Evangelicals' new twist on Lent

[Doyle_Mashern]

By Jacqueline L. Salmon

Evangelicals observing Lent?

Fasting, and giving up chocolate and favorite pastimes like watching TV during the 40 days before Easter are practices many evangelical Protestants have long rejected as too Catholic and unbiblical.

But Lent – a time of inner cleansing and reflection upon Jesus Christ’s sufferings before his resurrection – is one of many ancient church practices being embraced by an increasing number of evangelicals, sometimes with a modern twist. The National Community Church, which has three locations in the District and one in Arlington County, updated the Lenten fast by adding a Web component: a 40-day blog, where participants from as far away as Australia, Korea and Mexico discuss their spiritual cleansing.

msnbc.msn.com/id/23531037/

 

[Syele]

Lent wasn’t exclusively a Catholic Practice before, so it not too surprising that a few additional denominations are practicing it too.

 

[inthecloud]

Anglicans and Easthern Orthodox and many Lutherans observe Lent.

 

[rpp]

Lent wasn’t exclusively a Catholic Practice before, so it not too surprising that a few additional denominations are practicing it too.

Huh? Where are you getting this from? Upom what do you base this assertion? And when you say “before”, before what?

As I ask many people who make some rather amazing or incredible assertions, are you able to provide a citation and link to suport this assertion. Please limit yourself to either Catholic Links or scholarly secular ones. No Protestant links. After all, we are talking about a Catholic practice.

 

[Hisalone]

Huh? Where are you getting this from? Upom what do you base this assertion? And when you say “before”, before what?

As I ask many people who make some rather amazing or incredible assertions, are you able to provide a citation and link to suport this assertion. Please limit yourself to either Catholic Links or scholarly secular ones. No Protestant links. After all, we are talking about a Catholic practice.

Before now.

 

[rpp]

Before now.

So 2008 is the first year the Catholic Church observed lent? I myself remember a lenten fast in 2007 and another in 2006. Clearly you are wrong.

I noticed that you failed to give us any reason to believe your utterly ridiculous charge.

There is evidence to suggest that the 40 day Lenten fast dates back to around the 5th century. newadvent.org/cathen/09152a.htm

 

[Pong]

I noticed that you failed to give us any reason to believe your utterly ridiculous charge.QUOTE]

Cool it, mate. The previous poster was only saying that Lent hasn’t been strictly a Catholic practice since the reformation. It has extended to Anglicans, Lutherans, Orthodox, and a few others. That really isn’t a whacked out assertion…

 

[O.S.Luke]

Methodists have always practiced Lent, and inherited the Church of England’s celebration of the liturgical season. Also, Charles Wesley wrote hymns especially for the Triduum.

 

[rpp]

Cool it, mate. The previous poster was only saying that Lent hasn’t been strictly a Catholic practice since the reformation. It has extended to Anglicans, Lutherans, Orthodox, and a few others. That really isn’t a whacked out assertion…

I did not see any reference to the Reformation in any of the posts. And even in the seriously unlikey even that is what was meant, they still have not provided any citations for their assertions. On the other hand, I was able to provide a reference that indicated it goes back to the 5th century.

One should always be cautions when puttin words into the mouths of people. I see not evidence in any of the previousd posts to support your interpretation of their posts.

 

[rpp]

Cool it, mate. The previous poster was only saying that Lent hasn’t been strictly a Catholic practice since the reformation. It has extended to Anglicans, Lutherans, Orthodox, and a few others. That really isn’t a whacked out assertion…

I did not see any reference to the Reformation in any of the posts. And even in the seriously unlikey even that is what was meant, they still have not provided any citations for their assertions. On the other hand, I was able to provide a reference that indicated it goes back to the 5th century.

One should always be cautions when putting words into the mouths of people. I see no evidence in any of the previousd posts to support your interpretation of their posts.

 

[Pong]

FAO rpp:

Lent wasn’t exclusively a Catholic Practice before, so it not too surprising that a few additional denominations are practicing it too.

