Lent

ursen

ursen

Officer SOE/LoE/Where's "here"?
I thought of making this a poll, but all I really want is a little feed back. Lent is upon us, a time of reflection and maybe some sacrifice. Do you or does your church make a point of giving up something for Lent? If so what is the significance of it for you. My church does not emphasize it, but this year I may find something, hard to say, because I should constantly be offering up my life as a living sacrifice, not just a certain time of year. So gimme some input here. What does Lent mean to you?

Romans 12:1
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

1 Peter 2:5
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
 
ewoksrule said:
Actually Lent is practiced by:Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Mennonites, and Baptists.
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Actually Lent is practiced by SOME: Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Mennonites and Baptist.

Fixed that for ya.
 
Wolfeman said:
Actually Lent is practiced by SOME: Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Mennonites and Baptist.

Fixed that for ya.
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I'm fairly sure that is implied and can be said about every practice in every denomination. No one practices everything all the time.
 
I was rather surprised to discover that some of my pastor friends observed Lent when I was in Seminary. I don't currenly do anything (or don't do) for Lent. However, I was wondering how our congregation would respond if we offered an Ash Wednesday service. I have wanted to start offering Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services too, but the previous pastor wasn't really on board with that.
 
I don't celebrate Lent. If you do, I have no beef with that.

Romans 14:5-13

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord;[a] and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.[c] 11 For it is written:

“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”[d]

12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
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Patriot said:
I don't celebrate Lent. If you do, I have no beef with that.
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Agreed.

There's very little on the dietary side that I can give up that I haven't already. I'm hypoglycemic, so I slashed most of the sugar from my diet and I stopped drinking any alcohol as well (again, for dietary purposes). Giving up anything else would be pretty difficult as it would likely require preparing almost every meal at home.

I could give up video games for Lent, but most of my closest friends live in other cities and gaming is primarily a social activity for me. I have a great time playing games like TF2, UT3, and Natural Selection 2 with ToJ members and I wouldn't be in any hurry to give that up unless specifically prompted by the Holy Spirit to do so (though I'm open to the possibility).

If you feel led to celebrate Lent, then by all means, please do. As a Protestant, I don't agree with all Catholic doctrine, but I do understand and appreciate how some customs go a long way toward reminding us of our faith and help us draw near to the Lord. I think some modern denominations are so insistent on exercising their liberty that they miss the benefits of studying church history and participating in communal events.
 
It was interesting today. My sister was in for a couple of days so we went to a great little local seafood restaurant. Close to finishing our meal a LOT of people started coming in with the ash markings on their forehead. May I stress again here, that could be Catholic, or one of a number of Protestant churches, it doesn't matter, all who have accepted Christ are part of the Church established in glory and honor throughout time and eternity as part of the bride of Christ.
 
My school, a non-denominational Protestant university (with Baptist ties) is encouraging the observance of Lent for the second year in a row this year. Students of course are not required to give anything up, but it is something that our school is trying to respect and encourage as a discipline to focus on God. As an aspiring Church historian, our observance is far from traditional, but we are observing it and I know a lot of students are giving up something for Lent. Last year we had a chapel service that introduced Lent and it's meaning and history, and those students willing were able to come forward and receive ash crosses on our foreheads.
 
Lent is a practice. It is something you can choose to do or not there is freedom in it's exercise. I had never participated in it. The last two years because of where my spiritual journey has brought me I have practiced the disciple of fasting during Lent.

Two things I would like to point out and then a blog to share.

1. You give nothing up for Lent. You fast from something for Jesus. Lent is the season not the practice. The season is all about identifying with Jesus' physical suffering for your sin.
2. You must also take something up. If you only do one without the other, then you are not experiencing the fullness of the spiritual discipline.
3. (okay I lied but this in the blog) You do not fast from a sin. Big problem for some folks here. You voluntarily fast from something that is a freedom Christ has given you.

Okay here is the blog, it is funny and somewhat crass but that fits with this group- http://mostlyaccurate.com/belief/2013/2/13/a-few-pointers-on-lent
 
For some reason I thought this thread was about Lint, my favorite belly button byproduct.
 
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Christianity Today (CT) published a list of the 100 favorite things to give up for Lent as determined from a Twitter study. Should I be disturbed that marijuana was on the list? (So was lint, religion, Christianity, sex and porn).
 
Kahiel said:
Christianity Today (CT) published a list of the 100 favorite things to give up for Lent as determined from a Twitter study. Should I be disturbed that marijuana was on the list? (So was lint, religion, Christianity, sex and porn).
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Ehh I am not disturbed. I believe weed is the same as beer. Something that is up to you and the Spirit to make decisions on. You can smoke weed and not get wasted just like you can drink a beer and not get drunk. Like coffee and other substances that tend to be addicting and take a prominent place in daily life, they are great items to consider for Lent as well as regular fasting from. Anything that gets daily use & reliance from us should be considered to make sure it has not become an idol.
 
Kahiel said:
Christianity Today (CT) published a list of the 100 favorite things to give up for Lent as determined from a Twitter study. Should I be disturbed that marijuana was on the list? (So was lint, religion, Christianity, sex and porn).
Click to expand...
You lost me at "Twitter study." I'm pretty sure that's an oxymoron.
 
It's pronounced "RENT"
Never saw the musical...
(but I jest...)
 
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