Lent

[Fiosh]

Sorry to interupt, but I still don't have my umbrella back from the guy I lent it to!

P.S. One mo' time: Which disciple - by name - is ever recorded in the Bible as practicing "lent"? And where & when did Jesus practice "lent"? HALP! Why romp all round Robin Hood's Barn on this biblical non-entity?

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

As your question is only applicable to those who are "sola Scriptura" I'll assume it's not directed at me. Therefore I shall go make a cup of tea as you talk amongst yourselves. Would you like a cup, Arthur? I'm fresh out of Capuccino!

[Arthur Durnan]

Tea yet? Holy guacamole! Why not though? Then we could consider Benedict XV's edict that "the nature of the (Roman) Catholic faith is that NOTHING (mine) can be added to it, NOTHING (mine( taken away. Either it's held in its entirety or rejected totally..." and enquire of Benedict XVI why the R.C. church has been in a state of constant flux since its third century inception including these few of multitudes of official add-ons as -

symbol of the cross (312 AD);

infant baptism (300 AD);

worship of angels (375 AD);

worship of saints (375 AD);

mass instituted (394 AD);

worship of Mary (431 AD);

last rites (526 AD);

doctrine of purgatory (593 AD);

services in Latin (600 AD);

use of holy water (850 AD);

celibacy of R.C. priesthood (1079 AD);

rosary beads (1090 AD);

transubstantiation (1215 AD);

immaculate conception (1854 AD);

assumption of Mary (1935 AD);

Mary as mother of R.C. church (1965 AD);

on without let-up into the night!

Tea, eh, what? Hmm, to be sure, a lovely invite! Leave it with me altho I'm not often in Rome.

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

[CaritateDei]

Sorry to interupt, but I still don't have my umbrella back from the guy I lent it to!

P.S. One mo' time: Which disciple - by name - is ever recorded in the Bible as practicing "lent"? And where & when did Jesus practice "lent"? HALP! Why romp all round Robin Hood's Barn on this biblical non-entity?

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

A brief History lesson, if I may...

No disciple ever practiced lent.

However, before most of the world knew of the Gospels (2nd and 3rd centuries AD) before the canon of the Bible was official, Easter Sunday was always celebrated by Christianity.

Easter Sunday was the day of remembrance of our Lord's Resurrection. Being that this was the day when the whole world was to recognize Christ's new life, Christianity set aside the Eve of Easter (Easter Vigil) as the day when "NEW LIFE" was to come to other people wanting to sign up and be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The word, Lent, which you so vehemently make fun of, and I respect that, is actually a word that means, "Springtime."

Obviousness would tell you that the Springtime is a time when that which had died in the winter comes back to new life.

Well, those that were dead, who had not known Christ, who had not been redeemed and cleansed of sin by Baptism, were invited to come to NEW LIFE by their baptism held on the celebration of the Easter Vigil.

Of course, those wanting Baptism needed a brief period of time to get to know Christ and get to know Christianity, so they understood the wonderful concepts of Faith, Hope, and Charity all given us by the grace of God. Because of this, they were given a week to a week and a half to prepare for their baptism and have some already baptized Christians guide them through the life-enriching decision.

This was during the Spring. So, they decided to call this the Springtime for those who were dead, so that they may be ready for new life in baptism. They called this brief period, which included fasting--LENT.

Eventually, lent became a process by which Christians who had fallen away, either by murder, adultery, or heresy and apostacy, could have a chance to return to Christ and seek forgiveness for their grave sins. This way, those that had known Christ could come back and know him once again because they had fallen to serious temptation by satan (as all of us sinners do every day.)

By the Fourth Century, (again, before the canon of the Bible was officially accepted by any council) Christians all over the world celebrated lent. It was a period by which all men, women, and children could acknowledge that they were sinners and they too, could celebrate the new life through fasting, abstaining from meat most especially on the day that the lamb of God laid down his life, and almsgiving. The period, however, was lengthened to 40 days, representing the 40 days Christ himself fasted in the desert, preparing for both his DEATH and more importantly, his Resurrection. The 40 days excluded Sundays.

