Is Advent Supposed to Be Fun?
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From across the Sunday School classroom one morning, my ears perked up as I heard someone say “Advent isn’t supposed to be fun.” This person then went on to explain that Advent is a period of waiting and anticipation.
But there’s no command in Scripture to do certain things at Advent; the celebration of Advent itself doesn’t even occur in the Bible. So why do it?
Like most things, it depends on the state of your heart. We can do Bible readings, and have Nativity-themed advent calendars, and go to church every Sunday of December to light the candles, but not have our hearts focused on the joy and miracle of Christmas. In that way, our “celebration” of Advent feels stale, and we probably don’t get much out of it. Christ is not glorified by joyless participation.
We can have coffee and chocolate-themed Advent calendars and take a moment each morning to thank God for these little gifts, as well as the greatest Gift, as we joyfully open that cardboard window. Sipping your festive beverage may not be the most pious celebration, but if you thank God for it and take time to prayerfully consider the season, then that is a good way to celebrate Advent.
What matters is not how we do it, but why. Are we doing “churchy” things because we think it will make us better, more holy Christians, or because we think we have to for tradition’s sake? Are we doing more secular things because they are fun and exciting, but shoving Christ to the corner of our celebrations? These are inferior ways to mark the Advent season.
This year, let’s find a happy middle ground between our religious traditions, and our Lego-themed calendars. The season shouldn’t be all boring drudgery (so many verses in the Bible, especially surrounding Christmas, are about joy!) But it also shouldn’t be focusing so much on fun and gifts that we forget to be thankful for the Greatest Gift.
Why not? Nowhere in the Bible does it say we must treat every holiday with such holy reverence that we forget to enjoy ourselves. The Bible is full of verses reminding us to eat, drink and be merry:
And as we remember Advent – what it meant for us when Jesus came down to earth, and what it means for us looking forward to His second coming – that should spur us to unimaginable joy!
Ultimately, I believe your personal Advent celebrations are up to you. If you feel led to fast and pray before Christmas, do so. If not, that is fine too. The ways I choose to prepare my heart and home for Christmas will look different than a brother or sister in Christ’s, and that’s ok!
My final thought on this question – should Advent be fun – is this: Love God. Worship Him with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. And then go do what you want. If your heart is aligned with the things of God, then you are free to celebrate and have fun this season in whichever way seems best to you!
For me, that’s coffee and Legos.
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Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Tetiana Soares
Bethany Pyle is the editor for Bible Study Tools.com and the design editor for Crosscards.com. She has a background in journalism and a degree in English from Christopher Newport University. When not editing for Salem, she enjoys good fiction and better coffee.