i've been reading a lot of bloggers who have put some deep thought into the advent season and their reflections on their own personal connection to advent themes.
i haven't yet been vocal about the time that i've spent in that reflective advent space. the sad truth is that i've been forced to wonder if my advent theology is completely off-base. see, i have noticed a prevalent, yet disturbing, advent theology trend this year. i've heard one repeated message that makes me wonder if all of the pastors i've listened to read the same journal article somewhere, where a prominent contributer wrote some fantastic and influential article about the "true" meaning of advent. the advent theology that has been presented to me this season is thus:
we are complacent if we enjoy the advent season and look to the Christ child in the manger. rather, we need advent to remind us that Christ rose from the dead and that Christ is coming again; that in this season of advent, we shouldn't be thinking about Christmas. rather, the true meaning of advent is a call for us to throw ourselves into the wilderness and proclaim the kingdom of God.
on the surface, yes, there are pieces of a good theology there: indeed, we Christians are in our own perpetual season of advent as we await the fulfillment of the kingdom of God. and yes, we need to take care that we don't get so caught up in the sentimentality of the season without giving due reflection on the meaning of the coming of Christ into the world. however, when a pastor stood up in a pulpit and chastized us for looking at the sweet baby Christ instead of the righteously angered Christ overthrowing tables in the temple, i felt severely offended. i don't think that we should forget the larger life and ministry of Christ during this advent season. but i also believe that advent offers Christians a unique theology of its own that we would be good to remember and about which we should preach.
as winter has fallen, you've read a few entries about my thoughts on light and dark. as we are in the midst of the darkest season of the year, literally, advent also reminds us of the darkness of a waiting soul, and the darkness of a broken creation that has been groaning right along with us as we search for God's light.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14)
in the dark of winter, in the dark night of the soul, we yearn for light. we look at the brokenness in our world - the poverty, the hunger, the injustice, the racism, the fear, the disease, the war, the hate - and desire the fulfillment of the kingdom of God. is it inappropriate to dwell on these advent themes? is it shallow theology to look at the sweet Jesus child and see in his face the hope of the world? is it irresponsible to let advent to exist as itself, with its own message?
i do not want to be hasty. yes, i believe that john the baptist calls me to an understanding of repentance, an understanding of my own responsibility to further the cause of God's kingdom on earth, an understanding of a Christ who will break into this world. but i also want due time to be devoted to the understanding of a savior who "became flesh and lived among us." and that due time should be advent.
i want to walk as a child of the light, i want to follow Jesus
God set the stars to give light to the world; the star of my life is Jesus
i want to see the brightness of God, i want to look at Jesus
clear sun of righteousness shine on my path, and show me the way to the Father
i'm looking for the coming of Christ, i want to be with Jesus
when we have run with patience the race, we shall know the joy of Jesus
in him there is no darkness at all
the night and the day are both alike
the Lamb is the light of the city of God
shine in my heart, Lord Jesus
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