On Keeping a Holy Lent, part 2
by Craig Higgins
HOW CAN I (AND MY FAMILY) KEEP A HOLY LENT?
Traditionally, the Lenten season is observed in four Basic (and often overlapping) ways:
Self-examination- As we’ve discussed, this is central to the traditional Lenten observance. Use this time to ask yourself some hard questions about your spiritual life, your spiritual maturity. If you’re married, ask your spouse to give you his or her evaluation of your spiritual health. Many Christians have a Christian friend, or a small group of fellow believers, who have agreed to hold them accountable. If you don’t have an accountability group or partner, Lent might be a good time to initiate such a relationship. Parents—especially fathers—could use Lent as time to spend more time with their children individually, trying to understand their particular spiritual struggles and providing them encouragement.
With all this emphasis on self-examination, however, it is crucial to keep your focus on the gospel: All of us are more sinful and helpless than we would’ve ever dared admit, yet in Christ we are more accepted and forgiven than we would’ve ever dared hope. Be careful that your self examination is centered on this good news. There is always the danger of falling into morbid introspection, which can lead to despair over your own spiritual health and to a harsh legalism toward others.
Self-denial- The Lenten season traditionally is also a time for acts of self-discipline and self-denial, a time to remind ourselves that we do not live by bread alone. Self-denial helps us remember what is so beautifully signified in the Eucharist—that Jesus is the true bread of life, our only source of strength and sustenance.
The two major fast days of the traditional church year—Ash Wednesday and Good Friday—both occur during the Lenten season. Traditionally, the other days of Lent—except Sundays, of course—are marked by other acts of self-denial. Some common examples would be giving up one meal a day or giving up a particular food. Self-denial, however, doesn’t always involve what we eat; some people may work on other habits, seeking better to use their time. (I’ve known some people to fast from watching too much television!) For families in this dangerously frenetic culture, Lent would certainly be an appropriate time to cut back on the seemingly-endless flow of activities and spend time worshipping, praying, and learning together.
Since fasting is so unfamiliar to many in our culture, it is wise to consult with a pastor or other spiritual leader before making any decisions in this area. (Some people, of course—such as expectant or nursing mothers, the sick, and those on special diets—should not fast.) Before you begin fasting, I would recommend that you look at what the Scriptures say about the practice (see especially Matthew 6), and perhaps get some guidance from good books on the subject. And again, remember that there is nothing magic in these spiritual disciplines; they are tools to help you grow closer to Christ.
Acts of compassion- The Lenten season is a particularly appropriate time to ask God to fill you with compassion for the poor and oppressed and to put this into practice in concrete ways. This can take many practical forms. For example, there are Christians who give up one meal a day as a Lenten discipline, and then give the money they’ve saved by doing so to the poor. Many churches—including ours—have an Easter offering for ministries of mercy, so money saved during Lent could be given at that time. There are many ways in which families can practice compassion during Lent. In your neighborhood, there may be a poor family you could help (with or without drawing attention to yourselves). Or maybe you know an older person who lives alone who could use some help around the house—or would simply like having a friend. Some families save their loose change or forgo some simple expenditures, then give the money to the poor. Lent can be an excellent opportunity to teach our children the value of compassion.
Using the means of grace- Finally, the Lenten season is a time for renewing our focus on the means of grace—a focus that all-too-easily fades when not given adequate attention. Historically, the church has said there are three means of grace—three instruments through which God helps us grow to be more and more like Christ: the Scriptures, prayer, and the sacraments (such as the Eucharist.) If regular times of prayer and Bible study have never been a part of your life (or if they once were but have become less so), then Lent is a wonderful opportunity to begin these life-changing practices. There are scores of lectionaries and Bible-reading plans out there; talk with a pastor or mature Christian to help you find one right for you; there are also many helpful aids for developing a consistent life of prayer. The Lenten season would also be a good time to get involved in a small group—a practice that generations of Christians have commended as key to their spiritual growth. And if your family doesn’t have a time of worship together, Lent is a great time to start—and then keep going the rest of the year!
