Do Protestants celebrate Lent?

[rr1213]

Well there are some ‘fundamentals’ who don’t celebrate Easter as they see it is an evil Catholic invention. Unfortunately.

I think that this derives instead from the passage where Paul talks about some Christians who hold certain days to be more important than others and other Christians who believe that all days are the same. As Paul noted, it is an issue that falls in the sphere of Christian liberty.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

I think that this derives instead from the passage where Paul talks about some Christians who hold certain days to be more important than others and other Christians who believe that all days are the same. As Paul noted, it is an issue that falls in the sphere of Christian liberty.

AHH yes I understand now.

 

[jack_hawkins]

Sorry, but the crucifixion took place of Friday 3rd April, 33AD. There was a lunar eclipse that day to prove it.

I written about this before on a different thread…
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=1706005#post1706005

A Wednesday crucifixion is a foolish argument that some Saturday Sabbath keepers use to try and win support for their cause (continuing the argument that Jesus was resurrected on a Saturday).

The people proposing a Wednesday cricifixion aren’t all Saturday Sabbath keepers for a start - I can’t see the connection personally. Saturday is the Sabbath plain and simple, Sunday is the Lord’s Day. It certainly makes more sense of the 3 days to me. Simply calling it “foolish” doesn’t make it so.

 

[jonfan]

REALLY I have never heard of that before. After all Christianity is because of Good Friday and Easter and what happened. Without Easter we wouldnt have christianity.
Who are these Fundies? Do they have a name/denom? Maybe they are just a very small amount and they happen to live near you.
people I wonder if they can even call themselves christians.

I understand your reaction AFH. It is true though. Here is one link:

fellowshipinhislove.com/NoEaster.html

That is why said ‘Protestants’ in the OP. Protestants meaning ‘mainline’.

 

[ForwardProgress]

The Anglican Church downtown does Lent…they even have a seafood gumbo sale on Fridays.

 

[Syele]

Yeah the whole logic of “Pagans celebrate “Easter” so we must be very boring that day of the year” is nuts IMO. I really think it’s a passing fad. IF it’s not the pagans can play mean games with them… “Ohh I know we’ll make all those Christians hide on Feb 16th! We’ll announce a new Pagan holiday that day! MUHAHAHA!”

 

[ALLFORHIM]

I understand your reaction AFH. It is true though. Here is one link:

fellowshipinhislove.com/NoEaster.html

That is why said ‘Protestants’ in the OP. Protestants meaning ‘mainline’.

Hi,
I read the article. It seems a bit radical:shrug:

Did you know the tradition of coloring Easter Eggs came from Germany. My son just did a report on this. The Germans brought it to America. Same with the Christmas tree.

 

[Jennifer_G]

A Lutheran parish in my neighbourhood has Lenten Services on Wednesday nights. They also are having Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services.

Our Lutheran church also does that. They even have ‘Lenten Dinner’ on Wednesday (Chicken Soup…).

 

[Zirconia]

Well there are some ‘fundamentals’ who don’t celebrate Easter as they see it is an evil Catholic invention. Unfortunately.

:bigyikes: :bigyikes: :bigyikes:

Who???

Perhaps they put the “mental” in “fundamental” ?

I think it is a very good thing that both Catholics and Protestants can share in a time devoted to commemorating the Crucifixion and Resurrection. It reminds us that although neither community necessarily sees eye-to-eye on most things, we are nevertheless in vast agreement about the bedrock of our shared faith.

Zirconia

 

[jonfan]

:bigyikes: :bigyikes: :bigyikes:

Who???

Perhaps they put the “mental” in “fundamental” ?

I think it is a very good thing that both Catholics and Protestants can share in a time devoted to commemorating the Crucifixion and Resurrection. It reminds us that although neither community necessarily sees eye-to-eye on most things, we are nevertheless in vast agreement about the bedrock of our shared faith.

Zirconia

Amen.

 

[jack_hawkins]

:bigyikes: :bigyikes: :bigyikes:

Who???

Perhaps they put the “mental” in “fundamental” ?

I think it is a very good thing that both Catholics and Protestants can share in a time devoted to commemorating the Crucifixion and Resurrection. It reminds us that although neither community necessarily sees eye-to-eye on most things, we are nevertheless in vast agreement about the bedrock of our shared faith.

Zirconia

…and taken out the “fun” - perhaps they should be called just “-damentals”?

 

[Elzee]

A friend of mine goes to a non-denominational church in town. It seems like a mixed bag…they ‘mention’ Lent, but seem to define it only as the 40 days before Easter - not a ‘penitential season’ or a time to prepare for Easter. It’s just a time period. Although they recognize "Good Friday’, it’s in a very nominal sense - no church service, no mention of it really since they want to focus on the resurrected Christ.

My friend, usually give up sweets each year during Lent as a way to lose weight. It has no religious or sacrifical meaning to her -she just uses these weeks as a time to lose weight. In my heart I’m praying this is a small step towards her realzing there is more to Lent, Good Friday, etc. than she’s getting at her church.

