Historical Background
In the fourth century, the early church called for a time of preparation (40 days) to those who were preparing to be baptized and enter into the Church. Christians who were already baptized were called to a period of prayer, fasting, and giving to help prepare them to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
Too often the Season of Lent is only associated with the Roman Catholic Church or other high church denominations. Lent is for Easter what Advent is for Christmas; a time of preparation to fully appreciate and celebrate the mystery of God loving us and reconciling us to himself.
Sadly, many Baptists have failed to appreciate the rich resources of these six weeks of emphasis on holy living, self-discipline, cleansing, giving.
Lent should be a sacred and spiritual time for every Christian. This is the season that reminds us to consider our identity as followers of Jesus and the responsibility that comes with discipleship. It is a call to prayer and repentance.
It has throughout the ages been a way for Christians to claim their identity with Jesus.
Customs of Lent
The first thing many people think about when they think about Lent is giving up something.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in which many people receive ashes on their foreheads and hear the minister say words similar to these in the Book of Common Prayer: I invite you to observe a holy Lent, by self examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. And to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our moral nature, let us kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer. The ashes are made in the sign of the cross with these words. Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
The Season of Lent is about more than abstinence, it is about embracing the radical call of Jesus and living under His authority by participating in his life, suffering, death, resurrection, and life in the Holy Spirit. It means that we experience the grace of God that continually transforms our thoughts, motives, and very life.
Jesus’ message of counting the cost, self denial, and taking up the cross is central to our journey through Lent as we prepare for the miracle of Easter. The Forty days from Ash Wednesday (excluding Sundays) corresponds to the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness before his baptism and public ministry.
The whole thrust of the season of Lent is to increase one’s faith and spirituality. The more you realize the sacredness of this season, the more you offer your suffering in union with the suffering of Christ, the more you identify with Christ, the more spiritual you become, the more sacred your Lent becomes.
Theology of Lent
Denton Lotz, General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance says Lent for Christians is a time to reclaim, restore, and renew their faith.
The Season of Lent can help us grow in faithfulness to our Lord and Savior, if we take the time to allow God to mold us and to lead us through the work of repentance and experiencing the transforming grace of God.
Repentance should be a continual part of the disciple’s life as we seek to live a holy and fruitful life – will we be found faithful?
Areas to consider for our personal self-examination during Lent
Pride: putting self in the place of God as the center and objective of our life. The refusal to recognize our status as dependent upon God.
Irreverence: deliberate neglect of God’s worship, or contentment with a superficial participation in it.
Distrust: refusal to recognize God’s wisdom and love. Undue worry or undue anxiety
Disobedience: rejection of God’s known will. The refusal to learn God’s nature as revealed in Holy Scripture. Breaking legal or moral contracts.
Arrogance: being overbearing, argumentative, opinionated, and obstinate.
Resentment: rejection of talents, abilities, or opportunities God and man gave us. Rebellion, hatred of God or man. Cynicism.
Envy: Dissatisfaction with our place in God’s order of creation. Manifest itself in jealousy, malice, and contempt for others or others ‘things.’
Covetousness: Refusal to respect the integrity of others, expressed in the accumulation of material things to prove self worth.
Gluttony: overindulgence of natural appetites for food or drink.
Lust: Misuse of sex
Sloth: refusal to respond to opportunities for growth service, or sacrifice.
A Lenten Blessing from Book of Occasional Services
Look with compassion, O Lord, upon this your people; that rightly observing this holy season, they may learn to know you more fully, and to serve you with a more perfect will; through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
