Luke 2:1-2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

There are many things about the story of Christ’s birth that we have no real frame of reference for, so we simply accept on the basis of tradition. I recently had my own mental picture greatly changed, which is to say, straightened out, by an article that was firmly rooted in cultural anthropology. However, our disconnect from the culture of the day even extends to such fundamental things as dates. They certainly weren’t using BC (or even BCE) or AD back then! Japan today provides a frame of reference here, because dates are on the basis of the reign of the current emperor. (Right now we are poised to go from the year 24 into the year 25.) There are numerous charts that cross reference such dates to the AD system, because we have people alive today who were born in the Meiji,Taisho, Showa, and Heisei periods, (Heisei being the current one) and without such charts you can’t even be sure how old someone is! During the Meiji period they adjusted the months to fit the rest of the world, which caused mass confusion for a while, but a similar shift in the English calendar is the origin of April Fool’s Day. When Luke was writing, any number of dating systems were in effect, some based on solar cycles, some on lunar, and some on political. Accordingly, he anchored the events of Jesus’ birth to things that would have been widely known and remembered. The point is, he was interested in establishing the historicity of what he was writing; this wasn’t fiction! As a physician, he was very careful with his facts, and we can be very grateful God chose him to leave us the books of both Luke and Acts.

I am certainly not a Bible writer, but I too need to be careful with my facts. Sadly, Christians are famous for speaking “evangelastically,” stretching the facts sometimes a great deal. I must not do that, though I will confess to the temptation when reporting things like church attendance! It actually is a matter of faith. If I think of what goes on around me as something I am doing, then I will want to stretch things out of pride. However, if I maintain the awareness that I can do nothing apart from Christ, (John 15:5) and whatever I accomplish is His work through me, then that temptation is gone. I would like greater numbers, certainly, but my lying about things can do no good and can do a good bit of harm.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me remember it when I write about our singing at the Old Folks Home yesterday, and the Candle Light Service tonight! I thank You for the very moving experience of singing for the people yesterday, and I ask for a good turnout at the service tonight. Help me be faithful in all things to do what You have for me to do, but at the same time leave it all in Your hands, so that You may be glorified as Your purposes are accomplished on Your schedule and in Your way. Thank You. Praise God!