Do we really need Lent?
As shared with Dinesh Kamath by Dr. Jayakar
A Ellis who is the Editor - The Christian Observer, a privately run Christian
Newspaper since 2000, General Secretary - National Christian Council &
National Director of International Human Rights Organisation
(Above) Picture of Dr. Jayakar A Ellis
Lent is a time of soul-searching and repentance in
preparation for the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection on Good
Friday and Easter. Lent consists of the 40 days before Easter, not counting
Sundays. The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday.
Is Lent Biblical?
When someone asks “Is Lent biblical?,” the answer depends
on what you mean by “biblical.” If you mean “Does the Bible specifically
require Christians to practice Lent?,” then the answer is “no.” Of course in
that sense of the term, customs such as church choirs or Sunday school would
also be “not biblical.” But if you mean “Is the practice of Lent founded on
biblical principles,” then the answer is certainly “yes.” The three main
practices of Lent from ancient times have been (1) reflection on the
significance of Christ’s death along with prayers of repentance and confession,
(2) fasting as a means to focus more wholly on God, and (3) giving to assist
the poor. All of these are very biblical practices. We are not required to do
them specifically during the 40 days prior to Easter, but we can benefit
adopting some of the customs of earlier generations of Christians all the way
back to the 2nd century.
At this point I should also make it clear that Lenten
practices, like any spiritual disciplines, do not make us acceptable to God. We
are acceptable to God only through coming to Him by faith on the basis of
Christ’s death on the cross for our sins (Eph. 2:8-9). Spiritual disciplines
are means through which God works in our lives helping us to grow to spiritual
maturity, which is being conformed to the character of Christ (Eph. 4:13; Rom.
8:29). Thus, these practices are for our benefit, and not a way to “earn”
anything from God. Sometimes Christians in earlier generations lost sight of
this fact.
How to practice
Lent
We should view the season of Lent as an opportunity to
reflect on the significance of Christ’s death, examine our hearts, and confess
our sins. It can be a time of spiritual cleansing and renewal. It is not a
“law” that we must follow, and there is a great variety of practices that we
can try out. Based on the historic practice of Lent, try doing something in
each of these three categories:
Fasting
Give up something for God. Fasting is not a means to
“earn” something from God, but rather a way to learn to curb your appetites and
focus more completely on God. There are many varieties of fasting, and I do not
have the space to discuss this important topic here.
Prayer and
Meditation
Read over the Gospel accounts of Christ’s arrest, trial,
and crucifixion. Reflect on His suffering, and the tremendous love that it
represents. Reflect on your own sin and what it cost Him. Take out some time
for prayers of confession and repentance. Do some spiritual “house cleaning.”
Giving to the poor
Use the money that you save by not eating to help the
poor. Consider doing some volunteer work. How can you show the love of Christ
to others?
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with setting aside some
time to focus on Jesus' death and resurrection. However, repenting of sin is
something we should be doing every day of the year, not just for the 46 days of
Lent.
If a Christian wishes to observe Lent, he is free to do
so. The key is to focus on repenting of sin and consecrating oneself to God.
Lent should not be a time of boasting of one’s sacrifice or trying to earn
God's favor or increasing His love. God’s love for us could not be any greater
than it already is.
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