 

[Cat]

Before I became Catholic, I knew nothing about the existence of a liturgical calendar. I knew about St. Pats and St. Vals day, but I didn’t realize they were about real people; I thought they were legends. I knew about Advent because some of the evangelical Protestant churches I attended lit an advent wreath. But they didn’t talk about the history. And I knew about Good Friday and Easter, but never knew anything about Maundy Thursday until I was much older.

What’s interesting is that years ago, when I was an extreme evangelical Christian, I made up my own liturgical calendar. It included different holidays (secular and Christian) and discussions about the various days. I used it in designing curricula for the Children’s Church program that I ran.

It’s as though I needed the “order.” The Bible talks about the Lord is a god of order. I guess since we are created in his image, we need order, too.

I LOVE the liturgical calendar! It hooks me up with the ages of Christianity and helps me to realize that I’m part of something much bigger than myself. The universe does NOT revolve around me, and God doesn’t just exist to be my personal genie.

 

[Zirconia]

A friend of mine goes to a non-denominational church in town. It seems like a mixed bag…they ‘mention’ Lent, but seem to define it only as the 40 days before Easter - not a ‘penitential season’ or a time to prepare for Easter. It’s just a time period. Although they recognize "Good Friday’, it’s in a very nominal sense - no church service, no mention of it really since they want to focus on the resurrected Christ.

I’m confused (definitely not for the first time) :whacky:

First, I cannot see how there can possibly be a resurrection without a death. And since both are absolutely necessary to our faith, it likewise seems necessary that we commemorate not only Easter but also Holy Friday; Easter doesn’t make much sense without it.

So far as Lent goes, my regular church doesn’t mention Lent at all, whether as a time to prepare for Easter or as a penitential season. I see it mainly as a season of spiritual renewal before Easter.

So is it absolutely necessary to be miserable during Lent?

I am wondering because now I scarcely want it to end, and because the whole time I was preparing for Lent, the phrase “Let us seek the Lord with joy” was resounding in my mind…

Zirconia

 

[lak611]

So is it absolutely necessary to be miserable during Lent?

I have never been miserable during Lent. My Lenten practices usually include extra prayer, extra Bible reading, attending Stations of the Cross. I try to do more in terms of spiritual preparation rather than focusing on “giving up” foods. Trust me, abstinence from meat is no sacrifice. My favourite foods are fish, seafood, pasta, salad, tofu, etc. I don’t even eat burgers (I buy the Gardenburgers or Boca Burgers). I probably only eat foods that are unacceptable for Fridays in Lent about 3 times a month at other times.

 

[Zirconia]

I have never been miserable during Lent. My Lenten practices usually include extra prayer, extra Bible reading, attending Stations of the Cross. I try to do more in terms of spiritual preparation rather than focusing on “giving up” foods. Trust me, abstinence from meat is no sacrifice. My favourite foods are fish, seafood, pasta, salad, tofu, etc. I don’t even eat burgers (I buy the Gardenburgers or Boca Burgers). I probably only eat foods that are unacceptable for Fridays in Lent about 3 times a month at other times.

Oops…

I always thought that Catholics were somehow supposed to be miserable during Lent. I think some of it may have come from watching the movie “Chocolat”

So far as the food part goes, it would seem to be a matter of perspective; someone already on a restricted diet might find it to be an intensely meaningful devotion.

Zirconia

 

[lak611]

Oops…

I always thought that Catholics were somehow supposed to be miserable during Lent. I think some of it may have come from watching the movie “Chocolat”

Actually, we are not supposed to be miserable during Lent. The Fourth Sunday of Lent is called in Latin Laetare Sunday (the only day besides the third Sunday in Advent where the priest wears rose coloured vestments–Third Sunday in Advent is Gaudete Sunday). Laetare means “rejoice”, which is the first word of the Introit.

 

[jmcrae]

Oops…

I always thought that Catholics were somehow supposed to be miserable during Lent.

It’s “penance,” (drawing closer to God) not “punishment.”

I think some of it may have come from watching the movie “Chocolat”

The movies aren’t really the best source of information about Church teachings - they always seem to focus on the funny things done by people who are missing the point.

So far as the food part goes, it would seem to be a matter of perspective; someone already on a restricted diet might find it to be an intensely meaningful devotion.

Quite so.

 

[lak611]

Oops…

I always thought that Catholics were somehow supposed to be miserable during Lent.

It’s “penance,” (drawing closer to God) not “punishment.”

So, since I already follow the abstinence thing almost all year, and do not consider it to be adequately penitential for my circumstance, I do other things in addition, such as extra prayer, Bible reading, attend Stations of the Cross, etc.

 

[jmcrae]

So, since I already follow the abstinence thing almost all year, and do not consider it to be adequately penitential for my circumstance, I do other things in addition, such as extra prayer, Bible reading, attend Stations of the Cross, etc.

That’s absolutely wonderful!