If I were to simply ask how many of you are aware that we are in the season of the church year called Advent, how many would have a positive response? If ever there was a season of the church year that seems to get overlooked, Advent would be that season.
Part of the reason for this lies in how many Christian churches approach the various seasons of the church year. To many, following the seasons is too much like the "Catholic" way that so many broke away from in the 1500s. Observance of seasons and the like are seen as remnants of the past, and tie the hands of their pastors too much in terms of what they would like to preach on. So many Christian churches have simply dropped their observance of the various seasons that have traditionally been part of the church year.
We are also in a society that places far less emphasis on things Christian. If you were not raised as a Christian, what would be the point of observing a season such as Advent? In many ways, special holidays would be for others to observe, and so you might be ignorant of the fact that Christians celebrate specific holiday seasons.
And then, you get to the massive influence of marketing and economics. Even as early as Halloween, Christmas things have started to appear in stores. Once Thanksgiving passes, all restraint is released. The blitz toward Christmas begins, and the whole focus is on getting those deals for those Christmas presents, even though Christmas is still four full weeks away. So, from a marketing and economic standpoint, there is no point to Advent.
And yet, Advent remains a significant part of the church year. For the Christian church, it is actually the beginning of a new year. Since Christmas is the observance of Jesus' birth, we back up four weeks to see and hear about God's careful preparations for that birth. That is what the season of Advent is all about. It is about preparing for our celebration of the birth of Jesus by hearing about God's preparations for that birth. In that time, we see God's patience as He arranged the world so that His own Son would be born at just the right time, in just the right place.
There are a number of traditions that are related to the season of Advent. I'll be sharing a few of them over the next few days.
Part of the reason for this lies in how many Christian churches approach the various seasons of the church year. To many, following the seasons is too much like the "Catholic" way that so many broke away from in the 1500s. Observance of seasons and the like are seen as remnants of the past, and tie the hands of their pastors too much in terms of what they would like to preach on. So many Christian churches have simply dropped their observance of the various seasons that have traditionally been part of the church year.
We are also in a society that places far less emphasis on things Christian. If you were not raised as a Christian, what would be the point of observing a season such as Advent? In many ways, special holidays would be for others to observe, and so you might be ignorant of the fact that Christians celebrate specific holiday seasons.
And then, you get to the massive influence of marketing and economics. Even as early as Halloween, Christmas things have started to appear in stores. Once Thanksgiving passes, all restraint is released. The blitz toward Christmas begins, and the whole focus is on getting those deals for those Christmas presents, even though Christmas is still four full weeks away. So, from a marketing and economic standpoint, there is no point to Advent.
And yet, Advent remains a significant part of the church year. For the Christian church, it is actually the beginning of a new year. Since Christmas is the observance of Jesus' birth, we back up four weeks to see and hear about God's careful preparations for that birth. That is what the season of Advent is all about. It is about preparing for our celebration of the birth of Jesus by hearing about God's preparations for that birth. In that time, we see God's patience as He arranged the world so that His own Son would be born at just the right time, in just the right place.
There are a number of traditions that are related to the season of Advent. I'll be sharing a few of them over the next few days.
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