A) FIRST, WHAT LENT IS.

B) THE BIBLE AND LENT.

C) TRUE CHRISTIANITY.

 

 

A) FIRST, WHAT LENT IS

 

 

According to “Wikipedia,” “Lent (Latin: Quadragesima, ‘Fortieth’) is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar [which determines when Roman Catholic “feast days” and “celebrations of saints” are to be observed] that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later, before Easter Sunday [See my Bible Study: “EASTER”].  The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, doing penance, mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, almsgiving, and self-denial.  This event is observed in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Presbyterian, Oriental Orthodox, Reformed, and Roman Catholic churches.  Some Anabaptist and Evangelical churches also observe the Lenten season.

 

“The last week of Lent is [called] Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday.  Following the New Testament story, Jesus’ crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday, and at the beginning of the next week the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday recalls the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

“In Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries in order to replicate the account of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s journey into the desert for 40 days; this is known as one’s Lenten sacrifice.  Many Christians also add a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional or praying through a Lenten calendar, to draw themselves near to God.  The Stations of the Cross, a devotional commemoration of Christ’s carrying the Cross and of [H]his execution, are often observed.  Many Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches remove flowers from their altars, while crucifixes, religious statues, and other elaborate religious symbols are often veiled in violet fabrics in solemn observance of the event.  Throughout Christendom, some adherents mark the season with the traditional abstention from the consumption of meat, most notably among Lutherans, Roman Catholics and Anglicans.”

 

 

B) THE BIBLE AND LENT

 

 

The Bible does teach the importance of fasting and self-examination; but it does not teach a 40-day period called Lent; or an Ash Wednesday (the putting ashes on the forehead).  The Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or Lent, and the early New Testament Church did not observe these days.

 

 

C) TRUE CHRISTIANITY

 

 

Let me fist say that most “Christians” today have forgotten, or never knew (been taught), what a “Protestant” is.  Therefore, let me state what a True Christian Protestant is.  “One that protests the errors and false doctrines of the Roman Catholic church.”  And any other church that follows her (the Roman Catholic church) examples or teachings.

 

 

D) LENT ERRORS

 

 

First, let me state that “fasting” and “prayer” is not wrong in any sense.  But to establish a time for everyone to do it would be pushing the practice past what the Biblical intention for them is.  Not that Lent means to fast for weight loss; for surely the concept for both is to be in a form of prayer and repentance of one’s own sins.  However, the practice becomes less meaningful when you are told when to do this.

 

If you are observing Lent in order to showcase your spirituality to others, you are not glorifying God.  If you are observing Lent in order to help you cure an addiction, this can be done at any time and not when you are told to do it; although being told to do it and knowing you are doing it with others may be very helpful in your efforts.

 

With help from “PULPIT&PEN,” here is our take upon Lent:

 

1) Protestantism and Roman Catholicism do not share the same Gospel.  While some Lutherans also observe Lent, it’s fair to say that Roman Catholics comprise the majority of participants.  Protestants subscribing to “Sola Scriptura” would do well to avoid Lent, in the eyes of unbelievers, seeming to equate oneself with Roman Catholicism and their false gospel.  In fact, most Protestants do not observe any other Roman Catholic traditions -- such as regenerative infant baptism -- so why pick and choose random Doctrines (and Lent is a Roman Catholic Doctrine) from a theological cult?

 

2) As Lent has become more in vogue, society has grasped ahold of the practice and it’s becoming increasingly secularized.  Further, Lent is quickly becoming yet another tool in the global “Ecumenism Movement,” with some Muslim sections now joining in on the activities using the hashtag.  Bible believing Christians have no business even hinting at solidarity with Islam, much less Roman Catholicism.

 

3) While we are not Biblically required to fast, the Bible presents fasting as something that is good, profitable, and beneficial (see my Bible Study:  “FASTING BIBLICALLY”).  However again, to assign this practice at a specific time of the year is to restrict its true meaning and purpose for the individual.

 

4) Public announcements of Christian piety, especially in the area of fasting, is Biblically questionable.  It’s interesting that a season promoted as denying one’s self has grown into something illustrative of American consumerism.  Professing Evangelicals post pictures and status updates all throughout the strata of social media, advertising their self-imposed restrictions and ashy foreheads.  Without belaboring the point, Christians are called to fast in a spirit of humility as indicated in, but not limited to, Matthew 6:16-18, Isaiah 58:3-7, Psalm 69:10, and Nehemiah 1:4 (again, see my Bible Study:  “FASTING BIBLICALLY”); and not be flaunting it.

 

5) While all churches utilize some kind of liturgy, teaching about repentance should not be limited to the Lenten season.  Some have argued that Lent is a beneficial addition to a church’s liturgical calendar because it ensures the teaching of repentance at least once per year.  The contention is that if repentance is only being taught from the pulpit once each year, there are much bigger problems than the observation of Lent.  Repentance is a necessary response to the Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Along with unwavering faith in Christ and His work on the Cross, a life of repentance is a sign of a regenerated heart.  This is not a subject to be given attention merely (ONLY) in the Lenten season.  This is a subject that so permeates the true believer’s walk with Christ.  It should be an almost weekly reminder and a daily necessity in the regenerate heart.

​