Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Feb/82

Contributor - Rev. Case Koolhaas

Title - LENT: A Gift Wrapped in Plain Brown Paper

Topic - Lent

Write an article about Lent! They couldn't have made a worse choice, I thought. Lent leaves me cold. Roman Catholics may need it, but I don't!

But a job is a job. I read all I could find about Lent. When I was finished, I discovered that what started as a 'chore', turned out to be a wonderful gift. How often the Lord sends His precious gifts in plain brown paper!

Historical Origin:

The word 'Lent' comes from the Old English 'Lencten' or the lengthening of days which we call spring'. Lent has been observed during most of the history of the Christian Church. Irenaeus makes mention of it in the third century. The canons of the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. make mention of it, but it wasn't until the seventh century that the Western Church made Lent into a period of forty days of fasting. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and ends at noon on the Saturday before Easter (this year, February 24th to April 10th). Sundays are not counted in the forty days. Originally Lent was a time of fasting. At first only one meal was allowed, but gradually this practice was relaxed. The purpose of Lent was to be a time of preparation for Easter. Usually the main emphasis was on doing penance, confession of sin, and doing something to indicate a repentant spirit. Of late, observing Lent has been reduced to a time of "doing without something".

Do We Really Need to Celebrate Lent?

I'll let you decide for yourself. Most things in life tend to degenerate if left to themselves. The paint on the house gets to looking worse, not better. We tend to pray less, not more. Bible reading time gets shorter or left out completely. Our needs tend to get bigger and those of others less important. Making sacrifices for the sake of God's Kingdom does not happen unless a very strong wind moves us in that direction and then often against our will. Yet, all these things - prayer, meditation upon scripture, service, worship, fasting or "doing without", are God's tools! He uses them to strengthen our faith, deepen our commitment and increase our desire to serve and worship. Do you need to celebrate Lent? Think over the past year. Have you grown in trust and service , co your Lord? Are you praying more? Is your concern for the needs of others greater? Are there habits and attitudes in your life that you know God would like to replace? We all need a time for spiritual restoration and renewal. Our lives need a 'spring clean-up' as well as our homes.

How Can I Celebrate Lent?

Lent should not be so much a time of "doing without something" as a time of -doing something". A time for giving up those things that keep us from being effective workers in the vineyard of the Lord and a time of taking up those things that draw us closer to the Master and His work. A "food fast" may be an effective way Of saying, "Lord, I really am serious about wanting You to create a clean heart in me, and putting a new and right spirit in me". A "TV fast" may be more effective for someone else. But don't stop there. Make it also a forty days of "doing with something extra", such as a time of daily prayer and meditation. Replace TV watching with reading, not for entertainment, but for spiritual growth. Richard Foster's book Celebration of discipline is one of the best! Forty days of daily sharing something about your experience with Christ with others in another way. Memorizing scripture can be a tremendous growth experience. Expressing your thanks in letter or word to those who usually go unthanked, like the janitor, mail man, etc. is another way. Pray that Lent may be a time for growth in gratitude and compassion.

Make an Appointment with Yourself:

I met a person whom I greatly admired. "I must get to know him better," I thought. Several years later I saw him again - still a stranger. Until I set an appointment to meet him, he remained a stranger. It is not enough to want to "do something about Lent". Put it on your calendar. Make an agreement to do it with another person. Also, remember who came to visit Jesus when He fasted in the wilderness for forty days (Matt. 4). Satan will do all he can to keep you* from getting started. He knows all too well that celebrating Lent can be a powerful growth experience. Ask God to help you. He wants us to grow in grace and knowledge of Himself. As you celebrate Lent in this way, you may also discover that the package in plain brown paper is a precious gift from your heavenly Father.

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