Lint
- Thread starter Zealot
- Start date
amorphus88
New Member
it's
"Lent" for one
secondly, its a Catholic thing. the assumption is that you should do this just to make sure God lets you into heaven.
it's a good practice, giving something up for God, but just because you want brownie points? nuh uh.
"Lent" for one
secondly, its a Catholic thing. the assumption is that you should do this just to make sure God lets you into heaven.
it's a good practice, giving something up for God, but just because you want brownie points? nuh uh.
Malohaut
Moderator
Alright. I'm leary about observing something I don't fully understand. So tell me, what is God's plan concerning lent? Does it have to do with Jesus going into the desert? Or is it based on something else? The better I understand it, the better I will be able to participate not only with actions, but with full heart as well.
Thaddius
Member
Ok, here is some information about Lent. It is not just a "Catholic" thing.
Taken from Here
Theme:
Retreating Into the Wilderness with Jesus
Dates:
Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent begins on 5 March 2003 and ends on 19 April 2003.
In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent officially ends at sundown on 17 April (Holy Thursday), with the beginning of the mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Colors:
In most churches, the decorations are purple or blue, royal colors to prepare for the King. You can read more about color in worship
The East:
In Orthodox churches, this season is called the Great Lent. It begins on Clean Monday.
Special Days:
Ash Wednesday, 5 March 2003
The Annunciation, 25 March 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days.
You can read about fasting, which is a spiritual discipline that does not involve starvation or dehydration. You can also read Honest to God for an explanation of what we accomplish by observing Lent.
You can find out about Lenten fasting during medieval times. The link even includes a very interesting recipe!
The Western Church
Because Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, we skip over Sundays when we calculate the length of Lent. Therefore, in the Western Church, Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter.
In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.
The Eastern Church
The Eastern Church does not skip over Sundays when calculating the length of the Great Lent. Therefore, the Great Lent always begins on Clean Monday, the seventh Monday before Easter, and ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday—using of course the eastern date for Easter. The Lenten fast is relaxed on the weekends in honor of the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Resurrection (Sunday). The Great Lent is followed by Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, which are feast days, then the Lenten fast resumes on Monday of Holy Week. Technically, in the Eastern Church, Holy Week is a separate season from the Great Lent.
Special Days
The purpose of the liturgical calendar is to relive the major events in Jesus’ life in real time, which is why Lent is forty days long. If Jesus were born on 25 December, then His conception would have been nine months earlier, on about 25 March. That is when the angel Gabriel would have announced Jesus’ birth to Mary. Thus 25 March is known in the historic church as The Annunciation.
Roughly speaking, the western Church consists of Protestants, Catholics, and Anglicans. The eastern Church consists of the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Oriental Orthodox churches, and the eastern-rite churches affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taken from Here
Theme:
Retreating Into the Wilderness with Jesus
Dates:
Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent begins on 5 March 2003 and ends on 19 April 2003.
In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent officially ends at sundown on 17 April (Holy Thursday), with the beginning of the mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Colors:
In most churches, the decorations are purple or blue, royal colors to prepare for the King. You can read more about color in worship
The East:
In Orthodox churches, this season is called the Great Lent. It begins on Clean Monday.
Special Days:
Ash Wednesday, 5 March 2003
The Annunciation, 25 March 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days.
You can read about fasting, which is a spiritual discipline that does not involve starvation or dehydration. You can also read Honest to God for an explanation of what we accomplish by observing Lent.
You can find out about Lenten fasting during medieval times. The link even includes a very interesting recipe!
The Western Church
Because Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, we skip over Sundays when we calculate the length of Lent. Therefore, in the Western Church, Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter.
In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.
The Eastern Church
The Eastern Church does not skip over Sundays when calculating the length of the Great Lent. Therefore, the Great Lent always begins on Clean Monday, the seventh Monday before Easter, and ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday—using of course the eastern date for Easter. The Lenten fast is relaxed on the weekends in honor of the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Resurrection (Sunday). The Great Lent is followed by Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, which are feast days, then the Lenten fast resumes on Monday of Holy Week. Technically, in the Eastern Church, Holy Week is a separate season from the Great Lent.
Special Days
The purpose of the liturgical calendar is to relive the major events in Jesus’ life in real time, which is why Lent is forty days long. If Jesus were born on 25 December, then His conception would have been nine months earlier, on about 25 March. That is when the angel Gabriel would have announced Jesus’ birth to Mary. Thus 25 March is known in the historic church as The Annunciation.
