03/05/2025
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
Here's a short explanation Adam and Lindsey wrote a few years ago:
What Is Lent?
Lent is a season in the Church’s liturgical calendar. In fact, dating back to the earliest centuries of the Church’s history of worship, it’s one of the earliest seasons that we find being used in the life of the ancient Church.
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s first address a couple of questions that often become hang-ups for some modern Christians: What is liturgy, and how could it really help me? Simply put, liturgy is quite literally “the work of the people” or, put another way, “public service”. It was never intended to be used as dead, scripted formalism, and when it is used as such, perhaps, we should direct our attention to those who use it as dead, scripted formalism rather than casting aside liturgy itself. It is not the problem; cold hearts and mindless worshippers are the problem.
When used well, liturgy has a way of shaping the life and life-giving worship of God’s people, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus in a beautiful, thoughtful, and beautifully thought-provoking way. Liturgy has an unparalleled way of shaping life together that random, individualized spiritualism can never seem to offer. (Also, let’s be honest with one another; every church— whether we’re talking about local congregations or not, denominational groups or non-denominational fellowships— every church has a way of doing things, especially a way of doing worship. That way of worship is a type of liturgy, in a broad sense, since it is the way ministers and congregants are invited to lead and participate as they worship God together.)
It seems that Lent itself was originally set aside as a period of fasting, repentance, and preparation for baptismal candidates in the Early Church. It consists of a period of 40 days (not including Sundays, since they are a time of celebration) just prior to Easter Sunday, the holy day (or holiday) of Jesus’ Resurrection. This period was designed to remind us of Jesus’ 40 days of temptation and testing in the wilderness after His baptism and before His public ministry. During Lent, candidates for baptism were assigned mature Christians who would teach them Christian doctrine, especially using the early creeds (e.g., the Apostles’ Creed) as instruction guides, or a sort of catechism. These mature Christians would watch the lives of those entrusted to their care, would hold them accountable to faithful Christian living, and at the end of Lent, would advise the church as to whether they recommended their “catechumens” for baptism or thought that they needed to wait. (The Early Church took baptism very seriously and wanted to be sure that converts to the Christian Faith were truly ready to become part of the Church, since so many of them were increasingly coming to Jesus out of paganism.)
In the West, Lent begins with another holy day (again, holiday) called Ash Wednesday, a somewhat-gloomy and intentionally-sobering reminder that "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27 KJV). You know: “Out of [dirt] you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19 NKJV; see also Ecclesiastes 3:20).
Traditionally, on Ash Wednesday, during a simple service of preparation and reflection, a minister will smear ashes on the foreheads of those in attendance. These ashes are smeared in the shape of a cross, reminding the people of Jesus’ death in their behalf and are traditionally made by burning the palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday and then mixing them with oil, perhaps olive oil and even a bit of myrrh. As these ashes are “imposed” on the forehead, the minister quietly, though repeatedly, reminds the people, “From dust you have come, and to dust you shall return.”
How Should I Participate in Lent?
Lent is a great time to be reminded of your own baptism, to ask yourself some important questions that get back to the heart of what it means to be a disciple. What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus, to be a member of His Church? What parts of my life do I need to yield, yield again, or yield further to Him? Is there anything I’ve been holding back, holding onto? What areas of my life have I kept to myself, away from His healing touch? In what areas have I, perhaps, gotten too lenient on myself or lax? How’s my worship been? My generosity? My involvement in ministry? Is my love for Him seen in my love for others— family, friends, neighbors, enemies, those less fortunate than me?
It’s also a great time to work on some self-discipline. One of the greatest helps to self- discipline is self-denial. This is why Lent is traditionally seen as a time of fasting. When we fast, we deny ourselves (or abstain from) something perfectly-acceptable and otherwise- good. Typically, when we think of fasting, we tend to think of refraining from consuming food, drink, or certain kinds of food and/or drink. However, it may also be helpful and beneficial for us to refrain from other behaviors, the indulgence of other appetites, specific leisurely activities, certain forms of entertainment, and whatnot.
Keep in mind, though, that fasting should never be confused with ceasing from sin. If there’s something sinful in your life, you don’t simply give it up for a while as a fast; you just quit it, give it to Jesus so that He will take it from you and heal you of it. We should never reduce the problem of sin to a need to only abstain from it for a period of time. Sin must be atoned and cleansed through repentance and grace.
Also, while you fast, you should make it a point to feed your mind, your heart, your soul extra doses of the things of God. If you aren’t reading the Bible regularly, now’s the time to start. If you already read Scripture daily, read more. If your church attendance and participation has been a bit sub-par, pick it up. If you already attend church regularly, make it a point to not miss a single thing during Lent. If your prayer life needs work (and whose doesn’t?), grab a book to help or ask your pastor for some daily tips and begin praying more often and more earnestly.
Whatever you consider doing during Lent, just be sure to keep in mind that Lent is a perfect opportunity to work on self-discipline, to step up your spiritual disciplines and draw nearer to Jesus. Please don’t miss this opportunity. Please don’t miss Him this Lent.
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If you're in the area, you should join us at their home tonight for an Ash Wednesday service.
