Advent compels the church to contemplate the mystery captured in John’s Gospel: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). This foundational truth of Christianity follows a pattern reflected in the ancient wisdom of the church: what we believe (lex credendi) shapes how we worship (lex orandi), which in turn determines how we live (lex vivendi).
Lex Credendi: The Truth We Believe
At the heart of our faith stands the claim that the eternal Word, who “was with God and was God” (John 1:1), took on human flesh. The Incarnation isn’t merely a sentimental story about a baby in a manger; it’s the manifestation of the Eternal into time, the Infinite into space, the Divine into humanity. As John unfolds this mystery, he shows us that in Jesus, we encounter both “grace and truth” (John 1:14), the perfect unity of God’s loving mercy and His absolute reality.
The implications are staggering: God didn’t send a messenger or a proxy – He came Himself. In Jesus, we see the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3). This doctrinal truth forms the bedrock of Christian faith, teaching us that matter matters to God, that human flesh is worthy of divine inhabitation, and that God’s solution to human brokenness was not to pronounce instructions from heaven but to walk among us.
Lex Orandi: The Truth We Worship
This profound theology has shaped Christian worship for centuries, perhaps most beautifully expressed in the beloved carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” Consider its doctrinal richness:
“Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing”
“God of God, Light of Light eternal”
“Very God, begotten not created”
Each line moves from doctrinal truth to doxological response. The hymn doesn’t merely state theological facts; it calls us to “come, let us adore Him.” This pattern appears throughout Christian worship, where the Incarnation prompts intellectual assent and wholehearted praise.
The early church father, John Chrysostom, beautifully captures this movement: “For You, O God, are ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, ever-existing, eternally the same.” Yet this transcendent God becomes tangible in Christ, leading to the Anaphora’s worship response: “For all these things we thank You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit; for all the benefits known and unknown, manifest and hidden, that have been bestowed on us.”
Lex Vivendi: The Truth We Live
The Incarnation isn’t merely a truth to believe or a mystery to worship – it’s a pattern for Christian living. As Paul writes in Philippians 2:5-11, Christ’s self-emptying love becomes the model for our own lives: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”
This incarnational pattern calls us to:
– Embrace physical reality as sacred space for God’s presence
– Value embodied practices of faith, not just spiritual abstractions
– Enter into others’ lives as Christ entered ours
– Practice presence over mere proclamation
C.S. Lewis’ work On the Incarnation beautifully captured the idea that the church needs not more knowledge but more incarnation. The truth of God-with-us must become the pattern of us-with-others.
Living the Incarnation Year-Round
While we celebrate the Incarnation, especially during Advent and Christmas, this belief, worship, and life pattern shape Christian discipleship throughout the year. Each Sunday’s worship recalls this mystery, and each act of service embodies it. Similarly, each moment of prayer assumes it.
The challenge for modern Christians is to resist relegating the Incarnation to a seasonal sentiment. Instead, we’re called to:
– Root our daily actions in robust incarnational theology
– Let our worship flow from deep doctrinal wells
– Transform our living through intentional practices that embody these truths
As we enter Advent, may we embrace this threefold pattern: believing deeply in the God who became flesh, worshiping Him wholeheartedly, and living as those who bear His incarnate presence into the world.
Amen.
Josh Cehulik 