Candle Advent

This year’s candle advent at our congregation has inspired me to write. In keeping with tradition, there were the lighting of the five candles for the five weeks leading up to Christmas. In the last service of this sort, the fifth candle was forgotten about and remained unlit. There are four things that modern-day ‘Christendom’ finds critical to it’s survival, which the first four candles represent:

The first candle, I think, should be dedicated to Fellowship. Fellowship is a very important part of a successful church: a church that is thriving and moving forth towards a secure and stimulated church-life. The more fellowship gatherings, pot-lucks, camp-outs, concerts, holiday get-togethers, sporting events, tap/t-shirt sales, bake sales, car washes and plays/theatricals etc. that you can possible squeeze in, the more the church will grow towards success. You'll find less complaints and more love; this fellowshipping will connect people more will not only the church body, but it will lead to blossoming relationships. Fellowshipping will increase numbers and also facilitate the coveted attaining of the personal experience with God. 

I think Tithing should be the second candle. For, funds supply the church, allowing it to function as it should; providing a building that is both warm and cozy in the wintertime, and cool and relaxing in the summer. Tithing lets each individual church member feel as if they’ve given something to God that is near and dear to their heart. Ease and stability are the result of this generous giving; it is the people’s love of their church. Without tithing, we would not be able to execute the ministry that God has instructed us to do.

The third candle should represent the staff. This is not the staff that budded in the wilderness, per say, but it is the people who work hard in providing a loving and caring environment to the church; a friendly and comfortable matrix, full of love and cheer. Always giving a warm and timely response, even to the worst members of the church body. Never judging, pointing out sins, or Bible-bashing but loving and loving on each other; caring for the needs, even though the people are unrepentant. The staff should always smile with great joy and love at all socials and holiday occasions, encouraging even the grouchiest and grinchiest of the parish to enjoy and love each other better.

The forth candle should go to the most important and most beloved member of the church, the pastor. A successful pastor is one who loves on all his congregation; one who understands the importance of status. He fairly distributes to the needs of the church. An exceptional pastor is one who has learned to enjoy and exhilarate his flock; even though they are struggling in their flesh, he encourages them to love and love on one another. A loving and caring pastor shows tolerance to the unruly and warns the weak.

The fifth and forgotten candle represents Christ. The best way to describe this candle is to read from the Scriptures, and I just happened to pick three out: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:6-8), "Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel. Not with wisdom of the world, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For this message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But to us, who are being saved, it is the Power of God; for it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." (1 Corinth. 1:16), "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the jew and then the gentile. For, in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written; the just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16)

All of the other candles are futile, for all good and just gifts, fellowship, blessings and men of Faith come from Christ alone. I observed one thing about the advent service tonight... why was not the fifth candle lit?

Has Christ been forgotten about in your congregation?

- Steven