What Ever Happened to Lent?

Whatever happened to Lent?

I am very gripped with the state of the church in America. Working in an area in our region that is predominantly Muslim, I am provoked. Just a couple of months ago, thousands, if not tens of thousands in Dearborn commemorated Ramadan. For several weeks, they fasted EVERY day from sunrise to sunset. One of my Bible college students who coaches a football team of little kids said even they fasted …the little kids! And they still did all the running and working that was demanded of them at practice! Meanwhile, I wonder how many Christian kids in America even know what Lent is anymore.

Don’t think for a minute that this doesn’t have a spiritual effect on this region!

I remember growing up in suburban Detroit, and it seemed like ALL my schoolmates were giving something up for Lent: Protestant kids, Catholic kids, and me, an Orthodox kid. Today, I only see the word on a few mainline or Catholic church signs. Even in the few churches that still honor it, many of the “rules” about Lent have been eased.

“You’re being legalistic,” somebody might say to me. “Those are traditions of men!” Yes, GODLY men for centuries upon centuries (c.f. http://www.drurywriting.com/john/Wesley%20and%20Time.htm regarding John Wesley and Lent). Some traditions are good. What’s wrong with the Church coming together in unity for a season to fast and to offer special devotion to the Lord? Whatever happened to sacrifice and fasting?

We live in a day where it seems the “in” thing to do if you’re a pastor is to make church as easy as possible. That way you’ll “reach” more people. Is that what it’s all about? Getting people into a pew for an hour a week? Or was Jesus’ message, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt 16:24). My understanding is that God wants ALL of us, not just an hour on Sunday morning. I believe honoring Lent brings some balance back into our lives.

Right now, I am teaching the Pentateuch. WOW! We have NO idea of what holiness is! As far as I know, the God in the Pentateuch is not a different God from the one in the New Testament. Yet the amount of sacrifice and devotion that was required of the people is astounding. Several times a year, ALL the tribes were called to come together for prolonged times of devotion. Certainly, God was worthy of all of it.

If we want to see awakening in America, we better not let Muslims put us to shame with real life devotion that’s worked out in their actual lives, not “spiritualized” some way that is convenient to our consumer lifestyles. If we ever needed fasting and prayer, it is today. That’s why I’m so happy over a dozen churches in the Ann Arbor area have united for “40 Days of Prayer” which includes 24/7 prayer, as well a nightly community prayer meetings. If you’re in the Ann Arbor area, join us! (http://im-pact.us/)

What do you think?

(For some interesting thoughts on Lent see http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090224142558AAa4hSv)