1. The Christian year is an invaluable resource for catechesis.
Catechesis is instruction in the faith. In some churches, catechesis is unstructured or non-existent.. With preaching that comes from how the pastor “felt led,” and poorly attended Sunday School classes on 7 steps to Living Your Victorious Christian Best Life Now, churches are in desperate need of a remedy. Building Christian education and preaching on the already existing, deeply rooted liturgical calendar provides a helpful structure for catechesis.
2. Following the Christian year places believers firmly and firstly in the Kingdom of God.
When Memorial Day usurps Pentecost, a decision is made: the American holiday trumps the traditional Christian one. In many churches, not to observe Memorial Day or Independence Day will reveal just how bound everyone’s American conscience is to the American calendar. Forget Pentecost? Doesn’t matter. No one knew about it anyway. Forget Mother's Day? Big problem. Following the Christian year would serve to remind Christians to whose kingdom they belong. When the rhythm of the year is dominated by Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost, there are consistent reminders that Christians belong not firstly to America (or any other nation), but to God’s kingdom, and that time itself is orchestrated around His kingdom.
3. Following the Christian year is a big practical step toward restoring unity.
Denominational Christianity has many seemingly insurmountable differences, and some of them are important. But it's important to take major steps back toward unity. There’s something really powerful in the idea that all Christians around the entire globe would be following the same - or at least very close to the same - rhythm year round. Pairing this with lectionary use, so that large groups of Christians are preaching and hearing the same text every week, provides an even stronger unifying element.
4. Following the Christian year roots Christians in Church history.
There are few things more necessary in modern day evangelicalism than a historical rootedness. "Me-and-my-Bible" Christianity is the dominating way of thinking. Evangelicals hear historically Christian positions and ask, “Who believes that? Why would anyone believe that?” The appropriate answer would be, “Because Christians always believed that until your pastor came along, came up with a clever new idea, started another denomination, and abandoned it.” Following a calendar that re-tells the stories of martyrs and saints and has its own history of celebration would provide for a vital link to the past and a regular reminder that 21st century Christians weren’t the first ones to pick up a Bible and seek to understand it.
5. The Christian year takes believers through the drama of redemption.
Advent: In Exile, waiting for Christ. Christmas: He has come! Peace on earth! Epiphany: Christ is revealed; baptism remembered. Maunday Thursday: King of the World, lowly servant, institution of the Eucharist. Good Friday: Christ crucified for the sins of the world. Easter: He is risen! Ascension: He has gone and will come again. Pentecost: the Spirit is sent.
It’s not as though Christians “act” or “pretend” as though Christ hasn’t come every time Advent rolls around. Rather, believers preach and meditate on the unfolding of the redemptive plan of God. Scripture calls on its followers to "remember" the saving acts of God. The Christian year establishes a framework of remembrance.
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Overview of the Christian Calendar
