I’m giving up meat for Lent. Oh, wait a second, I haven’t eaten any meat since October of last year. Yes, I even remember the meat I enjoyed: a 16 oz. ribeye steak from Texas Roadhouse. Mmmmmmm.
So, what’s up with giving up stuff for Lent, anyway? I mean, I hear people talking about giving up chocolate or other such things. Where did this practice originate and is it useful for spiritual formation today?
The first question is easier to answer. Lent was historically a time of penance and spiritual preparation for baptism, then it spread from catechumens to the whole church. So, people would spend more time and effort on repenting of their sins and doing actual penance, which is a way, not of paying for your sins, but demonstrating your true sorrow and desire to do better in the future. Penance took the shape of fasting. General fasting and specific fasting were practiced. General fasting is when you abstain from all food for a time period. Specific fasting is abstaining from specific foods for a time, such as meat and other desirable foods.
After the Reformation the practice of self-denial and penance came into question because it was basically misunderstood as “paying” for your sins. If you believe that Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient then there is no need to pay for your sins, they’ve already been forgiven. So, we left off penance. However, as Lent became more and more re-recognized in Protestant churches, people wanted to practice some form of penance, even if they didn’t call it that. Giving something up for Lent came back into fashion.
So, is it useful? That depends.
It depends on motive. Am I practicing self-denial because that’s what is expected? Or, am I truly sorry for my sins and destructive ways of being and desire to do better in the future?
I think we would be well served if we not only determined to stop doing sinful things but determined to begin replacing destructive actions, attitudes, and habits with morally good things. That’s what the message series at Christ Church is about that begins this Sunday, “The Good Life.” Not only does God want us to stop sinful things, he wants us to do good. So, this Lent, repent and believe the Good News and start living the Good News and you can experience the life God designed, the Good Life! See you Sunday and bring a friend!