Almost Easter: Should You Observe Lent? by Micah Fries on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 What exactly is Lent? For some Christians, the word Lent is a reminder of the mystery of the faith. Its a strong, compelling call to abandon self and to run to Christ. To others, it can be a painful religious memory of forced ritual, and for some, the word does little more than sound strikingly similar to whats left over in the dryer after theyve washed their towels. More specifically, though there are some variations regarding the observance of Lent, it can be simply defined as a period of time, lasting roughly six weeks, dedicated to the preparation of the believer for the celebration of Easter or Holy Week. Typically, it can involve fasting, moderation, repentance, and the practice of the spiritual disciplines. Most churches that corporately embrace the observance of Lent do so because they share a commitment to keeping the liturgical calendar. Within evangelicalism, its practice isnt nearly as prevalent since most churches in the evangelical tradition have little familiarity with the liturgical calendar. So, the question remains, should you and your family observe Lent? Some Christians who have difficulty embracing Lent do so for one of two reasons. The first reason, and almost assuredly the most prevalent one, is ignorance about Lent. Predominantly, this encompasses those from an evangelical tradition, and if you find yourself in this tribe, you may find the observance of Lent to be curious. The second reason, though, would be an objection to Lent for theological reasons, and those in this camp often view Lent as a threat to orthodox Christianity. A variety of charges could be made against the practice of Lent, not the least of which is the charge that keeping Lent is a rejection of the cross. In the cross, our sins are covered, and grace is bestowed on us because of Gods benevolence alone, not due to any activity on our part. Many who observe Lent do so in a desire to be penitent before God. However, many do so because they believe that their forgiveness is dependent, at some level, on their willingness to humble themselves before God as a form of penance, or self-punishment, in response to their sins. With all these things in mind, keeping Lent is something that can be perfectly acceptable — even helpful — for the Christian family, but it can also be devastatingly dangerous, if you arent careful. Here are some healthy ways you should observe Lent, as well as some ways you shouldnt. Lent — The Right Way You and your family should consider observing Lent because it highlights and encourages elements of the Christian faith that are often undervalued and even forgotten. Fasting, moderation, repentance, and the practice of the spiritual disciplines are things we need more of, not less. For the average Christian, these things rarely, if ever, seem to happen. Observing Lent by practicing these things, in an effort to remind us of the cross and push us toward it, can be a great thing. For instance, fasting is a biblical expectation that has all but disappeared from the Christian experience. Jesus assumed that His disciples would fast. Whenever you fast, dont be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: Theyve got their reward! But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, so that you dont show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:16-18). Not only did Jesus assume fasting, He believed that fasting was good for the soul. If fasting is challenging for you, observing Lent may be a good time to practice the discipline of fasting. Repentance? Another biblical expectation. Step back, examine your heart, evaluate your sin, and approach God in confession and repentance. Though repentance should be a consistent experience in the Christian life, its true that we settle into spiritual ruts. Finding opportunity, then, to intentionally examine and respond can be lifegiving to your soul. Finally, the practice of the spiritual disciplines can be one of the most invigorating experiences in the Christian walk. Unfortunately, for far too many Christians, their walk before God is anything but disciplined. Lent — The Wrong Way If your observance of Lent is intended to garner you favor with God, you should abandon your observance of Lent. Saving grace isnt imparted through exercise or practice. Theres nothing you can do — at any point — which will cause God to love you any more. Hes been abundantly clear on this point. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:4-5). Additionally, once youve committed your life to Him and have been adopted into His family, theres no behavior in which you can engage that will cause Him to love you less. Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). If you havent grasped that, and your observance of Lent is intended to be a means of obtaining grace, or a method of garnering Gods favor, then youve missed the point and should abandon its practice. If your observance of Lent is mere ritual that you do for the sake of heritage, you should reconsider your observance of Lent. This is true of almost any voluntary Christian exercise, and something to which were all prone. When you engage in something, with any level of consistency, youre prone to mindless repetition. You tend to repeat it because its habit or because it may bring you some comfort due to previous experiences with the practice or even because you want tobe culturally acceptable. However, none of these are sufficient reasons to observe Lent. You Decide If your observance of Lent is a momentary spiritual exercise, and it doesnt spur you to intimacy with Christ all year, you should reconsider your observance of Lent. For too many, Lent, along with many other practices, may be an attempt to assuage their souls by engaging in a momentary Christian exercise. This is abundantly dangerous. Your faith is intended to be a daily faith; a faith thats experienced moment-by-moment, day-by-day. When Lent is a time that encourages and strengthens that daily faithfulness, thats fantastic. However, if its a means of applying a spiritual bandage to your soul, beware. It may actually serve to push you away from the experience of committed faith. So should you observe Lent? Ultimately, Lent isnt the issue. Lent isnt inherently valuable, nor does it personally add spiritual value to you. Its little more than a tool — an observance — to point you toward Jesus or away from Him. This article is courtesy of HomeLife Magazine.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 12:01:18 +0000
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