Pastor, I don’t do Lent!
Since we started this season of Lent, I have heard from a few people share, “I don’t do Lent!” I don’t know if it is from misunderstanding or it is linked to a bad experience, but some have said Baptist don’t do Lent. Jesus rescued me at age 14 from a broken home and a broken life in Irving, Texas, and I began my journey at Hilltop Drive Baptist Church. I have walked with five other Baptist churches since then, and this past year was my first experience with Lent. If you have grown up in another denomination, perhaps your experience with Lent was more about you and will power than about seeking God more and realizing your need for His strength. For me, this new experience has connected me with a bigger story, something ancient, and in seeing the body of Christ bigger than Mount Ararat or bigger than being Baptist.
Our call to Lent has been about giving something up (fasting) to make us more mindful of our daily need for Jesus presence. It is about calling the church to the Word, prayer, and to serving others. I know for me by focusing my heart during this season has heightened my calling, my relationship with Jesus, and my care for others.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
Maybe Baptists have not historically practiced Lent. Perhaps its because there have been lots of abuses with Lent throughout the years. Many people probably go through the motions, and then miss the meaning. The same probably happens with many church activities. Just because some people do it wrong doesn’t mean others can’t do it right. Let’s be careful not ”to throw the baby out with the bath water.” Maybe Baptists have not historically practiced Lent, but do Baptists do fasting, Bible reading, or focused prayer? Regardless if you do not do Lent or not, now is a good time to press more into God. Let’s seek Him! Easter is coming!
Posted in Lent 2008
February 26th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I can’t figure out quite how I want to say this, but I truly appreciate your leadership on this. Lent is about dying to self and living for God. When we make it about “I do” or “I don’t do” it’s so easy to miss the point. Then all it becomes is a “go-through-the-motions” ritual. But rituals can lead you to something deeper if one is open.
I hope we do this every year!
February 26th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I have struggled with Lent this year. Last year I fasted for two meals a day and learned a great deal. This year it just didn’t click at first. But I have taken the fasting in chunks and I have seen with my own eyes and experienced with my own mind that God is calling me to this for this season. Thank you for leading us in this.
Oh, we’re working with our kids to help them understand what Lent is and find how they can participate. I fully want them to understand this concept and be able to use it as they grow. For now one gave up his favorite airplane and has encouraged me to remain faithful in my fasting - even chastising me at times. Another one decided not to participate, another tried and failed to give up thumb sucking and one has been faithful in giving up jumping in mud puddles! Just baby steps…
March 4th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Not sure what you mean by ” If you have grown up in another denomination, perhaps your experience with Lent was more about you and will power than about seeking God more and realizing your need for His strength.”
Done for the right reasons, I doubt that.People in all churches can do it for the wrong reasons
March 4th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I did not mean this as a slight against another denomination. God knows that as Baptist we fall into lots of pitfalls through traditions that quickly lose meaning or significance. Anytime something is repeated it can began to become a ritual that drifts away from the orginal intent or purpose.
I guess what I was trying say is that since I am in year two of my Lent experience, everything seems to be spiritually heightened due to the spiritual focus. I just did not want this to become a will power thing to which we miss the encounter with God. My fear is that if we approach this again next year it could become more ritual. I apologize for the confusion.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:57 am
You may be right. I haven’t been around church for all that long, so everything is new and wonderful to me now, (3rd Lent) I am Catholic, and through my priests homilies on Lent and through the RCIA team which I am on, there is a fair amount of discussion on what we can “give up” for Lent different types of alms giving etc. I guess discussion keeps it fresh- I think that is what you are trying to do here. I apologize if I seemed touchy-I have heard so much Catholic bashing in some of the circles I am in…
March 12th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Isaiah 58:6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?”
When I chose to do a modified Daniel fast (adding a small amount of fish, chicken breast or low fat dairy), this is the verse that would keep coming into my mind. I didn’t know what to expect but knew that the Lord was calling me to this fast. I’ve known for a while that God has called me to intercessory prayer – especially for healing. What I didn’t know was that God would use this fast to bring me to a different level of prayer and sensitivity to the prayer needs of others. Since beginning the fast, I have found myself crying more frequently – crying for the friend whose mother was murdered, for girls desperate enough to attempt to commit suicide, for a friend with a shattered marriage, for parents of a daughter in jail on felony charges, for a friend whose husband was having dangerous surgery. I cried for all of the women of our church who have had abortions (like someone near and dear to me, who told me 1 in 6 Christian women have had abortions) and who lock their secret shame in their hearts telling no one because they have no idea that their Savior just wants to hold them and set them free. I cried for the other secrets locked in the hearts of members of our congregation because they believe the enemy’s lies that this secret sin is too bad for even Jesus to forgive – secrets that keep them in bondage, not knowing the extent of Jesus’ mercy. I cried for those who have secret hurts and don’t know that the Gentile Healer desires to heal even the deepest wounds. I cried for friends of my sons, friends who see no need for God and have refused every invitation to come and meet Jesus. Sometimes, I didn’t even know who I was crying for and praying for until later.
The fast has also been a reminder of Who is God and who is not and the importance of obedience to God.
I know that often a purpose of fasting is to have extra time to be with God since we’re not preparing food or eating, but the Daniel fast doesn’t free up time. I wondered how God was going to bring about that extra time with Him that I needed as part of this journey. He started to take me on long walks with Him, knowing that it may take me a few miles before I can even get beyond the “mom thoughts and concerns” so that I could listen to Him and pray for those He calls to my mind.
The fast brought a totally unexpected surprise – I have more energy than I’ve had in years. In fact, those long walks now add up to 35 or 40 miles a week, which allows for a lot of time with the Lord – time to see His character displayed in His creation and to fall in love with Him again, time to hear what He wants to say to me, time for Him to heal hurts in my heart, time to pray. I have come to the conclusion that what started as a fast has to (with few changes) become a way of life.
I stand in amazement at the work the Lord does in us when we obey his call to fast and am anxious to hear the stories of others and how their fast has changed their lives.