Of Heaven's Advent

The great German theologian, Jurgen Moltmann, makes the assertion that the Christian faith and life is a perpetual Advent, that we live in an eschatological tension between a certain hope of God's saving presence, and God's final consummation of heaven and earth, a time when God will be "all in all." I want to suggest that Moltmann's premillennialist sensibilities get the best of him. Premillennialism is the theology that we all live in a fallen state, in a spiritual winter, as it were, until the rapturous coming of Christ to set all things right; in the meantime we wait in hope for this decidedly future event.

This theology is pervasive in popular western Christianity, and I think it encourages a passive life of faith, a life of faith that only looks to a future manifestation, and we are rendered somewhat powerless by it. This is a predisposition for projecting our responsibilities as people of faith onto an aloof God decidedly absent from creation, or at least most of the time.

I want to offer a different take on the concept of God's Advent. Yes, the Christian faith and life is a perpetual Advent, but this coming is happening as we speak; hope and salvation breaking into present time. "What do you see? " John the Baptiser asks Jesus' would be disciples who wonder whether Jesus is the real deal or not. "We see the sick being healed, the poor being clothed and sheltered and fed; the marginalized dignified; we see justice for the dispossessed and outcast," they answer. (my paraphrase) This coming, this Advent is not just about the coming of Christ, the incarnation of God with us, but this Advent first and foremost is about a way of life breaking into the world, Jesus the archetype for such a life; and the means of this Advent rests with us and all people of faith bearing the life blood of this kingdom of God; we and all people of faith, the new Incarnation, the means of the way of heaven in earth. Advent is about the coming of the Way of Jesus, a way in which we participate with all our heart, and soul, and mind; and when the way of the kingdom of heaven is enacted by the people of God, then the kingdom comes now, and we see it in the flesh, a present, beautiful and glorious reality....We see that even now God is all in all; indwelling God's people....E'en so Lord Jesus, quickly come.