Are you observing Lent? If so, are you giving up anything?

Yes, David. I just put on my pants 'cause we're going to the funeral home, and I observed Lent on them. I think I'll give up anything that might cause this to happen in the future. Any ideas??

Seriously, no, not observing. No, not giving up anything. No, won't consider observing it. IMO, it's neither biblical nor baptistic.

 

I Lent my wife a dollar. Hope she pays me back!

 

David, I'm curious. Does your church obseve lent or is it a personal preference?

 

I don't observe Lent. Why would I? I thought that was a uniquely Roman Catholic idea.

 

For the record Bob, I'm Alliance/CBF - not SBC .

I personally observe Lent with the traditional disciplines of prayer, readings, and fasting (of some sort - I usually give up desserts). As a congregation, our worship will reflect the season through appropriate readings and responses and the use of Purple (or Rose on Refreshment Sunday).

The Lenten disciplines are as biblical as any other aspect of contemporary worship. Jesus and the disciples clearly observed times of prayer and fasting; and the liturgical year is a tool for spiritual formation that is built around the life of Christ.

Joshua

 

Joshua, in the Anglican Church, Morning Prayer (the service) is conducted each day of Lent..the prescribed scripture readings are inserted. Then a special day of pennance is observed on Ash Wednesday.

Does your church, as a Baptist Church, follow the same regimin? I go along with my wife to the Anglican Church, of which she is a member, and I was just curious. Lenten services are not foreign to me and I fully understand them.

Cheers,

Jim

 

For anyone interested in an article on Lent from the Catholic Encyclopedia, CLICK HERE.

 

Are you observing Lent?

I sure am. The filter on my dryer was full of it this afternoon.

 

Me and Lent?

I'm an inny, I've got plenty!

 

Yeap, I often observe lent on my clothes when ever I wear a black or navy skirt!
No I do not observe the holiday. I've never seen a verse in the Bible saying we should. I don't even know what lent is about. I always thought it was a jewish holiday, not catholic. I really don't know anything about it.
Got to go. I'm observing lent on my black stockings........!

 

Nope! Not Jewish! Believe me! 8oD

I would not think of observing Lent. I am curious
as to why people who are not Catholic do it and
why they do that little ash thing. Funny -- I get
criticized for observing Passover and other holy
days, which our Lord observed, and people do
these holidays, which would be foreign to Him,
and it is all right. 8o) Just an observation. 8o)

 

Oh, by the way: are you observing Mardi Gras?
It has begun. TIme to sin profusely so that you
will have something to repent about. 8o)

Unfortunately, people die celebrating it. One boy
was murdered in a northern city last year. Why?
A riot broke out and he tried to protect a young
lady from a mob. The mob turned on him. He
died, they caught the murders on tape, and they
are doing time. The young man? He was said to
have been a kind, gentle young man -- the kind
who would protect a young lady.

But he is dead and a family grieves. They
celebrated Mardi Gras by placing a wreath on
the place where he was shoved to the ground and
beaten by thugs.

How did we get here?

 

Lent is a time of reflection, instituted by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church. It may not be in the Bible, but there is nothing wrong with the discipline. Incidentally, giving up for lent is not giving something up for two weeks,,it is giving someting up that is interfering with your faith relationship with the Lord.

Ash Wednesday is when one has a simple meal after a fast. Our English custom is pancakes. The ashes are a symbol of humility in pennance. Don't call it lent of that troubles you, but the discipline can't hurt anyone. It leads up to the cross and the resurrection, the two focal points in all of Christendom, without which we would be a mere religion of sorts.

Cheers,

Jim

 

In our church, many people observe Lent, but it is not an official emphasis of our church.

Many of my friends observe Lent by giving up some pleasure or frivolity in order to devote more time to prayer and good works. To be specific, some have given up television and instead pray, seek God and look for ways to serve others. Another friend gave up chocolate (a real sacrifice for her!) and used her chocolate cravings as a reminder of the sufferings and sacrifice of Jesus and the sufferings and cravings of others around her each day that she can ease.

I am considering it this year, but I don't know what I would give up.

In any case, I think it is a valuable Christian discipline if conducted in the proper manner (no "Fat Tuesday") and focused on fellowship with Christ and service to others.

 

Perhaps I did not say it, but what are the origin and
meaning of Mardi Gras? And not what it has been
brought up, what about Fat (I thought it was Phat)
Tuesday?