Lent: What’s the Point?
The traditional prayer for Ash Wednesday (which was last Wednesday, the first day of Lent) begins the season of Lent beautifully:
"Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Us Evangelicals are a bit shy about Lent. The 40 days prior to Easter are known popularly as a season for giving up chocolate, Facebook or other extras in order to show God how much we love him. With such impoverished notions, it is no wonder that Lent has fallen on hard times. I used to be one of those evangelicals who said things like, “I am giving up the practice of Lent for Lent!” Hilarious, right?!
But like all human traditions, Lent is only useful if it reminds us of some aspect of the gospel. The reason why people gave up something luxurious for Lent, wasn’t to earn favour with God, but as a sign of repentance and of carrying our own cross, as we remember Jesus’ suffering and death on the Cross in our place at Easter.
Whatever the popular conceptions, the season can encourage gospel-centered piety.
It has led me to rethink how we ought to value the opportunity to give up something in Lent as a simple token of sin, repentance, and the redemption made possible through Jesus’ death and resurrection. The season is a wonderful opportunity to dwell upon the grief of our broken world, the sin within your heart, and the deep love of God that exceeds these realities.
So while some people will choose give up alcohol, others chocolate, still others choose to give up some free-time and devote a few more minutes each day to prayer, reading Scripture, or some act of service. It doesn't really matter. The important thing is the frequent reminder of self-negation and of Christ’s self-sacrifice for us. And though Christians are not compelled to observe Lent or other fasting practices, we are equally free to observe Lent.
It’s good to reflect on the focus: to repent of sin, to renew our faith and to prepare to celebrate joyfully the glory of our salvation won for us at the Cross; and the wonder and promise of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The only thing to add is that Sundays don't count. The days of the ‘fast’ of Lent are meant to be 40 in total. If you were to include Sundays, it would total 46 by Easter Day. Yet, in the Christian calendar Sundays can never be ‘fast days’. They are always ‘feast days’ since Christ was raised from the dead on a Sunday. We may even enjoy a glass of wine each Sunday evening after a day of gathering with God’s people, as we celebrate the Lord's resurrection!
Every blessing,
Rich