The English word “advent” does not appear in the Bible (KJV). Neither does the word “Trinity,” “Bible,” “discipleship,” “missionary,” “Hallelujah,” or “happiness and various other words and phrases that are common to Christianity. But that doesn’t mean these words and phrases aren’t legitimate in Christianity.
Several Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian denominations celebrate some form of Advent. So, what is Advent?
ADVENT
Advent is the celebration observed by most Christian denominations, commemorating the First Coming of Jesus at Christmas and the Second Coming in the future. It begins four Sundays before Christmas Day, on a day which is known by many denominations as Advent Sunday.
The Greek word παρουσία (pron. pah-roo-SEE-ah) is translated into English as parousia (Matt. 24:3, 27; Ja. 5:7). It means coming, presence, or arrival. Most of the time that it appears in the New Testament, it refers to the eschatological event known as Christ’s Second Coming. However, it can apply to other “comings” as well.
In Latin, the word adventus is translated into English as advent, which refers to the same thing as the Greek word parousia.
The term “Second Coming” is not found in the New Testament at all. It is believed that the term “Second Coming” was first used by Justin Martyr in the second century.
Generally, Christians view the Advent season as a time to celebrate and focus on the first Advent of Christ at His birth on Christmas Day, the Christian’s belief in Christ during the interadvental period, and the second Advent that will occur in the future.
There are mixed opinions, though, among Christians about Advent. Some think it is a valid season for Christmas celebrations. Others view the celebration of Advent as a violation of the Regulative Principle of Worship in the Bible and bring into the church traditions that are not intended.
For the benefit of our readers, we have listed the Regulated Principle of Worship from the Westminster Confession, found in the second half of chapter 21, paragraph 1, below.
But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited to his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture. (21.1)
The proof texts for this principle are (Ex. 20:4-6; Deut. 4:15-20, 12:32; Matt. 4:9-10, 15:9; Acts 17:23-25; John 4:23, 24; Col. 2:18-23), according to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms.
This article is intended to state what the Bible says about Advent.
WHAT ADVENT SHOULD NOT BE
As I wrote earlier, the English word “advent” does not appear in the Bible (KJV). A season or celebration is not mentioned either. So, Advent is imposed upon its members, if at all, by denominations, not by God in His revealed Word.
Sermon topics and teaching about Advent can and should be done at any time of the year. When a preacher preaches or a teacher teaches about the First or Second coming of Jesus Christ, it can be any time of the year. However, some denominations, though they will allow preaching or teaching about the Advent topics at any time during the year, primarily focus on the four Sundays before Christmas as the Advent season. But doing so violates the Regulative Principle of Worship.
Some denominations create rituals and other symbolic acts and view them as having spiritual value. But they have no spiritual value. They are seasonal rituals that the denomination claims are spiritual, but are merely seasonal circumstances.
Nothing should be done with the Advent season that reduces or eliminates its theological nature. The Advent season should not be a time to warm our hearts. Advent should be theological and should come from the books of the Bible that talk about the First and Second Comings of Christ.
As Reformed Theologians, we do not approach the Advent season as a liturgical event. It is not a required practice in Reformed churches because the Bible doesn’t mention it. Christians are free to discuss and celebrate Advent themes theologically and spiritually at any time of year. To make such a human-made or denomination-made season spiritual violates Christian independence and liberty, and as I mentioned before, it violates the Regulative Principle of Worship.
Advent should not be combined with any pagan or secular themes. The Second Coming is not a season to be celebrated; it is instead a day—a day of judgment when all the prophetic promises of God about the gospel of Jesus Christ are fulfilled.
WHAT ADVENT SHOULD BE
Advent is theological and spiritual, not mere ritual. Preaching or teaching about Advent and relying on the conviction that what is biblical is true are good things. However, we should avoid any rituals and emotions invented by the church to entertain.
We should avoid abuses of the Advent season. Preaching or teaching about Advent in Reformed traditions is theological and spiritual, but not obligatory. Christians and Reformed denominations use Advent and the Advent season as tools for understanding the First and Second Comings of Jesus Christ. They are not creating a season to be worshiped.
However, if we observe the Advent season, it should be a time of waiting for the promises of God, the mystery of the incarnation of our Savior, and the anticipation of Jesus’ second coming, which will bring salvation and eternal life with God to all Christians.
Advent should be theological and spiritual in nature; it should not contain rituals, festivities, and emotional good times. Instead, it should involve the word of God and the promises He has made regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ and the eternal life with Him in heaven.
Teachers and preachers must edify all believers (Rom. 14:19). Whenever we worship by talking about the Advent with our friends and family, we should remember that Christ has provided Christians with eternal life with God. Remember what Luke wrote in Acts 17:28-31 when he said,
‘For we are indeed his offspring’ [Acts 17:28]. Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
Advent is a time for Christians to understand the Gospel, not to celebrate it as a feast day marked by rituals, traditions, and emotions.
