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 people, 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 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
believers, 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 also aren’t found
in Scripture. You might as well throw out Mother’s Day, Father’s Day,
Independence Day, and Thanksgiving 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 a 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 of those who
try.

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. No matter what you think of it, Advent surely
doesn’t fall into the “illegal drugs” category of no-nos.

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? Could the observance of Advent help one to grow in
faith in a way that aligns with biblical faith?

Yes, I think so. 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?

• Would your faith be enriched if you were to read,
study, and meditate on biblical texts that speak of the first and second
“advents” of Christ?

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 (or something like it) could be beneficial for most Christians.
(Photo above: 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 Church, and could be seen
by thousands of people driving by each day. I don’t put an Advent tree
in my office anymore, partly because I don’t have the space, and partly
because the only beings who would appreciate it are of the four-legged
variety. Photo to the right: The view out of my office window. To my knowledge, these deer do not pull Santa’s sleigh.)

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.