We have begun the season the Lent, which is the six weeks leading up to Easter Sunday. If you grew up in the church like I did, Lent was commemorated with activities like 40 Day Spiritual Adventure workbooks, meatless fellowship meals and food and clothing collections. You may also be like me and did those activities without fully understanding what is going on.
So what is Lent? Is observing Lent commanded in the Bible? And what is the deal with not eating meat on Friday?
Lent is a time of fasting and moderation that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. There are 40 days of Lent (Sundays during this time frame aren’t counted). Lent has its origins in the Catholic Church, although some Protestant denominations officially observe it and others unofficially do. Some Christian churches do not observe Lent at all and I’ll get to why in a moment.
Lent started as a way for Catholics to focus on the value of repenting of their sins. Observers of Lent often cut back on their food consumption or give up certain foods (particularly fatty and sweet foods) for the season. However, others will give up “guilty pleasures” like TV or social media. Lent is essentially six weeks of self-discipline that is seen as being similar to how the folks in the Bible would wear uncomfortable sackcloth and ashes to demonstrate their repentance.
The Catholic tradition of not eating meat on Fridays during Lent is a means of remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross on Good Friday. Observers of this tradition forgo eating meat from warm-blooded animals (eating fish is permitted by the Catholic Church). They make a connection between Jesus giving up His body on that day and them giving up the eating of meat.
As I mentioned, some Protestant churches and denominations do not observe Lent at all because (and this is important to understand) nowhere in Scripture are believers in Jesus Christ commanded to observe Lent or participate in a public fast during the weeks leading up to Easter. In fact, Jesus teaches the opposite about fasting in Matthew 6:16-18:
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
So Lenten traditions are just that…traditions of the church.
That means that simply abstaining from eating meat or any other food cannot and does not guarantee that a person is closer to God or will be blessed by God. Grace, as we will see on Sunday, cannot be earned. Grace is a gift from God and He bestows it upon us because of His goodness and graciousness, not because we “checked a box” on a spiritual “to-do” list.
So…is celebrating Lent wrong? I don’t believe so. Emphasizing spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, service and worship to help us deepen our walk with Jesus is always a good thing, no matter when we do so. Churches (like ours), often have special services or activities during Lent to help believers in their faith walk. The weeks leading up to Easter are a natural time in the calendar for us to focus on the spiritual disciplines as we anticipate our Easter morning celebration.
What is wrong is believing that those disciplines in any way earn us more blessings from God, more forgiveness from God or help us earn our salvation. Salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Men’s Breakfast is this Saturday, 2/24 at Hometown Kitchen at 8 am.
- Lenten Prayer Meeting this coming Wednesday (2/28) at 6:30 pm at the church. We’ll have a brief time of sharing and reading of the Word and then going before the Lord in prayer. Future prayer meetings are on 3/13 & 3/20.
- Ladies Prayer Meeting at the Fite home on Saturday, 3/2 starting at 10 am. Please see Devon if you are planning to attend.
- Solanco Meat Canning is on March 5 from 3 pm to 7 pm at Lapp’s Butcher Shop. Come help when you are able and for as long as you are able. Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the lobby.
- We will be observing Holy Communion on 3/10.
- Junior Youth meet on 3/3, Senior High on 3/10.
This Sunday we will be studying the Parable of Workers in the Vineyard, found in Matthew 20:1-16. Towards the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry the disciples wondered what their reward will be for being the first to follow Him. He replied by telling them this parable. We’ll look at what Jesus has to say about salvation, good works, and God’s amazing grace. If you know of someone with a loved one who doesn’t know Jesus as Savior, invite them to join you at the Bridge!
Scott