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Padres1969
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Yep, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists among others celebrate Lent and many observe fasts of various sorts through the season.
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Chet1
Guest
Some protestants do celebrate Lent, notably the Episcopalian/Anglican churches, (both liturgical bodies.) Some American Baptist Churches do as well. But, in the evangelical arena Lent is not a formal liturgical season. It’s usually a time of focused Bible study, prayer, and discipleship leading up to Easter and practices vary from one local church to the next. Most mainline protestant churches, at least in my experience, ignore Lent altogether.
That’s the opposite of my experience. Lutheran, Reformed, Methodist, Anglican typically follow the Church calendar.
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Chet1
Guest
Oh, I agree, I mentioned Anglicans and should have included Lutherans,as well. As to Methodists and Refirmed churches, i was raised in the Methodist and Reformed, (Presbyterian,) churches and didn’t even know what Lent was, until I was an adult attending an American Baotist church, and then, "celebrating"Lent was a “new” concept for them.
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Wannano
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Why don’t you do me a favor and explain what you feel celebrating Lent actually means and what it accomplishes for you.
The idea of becoming “religious” for a common determined time before Easter is not something I am involved in. Shouldn’t our Lenten attitude be lived out all year long every day as we submit to the Lordship of Christ during our life here on earth?
The idea of becoming “religious” for a common determined time before Easter is not something I am involved in. Shouldn’t our Lenten attitude be lived out all year long every day as we submit to the Lordship of Christ during our life here on earth?
Observing Lent is a better term than celebrating. I’m surprised by your experience in Methodist and Presbyterian settings.
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ltwin
Guest
In America, both Presbyterianism and Methodism were historically non-liturgical in practice, and depending where you go you may see more or less of that. You only see trends towards more liturgical worship start in the latter half of the 19th century.
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gohjedrek
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There is a time for each season in the liturgical calendar. Lent is a time of deep fasting, alms giving and prayer, 40 days ending on the Saturday before Easter. It is a time of praying more and fasting during the season. The liturgical calendar is unchangeable, there is a beauty in observing it.
The general idea of living out a life to give up for Christ is essential each day, even though individuals decrease in their spiritual life post-Lent, which is seasonal in general. It applies to each individual regardless of whether the church is liturgical or not. For instance, protestant church camps generally last for 3-4 days and after camp, people have this zeal to go to church. After a while, they stopped going to church.
The general rule is that this question shouldn’t be asked regardless of denomination, because it becomes a form of pride. How I would like to think of it is that if you go to church and practise regularly post-lent, good for you, if you don’t, then I should encourage you. What is the point of comparing of others based on your spirituality, because at the end of the day, we are not perfect and only God can judge us. If you think of lent as seasonal and inappropriate to spiritual growth, then it’s your choice not to observe it. But for many, this season brings people back to a genuine relationship with Christ, we do not know if people during this lent changed their hearts to dedicate their lives to Christ daily, vice versa. The same applies to the church camp, some people might be moved to commit to God and follow daily after the camp. In this regard, I prefer to be more optimistic of the Lent season than against it.
In fact, I will like to go further to say that those who are regularly devoted, have more incentive to observe Lent because you will be at a better position to pray and nurture individuals to continue a committed spiritual life after Lent.
The general idea of living out a life to give up for Christ is essential each day, even though individuals decrease in their spiritual life post-Lent, which is seasonal in general. It applies to each individual regardless of whether the church is liturgical or not. For instance, protestant church camps generally last for 3-4 days and after camp, people have this zeal to go to church. After a while, they stopped going to church.
The general rule is that this question shouldn’t be asked regardless of denomination, because it becomes a form of pride. How I would like to think of it is that if you go to church and practise regularly post-lent, good for you, if you don’t, then I should encourage you. What is the point of comparing of others based on your spirituality, because at the end of the day, we are not perfect and only God can judge us. If you think of lent as seasonal and inappropriate to spiritual growth, then it’s your choice not to observe it. But for many, this season brings people back to a genuine relationship with Christ, we do not know if people during this lent changed their hearts to dedicate their lives to Christ daily, vice versa. The same applies to the church camp, some people might be moved to commit to God and follow daily after the camp. In this regard, I prefer to be more optimistic of the Lent season than against it.
In fact, I will like to go further to say that those who are regularly devoted, have more incentive to observe Lent because you will be at a better position to pray and nurture individuals to continue a committed spiritual life after Lent.
