Lent: Non-Catholic thoughts on old disciplines
Ah, Lent. I thought it deserved a little Protestant defense (And thanks to Paddy for the inspiration: See link to “Other Kevin’s” site on the right). This isn’t intended to be an exposition on the history and theology of the Catholic discipline, but rather some thoughts about how it might relate to my own life. I’m doing a little light duty Lent this year–no candy until Easter. Our theology of Lent has a lot to do with our theology of fasting–a discipline practiced very widely in the Bible, including by Jesus, but rarely practiced and poorly understood in modern churches. The point of Lent is not merely to break you of a bad habit or clear up your schedule for quiet time. Lent is a discipline of submission and relinquishing. When we sacrifice something on which we rely, we are reminded of our limits and frailty –we are mortal beings whose bodies die without food. This awareness prepares us to better recognize and truly live our deep reliance on God. It isn’t purely incidental that Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness were days of fasting. It is fasting, denying ourselves, that prepares us to rely on God and receive from him what we truly need. Every time I have to deny myself a Hershey’s kiss at work, I’m brought face to face with my own weakness and my needs for comfort and reassurance, which turns my mind to God’s gifts, and how he can give even more than chocolate can.
As with any discipline, there isn’t anything magic about Lent. It won’t get you into heaven and it won’t make you a bad Christian if you don’t do it. It’s really just a tool, a ritual, we can use to focus on God and bring us closer to him. Done in any other spirit, it isn’t worth doing.
March 2nd, 2007 at 3:30 pm
good exposition of functional theology
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Having come from a Catholic background, maybe it’s unusual that Lent made very little impression on me. But Easter (the Ressurection, not the bunny) has always been my favorite holiday. Growing up, we usually did not eat “meat” on Fridays year round. That left fish and macoroni and cheese. I’ve never been much of a fish fan. I don’t really remember Lent being a big deal. The idea of giving something up for Lent was something I knew about, but that’s about as far as it went. Interestingly, my best friend growing up was Lutheran, and Lent somehow, once she became an adult, was an oppresive, depressing season, as far as Gail was concerned.
Now when it comes to staying away from candy (or in my case, anything with sugar or white flour in it), I am painfully aware (year round) of the concept of submission and relinquishment. It has nothing to do with being mortal and therefore dependent on food. It has everything to do with needing God’s help to deny myself something I WANT that happens to not be good for my health. Maybe I’ll have it a little easier if I remind myself that the denying brings the benefit of preparation for reliance on God. They have Hershey’s kisses at my work, too. And this week those Harry and David chocolate cherry things. I didn’t eat any, cuz I had decided I was going to save my unhealthy food eating for Saturday when we go out to celebrate my birthday. But you know what I did? I brought a few of them home so I can eat them tomorrow!!!!