The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Lent

Growing up Baptist I was never exposed in any major way to the practices of Lent. Likewise, today I am part of the PCA and in a church that, while recognizing the season of Lent, does not put any real emphasis on the season. The bulk of my church's emphasis during the season is on preaching the scriptures of Jesus' days leading up to the cross as well as the redemption and specifically the grace and hope the cross shows through scripture. All of that to ask the question; is Lent something scriptural that we should continue to hold fast to today, or rather a tradition carried over from Rome that we protestants have held on to, albeit in a more limited way?

I find nothing in Scripture which would mandate either celebrating nor even recognizing "Lent", i.e., as a special time for the Church. An individual believer is free, of course, to spend time reflecting upon the events of that time so as to offer thanksgiving and adoration of Christ and His infinite love for him/her as demonstrated in His atoning sacrifice.

In His grace,

If there's nothing 'scriptural' about the celebration of Lent, it begs the question, where does it come from, why do we do it? I'm not trying to destroy tradition, but it seems there should be something more than tradition that dictates what we as a church hold to.

Here is what Wikipedia says about the origins of Lent.

Are Easter, Good Friday, Christmas celebrations supported by Scripture.

Some would argue no. Knox was pretty explicit that no day was 'celebrated' other than the worship of the Lord on His day. The Genevan's also practiced this initially, but I can't see that Calvin subscribed to this. It apparently was something instituted prior to Calvin's arrival in Geneva that Calvin disagreed with on some level, but I cannot find anything to indicate how deep his disagreement with the practice went.

Yes. There are 52 days a year set apart to celebrate Easter! And celebrate the Incarnation, cross, and empty tomb the other 313, or 314, as well!

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I agree with everyone.

From the link that John provided.

The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer—through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial—for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

THE SECOND HELVETIC CONFESSION
Of Holy Days,
Fasts and the Choice of Foods

LENT. The fast of Lent is attested by antiquity but not at all in the writings of the apostles. Therefore it ought not, and cannot, be imposed on the faithful. It is certain that formerly there were various forms and customs of fasting. hence, Irenaeus, a most ancient writer, says: "Some think that a fast should be observed one day only, others two days, but others more, and some forty days. This diversity in keeping this fast did not first begin in our times, but long before us by those, as I suppose, who did not simply keep to what had been delivered to them from the beginning, but afterwards fell into another custom either through negligence or ignorance" (Fragm. 3, ed. Stieren, I. 824 f.). Moreover, Socrates, the historian, says: "Because no ancient text is found concerning this matter, I think the apostles left this to every man's own judgment, that every one might do what is good without fear or constraint" (Hist. ecclesiast. V.22, 40).



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