Sunday was meant as a day of celebration, and it still is. This is why in most Christian traditions, funerals are not to be held on Sundays because it is supposed to be a day of celebration. Since every Sunday is the holy Sabbath, the day in which God rested, it is also a celebration of the day in which God Resurrected. On this day, you do not celebrate our sin and sinfulness by fasting. You celebrate new life by doing just that CELEBRATING.

So to answer your question, you are correct...no one in the Bible celebrated lent. Why? Because you can't celebrate something before it happens. I can't celebrate my future anniversary if I have not been married yet. I can't celebrate the death of Christ if the year is 0 AD. Of course they did not celebrate lent. We had not been redeemed by Christ.

A little history lesson for all.

[Iryssa]

Lent is fasting but always done from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday, not including Sundays. It doesn't mean we don't fast other times, it's just a time when it happens. There is also a focus on almsgiving, giving of oneself in general, and in remembering the ultimate Sacrifice. It is in preparation for Easter.

Can you explain why Sundays are days where fasting is lifted? I don't undrestand the reasoning.

From what I know, it's because Sundays are days of celebration, praise, and worship.

[Iryssa]

Sorry to interupt, but I still don't have my umbrella back from the guy I lent it to!

P.S. One mo' time: Which disciple - by name - is ever recorded in the Bible as practicing "lent"? And where & when did Jesus practice "lent"? HALP! Why romp all round Robin Hood's Barn on this biblical non-entity?

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

*sigh* none of us are claiming that Lent was practiced by a disciple. If I made that claim, point it out to me, because I'll remedy that in short order.

My question is, why is it that a disciple has to have practiced it to make it something worth doing?? I promise you that the disciples all fasted at some point...Lent is a fast, just done at a specific time of year. What is the big deal??

[Yahsway]

If lent is fasting and a time of reflection and seeking God, I personally think thats great. But it should be done according to scripture. When we fast, it is suppose to be between the individual and God. No one else is suppose to know, I guess for pride reasons.

I do not think that something like lent should seperate believers or cause division. It should be a personal matter between the individual and God. And I personally believe, since the Father does give us as individuals free will, it should also not be a requirement but an option. Let every man work out his own salvation with fear and trembling.

[DavisLady]

I decided to give up taking a shower for forty days

Oh no, don't do that! LOL!

Anyhow, I do not observe lent either. Instead, through my daily walk with God, I try to give up anything that may be harmful to myself and to people around me. I think that is the way it should really be. If someone is giving up cursing, for example. Just for lent?! Come on people, lets give it up entirely! So my prayer is this.. That everyone who is observing lent and giving up bad stuff in their lives may give it up not only for 40 days, but for the rest of their lives!

Rebecca

[Iryssa]

I decided to give up taking a shower for forty days

Oh no, don't do that! LOL!

Anyhow, I do not observe lent either. Instead, through my daily walk with God, I try to give up anything that may be harmful to myself and to people around me. I think that is the way it should really be. If someone is giving up cursing, for example. Just for lent?! Come on people, lets give it up entirely! So my prayer is this.. That everyone who is observing lent and giving up bad stuff in their lives may give it up not only for 40 days, but for the rest of their lives!

Rebecca

Lent isn't about giving up things that are in and of themselves sinful or destructive, really. Giving up something like cursing just for lent would be silly, I agree. Some people give up meat for Lent. Meat isn't sinful or destructive (well, unless that's ALL you're eating, or you're stealing it to have it or something ) It's just something some people enjoy, and they give it up for Lent to say "Here, God, this is a sacrifice in my own life for you. I enjoy meat, but I'll go without it during the week in rememberance of your Great Sacrifice, and in this I might experience even the tiniest fraction of it. The money I would usually spend on meat, I will give to those who need it more..." etc. etc. etc.