Advent

Advent is quickly becoming my favorite season of the liturgical church year. The reminder of the Incarnation of Christ and the eventual triumphal return of the risen, ascended and glorified Lord of all presents the opportunity to rejoice at God’s great mercy and yet still hope through faith, anticipating his certain return. Advent reminds us that the Kingdom has come and yet is coming still in complete fullness. It highlights the tension of living between two ages- the one that is and the one that is to come. Holding his tension in balance will keep us from the error of the Thessalonians and their over-realized eschatological tendency (they were worried they had missed the return of Christ or that his coming was so immanent that they no longer needed to work to support their families) and the church in Galatia with their under-realized eschatology (being tempted toward the law-regulations and away from righteousness by faith).

Advent teaches us, among other things, how to be about our pilgrim way. We look to the first advent and are emboldened at the finished work of Christ (the victory secured through the cross). And yet because Christ’s return has yet to happen, we understand the world is still groaning, as Paul says in Romans 8, waiting for the “Sons of God to be revealed.” What was inaugurated in the first Advent has yet to be consummated by Christ at the end of the age. Thus, our journey from the city of man to the City of God will not be easy. It will resemble Bonhoeffer’s “costly discipleship,” in which he describes costly grace as being costly because it call us to follow, but is grace nonetheless because we follow Jesus Christ. As Dr. Scott Swain says, the gospel is simply that “We have a home. And we have a way home.” Amen.

Prepare the way of the Lord.

Sojourn Church has produced a few really good worship albums. Their collection of Advent Songs is a really outstanding offering for the season. You can check it out here.