“What are you giving up for Lent and why?” is a question often asked around in the church (or among Christians, whatever term you prefer) when Ash Wednesday comes around. It is a time when believers all over the world observe a time of fasting, moderation, repentance and reflection for typically forty days in “honor” of Christ’s death and His resurrection. Shortly after Christianity was legalized in 313AD, the Council of Nicea comes in the picture where gathered together to bring about a consensus of Christian conduct and discipline. One of the disciplines established was the practice of a period of fasting, typically 40 days, prior to a more intense week of fasting during Holy Week. There were many rules and regulations attached to this period (which I won’t go into) but one can safely assume the season of Lent was established during this time, a time integral to any Christian’s life. Fast forward many years to today and the Christian practices we uphold. Good Christians read the bible, pray, attend church and small groups and the month and half before Easter Weekend, we give up something to observe Lent. But why do we do this? What is your reason for giving up anything in the season of Lent? Is it REALLY to honor Christ and bring an intense season of remembrance in your life?
When asked about fasting by the John the Baptist’s disciples, Jesus replies, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast” (Mt. 9:15). Here Jesus gives us foresight into the rich analogy of His relationship with His people, the church – that of the bridegroom (Jesus) and the bride (the church). There are many examples of what fasting is (and isn’t) in scripture, but the verse in Matthew gives us insight to simple instruction and perspective of fasting – do it when Jesus is not here. What does this entail? In the absence of a savior and true king, God’s people were constantly under the rule and reign of foreign kingdoms and influences. However during these times, prophets would prophesy that there would be a coming King, from the line of King David that would bring peace and prosperity to God’s people. We can be sure that there was fasting and mourning and desperation in their prayers to God for this King to come! We flip the pages of scripture to the Gospels on the arrival of Jesus. He Himself proclaimed that He was the King of the Jews, the LONG awaited King, but not in the way that the Jews wanted. A select few were convicted of His message, became His disciples and continued His work after He ascended into heaven. Today, once again He is physically no longer here. To a certain extent, we feel the sentiment of the Jews of Old, where there was no Jesus. However, scripture is abundantly clear that He actually is, not in physical form that makes sense to us, but through the Holy Spirit! To which I return to my original question, “what are you giving up for Lent and why?”
This is a strange paradox that we live in. Jesus is here through the Spirit, but not yet, as indicated in Revelation, that Jesus Christ Himself, in physically/tangibly will come to rid the world of pain, suffering, and sin. Clearly we have pain, suffering, and sin in the world today. But we have the promise of the Holy Spirit that He is with us NOW and will empower us to continue His work and BE CHRIST wherever we go. So here is my conviction: I don’t fast while weeping and mourning because Jesus isn’t here yet, but I fast in excitement that the Holy Spirit lives in me, and to hear His voice that much clearer, and in anticipation Jesus WILL come and establish His COMPLETE rule and reign in this world. I now approach fasting with JOY. I don’t flaunt it in the street corners but in the secret place, rejoice in the Lord for His promises today and for tomorrow. I leave you with this quote from Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury: "It’s important to remember that the word ‘Lent’ itself comes from the old English word for ‘spring’. It’s not about feeling gloomy for forty days; it’s not about making yourself miserable for forty days; it’s not even about giving things up for forty days. Lent is springtime. It’s preparing for that great climax of springtime which is Easter—new life bursting through death. And as we prepare ourselves for Easter during these days, by prayer and by self-denial, what motivates us and what fills the horizon is not self-denial as an end in itself but trying to sweep and clean the room of our own minds and hearts so that the new life really may have room to come in and take over and transform us at Easter."
From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
March 30, 2014