What Could Lent Mean for Evangelicals?

Ash Wednesday was yesterday. Many of us are unaware of it's significance. Some have become aware recently and as Evangelicals have begun to participate in the practice of Lent. Ash Wednesday begins the start of this spiritual exercise.

The practice of Lent is ancient but it's practice by Evangelicals is fairly new. I found myself asking why Evangelicals rejected it in the first place and what our purpose is for engaging in it again?  I do not want this to be a strictly academic exploration, in fact I will not dive in too deep.  I just want to scratch the surface and begin my own journey into further understanding it.  I tried to read articles and posts that cover a broad range of reactions to the Evangelical community participating in Lent in order to be well rounded in my approach.

Initially Reformers rejected Lent because it was not a practice demonstrated by Christ. In reaction to the Roman Catholic Church and practices that were not biblically based, and because of abuses of power, the practice of Lent was abandoned. This is an oversimplified summary. There is so much more. But for my purposes initially, it is enough.

Some quotes I found valuable in my search:

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 4.12.20 (1536)

Calvin is clearly hostile to describing lenten fasting as an imitation of Christ.

Then the superstitious observance of Lent had everywhere prevailed: for both the vulgar imagined that they thereby perform some excellent service to God, and pastors commended it as a holy imitation of Christ; though it is plain that Christ did not fast to set an example to others, but, by thus commencing the preaching of the gospel, meant to prove that his doctrine was not of men, but had come from heaven. And it is strange how men of acute judgment could fall into this gross delusion, which so many clear reasons refute: for Christ did not fast repeatedly (which he must have done had he meant to lay down a law for an anniversary fast), but once only, when preparing for the promulgation of the gospel. Nor does he fast after the manner of men, as he would have done had he meant to invite men to imitation; he rather gives an example, by which he may raise all to admire rather than study to imitate him. . . . It was therefore merely false zeal, replete with superstition, which set up a fast under the title and pretext of imitating Christ.

Furthermore, Lent was rejected because it was seen as a works based way to add to Christ's work of grace. It was viewed as a work done by human will power that resulted in no significant spiritual transformation.  It was an act accomplished solely on human strength. To Reformers and early Evangelicals, Lent was a mockery of what Christ wanted to accomplish in our lives. It was rejected for numerous reasons, one of them being how it was practiced by their contemporaries. Reformers and some early Evangelicals saw it as meaningless and counter productive practice because reliance on Christ and the Spirit was not a part of the observance. To give up a sin for a time does not honor Christ's sacrifice or his desire to fully transform us and bring us victory over sin. Again, very over simplified.

John Owen, On the Mortification of Sin in Believers (1656)

Owen wrote extensively on the Christian practice for mortification of the flesh. However, he was very clear to differentiate the gospel practice of mortification from practices of “popish devotionists.” 

That the ways and means to be used for the mortification of sin invented by them are still insisted on and prescribed, for the same end, by some who should have more light and knowledge of the gospel, is known. Such directions to this purpose have of late been given by some, and are greedily catched at by others professing themselves Protestants, as might have become popish devotionists three or four hundred years ago. Such outside endeavors, such bodily exercises, such self-performances, such merely legal duties, without the least mention of Christ or his Spirit, are varnished over with swelling words of vanity, for the only means and expedients for the mortification of sin, as discover a deep-rooted unacquaintedness with the power of God and mystery of the gospel.
They bid men vow to abstain from their sin for a season. This commonly makes their lust more impetuous. Perhaps with great perplexity they keep their word; perhaps not, which increases their guilt and torment. Is their sin at all mortified hereby? Do they find a conquest over it? Is their condition changed, though they attain a relinquishment of it? Are they not still in the gall of bitterness? Is not this to put men to make brick, if not without straw, yet, which is worse, without strength? What promise hath any unregenerate man to countenance him in this work? what assistance for the performance of it? Can sin be killed without an interest in the death of Christ, or mortified without the Spirit? If such directions should prevail to change men’s lives, as seldom they do, yet they never reach to the change of their hearts or conditions. They may make men self-justiciaries or hypocrites, not Christians.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, sermon from John 1 (1962)

Lloyd-Jones is blunt in his appraisal.

Lent, of course, is a relic of Roman Catholicism. One can easily understand it in such an organization – it gives power to the priest, and so on – but there is, I repeat, no evidence whatsoever in favor of it in the New Testament, and it simply leads to this show of wisdom and human will power. It is people adding their works to the grace of God, and this is essentially Roman Catholic teaching. Well, my friends, let us get rid of this, let us not waste our time with it. We are to be led by the Spirit always.

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So, where does that leave me? I believe the practice of Lent for Evangelicals needs to be evaluated more thoroughly. Perhaps we need to develop a more complete understanding of it's history. We should know why it was rejected by Reformers and early Evangelists. In order to avoid the spiritual pitfalls it can lead to,  we need to know what they are and what led to them. I think we need to clearly define our purpose for this practice and also how we can use it beneficially for our spiritual growth.

Where do I stand on Evangelicals observing Lent? I clearly feel the need to evaluate it more. I am not prepared to throw away the concept just yet. I myself participate in this practice.

 At this point I view it as more of a spiritual exercise. I have found that observing it is an opportunity to prepare spiritually for Easter. When I practice Lent, I use fasting from an activity, substance or thought pattern as a catalyst.  When I long to participate in the activity I am fasting from I use that to remind myself to depend on the Holy Spirit. I use it as an opportunity to pray and reflect. When I catch myself wanting to participate in the act I am fasting from, it is a reminder to connect with Christ and more specifically his journey to the Cross. It is an opportunity to rely on the Spirit for strength in the task I have chosen to fast from. I have always viewed this work as opportunity for long term change.

These practices have prepared me for celebrating Easter. I find myself more mentally and spiritually prepared to participate fully in the extraordinary event that changed history. Without this preparation period, Easter comes and goes without enough time for me to engage it meaningfully.  I hurtle through without enough time to reflect on why Jesus conquering death and rising again is such a game changer for believers, for me.

Maybe I feel the need for this more and more because we have moved away from the Church calendar. We no longer emphasize the spiritual rhythm created by the calendar. I often feel these spiritual seasons come and go without enough time to contemplate. Life is moving so fast for me right now. I need to engage in a practice that helps me purposefully and deeply connect with all that God accomplished by sending Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:9-10
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Through Jesus dying on the cross, we receive the forgiveness of our sin. I receive freedom from my sin. Through Jesus conquering death by rising on the third day, we receive eternal life.  The hope of glory is for all of us because of this incredible event. Transformation in our lives is possible through the Spirit and there is good news for all. We serve a living, mighty God.  The spiritual exercise of practicing Lent has helped me rejoice in this more fully, more mindfully. I hope everyone can find a spiritual exercise that will help them to achieve this preparation.

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