Every year in early spring we see or hear about a significant number of those who don the title “Christian” participating in a practice called “Lent.” The name may sound foreign or unfamiliar to many, since most recent LifeWay Research data shows that about 3 out of 4 self-described Christians today do not participate in this religious practice. One day per year we see the faithful donning a black smudge on their foreheads without any apparent explanation, and one may feel tempted to kindly point it out or offer a napkin. This year that day is today: Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent.
So what is Lent?
The word Lent originates from the Middle English word Lencten which simply means “spring.” The practice we see today was called Lent simply because it occurred in the spring season. Lent is a period of 46 days (including six Sundays) that begins on a Wednesday called Ash Wednesday and ends on the Saturday before Resurrection Day (commonly called Easter by the secular world). Lent was first observed in the early Church in very similar fashion to the forty day fasting periods described in Scripture such as Moses (Exodus 24:18) and Jesus (Matthew 4:1-4). Lent was first described in official church documents at the Council of Nicaea (AD 325, though it did not have a title). Throughout its long history the focus of Lent has been on self-denial as a means to identify with the suffering of Christ leading up to His death on the cross. Christ’s death is viewed in the Christian faith as the epitome of self-denial because Christ makes statements such as “No one has taken [my life] away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:18, NASB). Additionally Christ bids those who would dare follow Him to join with Him on the self-same journey with statements such as “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23, NASB). Christ give this command while on the road toward Hs death.
Widely practiced activities during the season of Lent from its earliest days include abstinence from behaviors described as sinful or carnal, fasting from physical food in certain forms or quantities, engaging in personal and corporate worship, and doing charitable work in the name of Christ. Abstinence was practiced as a way to remove sinful or worldly practices that exist as barriers between a Christian’s soul and God. Doing charitable work (commonly called “good works”) was practiced as a means to replace sinful or worldly behaviors with those expressly encouraged in Scripture as evidence of the inward state of salvation (one such example is here). When abstinence and charity are done through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, such a lifestyle fits the meaning of the term sanctification, or the process of being spiritually changed into the likeness of the Most Holy God. Fasting was practiced as a means to weaken the physical body with a view toward weakening inward carnal desires to allow for the growth of spiritual desires. This practice was directly adopted from the example of Christ’s forty-day fast. The overall aim of the forty-six day period is to prepare a person to continue a deeper spiritual walk indefinitely once key spiritual disciplines are firmly established.
In the early Church Lent was also the period of preparation for new converts prior to their baptism, which would be performed on Resurrection Day. (What better opportunity to be “buried with Him through baptism into death, so that…we too might walk in newness of life”? (Romans 6:4)) Over the centuries the Catholic Church began to multiply the detailed rules regarding the various practices of Lent until the period we see today is much unlike that practiced in the early Church. Observing Lent is an obligatory practice of the Catholic Church and is also practiced by churches in several other Protestant denominations ranging from Episcopal to Baptist.
So what is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday became the initiating practice of Lent over time because it seemed fitting to begin a period of self-denial, repentance, and holy living by intentionally and publicly confessing of and repenting from sin. In Scripture the practice of confessing sin and repenting often included pouring ashes on one’s head and wearing sackcloth (very uncomfortable fabric similar to burlap) directly over the skin as an outward sign of humility and mourning (Jeremiah 6:26 and Matthew 11:21). Over time the ashes were imposed mixed with oil upon the forehead to serve the dual purpose of first demonstrating to others their inward contrition, and secondly to remind one each other of their individual vows of repentance.
Is it OK for evangelical Christians to participate in Lent? Is that not merely the religion of man?
While it is true that Lent is purely the product of man’s efforts to seek after the heart of God with accompanying outward actions and routines, the question of whether this is OK depends on the motivation behind it. Confessing sin, repenting of sin, doing charitable work, and denying one’s self are all taught throughout Scripture as primary disciplines for all those who follow Jesus. Therefore, it is fitting and right for Christ-followers to practice these disciplines every day regardless of what is on the calendar. Additionally, Scripture teaches that Christians should show grace toward one another for differences in their individual practice of faith, given that any practice is motivated by sincere faith and not by some other factor: (Romans 14).
Now I want to give you several reasons you should NOT observe Lent.
Because someone told you to
Many people observe Ash Wednesday and Lent simply because “my parents raised me this way” or because “my church teaches it” or because “someone encouraged me to do it.” I am certain even some who read this article will attempt to observe Lent because I promote it as a beneficial practice. Attempting any religious effort at the bidding of another without an inward spiritual desire for it is denounced throughout Scripture as an empty effort at self-righteousness (Mark 7:1-13). To attempt any spiritual practice as merely a routine, habit, or tradition, for its own sake, is to participate in the idolatry of humanism: the belief that man can better himself through his own rational efforts at morality. This is destined to fail and strikes at the heart of true faith. If you want to please your parents, your pastor, your friends, or keep up the reputation you have at church, then observing Lent is not for you.
To have something to do
Many people also observe Lent because it is there, an opportunity to seemingly put faith into action. We human beings are creatures of habit, and we have a natural inclination toward outward actions that produce tangible results, because that makes us feel like we have accomplished something meaningful. Lent is never intended to be an activity to “fill up time” or simply “do good works” because the practices of Lent are spiritual in nature—confession, repentance, self-denial, worship, and charitable work are all demanding spiritual disciplines (read this). This is not a creative new diet. This is not merely a chance to “take a break from social media.” Take a look at what God has to say about fasting (Isaiah 58) and about doing good works (Matthew 6:1-18). If you are looking for an activity to fill up your time during the “Easter season” then observing Lent is not for you.
To make yourself holy or righteous
It may sound surprising to some that attempting to make one’s self holy or righteous would be a wrong reason to observe Lent. However, Scripture is clear in teaching that any effort toward holiness that is aimed at achieving some status as a holy person is wrong-headed and in fact angers God (Isaiah 1:10-20). God commands His people toward holiness for sure, but that state of being is never to be worn as a “badge of honor” because God’s only purpose in the command is to bring His creation into close, intimate fellowship with His own Most Holy self. Scripture in fact teaches that “If any man thinks he is something when he is nothing deceives himself” (Galatians 6:3) and that God blesses those who are honest about their own spiritual bankruptcy regardless of how holy the world may call them (Matthew 5:3, 6). If you want to make yourself “holier than thou,” attempt self-improvement through stricter morals, or wear your religious faith as a “badge of honor” then observing Lent is not for you.
The Falcon Lair 