Lent
As we prepare for our first Grace Downtown observance of Lent, I want to offer a brief testimony.
I am a latecomer to Lent. I’ve not been unaware of the practice, but uncomfortable with the way I
observed it practiced; baffled by its triviality (i.e., giving up M&Ms for God) and bothered by its temerity
(approving oneself to God). Having grown up in an agnostic family with a smattering of Catholicism,
where traditions lacked explanation or vitality, Lent was an ancient and irrelevant tradition. More so,
having been formed in a theological tradition which historically and faithfully stood against corruptions
and abuses attendant to the church calendar, I viewed Lent as spiritually dangerous and so wary of its
practice. What changed? A few things.
First, the testimony of fellow ministers and Christians regarding the spiritual goodness of Lent, alongside
seeing it practiced well, was compelling. Second, my own experience of the non-Lenten seasons of the
church calendar—Advent, Holy Week, Pentecost—yielded a rich, personal testimony. Third, the more I
contemplated the historic Church and the Spirit’s faithful development of her, as well as the vital
doctrines upheld by the calendar, my suspicion eased.
The church calendar is NOT law! However, practiced faithfully, believers throughout the ages have
found it to be a wise and powerful discipleship “tool”. We follow our cultures celebrations, holidays,
and solemn days, adhering to the message and values, often without question or thought as to how it
shapes us. In the Old Covenant, the Lord instituted a calendar of holy days, sabbaths and feasts, so his
people might distinguish and resist unholy cultural influences, but also form them in the ways of the
Lord. In Acts we find the early church adapting the calendar according to Messiah (Christ) who had
come, and the kingdom he inaugurated. We are always being formed by our rituals and rhythms! The
church calendar, practiced biblically and faithfully, centers us upon our Lord, his great saving work, and
his return. It also helps sanctify our participation in our cultures calendar, so we might affirm all that is
noble, be ‘salt and light’ and direct hearts and allegiance to our Creator and King.
The season of Lent (the “Forty” days), began in the 3rd century as a one, two, or six day fast in
preparation for Easter. By the early 4th century, the fasting period was extended to 40 days symbolizing
the fasts of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. During the early church, converts preparing to join the church on
Easter would fast in preparation. Early church fathers such as Athanasius (c. 297-373 AD) and the Council
of Nicaea (325 AD), affirmed the importance of Lent. Since then, Lent is recognized as one of the earliest
practices celebrated by the historic, global Church. So, how does Lent instruct and benefit us?
First, Lent instructs us in Repentance. Jesus’ wilderness fast was a period of testing and righteousness;
ours is a period of testing and repentance—the latter, reformed protestants reckon as a grace. Jesus
enters testing without sin (“in him there was no sin”, 1 John 3.5), and emerges sinless. We enter testing as
sinners, needing to grow in repentance (“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us”, 1 John 2.8). This is partly why we fast, in response to our need of repentance. Maybe
repentance from impulsivity, revealed by our eating or phone habits; repentance from escapism via
binging tv series, excess alcohol use, or filling our social calendar; repentance from cultural idolatries like
scrolling Instagram for the perfect life or religiously listening to our favorite pundit. Romans 14.23
states: “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” Fasting exposes false-trusts; our faith in mini-
saviors. Repentance turns us to the Cross of Holy Week, where we find our great Savior, Jesus.
Second, Lent instructs us in Death. Lent begins by being marked out by ashes and hearing the
declaration: “From dust you came and to dust you shall return”, we embrace the reality: “Man is like a
breath; his days are like a passing shadow” (Ps. 144.4); “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the
flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
(1 Peter 1.24-25). This is a reality from which humans desperately run and hide. We distract ourselves
with images and promises of forever-youth, invincible strength, curated beauty, and endless pleasure. In
modern society the inevitability of mortality is buried, smothered, and drowned out. The fact that
Christians spend 40 days meditating upon death is not only counter-cultural but reveals a soberness and
fearlessness with respect to death. We can reckon with death because our Savior has entered it and
swallowed it. And, by the fruits of his death we are liberated to enter the practice of putting sin to
death.
Third, Lent instructs us in Life. The Apostle Paul writes: “For the love of Christ controls us, because we
have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who
live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
(1 Corinthians 5.14). Ironically, it is by the resurrection life of Christ in believers, that we can put to
death sin. “I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and
the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave
himself up for me.” (Gal.2.20) Typically the fast of Lent is broken by Sunday Sabbath, the resurrection-
life celebration for believers. A weekly reminder and celebration that our dying to self is only made
possible by being alive in Christ. And, as followers of Jesus who “no longer live for themselves”, Lent
then makes way for deeds of charity and compassion.
I look forward to joining many of you this Lent, beginning Ash Wednesday, February 14th.
May our meditation and practice unto Repentance, Death and Life form us into the image of our Savior,
Jesus.
Grace upon Grace,
Glenn
Sources: Rev. Joel Littlepage, Dr. Tim LeCroy.