Don't Talk About It

As Advent opens up on the pages of the Christian calendar, a topic is brought into the spotlight by the Advent Scripture readings which the church mostly wants to ignore.  Often times those lessons about the return of Christ are read and the preacher goes elsewhere for preaching material.   Certainly, no one in the church wants those on the outside to say the church is other worldly, or preaching something which borders on a fantasy tale. 

 

While it is understandable that those outside the church might have a dim view of the return of Christ, it seems a bit strange that the same attitude prevails among many who are card carrying members of the church and cross wearing disciples of Jesus.  What makes it strange is the prayer prayed most every Sunday in most every church in which we pray, "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."   Just maybe we should listen to what it is we are asking God to do. 

 

The lessons for the early days of Advent speak of our waiting with hope for the Kingdom of God to come on the earth as it has already come in heaven.  Sounds a lot like second coming talk, doesn't it?  Maybe we should re-do that prayer for the sake of being less conflicted, more consistent, and more comfortable.  Of course, not too many folks get uncomfortable about any part of what we call "The Lord's Prayer" which likely is a sure sign we are just giving it lip service instead of really offering a heartfelt prayer.  The manger stuff which took place in Bethlehem makes for a nice reading, but that stuff about Jesus coming in the clouds is something altogether different.  It is too bad the gospel is not a pick and choose buffet filled with theological possibilities to select according to personal whim.