What Every Christian Needs to Know About Lent
In our community, we have people from many different cultures and countries as well as some who have been Christians for many years and others who have just recently decided to trust in Christ. Every year around this time I get asked; “What is Lent?” “Is Lent in the Bible?” “What are we supposed to do for Lent?” “Is giving up Ice Cream good enough?”
Here is a brief survey of the history of the Lenten Season.
The word Lent comes from a Latin word (Quadragesima) that means forty. Lent is meant to commemorate the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert, where He was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13). Lent has become a season of mourning and anticipation for Christians as we prepare our hearts for Easter. The heart behind Lent is to help us focus on the central themes of the Gospel. Christians are to mourn the sufferings of Christ on Good Friday as we anticipate Jesus’ victory over sin and death on Easter Sunday. Christians around the world in every conceivable tradition observe Lent in some way. The Eastern Orthodox Church calls it a season of “bright sadness” a moniker that captures rather exquisitely) the tension for all faithful Christ followers.
The Hebrew Scriptures
40 Days is a significant amount of time in the Hebrew Scriptures. The Most prominent example we have is Moses who went into the mountains to fast and pray in preparation for receiving the Ten Commandments. In Exodus the writer records that Moses:
“Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water” - Exodus 34:28
We also have the example of Elijah who similarly traveled 40 days and nights to be with God. (1 Kings 19:8,9). 40 seems to be a significant number in some other contexts; most notably the 40 years Israel wandered in the wilderness (Numbers 32:13).
The New Testament
In the New Testament, we see God repeating the pattern with Christ at the beginning of his earthly ministry being Tempted in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. The number 40 bookends Christ's earthly ministry in Acts 1:3 when we learn that Jesus was with His disciples after His death, burial, and resurrection for 40 days prior to his ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9)
The Early Church
While there is evidence that the Christians had observed Lent prior to the third century it is the writings of the church fathers that give us the clearest picture of the significance of Lent to the early church. Athanasius of Alexandria wrote that the Lenten fast was to last 40 days and that "the entire world" would keep this fast. Saint Augustine of Hippo (AD 354–AD 430) wrote that: "Our fast at any other time is voluntary; but during Lent, we sin if we do not fast." The historical practice of Lent has always included fasting of some kind.
Here & Now
How are modern Christians supposed to observe Lent? Some people will give up an indulgence like wine or ice cream, while others will undertake something more challenging such as giving up meat or even undertaking a 40-day fast. If you are going to undertake a fast of this length you should make sure you are healthy enough and do some further John Chrysostom (c. 347-407) was the bishop of ancient Constantinople who gave a sermon on the practice of Christian fasting you can access it an excerpt here. (https://www.redeemer.com/learn/prayer/prayer_and_fasting/fasting_basics)
If you are new to Christianity or perhaps you have trusted Jesus for years but never undertook a fast here are a few tips and encouragements.
Give up something you will feel. I once knew a young woman who told me quite proudly that she ordered the cake for dessert because she was giving up ice cream for Lent. While it’s possible that she really, really likes ice cream so much that the concession of eating cake instead actually meant something to her, I suspect she misunderstood the nature of fasting. You should have the sense, while you are fasting, that you are “going without” to remind us of how “Jesus “went without” on the Cross as He lost His life, His dignity, and the love of the Father.
Don’t brag about it. Jesus gives us instructions as to the condition our hearts should be in as we fast.
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” - Matthew 6:16-18
Keep up your outward appearance and try to resist the temptation to pat yourself on the back.
3. Do not look down on others who aren’t fasting or not going to the same lengths as you. A fast is an inner discipline and you should make every effort to keep it between you and God. Resist the temptation to look down your nose at people who are less disposed or disciplined. If undertaken with the wrong attitude spiritual disciplines like fasting can result in a kind of spiritual pride that undermines the Gospel of grace.