2/26/2025
So, what are you giving up for Lent?
That’s a question I didn’t hear growing up. The tradition I was raised in, and the tradition of the religious school I attended, didn’t practice Lent.
Looking back on it, both traditions could’ve used a good dose of Lent!
Someone recently sent me a video asking the question “Is Ash Wednesday necessary?” The answer? No.
The reason? It isn’t in the Bible (true) and it wasn’t practiced by the early church (false, and I’ll say more about that another time). The podcaster went on to argue that often what’s given up for Lent is something like chocolate, or some other indulgence that should be given up for a more healthy lifestyle anyway. Fasting for Lent becomes about self-improvement rather than spiritual discipline.
He did have a point; there is no scripture in the Bible that says that fasting should be used to make you look better in a swimsuit!
He also pointed out that in Matthew 6, Jesus warns us to not do our spiritual practices to be seen by others. Jesus says, “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.” He argued that leaving your ashes on your forehead during the day, posting pictures on social media would be a violation of Jesus’ words.
While true, it also misses the point of Lent.
Lent is a season of the Christian calendar — and the word, season, is appropriate because Lent comes from an Old English word for Spring. It’s preserved in our word “length” as in “lengthening of the days,” i.e. Spring.
You might think of Lent as Spring Cleaning — that annual opportunity we have to clear out the dust and cobwebs collected throughout the long, shut-up and shut-in days of Winter. My dad’s other form of “spring cleaning” was an annual dose of castor oil . . . while effective, we won’t talk about that. Lent’s Spring Cleaning is a cleaning of the heart.
The Christian calendar, like the Jewish calendar in the Old Testament, is a way of structuring our year in remembrance of God’s saving events. It’s a countercultural way of living our lives. The world presents us with its calendar and shapes our days around July 4th, Presidents Day, Labor Day, etc. The Christian calendar says “no,“ and chooses annual rhythms that help us reflect on the life of Jesus.
The anticipation of Jesus’ birth gives us Advent, the celebration of Jesus’ birth gives us Christmas, the crucifixion of Christ gives us Holy Week, the resurrection gives us Easter, the out-pouring of God’s Holy Spirit gives us Pentecost . . . but what about Lent? Where does it come in?
Lent is a 40 day season of fasting that recalls the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness. It also reminds us of the 40 day fasts of Moses and Elijah. These fasts of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus prepared them for their work. And our 40 day season of Lent prepares us as well.
Neither Ash Wednesday, nor the season of Lent are obligatory. It’s not a sin if you don’t participate. Instead of an obligation, think of it as an invitation to think soberly about your life. It’s a call to remember that our days of this world are short (and getting shorter) and to examine our lives in light of the brevity of life.
There is strong biblical support for that.
Ecclesiastes 7:2 is one of the most sobering verses in the Bible: “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart.” According to Ecclesiastes there is a benefit in taking time to remember our mortality and let that remembrance shape the way we live. Ash Wednesday is a reminder that “you are dust and to dust you shall return.” That’s from Genesis 3. Ash Wednesday calls for an awareness of our mortality as well as the awareness of our sin.
And as I said, the podcaster does have a point. We can observe Lent for the wrong reasons. Perhaps we should examine our hearts before we examine our hearts! Am I fasting in order to lose that extra 20 pounds I gained over the winter? Am I sporting an ashen cross on my forehead to show I’m holy? I don’t think any of you are guilty of the second one. The first one might have crossed my mind . . .
Next Wednesday night is Ash Wednesday. I’d encourage you to spend the days leading up to our service thinking about ways you can spend this time. Ask yourself, how can I deepen my walk with Christ? Should I give up something to remind me of Christ’s sacrifice? Should I add something to enhance my Spiritual life? It could be anything from an extra period of prayer or Bible reading to volunteering at LCCI or Learn to Read.
Think on these things and I’ll write more about it next week. If you’d like to talk about it, shoot me a text or give me a call.
Blessings,
Pastor Terry