Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.Psalm 23:4 NRSVue
I’ve been avoiding continuing to write this Advent series because I’m struggling to recognize the Body of Christ around me and my place in it. Over the past decade, and the past year specifically, I’ve been unpleasantly surprised at the controversy I’ve generated for asking Christians to be kind and to be mindful of what is influencing them. More and more I’m meeting with and hearing from people who have been completely overtaken by Christian Nationalism – to the point that even basic talking points from the mouth of Jesus have been too difficult or controversial to discuss.
Over the past month specifically, I’ve wrestled with how best to proceed in this time and place in history. How can I attend a Church service when division and power struggles define our every move? How can I listen to Christian music at a time of decreasing theological knowledge and increased clamor for the World’s affection? How can I write about faith and culture at a historical point where basic love for our neighbor is picked apart at every turn?
Ecclesiastes has named what I’ve been feeling the last month the best in two key phrases:
- Everything is meaningless.
- There is nothing new under the sun.
Of course, the allegiance to Emperor and Church leader are nothing new. Jesus’ own body was a causality of these idolatrous allegiances. Before his coming, it’s almost impossible to count the number of times God’s people became wayward throughout the Old Testament. And yet, I’ve also found that living through meaningless, repeated times in which God’s People are asleep has pushed my faith to its very limits. I don’t know how to navigate watching the institution that has instilled morals and empathy into me reject and mock me for being too empathetic, or how to exist at a time when prominent Christian leaders are buying into the idea that empathy towards people in the margins is toxic. I feel so lost.
The third week of Advent is focused on joy. Finding joy in this season has felt impossible. I don’t know how to go about finding it, but I do know what I want my joy to look like.
At church yesterday, the children ran up to the front of the sanctuary to participate in children’s time, a portion of the main service that is dedicated to teaching to the kids among us. Two young twin boys came flying up from the very back in head to toe superhero costumes. Donned with masks, capes, and a seriously fun attitude, these boys ran to the kids leader with joyful abandon, unafraid of anyone’s thoughts or feelings. They were solely focused on reaching their destination.
When I think about the kind of faith journey I want to lead, I want to exemplify these kids. I want to run to Jesus with abandon and the kind of faith that doesn’t care about looking silly or being mocked by cynical, embittered adults. I want the kind of joy that oozes out of me in every season and in every place. I’m not there yet and, I’m honestly not sure how to get back there, but I now have a clearer picture of what it looks like to worship God with abandon.
As all of us walk through a Church culture of deep division and profound allegiance to nationalism, a valley of death, may we be courageous to wear our favorite superhero costumes and run with focused fervor to the feet of Jesus.
I believe that he is coming, even now, to be born among our rotting world. I believe that is coming even in the face of cruel emperors clinging to fickle power. I believe that he is coming, with me, even in the valley of death.
I will fear no evil for he is with me. I will fear no evil because I hear his cries. I will be a voice in this present wilderness to make straight the way of the Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus. Save us from this wicked and corrupt generation. Let us pledge allegiance only to you and Your Father.
Questions for Further Reflection
- What do you want a joyful expectation of Jesus to look like in your life? What obstacles are in the way of you reaching that?
- What conditions of the world were Jesus born into that you see reflected in our current world?
- Who or what can you turn to in your own life for a picture of joyously following and preparing for Christ?
Bryce Van Vleet is the #1 selling author of Tired Pages and Before We All Die Let’s Have One Last Chat by the Fireside. He also hosts the podcast Death in Dakota, sells poetry art here, and masquerades as the spoken word artist Liihey. You can support him by clicking through blog posts or donating (scroll to the bottom of the page).
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