While the world prepares for the holidays, we prepare for the Arrival of our Lord. While the world consumes Christmas, we consume Christ. There is nothing more tragic in this Advent than the common shared unorthodoxy of Christians and non- Christians alike to trade Christ for unlovely gain of this world.
Our celebration is drastically different than the celebration of the world. The Advent is made for the people of God and the world ought to look with jealousy and desire exactly what we possess. But what we possess appears to be lost. Our possession has been substituted for the fruits of creation. However, Christ will not be substituted for vain imaginings.
Our covenantal families have fallen into the trap of this covenantally faithless generation. Instead of showing restrain, we show greed, and thus, we become unorthodox in this Advent. The Advent must have just the opposite effect. The Advent calls us to rejoice in what we already have, not in what we will receive.
Our desperate last minute shopping leads to frustration and unhealthy busyness. As Molly Sabourin has said: “It is ironic that the franctic pace for preparing for a Christian holiday leaves us little time to focus on Christ.” And this is our unorthodoxy during this season: we have forgotten the one who came.
Well said Uri. I often feel the pull of secularism and a consumerist culture to trade Christ for lucre. This is a great reminder and encouragement to remember that Christ is far better because Christ is far more glorious than presents, Santa Claus, eggnog and sappy, lame Christmas music. Thanks for taking the time to blog on it.
Johnny, Great to hear from you my brother. There is so much going on right now that I often forget this very message. My wife and I have become more and more aware of this season and what it has meant for the church in the last 2 millenia and what it should continue to mean today.