SOMETHING IS ON THE HORIZON
For church buildings who’re extra liturgical in custom, the season of Introduction comes a bit simpler I believe than to us who’re Baptist. For us, Introduction appears principally just like the time we use to prepare for Christmas. We dangle the inexperienced, convey within the poinsettias, and sing “Silent Night time” as quickly because the calendar signifies we’re 4 Sundays away from Christmas day. It appears extra like a wake-up name that we higher get on-line or stand in line to get our Christmas buying finished as a result of will probably be right here within the blink of a watch!
Nonetheless, the season of Introduction didn’t begin that manner and increasingly worshippers are greedy the significance of returning to the roots of this custom. The Introduction wreath which we take pleasure in all through the season as we progressively gentle extra candles every week, originated in the midst of the 19th century whereas the precise observance of Introduction dates again to the 4th and Fifth-century church. In various early centuries, the church emphasised the season each as a time of penitence and as a time of trying ahead to the second coming of Christ.
If we now have considered Introduction in any respect by way of its that means for us as Christians, we now have most likely centered on it as a time of getting ready ourselves for the start of Christ. This can be a step in the proper course! Nonetheless, Fleming Rutledge, in her e book, Introduction — The As soon as and Future Coming of Jesus Christ, warns towards an unique concentrate on self-preparation. “An unique emphasis on Introduction as a season of preparation dangers placing human endeavor within the highlight for all 4 weeks of the season. All of the Introduction preparation on the planet wouldn’t be sufficient except God have been favorably disposed to us within the first place.” Moderately, she means that Introduction is to be a season of watching and ready. She additionally reminds us that whereas all different seasons of the church (Christmas, Epiphany, Pentecost, Lent, Easter to call a number of) direct our consideration to historic occasions within the lifetime of Christ, solely Introduction factors towards an occasion to return — the second coming of Jesus Christ. It’s this future focus that makes Introduction distinctive. Nonetheless, this facet of the season has been largely misplaced to most congregations. Rutledge calls Introduction “The Time Between” which “accommodates inside itself the essential stability of the now and the not-yet that our religion requires.” It’s a place of pressure between Christ’s start and his return.
As we observe Introduction this 12 months at First Baptist, our pastor will likely be main us to take an extended take a look at the Christ who’s coming again to reign. As we’re led by the e book of Revelation, we’ll ponder a Savior and King who’s worthy of surprise, worthy of celebration, worthy of awe and adoration, and worthy of our all the things. Our Christmas musical may also comply with these 4 themes and lead every of us to reply the query as soon as and for all, “Is He worthy?”
So, if Introduction is greater than a wreath that counts off the 4 weeks till Christmas, how can we expertise this more-ness for ourselves? Maybe we are able to take a tip from Rutledge and spend rather less time making an attempt to “self-prepare” and just a bit extra time listening. Writer Jan Richardson says it like this: “The season of Introduction means there’s something on the horizon the likes of which we now have by no means seen earlier than… What is feasible is to not see it, to overlook it, to show simply because it brushes previous you. And you start to know what it was you missed, like Moses within the cleft of the rock, watching God’s again fade within the distance. So keep. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Marvel. There will likely be time sufficient for working. For speeding. For worrying. For pushing. For now, keep. Wait. One thing is on the horizon.”
— Penny Folsom
