A View From The Lighthouse Advent

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Many Christians in the United States have attended a church service on the first Sunday of Advent; engaging in activities such as special prayers, lighting the advent candles (normally placed within a wreath), and reading specific Scripture passages related to the coming birth of the Messiah, etc.

Believer’s in the United States are aware of these traditions and the reason for the Advent season.  So, I thought I would share with you the words of a man who was not religious, did not celebrate Advent or the Messiah’s birth (initially) but still through reasoning, study (and in my opinion the Holy Spirit) came to better understand Christ, the religion of Christianity, and why we should celebrate/remember the birth of Jesus, His resurrection, and His role with the Father.

It was the late 1700’s and he had become a statesmen, a military leader of international renown, and considered by most to be one of the greatest military commanders in history.  He eventually rose to be the first primary leader of his nation.  Indeed in 1804 he became the first Emperor of the French.  His name was Napoleon Bonaparte.  He ruled as Emperor of France from 1804 to 1814 and a short period in 1815.  He abdicated the throne in 1815 and, receiving asylum from the British, was exiled to Longwood island of Saint Helena.

It is recorded Napoleon initially believed religion was an essential element in human nature, and a pillar of public morals and social order, but saw both the Koran and New Testament as records of ‘politics’ during his Egyptian campaign.

During his 7 year exile before his death in 1821, he studied, read, and wrote. General Bertrand, an avowed unbeliever and former General for Napoleon visited him often.  So did the Count de las Cases who relates (in his “Memoirs of the Life, Exile, and Conversations of the Emperor Napoleon,” Eng. trans., ed. N. Y., 1857) how the intellect of Napoleon was challenged, and his understanding of religion changed, by the study of the Word of God.

I offer you one of his narratives translated into English and found at this link:  Napoleon Bonaparte

A few notes from Emperor Napoleon’s conversation with General Bertrand.

“… There is between Christianity and whatever other religions the distance of infinity….”

“…Other religions…are but missionaries of falsehood, moulded from the same clay with the rest of mortals….made with all the passions and vices inseparable from them….”.

“…It is not so with Christ….His birth, and the history of his life; the profundity of his doctrine, which grapples the mightiest difficulties, and which is of those difficulties the most admirable solution; his gospel, his apparition, his empire, his march across the ages and the realms,…”.

“…good sense alone, the heart, an honest spirit, are sufficient to comprehend Christianity. The Christian religion is neither ideology nor metaphysics, but a practical rule which directs the actions of man, corrects him, counsels him, and assists him in all his conduct…”.

There is much more, found at the link above.

So, why should Christian’s in the 21st century celebrate Advent?  In my opinion, so we do not forget what it took Napoleon most of his life to finally grasp and understand…..Christian’s should participate in Advent so we remember who God is; how God works out His plan in history; and what His Son did for us, though we did not deserve it.

Something to consider,

Respectfully offered,
Soli Deo Gloria
LEO BT Chaplain B