Is Advent Supposed to Be Fun?
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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:
“Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength’” (Nehemiah 8:10).
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!
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9)
“Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you” (Isaiah 12:6).
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.