In our individualistic culture, it is all too easy to lose sight of the fact that Christianity is a communal faith, that the center of Christian life is not private religious devotion but corporate worship, gathering with fellow believers to sing, pray, and receive Holy Communion. There are many today who identify themselves as Christians but for whom the church is peripheral and tangential. If this sounds like you, then use this Lenten season to commit yourself to the community of God’s people. If you are a follower of Christ and yet have never been baptized, then make every effort to be baptized as soon as possible. If you have been baptized, remember that in baptism you were incorporated into a community, the family of God, and that you are to join in the family meal, the Eucharist. And parents, the Lenten season is a wonderful time to help your children realize that the church is their family, that worship is their first duty and greatest joy. And if your children understand the gospel, then this season could be a wonderful time to take the steps toward having them admitted to the Lord’s Table.
During Lent this year, my prayer for you is that this would be a truly blessed season, a time of genuine and significant spiritual growth for you and for your family. May God grant you a truly holy Lent.
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Craig Higgins is the planter and pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Rye, New York.
Posted: March 9th, 2009 under Catholicity, Liturgics.
Comments
Comment from Bob Smallman
Time March 10, 2009 at 10:10 am
Just a recommendation on the subject of fasting: Scot McKnight has just published a book, entitled appropriately enough, “Fasting.” It is published by Thomas Nelson and is, in my opinion, an excellent overview of the subject from historical, theological, and practical viewpoints.
Comment from Craig Higgins
Time March 10, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Good question, Adam, and I address it in Part 1, under the heading “Should We Observe Lent?”
Bob, thanks for the tip on Scot’s new book; didn’t realize it was out. His book on the daily office is also worthwhile.
Comment from Craig Higgins
Time March 10, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Adam, I hit “submit” too early. Feel free to follow-up if that brief section doesn’t address your concerns.
Comment from Adam Venable
Time March 12, 2009 at 8:28 am
Thanks for the follow-up Pastor Higgins. Your point about the Holy Spirit guiding Christ’s Church into greater awareness of Biblical truth is helpful. I am persuaded that peace of conscience grounded in Biblical truth powered by the Holy Spirit is most necessary for growth in catholicity and Godly ecumenism. Church tradition often emphasizes particular schools of thought that cloud the basic message of the Bible that is meant to unite believers around the living word. I think traditions can be helpful, just not helpful for catholicity. Why not emphasize something like the Trinity, God’s holiness, his heart for evangelism, the Sacraments, Justification by faith alone that are clearly taught by Scripture and things that all consciences ought to be bound to.
I’m only a lay-person, so I beg you to receive my thoughts with patience.
Adam Venable
Comment from Jamison Galt
Time March 12, 2009 at 8:51 am
Adam,
I’ve appreciated both of your comments, so take this as well-intended push-back. It seems to me that you are misapplying the concept of “binding the conscience” in your comments. No one is binding an individual’s conscience by encouraging them to consider the benefits of practicing Lent–unless a church is disciplining someone for not observing Lent, then it is not a binding of conscience. I may warn a person that it is extremely foolish to hang out in the Amsterdam red light district after hours, but unless I tell them that it is forbidden, I have not bound their conscience. This is a very important distinction.
And to make the matter more complicated, local churches do have to actually bind the consciences of individuals with respect to issues not addressed in the Bible. E.g. The Bible says a person must not neglect the assembly of the saints, and a session requires church members to attend a weekly service at a completely arbitrary time set by them. But why 10:00 a.m.? Why not 5:00 p.m.? How can they bind the conscience like this?! Well, they must; it’s inevitable. — I’m not being facetious here, either. I’m trying to illustrate that the issue of how the Bible relates to local practice, catholicity, and conscience is much more thorny than your comments might allow.
Feel free to push-back yourself. Blessings.
