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Is Advent Biblical?
By Mark D. Roberts | Friday, December 5, 2008
Part 6 of series: Introduction to Advent
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Earlier in this series I mentioned the fact that many Protestant Christians reject Advent because they consider it to be a Roman Catholic practice. For most of these, it isn’t so much the Roman Catholic aspect of Advent that is truly problematic, but the fact that Advent is not taught in Scripture. You can’t turn to a place in the Bible and find teaching on Advent or a command to set aside four weeks prior to Christmas as a season of waiting, hoping, and yearning.
Does this mean we that biblically-oriented Christians shouldn’t observe Advent? For some, the answer is “yes.” If it’s not explicitly taught in Scripture, then Christians shouldn’t do it. You’ll find that kind of argument among non-instrumental Church of Christ believes, for example. Since instruments are not explicitly mentioned in the New Testament teachings about worship, then we shouldn’t use instruments today.
So what about Advent? Does its absence from Scripture mean we shouldn’t observe it?
If you buy that argument, then you must also abstain from Christian celebrations of Christmas and Easter, which aren’t found in Scripture. You might as well throw out Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, and Thankgiving too, since none of these are mentioned in Scripture. (I suppose you could find a way to derive Thanksgiving from the Jewish festival of Sukkoth (Tabernacles), though it wouldn’t fall on the fourth Thursday in November and it wouldn’t involve eating Turkey or watching football.) Moreover, if you really believe that Christians can only do that which is explicitly taught in Scripture, then you shouldn’t go a to church building for worship, or sit in pews or chairs, or use microphones, or wear pants, or use hymnals, or use digital projectors, or . . . . Honestly, I don’t know any Christian who actually lives consistently by the “I don’t do it if it’s not in Scripture rule,” though I admire the intent.
I believe that we are free in Christ to do many things that are not specifically taught in Scripture. To a certain extent, I agree with those who argue that if something is not prohibited in the Bible, then it’s okay for Christians. (Of course this argument has limits. I had a Christian friend in high school who used this argument to defend her use of marijuana, since it wasn’t mentioned in the Bible. The rest of my Christian friends and I were persuaded that the analogy of drunkenness applied to getting high on pot. Thus we believed marijuana use to be sinful.) Surely there is nothing in Scripture that prohibits one from observing Advent.
But I’m not concerned merely with whether Advent is not disallowed in Scripture. I want to know if observing Advent is consistent with biblical themes and priorities. Is Advent biblical in this grander sense?
I do believe it is. For a moment, forget about Advent itself, and answer the following questions:
• Is it a good thing for us Christians to set aside a special time in the year to focus more on God and grow in our relationship with him?
• Is it good for us to get in touch with just how much we need a Savior?
• Is it helpful for us to wait on the Lord and to learn to wait upon him more faithfully?
• Is it helpful to remember our hope in God and to be refreshed in that hope?
• Would it be a valuable thing in your life to be prepared to celebrate the true meaning of the Incarnation?
• Would you like to experience more of God’s peace and presence during the often hectic weeks prior to Christmas?
I think most biblically-oriented Christians would answer these questions in the affirmative. Does that mean we all should observe Advent? Of course not. We are free to do so or not to do so, according to our consciences and sense of God’s leading. But it’s not hard to see how Advent could be beneficial for most Christians. (Photo: I’m not actually expecting many people to imitate my Advent tree, with its purple lights and purple and pink ornaments. This tree was in my office at Irvine Presbyterian, and could be seen by thousands of people driving by each day.)
If you’re looking for biblical passages that express Advent themes, you might think of such texts as:
Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:14)For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. (Psalm 62:5-7)I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning. (Psalm 130:5-6)O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities. (Psalm 130:7-8)[T]hose who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint. (Isa 40:31)I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Rom 8:18-25)
Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. (1 Peter 1:13)
The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:20)
Of course then there are lots of biblical passages that focus even more specifically on Advent themes and hopes associated with the coming of the Messiah. You can find these in my Advent Devotional Guide.
So, though it’s correct to say that Advent itself is not taught in Scripture, and therefore Christians are free to observe it or not, it is equally correct to say that the emphases of Advent are thoroughly biblical. If the traditions of Advent help us to focus more on the Lord, to get in touch with our need for him, to replenish our hope, and to celebrate Christmas with greater meaning and depth, then I’m all fer it, as we say in Texas.
Topics: Advent |
6 Responses to “Is Advent Biblical?”
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December 5th, 2008 at 12:37 am
I think we spend too much time worrying.
No, Advent is never mandated. That doesn’t mean it’s prohibited … the New Covenant isn’t supposed to be about legalism.
I agree with you completely … Celebrate Advent if it serves you, and don’t if it doesn’t. What keeps your mind on God more?
December 5th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Mark,
Excellent post. IMO observances such as Advent, Lent, etc. are similar to the many feasts and festivals observed by Israel. A huge reason for them was that God would be remembered, that their very lives would be ordered around him and the remembrance of him. This is a significant theme of the Bible…don’t forget God; abide in him, set you mind on him. Yes, unlike Advent, most of Israel’s festivals were instituted by God himself. But, it seems to me that the intent remains the same. As long as it does not become a legalistic issue, it seems right and even biblical that we choose ways to build our lives around the remembrance and celebration of God. I know I need all the help I can get to maintain such a focus.
Blessings to you.
December 5th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I wrote about observing Christmas last year. My argument was based on Purim — if the Jews could create a new holida, we can too.
December 6th, 2008 at 4:05 am
[…] Advent Biblical?” December 6, 2008 Mark D. Roberts discusses the rite: “But I’m not concerned merely with whether Advent is not disallowed in Scripture. […]
December 7th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Mark,
Words cannot tell you how appreciative I have been of your thoughts on Advent. I was not raised with it, but this is my second year to observe it in my home. Your explanations and articles have been very helpful in helping someone like me to understand and observe the season in meaningful ways.
I’m a minister in the non-instrumental Church of Christ. While there are a good number of our churches that still hold to the “If it ain’t in the Bible, it is sin” hermeneutic, this number is rapidly decreasing. In most mainline non-instrumental Churches of Christ today, you will likely see our a capella worship explained more in terms of our tradition than biblical mandate. While Advent is not widely observed in our heritage, there are many who are open-minded about it. I am currently leading the church where I serve through Advent for the first time ever. Many of our members had never heard of it, and are very excited about starting to incorporate its themes into their lives.
November 26th, 2010 at 10:43 am
In my humble opinion, you need to look at where these ‘christian’ holidays/celebrations originated from. The celebrations that are in the bible (old and new testaments) were ordained by God Himself - not by man. All of the christian holidays are not from God, or from Jesus (Y’shua) but from man. I think you need to discern more and perhaps ask God for greater discernment in regards to christian celebrations. myself personally, i acknowledge the celebrations and feasts that were given to man by God! Blessings and Shalom to you all!