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Wannano
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Thank you for your thoughtful contribution. I have nothing against Lent if it is necessary for spiritual growth for some people. I have a problem with the whole Mardi Gras idea of a night of binging and really enjoying a night of sinning because one will be restricted for the next 40 days.
When I read the history of Lent it is presented to have been formulated within the Catholic Church. This interests me for as I understand the Catholic Eucharist when one partakes he/she is present at the crucifixion of Christ and that ideally this should happen every day and that to partake worthily means to be free from sin. I have trouble understanding why the Church would set up a 40 day period once a year to give up vices when ideally one is required to be in that state at every partaking of the Eucharist.
There is probably something I am not understanding.
When I read the history of Lent it is presented to have been formulated within the Catholic Church. This interests me for as I understand the Catholic Eucharist when one partakes he/she is present at the crucifixion of Christ and that ideally this should happen every day and that to partake worthily means to be free from sin. I have trouble understanding why the Church would set up a 40 day period once a year to give up vices when ideally one is required to be in that state at every partaking of the Eucharist.
There is probably something I am not understanding.
I understand. My experiences are from the mid to late 20th century. Of course, I’ve not spent much time in a Methodist setting, and less in a Presbyterian one.JonNC:
In America, both Presbyterianism and Methodism were historically non-liturgical in practice, and depending where you go you may see more or less of that. You only see trends towards more liturgical worship start in the latter half of the 19th century.
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gohjedrek
Guest
Traditionally speaking, I don’t really have a good opinion of Mardi Gras and don’t practised it but this again is an issue of conscience. You have bad eggs that really go on with a night of full-out sinning and don’t even observe lent as well. You have those in the middle who understand that there is going to be a long fast soon, so they just want to celebrate a bit more, but definitely not in excess. Then there are the traditionalist, that don’t celebrate Mardi Gras and observe fasting throughout the year.
So your idea will be why don’t Church set 365 days? The 40 days fasting is more mandatory because it aligns with Christ suffering 40 days in the desert in temptation. As to more days beyond that, I will consider it as a form of piety. Great to give up throughout the year, but so to speak the eucharist discipline is to fast an hour before partaking in the eucharist. If you are talking about giving up throughout the year, I don’t see a huge issue with the Catholic Church, in fact the Catholic Church obligates individuals to give up their time for saturday vigil/sunday mass. That in itself, is already uncomfortable for many especially for those who are busy with their lives.
So your idea will be why don’t Church set 365 days? The 40 days fasting is more mandatory because it aligns with Christ suffering 40 days in the desert in temptation. As to more days beyond that, I will consider it as a form of piety. Great to give up throughout the year, but so to speak the eucharist discipline is to fast an hour before partaking in the eucharist. If you are talking about giving up throughout the year, I don’t see a huge issue with the Catholic Church, in fact the Catholic Church obligates individuals to give up their time for saturday vigil/sunday mass. That in itself, is already uncomfortable for many especially for those who are busy with their lives.
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GKMotley
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I don’t observe Mardi Gras at all. I observe Shrove Tuesday, and the tradition of a meal heavy on sweets and fats, before the austerity of the 40 days (excepting Sundays). Hence, pancakes and sausage/bacon. At the parish.
I know some folk have a rather different idea of what to do on Shrove Tuesday.
I know some folk have a rather different idea of what to do on Shrove Tuesday.
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Wannano
Guest
I personally don’t have a problem with observing Lent, that is up to the individual for I don’t think the intent was meant to chalk up brownie points with God. Some might see it that way but they are uninformed.
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Tommy999
Guest
Lent can be looked at as a duty and ritual in which the person does certain things out of obligation or tradition and nothing more.
Lent can also be a way to look at things from a different perspective. It offers a change of pace from the daily grind. For example, Ash Wednesday service for me was a way to highlight and focus on my mortality and my need for Christ. I needed that poignant reminder to concentrate on what is truly important in life or otherwise I tend to meander through life without proper focus while doing the same things every day. Lent helps provide that reality check and focus and to be even more grateful for Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
Does a Christian need to observe Lent in order to encounter those things? No, but they sure have helped me in my spiritual walk since I started observing it.
Lent can also be a way to look at things from a different perspective. It offers a change of pace from the daily grind. For example, Ash Wednesday service for me was a way to highlight and focus on my mortality and my need for Christ. I needed that poignant reminder to concentrate on what is truly important in life or otherwise I tend to meander through life without proper focus while doing the same things every day. Lent helps provide that reality check and focus and to be even more grateful for Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
Does a Christian need to observe Lent in order to encounter those things? No, but they sure have helped me in my spiritual walk since I started observing it.
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