Incoherent Ramblings of an Insane Pastor

Fasting  If you ask the average Joe on the street if he knows anything about Lent, the majority will talk about “giving up something” or fasting some type of food or fasting on a particular day. It's so popular that restaurants actually advertise their fish options during Lent. Have you noticed the number of fast food places that are pushing fish sandwiches? Traditional fasting is denying yourself food for a period of time. The purpose is to deny the physical and focus on the spiritual. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before starting out in ministry (Matthew 4). He was so hungry that Satan actually used bread as a temptation. Jesus kept his spiritual focus and responded to each temptation with scripture. But what about alms-giving and why tie it to fasting? If you fast and give up red meat, only to replace it with a meal that consist of a 1200 calorie Filet-O-Fish combo, or give up sweets and use 15 packs of aspartame, I don't think you...

During the Season of Lent, the emphasis of the early church was of repentance, fasting, prayer and giving alms. This was all to prepare for the Easter Celebration. So let's look at the emphasis on repentance. Repentance is simply a change of direction of the heart. If you are living solely for yourself and your own pleasure, God is calling you to repent or change that direction and head towards Him. There are many places where repentance is emphasized in scripture. Jonah (tiny little book in the Old Testament) Jonah was a prophet who was tasked by God to deliver a message to the city of Nineveh. The message was to give them a choice. Repent from their wicked ways or face judgment and destruction. Jonah was a somewhat unwilling prophet, but he finally realized how important the message was to God. The message was delivered and the city changed. God is serious about the message of repentance, but it has to sink into our hearts before it can change anyone around us....

What it's not. It's not Biblical. There are no stories in the Bible of the season of Lent. No character ever said that he's giving up something for Lent. There's no passage that says, “Thou shalt observe Lent!” It's also not Roman Catholic. Although it is mostly only observed in liturgical churches, it isn't exclusive to them. It's not voodoo for Evangelical Protestants to observe. No one's going to revoke your church membership or tie you up and drop you off at the nearest Episcopal church. It's also not just about giving up stuff and having someone rub ashes on your forehead. Even though that is the only thing you may have been exposed to. It's much deeper than that. What it is. I believe it is Beneficial. And I do believe it is Biblical in the way that it is rooted in Biblical truths. Everyone can use a seasonal reminder of self sacrifice, giving, and prayer. In fact, it is so rooted in those truths that it should b...