Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov-91

Contributor - John Drost

Title - For Advent and Christmas

Topic - Advent

When you receive this issue of Pioneer Christian Monthly, you will note that we have combined the November and the December issues. That was done for two reasons. One was to bring the publication date "on track." This means that we are ensuring that this issue and future issues will arrive at your home by the first of the month, instead of much later. To make this happen it was necessary that at some point we combine two issues. We thought this was as good a time as any. The other reason is financial. We have had wonderful response to our appeal for financial help. Around 80 people came to the rescue for a total of $11,000.00, and gifts are still coming in. However, we felt that with financial limitations continuing to some extent it would constitute good stewardship to combine these two issues into an expanded one. This means that some articles we had planned for the November issue are now included in the December issue. I hope all of this is accepted in a spirit of good will.

Theme For This Issue

The theme for this issue is related to Advent and Christmas. We have titled it: DARKNESS AND LIGHT.

The Biblical meaning of Advent suggests a number of themes all of which are reflected in the various essays in this issue. One is CONFRONTATION. The coming of Christ - the Light - leads to a confrontation with the forces of darkness. That tension between darkness and light, sin and redemption is still being felt and experienced in the different spheres of life, the public and the personal. Read this issue with that reality in mind!

But Advent suggests more than CONFRONTATION, it tells about CONQUEST! The Light has overcome the darkness; as John witnesses' in his Gospel: "the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5) And Paul writes in his letter to the Romans: "For sin will have no dominion over you!" (Romans 6:14) In the Season of Advent and Christmas, we celebrate the victory of Christ, anticipating His resurrection. Read this issue with that reality in mind Those who believe on Him are participants in His Victory!

Lastly Advent suggests a third theme: that of CONSUMMATION. Certainly, the hope of Advent is that the Light will one day be manifest in all its glory and fullness. That will be the time when the tension between darkness and light will no longer be felt and the victory will be complete; when the prayer "Maranatha, Lord Jesus Come," will have been fulfilled. Dear readers, may this season of Advent be for all of you a special time of victory and anticipation, and may whatever darkness there is in your life be surrendered to Him who said: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

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