Ash Wednesday - This tradition started in the 1500's. It was a way to get people into church. And back then, it meant another way to get money into the church's coffers (an unfortunate truth of the early catholic church). Traditionally, it begins 46 days before Easter. The ashes rubbed on a person's forehead are indicative of the ancient practice for mourning (going back centuries before Christ). Traditionally, a sacrifice would be burned in the temple for atonement, and the ashes would be placed on the forehead of the person who made the sacrifice, showing all that they were in mourning for their sins. This is where the practice of the ashes is derived.
In many of today's churches, the ashes are from the burned remains of last year's palm fronds from the Palm Sunday service. Many Christians will go to church today, participate in some kind of service and receive the ashes. Many of these people will go back to work, out to lunch, get their oil changed - whatever the day's event may be - with big black stains on their heads, signifying that they have "repented for atonement and are mourning their sins". (Unless - of course - there is an important client or somewhere fancy to go. Then it promptly gets washed off!)
It's good to repent and mourn our sins. It is good to have the atonement that comes only through a relationship with the ever-living Christ. But do we need to wear it like a sense of pride? This will be answered later...
Lent - Comes from translations of Greek to Latin to early Germanic languages meaning "40 days" or the "fortieth day". It has a similar background as Ash Wednesday relating to dates and reasoning.
Here is my favorite definition of Lent, "The traditional purpose of Lent is the penitent
preparation of the believer—through prayer, penance, repentance, alms-giving,
and self-denial."
Many churches encourage us to "give up something for lent". And many times, during Lent, I hear people talking about what they are "sacrificing". They talk about giving up Facebook or TV. They tell of the awesome sacrifice of "no chocolate" for 40 days! But is this what true fasting is?
Jesus gave us many guidelines during His few years of ministry on earth. One of the things He gave us was an instruction on how to fast appropriately. Here are His words from Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV):
“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."
He is very direct about telling us to wash the ashes off of our faces, and do not be obvious to others! Fasting is between you and God ONLY!.
Though Jesus doesn't give a definition of what fasting is, we can understand what He means by understanding the way He fasted. The abstaining from food. Biblically (and traditionally in Ancient Israel), that's what fasting is! Fasting is giving up something we NEED. Not a luxury item or something we can easily do without for 40 days. It's not about sacrificing the crumbs from a feast when we are already full
According to status updates, a lot of people have given up Facebook or texting for Lent this year. And while that's nice, is it really sacrifice? It's funny (in a sad sort of way) when we see someone saying that they are giving up Facebook for Lent, but then they are in a constant whirl of texting to stay informed. The texts, emails and talk time on the cell phones skyrocket! But hey... I'm "sacrificing" Facebook!
I don't participate in a Lenten fast myself (and if I did, I wouldn't tell you). I need to be in a constant attitude of repentance and prayer, year-round. I need to be on my face daily, not once a year. Lenten fasting, to me, is a Band-Aid at best, and a full-blown delusion of righteousness at worse.
I don't judge people who tell me that they are fasting for Lent. For some, it helps them get closer to God. Unfortunately, for most, it's nothing more than the "flavor-of-the-month" trend that makes them fell better about themselves and fit in with their peers. And that's just sad.
If you would like to have a Lenten fast, I say, "Go for it!" But please, do it with the correct heart. My recommendation is to start by asking God what He needs you to sacrifice, listen to Him and then do it. If you need an accountability partner, tell one or two people or share with your small group. But remember... There's a difference between sharing a need for accountability and bragging!
penitent prayer, penance, repentance, alms-giving, self-denial - Lent
