress Mia Armstrong, a teenager who has Down syndrome. Mia is a proponent of life and has spoken out against abortion and those who would push the idea that unborn children with Down syndrome should be abortion. Mia and her mother Cara will make a powerful speech you won’t want to miss (for more information, go to roseday.life).
While abortion is now unlawful in Oklahoma, the rise in access to chemical abortion has created a scenario in which abortions are happening in our state at an alarming rate. Christians, therefore, must redouble our efforts to pray, to contend for the unborn and to provide help to abortion vulnerable women.
This Christmas, as we celebrate the Incarnation of our Savior, let’s take time to pray for those who are working every day to help women who are abortion vulnerable and unborn children. And let’s take full advantage of this season to point people to the Hope that is found in the Baby in a manger (Luke 2:11-14).
