Why Do We Light Candles?
As we enter the Advent season, some might wonder why we light candles in our worship service? Why do we decorate with evergreens and ribbons? The short answer is this: We do it to help us remember the story of Jesus. But I want to say a little more on this subject, because I believe that worship is precious. We believe that every choice we make regarding the way we worship should honor the Lord and be grounded in His Word.
Our church is committed to worship that is shaped by the Bible. This means that the core elements of our service are not negotiable because they arise from Scripture itself:
- Reading Scripture (1 Timothy 4:13)
- Preaching and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2)
- Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19)
- Prayer (1 Timothy 2:1)
- Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as signs of the new covenant (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26)
- Collection of Offerings (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
These are God’s gifts to His people and the means by which He builds us up. And nothing we do in worship should distract from these things or compete with them. Scripture must remain central in our gathering, and Christ must always be the focus.
There are some things that Scripture prescribes that almost all Christians rightly consider as cultural circumstances. For instance, 5 times in the New Testament we are commanded to “greet one another with a holy kiss” (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Thes. 5:26, 1 Pet. 5:14). Also we are told that many who come to worship should come prepared to share something (1 Cor. 14:26). However, most of us prefer a hug or a handshake, and prefer to let the preachers or elders lead the service.
In other words, we hold onto the principles revealed in the text (affectionate Christian unity and ordered worship), but in practice, we do it differently than 1st Century Christians did. Throughout church history, Christians have exercised wisdom in using certain circumstances, practices, and aids that help direct our hearts toward Christ without replacing the elements of worship themselves.
It is our belief that lighting candles as part of our Advent celebration is one of the circumstances of worship. In other words, it is something that supports and accompanies worship, but is not an act of worship in itself. Instead, it is a simple and beautiful practice that helps us slow down, reflect, and prepare our hearts to hear the Word of God.
Consider the many other circumstances nearly all churches use every Sunday, things that Scripture does not command explicitly, but which aid our worship: Printed bulletins, sound amplification, presentation screens, recording or live-streaming, indoor lighting, air-conditioning, padded chairs, and more.
If we held to a strict and literal Regulative Principle of worship, we would need to remove all of these. Scripture does not command them, yet every one of them is a normal, helpful part of worship today. They are not additions to worship; they are circumstances that serve the worship God commands.
In the same way, lighting candles during Advent does not add a new act to our worship. It simply creates a moment of focus, a pause that helps us remember the hope, peace, joy, and love fulfilled in the coming of Christ.
If such practices ever distracted from Scripture or overshadowed Christ, we would gladly set them aside. But when they direct our attention toward Christ and help us receive the Word with reverence, they are good and wise uses of Christian freedom.
Why Candles, Specifically?
In Scripture, light is one of the most powerful images God uses to describe His salvation. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). John announced, “The true light… was coming into the world” (John 1:9). Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
During Advent, we remember the story of God’s promise leading up to the birth of Christ. Lighting candles helps us visualize that movement from the long darkness of waiting to the dawning joy of Christ’s first coming.
Each candle reminds us of a different part of God’s unfolding plan:
His promises, His prophets, His people’s longing, His faithfulness, and ultimately His Son who came as the Light in the darkness.
We don’t light candles to add a new ritual to worship or to introduce anything un-biblical. Candle lighting simply creates a moment to focus, a pause where the congregation leans in to hear Scripture. In that sense, lighting a candle is much like reading a responsive Scripture or singing a seasonal hymn, it supports and serves the Word without taking its place.
We do this with humility. We do it with both eyes fixed on Scripture. We do it knowing that some of our brothers and sisters prefer a simpler, stricter approach to worship, not out of legalism or coldness, but out of a sincere desire to honor the Lord. That desire is worthy of gratitude and deep respect. They love the same Savior we love. They treasure the same gospel. They honor the same Scriptures. They simply draw the lines of application in a different place.
The family of God has always included believers with varied consciences, varied practices, and varied expressions of devotion all standing under the same grace. We gladly honor those convictions where we differ, and we welcome the richness of unity that does not demand uniformity. Our goal is not to become creative for creativity’s sake, but to use the tools at our disposal to exalt Christ with clarity and reverence.
If any tradition, Advent candles included, ever distracts from the gospel or becomes central in itself, we gladly set it aside. Christ alone stands at the center of our worship. With all this being said, it is my prayer that as the candles are lit this season, you will: remember God’s promises, feel the ache of Israel’s long waiting, rejoice in the birth of Christ, and long for His return.
We pray that as we light candles that the true light that has come into the world would shine more brightly in your heart.