Roughly speaking, the western Church consists of Protestants, Catholics, and Anglicans. The eastern Church consists of the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Oriental Orthodox churches, and the eastern-rite churches affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malohaut
Moderator
Wow. I never knew that. I like the idea of rededicating your heart back to God, especially since we tend to stray during the year. And it clears up a few misconceptions like it being only a Catholic holiday, or you have to give up something for 40 days and that's all its about. Its really nice to know the meaning behind the season and I appreciate it. Thanks!
amorphus88
New Member
I hear very disappointing things from those people who do do lent, though... (this is a side note)
like today, two girls were talking, and I was just chopped liver on the side.
Girl 1 :wad you give up for lent?
2 : I gave up meat
1 : oh, really? I could never do that
2 : I might've given up chocolate, but then I couldn't drink some kinda of lattes
1 : (something)
2 : and then, I'm not giving up sweets, either. [I want my candy]
this kind of thing is disappointing...
like Christmas. who's Jesus again?
like today, two girls were talking, and I was just chopped liver on the side.
Girl 1 :wad you give up for lent?
2 : I gave up meat
1 : oh, really? I could never do that
2 : I might've given up chocolate, but then I couldn't drink some kinda of lattes
1 : (something)
2 : and then, I'm not giving up sweets, either. [I want my candy]
this kind of thing is disappointing...
like Christmas. who's Jesus again?
Thaddius
Member
yes, but there are a lot of things that those of us who follow Christ do that is disappointing. Based on that conversation, it is easy to tell that neither of them know much about the tradition that they follow. No matter what denomination we are, just going through the motions won't get you into Heaven. Someone should take the time to teach them what Lent is about, and what it means. But then we all have places we need to grow.[b said:Quote[/b] (amorphus88 @ Mar. 07 2003,1:20)]I hear very disappointing things from those people who do do lent, though... (this is a side note)
................................
this kind of thing is disappointing...
like Christmas. who's Jesus again?
Cory
Kidan
Moderator
My problem with Lent is the whole concept that it's expected. It's a form of fasting, but at the same time you are announcing to the world that you are fasting. This is something Christ himself taught against. We are to hide when we fast for we are fasting to be closer to God, not so others can 'see' how 'righteous' we are.
Ok I'm too ADD to read that whole thing so I'm going to make broad general assumptions, ph3ar. ;-) Catholicism for the most part has become as much about Christ as Mormonism and Jehova's Witness so I won't even go there. I have a couple big problems with lent one being that it's a kinda I do this I get into heaven free card which we all know doesn't work. Secondly like morph aluded to what's always given up are things that the person isn't going to miss which defeats the whole purpose. Hey I don't smoke I'll give up cigarettes. 
Fasting and giving things up for God is a great thing and something that needs to be done from time to time, but the purpose is always to remove something in our life that is distracting us from God. That's my 3.7 cents. Oh I fibbed I went beack and read it while I was typing. ;-)
-Trevor
-amusedtoe
Fasting and giving things up for God is a great thing and something that needs to be done from time to time, but the purpose is always to remove something in our life that is distracting us from God. That's my 3.7 cents. Oh I fibbed I went beack and read it while I was typing. ;-)-Trevor
-amusedtoe
Kidan
Moderator
toe, actually a fast is not giving up something that is distracting you from God. A fast is a sacrificial offering where you replace what you are temporarily giving up with prayer. If something is distracting you from God, you should put that away from your life, totally and without regret or second thoughts. A fast is by definition a temporary measure.
LionOfJudah
Member, Dreamcast Fishing Guru
fasting has always been a great way, imo, to get closer to God. it is truely hard to do a 24 hr famine and just Focus on God, when there are sooo many oppertunities for you to "cheat". and the spiritual hungry, sad to say, people will let go for years and strave to death, instead of picking up the"phone" and calling and getting a "pizza"( in the spiritual sents hehe)
TastyWheat
New Member
Meh...
Lent is not about doing something to get a "get into heaven free" card. If you do it in earnest it is one of the best ways to draw closer to the Lord; it's just like fasting. You spend time in prayer, but like Jesus said, you aren't supposed to talk about it like, "Look at me! I'm such a good Christian! Look how much I can give up!", and you aren't to go about moping because you gave up something. Usually what you give up has the significance of starting to come between you and God, not just something random like cigarettes, toe. Yes, it is something that is established by the church, but even things like that have benefits; we shouldn't merely discount them because they're used by the Catholic church.
Lent is not about doing something to get a "get into heaven free" card. If you do it in earnest it is one of the best ways to draw closer to the Lord; it's just like fasting. You spend time in prayer, but like Jesus said, you aren't supposed to talk about it like, "Look at me! I'm such a good Christian! Look how much I can give up!", and you aren't to go about moping because you gave up something. Usually what you give up has the significance of starting to come between you and God, not just something random like cigarettes, toe. Yes, it is something that is established by the church, but even things like that have benefits; we shouldn't merely discount them because they're used by the Catholic church.