Apathy at Advent

The Christmas season is upon us. For many Christians, myself included, Advent is a season of excitement and joy as we celebrate the incarnation (putting on flesh) of the Son of God. While it's easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of gifts, food, family time, and fun, there's another subtle distraction that can keep us from enjoying Christ during the Advent season—apathy.

Who could be apathetic during such a joyful time of year? I can't speak for anyone else, but I know I tend to struggle with apathy. It's a sneaky little thought that creeps in every year: "I've read the Christmas story a million times. There's nothing more to get out of it. A virgin birth. Check. Shepherds. Check. Three wise men. Check." Some years I gloss over these magnificent and eternity-altering words without even a spark of excitement or joy. I can hear John Piper exhorting me to "LINGER....LINGER...LINGER!!" 

You may be thinking that Advent and Christmas aren't even biblical holidays, so we shouldn't even be worried about lacking holiday joy. You're right in saying that the Bible doesn't command Christians to celebrate Advent or Christmas. I've had some friends make a huge fuss about this, but you can't convince me that it's sinful to celebrate the Son of God coming in the flesh. However, I am fully convinced that there's something wrong with my heart when I don't get excited about Jesus.

The Gift of Gifts

I'm ashamed to admit that I get excited about lesser things. If you turn on a UK game, I'll find myself drawn to the screen. If you buy me a new tech gadget, I'll spend a day or two getting it set up and playing with it. If you hand me a new book, I'll spend some time flipping through the table of contents and reading the opening chapters. If those things bring me excitement, why doesn't Jesus?

Part of my problem is that I let lesser gifts capture my attention. Flame, a Christian rapper, once said that we are like a pig in a pin who will pass up a steak to eat slop. C.S. Lewis said we settle for mud pies. I don't want pig slop or mud pie faith. I want the joy of the Shepherds and the Magi who dropped everything to celebrate the Life and Light of men who burst on the scene to save His people from their sins and be with them. I want to rejoice in the God who came to be with sinners in order to save them.

For me, Advent is a time to be lifted from the miry bog and set on the firm ground. This is especially true in 2020 as I honestly reflect on my heart during this chaotic year. Too often, my eyes have been set on this earth below rather than on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Advent is a time to grab my Bible, a great devotional, and a notebook to feast on the glory of Christ. He is the greatest of all gifts.

Cherish Him

As I've talked to friends and family this year, 2020 seems to be a year that has felt more challenging than others. Worldwide lockdowns, a deadly pandemic, racial tension, protests and riots, local and national elections, and a whole host of other happenings have tended to draw my eyes from the glory of Christ. Instead of keeping my eyes on Jesus, at times I have beheld the spectacles laid out to distract me. This Christmas season will allow me some focused, intentional time away from all of that, Lord willing. 

I'll share my plans for Advent. Maybe you can add one or all of these plans to your list. Maybe not. Regardless of what you're doing, make sure you focus on cherishing Christ, regardless of the season. Advent will come and go. So will Lent. As fast as 2020 blew by, so will 2021, 2022, and so on until Christ returns. We have to take time daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly to simply slow down and give ourselves to time with the Lord.

6 Ways to Meet With God During Advent 2020
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This year, my Advent plans are to:

1. Read ​The Christmas We Didn't Expect by David Mathis and the relevant Scriptures in the book.
2. Study some passages about Jesus' incarnation as I prepare to preach a few times this month.
3. Eat dinner by candlelight with my family on several evenings as we read a family Advent devotional and the Bible.
4. Help my kids set up Advent Blocks that will help us remember various aspects of Jesus' first coming.
5. Meditate and jot some short and quick prayers in my journal to stir up my affections for Jesus.
6. Listen to biblical, Christ-centered Advent playlists (along with my Christmas jazz playlist, of course!). 

I'm not doing every one of these things every single day. None of this guarantees that I'll be happier this Advent season. None of it earns me a spot closer to God. However, I want to do most of these on most days because they're simple ways to connect with God.

​I want to saturate my heart with Christ more than I saturated my mind with Covid-19 and election stats this year. I want to discuss the glories of Christ and His coming in the flesh more than I debated the constitution and perspectives on justice. I'm not saying that any of those things is inherently wrong to think about and discuss, but it is wrong to be consumed by them, and I found myself consumed for much of this year. Advent will be a much needed break.

What are your Advent traditions? How will you celebrate Advent differently this year than other years?