so what is advent?
December 7th, 2005 by boon
The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life. source: link
Christianity looks really odd in this day and age, when I look at it from the outside in. It’s seen as a predominantly Western religion, doesn’t glorify the pride of men, never claims to be mythical, and people seem to be arguing within the congregation all the time. Moreover, tons of people are put off by the fact that you have to believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.
As a Christian, I find it hard to explain to folks regarding the technical aspects of Christianity. It can easily blow up into a chaotic regurgitation of loopholes and Christian mocking. I find it easier to talk about God when I tell people what He told me the other day…..
Oh, really? God actually told you something?
I admit, I’m not the good-natured Christian nice guy I sometimes think I want to be. I swear and curse on occasion, I piss people off on the roads, and I tend to manifest weird and illogical behavior as a result of my struggle between trying to do what’s right and doing what everyone else thinks is right.
But all in all, and I’ve said this before, a relationship with God can’t be explained fully in words. It has to be experienced first-hand. It’s like you telling someone you just went bungee jumping and you wave your hands about like a Zulu and you try to explain the inexplicable horror and joy in a single package. Bungee jumping has to be experienced first-hand. Tried it myself.
And in this season of Christmas, I’m reminding myself again that you know…. all those days and months and years put together, all the memories of God and me… it all comes together. At the end of the day, it’s all about looking forward, knowing the past has happened, as the present remains.
To me, that’s what Advent is about. It’s about remembering the very first moment it was real to me that Jesus died for me, and to expect him to return for me in the future.
The first week of Advent has passed. Thanks, Jesus. Though from the outside in, it sounds weird that I call you Jesus, I’m not going to let that mainstream baggage tell me that you’re not divine, not the Lord, and not in control. I know, ‘cos I know.