HOW TO KEEP THE GOSPEL IN ADVENT

Dear Friends,

In the Baptist church that I grew up in, I do not think we even had a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service. Church was on Sunday. Christmas was remembered, and carols were sung, but only on Sundays.

Nowadays it is typical to hear of many non-liturgical evangelical churches not only having church services on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day, but also celebrating the season of Advent - the four Sundays prior to Christmas Day. In fact, we at Messiah may actually make less of Advent than many Baptist churches - which only goes to show that God has a sense of humour.

The Bible does not have specific instructions about what Advent is, and how it should be remembered, so this means Christians have wide latitude and freedom in how they celebrate Advent, or whether or not they celebrate Advent.

I think there are several reasons why many Christians have started celebrating Advent. One is that Christians want to make a clearer distinction between Biblical/Christian Christmas and Canadian Christmas. Another reason is that Christians, like many in our culture, are desiring something "thick" and "rooted." Finally, we are both drawn into our transient and consumerist culture, but also jaded by that culture, and therefore desire to connect with something that is ancient, enduring, and bigger. To celebrate Advent as the four Sundays leading up to Christmas fits with this, as the practice of Advent goes back to the fifth century. Furthermore, since Advent is ignored by Canadian Christmas (or "cultural Christmas"), the Christian practice of Advent helps make Christmas more Christian.

I am not going to "out" any of my brothers and sisters in Christ, but lamentably, many evangelicals are uncritically adopting and adapting practices by Roman Catholics and/or liberal mainline churches when they develop Advent practices. This means you can lose what is truly Gospel centered and biblical. It is in light of that problem that I offer this somewhat nerdy blog. Key idea - you need the wisdom of the English Reformation (mid to late 1500's) to keep the Gospel central in Advent.

Thomas Cramner was a key leader of the English Reformation. He was keenly aware of the liturgical practices that had developed since the early church. He wanted to keep what was ancient and biblical, but he saw the need to reform these practices so that the Bible and the Gospel were clear and central.

In the case of Advent, he kept the Sunday Communion Bible readings for Advent (which go back to the fifth century), but he wrote two new Collects (the first and second), and edited one Collect to make it more Gospel centred (the fourth). The third Collect was completely rewritten in 1662. The Collects provide the teaching so that you can prepare for Christmas, and the new year, in a Bible trusting, Gospel shaped way. So if you use the Bible texts, you are using texts that have been continuingly used since the fifth century. When you use the Collects, you are getting the reformation theology of the English Reformation.

Below are the four sets of ancient Bible readings for Sunday during Advent. I have also provided the Collect for that Sunday. A "Collect" is a prayer that can be prayed. In the case of Cramner's Collects, in a very concise form, they teach sound theology and wise practices for the Christian life Each of the Collects below could be the outline of a book, or a whole series of sermons/devotionals. The twice daily, and then yearly, praying of the Collects can of course be mere rote religion, but as with the catechism, this can also be a powerful way of teaching and forming your heart.

The first Collect is both the Collect for the first Sunday in Advent, and the Collect for all of Advent. In other words, you would pray it every morning and evening throughout all of Advent. Each of the other three Collects would be prayed alongside this main Collect, one week at a time. Note that each Collect is connected to one or more of the Bible texts. In the main Collect for Advent, you get a rich Gospel shaped way to understand Advent. You remember Christ's first coming in great humility. You look forward to His second coming in majesty. You acknowledge the crucial "third coming" of Christ, namely His coming into your heart as your Saviour. You are reminded of the need to live a holy life for the glory of God, and the terrible reality of the last judgement. This not only prepares you for Christmas, but for the year ahead. Bracing stuff and very definitely not feel-good, fluffy, consumerist Christianity.

Here are the Collects and Scripture texts. Have a blessed Advent!

The Collect for All of Advent

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which Your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility, that in the last day, when He shall come again in His glorious majesty, to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through Him who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and ever. AMEN.

Romans 13:8-14 and Matthew 21:1-13.

The Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent

Blessed Lord, who has caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of Your holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which You have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Romans 15:4-13 and Luke 21:25-33.

The Collect for the Third Sunday in Advent

O Lord Jesu Christ, who at Your first coming did send Your messenger to prepare the way before You: Grant that the ministers and stewards of Your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready Your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at Your second coming to judge the world, we may be found an acceptable people in Your sight, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. AMEN.

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 and Matthew 11:2-10.

The Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent

O Lord, raise up (we pray You) Your power and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore bound and hindered in running the race that is set before us, Your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us, through the satisfaction of Your Son our Lord, to Whom with You and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, world without end. AMEN.

Philippians 4:4-7 and John 1:19-28.