Lent is not now, nor has it been since the advent of Orthodoxy and Protestantism, a strictly Catholic practice. What is it about that very simple and accurate statement that seems to be giving you so much trouble? And what does the 5th century, as in 600 years before the Great Schism, have to do with anything? Lent has been a practice since the early church. Er… duh. But it did not remained a CATHOLIC ONLY practice. As in, the **Orthodox did it too. ** And the Protestants after that.

 

[graceandglory]

I believe the evangelical twist began about five years ago with this guy’s million dollar empire. I like to think that “their ain’t nothin’ new under the sun.”
Repackaged and redistributed to anti-Catholics, Rick Warren’s “Forty days of Purpose®” is Lent. If it’s Catholic, protestants will argue against it, but if it’s a mega million dollar industry, they jump on board. See, Rick Warren can copyright “Forty Days of Purpose” and make a million bucks. I don’t think he could copyright “LENT.” I say, don’t tell 'em.

The Purpose-Driven® Life is more than just a book—it is, in Rick Warren’s own words, “a guide to a 40-day spiritual journey.”

purposedriven dot com
purposedrivenlife dot com
rickwarren dot com

 

[rpp]

FAO rpp:

Lent is not now, nor has it been since the advent of Orthodoxy and Protestantism, a strictly Catholic practice. What is it about that very simple and accurate statement that seems to be giving you so much trouble? And what does the 5th century, as in 600 years before the Great Schism, have to do with anything? Lent has been a practice since the early church. Er… duh. But it did not remained a CATHOLIC ONLY practice. As in, the **Orthodox did it too. **And the Protestants after that.

:doh2:

You know, when I post at 5:00 in the morning, I am definately not at my best. Especially after suffering from insomnia and getting precisely zero sleep!

Okay, now I see what he is saying. Catholics were not the only one who observed Lent. Others did too.

For some twisted reason, my mind got the idea that he was saying Catholic did not observe the Lenten season until recently. :whacky:

I think it is time for me to go to bed.

Good night, everyone. Or at least, good morning. (Yes, I already went to Mass!)

(I think I will sleep with my pillow on top of my head. )

 

[Tonks40]

Personally, I’m glad that other denominations are starting to observe Lent again. This is something all Christians should be doing - it helps them center on Christ a little more.

Of course, to experience the fullness of the season is best done in the Catholic Church.

 

[Pong]

Rpp:

For your penance my child, you are to get a good nights rest and say a prayer to the patron saint of visual clarity.

 

[tundramom]

Of course, in Mormonism there isn’t a liturgical year. Then in the Assembly of God there was no Liturgical year. I celebrated it in a way with my husband, who is Catholic, but didn’t get the full effect of it until I became Catholic myself. How rich it is! I love observing all the seasons of the Liturgical year. Especially Advent and Lent.

in Christ
Steph

 

[Rawb]

They dance as close as they can to the Tiber of Rome,
And St. Peter’s towering dome.
But they’ll never get in,
To actually swim,
To come out and finally be home!

 

[First_of_9]

I particularly liked this comment from the article:

First Baptist Church of the City of Washington D.C. follows the liturgical calendar observed by Catholic churches. It lights candles at Advent, and observes Epiphany Sunday and the remainder of the traditional cycle of liturgical celebrations.

“We find that following the seasons of the Christian year adds a lot of richness to our experience of worship,” said the Rev. James Somerville, the church’s pastor, adding: **“We wouldn’t want the Catholics to get all the good stuff.” **(emphasis added}

 

[tundramom]

They dance as close as they can to the Tiber of Rome,
And St. Peter’s towering dome.
But they’ll never get in,
To actually swim,
To come out and finally be home!

I like that…but lets keep throwing a rope to them anyway!!!

 

[graceandglory]

“We find that following the seasons of the Christian year adds a lot of richness to our experience of worship,” said the Rev. James Somerville, the church’s pastor, adding: "We wouldn’t want the Catholics to get all the good stuff.:

I think we Catholics call that “THE FULLNESS OF FAITH.”