The Age of Fear
Fear is increasingly shaping life, decisions, and community.
"Constant defense is not strength; it is a costly pattern that robs you of clarity and connection." — Caroline Leaf
Advent invites us to slow down, examine our hearts, and prepare for Christ’s arrival, where the theme of joy speaks directly into fear.
Biblical Theology
God announces Christ’s birth into a world marked by fear and political unrest.
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified." — Luke 2:8–9
"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." — Luke 2:10–12
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." — Luke 2:13–14
God chooses humble shepherds as the first recipients of the good news, elevating the marginalized.
Angels—Messengers from God
Angels appear throughout Scripture as God’s messengers, pointing humanity back to Him.
Their message to the shepherds reflects the pattern seen in Hagar, Moses, Zechariah, Mary, and others: “Do not be afraid.”
God Enters the Real World
God meets humanity amid fear, unrest, and uncertainty.
"The Christmas story, like Isaiah’s prophecy, isn’t about an escape from the real world of politics and economics, of empires and taxes and bloodthirsty wars. It’s about God addressing these problems at last, from within, coming into our world – his world!...Christmas is about God acting in the real world." — N. T. Wright
The opposite of joy is fear, not sadness; joy is anchored in the eternal nature of God.
"To find joy in the midst of pain, we have to stop caring only about ourselves and to find our own purpose in the context of a large world…The good of someone else is our own good; the harm of someone else is our own harm. We are connected; we are one." — Anne Robertson
"Joy is the ultimate gift of God. We find this enduring joy when we commit our deepest fears, aches, and pains to God’s hands, trusting that every minute of it all can be used for God’s good." — Anne Robertson
Creative Proclamation
The shepherds respond with proclamation, worship, and praise.
"And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning the child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them." — Luke 2:16–20
Mary’s song, the angels’ praise, and the shepherds’ witness reveal joy expressed creatively in a fearful world.
Artists are Birth Givers
Humanity bears the image of God and carries a spark of divine creativity.
"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." — Ephesians 2
"Beauty is God’s goodness manifested to the senses." — Dallas Willard
"An act of art is an incarnational activity." — Madeleine L’Engle
“If we want to make meaning, we need to make art. Cook, write, draw, doodle, paint, scrapbook, take pictures, collage, knit, rebuild an engine, sculpt, dance, decorate, act, sing - it doesn't matter. As long as we're creating, we're cultivating meaning.” - Brene Brown
“What other time or season can or will the church ever have but advent.” - Karl Barth
Those who create—write, sing, dance, act—participate in God’s ongoing work of bringing beauty into a fearful world.
A Weary World Rejoices
Make creation a priority as a practice of joy.
Cultivating creativity slows us down, opens us to God’s presence, and helps us anticipate Christ’s return.
Creating becomes a way of joining God in the continuation of His work on earth.