Comment from Jedidiah Slaboda
Time March 14, 2009 at 11:55 am
I would affirm Jamison’s comments Adam, and add that in the PCA Sessions are explicitly given the prerogative to set fast days for the church to observe precisely because observing such days and seasons of fasting is deeply biblical. Of course that leaves it up to a Session’s discretion as far as the day or season. If we as a denomination are in danger on the question of holy fasts it is in not binding it on the consciences of believers to fast at specific times, not for suggesting Lent is a good time to fast if one is so inclined. In other words, the Bible and our tradition gives us a lot more direction than we usually care to pay attention to here and I would think a little more binding of the conscience could keep us closer to the Bible when it comes to fasting.
Comment from Nathaniel Ruland
Time March 16, 2009 at 9:24 am
I think that so many churches within our denomination are still so fiercely individualistic (a hangover from our separatist roots) that sessions setting this or that will in itself be bucked by many congregations….simply because they don’t want to be told what to do by their church government. A lot of our members are former Baptists and doing something like setting a fast day for Lent or even a weekly mandatory day of prayer (both of which I kind of like) would be seen as highly suspicious activity. But, we have to start talking about this type of stuff if its ever going to change….I guess that’s why we’re conversing eh?
Comment from Adam Venable
Time March 16, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Jedidiah, your point is well taken. I hadn’t considered the the sessions right to call days of fasting and prayer. And I agree that days/seasons of prayer and fasting is deeply Biblical so long as OT “shadows” are not binding.
However, given that it is only the local sessions prerogative to set these days according to their own circumstances I still stand behind my comment that catholicity is best achieved by emphasizing what the Church has set apart as narrowly Biblical. Irony of ironies. And I think emphasizing a season of Lent for the whole Church stands outside this. I’m embarassed to say I can’t remember the last time I fasted
blessings
Adam Venable
Comment from Justin Donathan
Time March 17, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Agreeing with Jameson I would also just point out that Lent seems to me as Biblical as any of the other things mentioned. Adam said “Why not emphasize something like the Trinity, God’s holiness, his heart for evangelism, the Sacraments, Justification by faith alone that are clearly taught by Scripture…” But Lent places an emphasis on the sacrifice of Christ that preceded glorification (i.e. Easter, which few seem to object to emphasizing) and on the imitation of Christ. These are not systematics topics but they are certainly things the Bible emphasizes and it allows the church to address the narrative nature of our faith and the fact that it was and is the life, death and resurrection of a person in history that is at the center of our faith.
Comment from Craig Higgins
Time March 20, 2009 at 11:49 am
Good discussion, and Jamison has already said most everything I would have said. (I like that economy of effort.)
But as to the question of local churches calling a fast versus the catholic tradition of Lent, here’s a little thought experiment: Suppose a local pastor, through his personal ministry to his people, realizes a need for a period of prayer & fasting? So he (working with his Session or whatever) calls for such a season. Is this biblical? Of course! Suppose he’s having lunch with another local pastor and they agree that both their churches need this. Again, no problem. But what if it’s a whole presbytery? all the churches in a region? a whole denomination? What if they agree to do it every year, for the 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter? I don’t see any “regulative principle” issue.
We don’t “require” our people to fast, etc. during Lent. But we do encourage them “to keep a holy Lent”–not least because we belong to a big family, the whole church today and through the ages.
Comment from Nathaniel Ruland
Time March 20, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Gregg,
You made me think of something. I wonder if there is a connection between tradition and conviction. Does conviction (in the hope of recreating an experience of piety) cement tradition. Or, is it possible that purposefully placed Christian tradition, when rightly utilized by the Spirit, convicts.
Maybe both. I’m in seminary now and regarding the latest post: there are a lot of things I hope I learn.
Comment from Adam Venable
Time March 9, 2009 at 11:04 am
Pastor Higgins, I grew up Roman Catholic and came into the PCA in college. I am passionate about the Catholicity of the Church. I appreciate your emphasis on repentance during the Lentin season and the importance of our heart in worsip. One question though: I’m persuaded that catholicity is best achieved when we only bind the conscience according to the Word of God given to the His Church. This keeps us from majoring on the minors, etc and promotes common ground. So why emphasize Lent when the Word of God does not?
peace