Season of Advent

Growing up in the Church of Christ, it was not our custom to celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus. I was taught that we celebrate Jesus' birth every Sunday, which of course we do. We were also taught that no one knows the date of Jesus’ birth, also true. Both of the former excuses were given as reason why we "do not celebrate Christmas" as Jesus' birth. Our secular focus was more on the traditional round-bellied jolly fellow in the red suit. Not to knock St. Nick, who was by the way a real person of the 3rd century; but why did our elders prefer our belief in the jolly ole elf at Christmastime, over celebrating Jesus’ birth?

Fortunately, things are changing in Churches of Christ and we no longer ignore the holiday as a time to celebrate Jesus' birthday. Though still a bit hesitate to proclaim the holiday of Jesus birth as much as our other Christian friends do, we hear more teaching about baby Jesus at Christmas.

This year the practice of Advent, the 25 days leading up to the birth of our Savior, and the manner in which most of the Christian world prepares for Christmas Day, has a bit of intrigue for me. It would seem that we, as Christians, should prepare ourselves for Christmas day and the celebration of Christ’s birth. For Christians, to us a child is born and Jesus birth is reason enough for joyful celebration.

As the result of past childhood lessons, it has only been in the past decade or so that I felt justified to join believers in telling The Birth Story at Christmas. As our three sons were growing up, we often mentioned Santa Claus and asked them what they wanted Santa to bring them for Christmas. Not intending to discount the Christ child’s birth, Jesus being born in a manger wasn’t the foremost story of the season. The likeness of Santa with his fluffy white beard and red cap, hung on our front door to greet our delighted children. The holiday wreath that adorns our door during more recent Christmas seasons is more for decoration than a spiritual meaning of something eternal or Advent. Until recently, I didn’t understand the meaning of the emblems. The purple, pink and white candles lit each week of Advent, burning inside evergreen twigs, twisted together as a wreath, are for the purpose of preparing Christians for the coming of Christ.

Therefore, for the next 25 days, I plan to observe Advent with prayer, reading of scriptures and lighting of candles to set my focus on baby Jesus who came in peace to save the world from its sin. Joy to the world, the Lord has come!