Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Should we celebrate Advent or do advent
Many churches are in the midst of Advent during the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Some churches formally announce Advent and some just preach on the themes of Advent: joy, peace, hope, love.
And yes I know Advent is not in the Bible. And I know it was heavily driven by the Catholic church. But you see more and more churches celebrating Advent. Here is what I am most commonly told when I ask people what Advent is. It is the celebration of the announcement (advent) of Jesus coming into our world. So we celebrate the Incarnation -- baby Jesus coming into our world to save us from our sins.
But here is the interesting thing about Advent. It is actually about two comings. One is the announcement that Jesus came into our world. The second is the announcement that he is coming back.
Whether it is formal Advent (with trees and wreaths and candles and colors) or whether it is advent (let's remember that Jesus came into our world), it is a time of celebration of that wonderful announcement from long ago that "unto us a Savior is born."
So here is my question. Should Advent (or advent) be a celebration of an announcement or should it be the announcement. Maybe this is the time of year to celebrate the good news announcement we heard and believe. But maybe advent is more. Should this season be a time not just to celebrate but to announce.
Our world needs to hear the good news of advent. Proclaim to your friends and family the good news that a Savior has been born for them. Every church should be announcing to their community and neighborhood that Jesus came to save us from our sins.
I get the celebration. Good for us. But maybe if we did more announcing of the coming... good for them.
And if you really want to celebrate Advent, celebrate the second coming of Jesus. In a hard world where believers are persecuted and living as aliens in our culture, it is good news that Jesus is coming back so we can live with the Lord forever.
Our world needs to know the announcement that Jesus arrived to save us.
Church needs to know the announcement that he is coming back to take us to our real home.
Maybe we need not so much attention on the celebrating of Advent for four Sundays for an hour or so.
Maybe we need a whole lot more attention on doing advent.
And that is the advent I can do all year long.
