Deconstruction During This Most Holy Season

As a church musician, I often spend my time in churches which didn’t necessarily fit from a theological perspective. I went where there was work to be done, which often times put me into a place I wouldn’t choose otherwise. This aptly describes my decades of vagabondery around the body of Christ as it existed in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. Now that I am no longer quite the vagabond and am situated into a community with which I share a common understanding of the Scriptures I am in a better place to share some of the perspectives I have gained.

I think the most prevalent commonality for those institutions which were failing from those who were prospering can be best found with the presence or lack thereof of a need for a “deconstruction” effort to define the institution’s beliefs. This is a process which began during the first third of the twentieth century and has led to the decomposition of most of the historic churches which once dominated Main Street since the early days of the US.

Where this process of this deconstruction was present has led in every church I served to among other things, a diminishing importance and value of Scriptures. Any thing “difficult” was ignored if not excised from Scriptures. This progressively led to an ever weakening understanding of sin, the fallenness of mankind, the need for salvation and reconciliation to God, etc. The Cross, the blood of Christ, even many of the teachings of Christ and the Apostles lost all of their substance. And without these truths, there is nothing left to differentiate what happened within these congregations from anything outside of their doors. And with nothing being added to their lives, is it any wonder the people saw no value within their doors.

As we begin this most Holy Season of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the truth of God’s Son bursting into and onto human history, we must be careful not become distracted by the world’s foolish understanding or imitation of this great event. Having held my own four children (and soon my first grandchild) I understand how easy it is to become sentimental around a newborn and all of their helpless innocence. And that is truly part of the mystery of the incarnation, for this is no ordinary infant, this is the one who will rescue you from your utter sinfulness. This is the incarnate Word of Creation. This is our Advocate before the Judgment seat!

I would pray that we are all pulled to our knees to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and that His Word should be fully listened to and obeyed. For even the devil and his dominion know that Jesus is Lord, yet they choose not to follow Him. It is not enough to believe Jesus is the Son of God, the presence of this infant needs to convict you of your need to be washed in his saving blood.