In 1741, John Wesley preached his famous sermon titled “The Almost Christian” in which he encouraged people to follow Christ wholeheartedly. We should not be satisfied with being almost Christian but rather strive towards being altogether a Christian. In Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience, we will explore how we can make the same commitment to Christ during Advent, connecting our Wesleyan heritage with the traditional Advent themes of Love, Hope, Joy, and Peace.
During this time of year, we sing about ‘peace on earth goodwill toward men.’ But the reality is that it seems like we don’t have peace on earth. There are conflicts around the globe, there are broken relationships in our lives, and there is a lack of peace in our hearts. Our ‘almost’ peace seems far away from an ‘altogether’ peace. So how can we close the gap?
An “almost hope” reminds us that there are brighter days ahead, but we still have to go through the darkness. Like Mary, many of us find ourselves dealing with unplanned events that can turn our lives upside down. So where do we find hope in the midst of a stormy season of life?
An ‘almost love’ is a love that welcomes only the parts of people desirable, or palatable, or easy to handle. We settle for an ‘almost love’ instead of ‘altogether love’ because we don’t allow our full selves to be shown. We do this because we fear that if someone really knew us, we would not be lovable. So how can we move from an ‘almost love’ to an ‘altogether love’?
At Christmas, we instinctively know the difference between an “almost joy” and an “altogether joy.” An “almost joy” is the happiness we find in decorations, sharing cookies, and unwrapping presents we were longing for. But we all know that true joy is something that can blossom alongside frivolity and happiness, or it can flourish alongside sadness and even deep sorrow. Joy is what came at Christmas—the steadfast assurance that God is with us.