November 28, 2012
Our culture has lost touch with the religious and symbolic meaning of Advent. The decorations that we use witness to a secular time of the year. This season is now dominated by secular symbols: sleighs, snowmen, candy canes, garish lighters, drummer boys, and plastic animals with wreaths hung around their necks. The dominate celebrations are office parties, parades, food, fun and whatever. If we are not careful we will have the experience and miss the meaning. If we are not aware, we will be sucked into a secular way of keeping the season. The gods of this world are tempting in their seduction of Advent. As United Methodists, we do not have a withdrawal theology. We are not separatists. We do not believe that we should refuse to participate in the secular happenings of this time. Rather, I would say that we can be “in” the cultural understanding of Advent/Christmas without being of it. The most important thing for Christians to do is to witness to the light that came with the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. This is the light that will push back the darkness, despair and desolation of the world. This is the light that the darkness cannot overcome. Advent is a time of preparation and waiting for the celebration and observation of the birth of the One who is the light of the world. This, in my judgment is…. Worth Pondering Joe E. Pennel Jr. Pastor jdpennel@att.net
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