Introduction to the Advent Theme

It is mind boggling and honestly humiliating how supposed controversies can take over. Within my church world and context as a preteen and early teenager one such controversy centered around the celebration of Christmas. There was great furor that Christ was being forced out of Christmas due to the proliferation of the term “X-mas” that had seemingly “taken over” our secularized world at the time. Never mind that the “X” could very well be the Greek symbol for Christ and the shorthand was just in fact that, shorthand. The cry was “to keep Christ” in Christmas and don’t let the evil “x-mas” crowd takeover. Truth be told the “pro-Christmas” side had spiritually salient points. The world outside of our church was and is becoming more secular, it is the world after all. It is true that losing the focus on Christ in the Christian celebration of Christmas is a ready temptation that should be withstood. The controversy was, as it still often is, very non-Christian. Vitriol and rudeness never serve to uphold Christ even if the supposed stance may be a “Christian” one. Christ was not disappearing from Christmas because of an “X.” Christ was and is absent from the discussions and celebrations when Christians leave Him out in hurtful words and thoughtless actions.

The truth is that we can say “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Holidays,” or even “Happy X-mas” and all of them can leave us and others searching for Christ. Our advent book theme this year is “Finding Christ in Advent.” We want to seek Christ in Scripture and in the stories of our lives as they all weave around the expectation of Advent. We can expect to find Christ when we seek Him if we will seek Him as the Scriptures say with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Seekers, all of us, will find Christ when we look for Him. It is in the looking that Christ comes into focus. It is in the focus that following happens. Please read these devotionals and view the drawings expectantly and let us seek Christ together.

Thank you all to all the gifted writers and illustrators. Thank you to Lynda Pence for editing and shaping this beautiful tradition and timely reminder.

Finding Christ,

Justin Dunn

Pastor, University Baptist Church