From all of the research compiled and our collective anecdotal experiences, those outside of the church will show an interest in the life of Jesus during the advent season. But we must show them the real Jesus. The tidy Anglo version will never connect. The perpetually smiling Jesus is not realistic nor biblical. They deserve to see the gritty moment of the advent. Though we are enamored with what is pretty, they need to hear that Jesus' entrance into the world was done through a working-class Jewish family in the backwaters of the Roman Empire. It was a moment of struggle—like most of life seems to be.
There is no need to hide our message. We should feel free to be obvious.
Live in the experience of the Incarnation. It only happened once. So enjoy thinking and talking and living about it. John 1:14 is one of the high-water marks of scripture about the Incarnation. It is paraphrased by The Message as:
"The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish."
I love that—"moved into the neighborhood." Jesus came to live among us, work like us, experience life like us. His experience is one for us to both revere and revel in.
Our advent celebrations should find their embodiment in work similar to His. He spoke the truth—so should we. He cared for the outcast—so should we. He sacrificed personally—so should we. It is not complicated to emulate a living example.
Speak the message. Not too long ago, a large church in a southern city decided to speak into the culture about the move to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas." So what did they do? Had about a zillion yard signs printed up reading "Merry CHRISTmas," and then littered the community with them. And I use the term "littered" on purpose. To them, the not-so subtle message was that how we said it was as important as what we said.
We have a message that is worth conversing about over coffee. There is no need to protest in the streets over the manner of holiday greetings. There is no need to snarl back at the cashier who says "Happy Holidays" with a grumbled "Merry Christmas." Our task is not to be the lingo lawmen of culture. We need not employ protest as our major method of evangel. The gospel surpasses the mundane manner in which the world speaks about their vacation time at the end of December.
In the first advent, the Truth personally came to earth. In this advent season, let the truth be spoken person-to-person, not yard-to-yard or program-to-program.
Be native. Everyone feels a bit of nostalgia at this time of the year, but it is only a fleeting glance at the past. The advent season should be lived in the present, especially among those who live in the now of their everyday lives.
I often encourage pastors to ask themselves and their congregation, "What year is it here?" It is intended to provoke the thought of how well a congregation is connecting with their community. After all, as soon as we step off of our church campuses, it is 2009, no matter how we act inside our buildings.
During the advent season, we ask everyone to take a backward glance of almost two millennia. But do you know what most people want to know? How does that little boy born in a barn change your life right now? They are waiting to hear us talk about the gospel's power in contemporary terms.
Your coworkers and neighbors harbor a silent but deep hope that one of their own (you) is telling the truth about this faith they've heard about. So be the native that delivers the message to the rest of your tribe.
Cluttering the gospel is a temptation we face every advent season. And sure, I can blame it on too many store sales and too many Santa decorations in everyone else's lawns. But I know the truth—and so do you. The gospel is not told during the advent season for the same reason it is not told in all other seasons. The church mistakenly prioritizes outlying issues.
Our return to the simplicity of the gospel is a necessity this advent season as it is in every moment of the year. The gospel never needed tinsel to look good anyway.
Now, it's time for me to go hang lights on the house. I want my house to be seen from the moon! Just kidding. I think I'll take my neighbor out for coffee instead.
