The Discipline of Lent
The Discipline of Lent
Mardi gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Lent. What is a good Protestant to make of all of these things?
Lent, a traditional time of preparation, repentance and denial in the Christian calendar, is often neglected if not unknown in our circles. The loss is ours. Not because of a wistful hope for the past, nor is it simply a loss of a valuable Christian practice, though it is. We have lost valuable time on the calendar. For Christians, time is a valuable commodity. For it is in the time we are given that we work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12-13; 2 Peter 1:3-11), proclaim the great deeds of our God to the nations (Psalm 96), and walk in good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).
For others, Lent is a season of small self-denials until Easter. The word Lent conjures up images of no chocolate, no caffeine and fish Fridays. If this is the sum total of Lenten practice, then its fading from our common practice is a gain. Too often, the focus of the Lenten season is wrongly attuned to that which is put off, when the real value of Lent is found in the provision of space to put on (Colossians 3:5-17). The time between Ash Wednesday and Easter is an opportunity to discipline your daily moments in preparation for Resurrection Sunday (Luke 24:1-12, 32-35).
Don’t simply deny yourself television or social media. Reclaim that time by putting on prayer and study in its place.
Don’t simply give up chocolate. In those moments where your desires are captivated by chocolate, pause and refocus your desire to those things above (Colossians 3:1-3).
If caffeine is your substance of choice, ask God to be your strength (Psalm 28; 119: 147-149).
In all of these denials do not settle for merely giving something up. Allow these little acts of self-denial to open up your understanding of that which Christ denied himself, gave up for you and me, during this season (Philippians 2:5-11).
The profound Christian life requires time and discipline. Lent provides a time on the calendar to reflect on Christ—His life and passion—while we join Him through small acts of denial, repentance and prayer. Don’t let Lent stop at putting off, when the real discipline is putting on something in its place.
This Lenten season put off those things that hinder you from readying yourself to celebrate our Risen Savior (I Corinthians 15:19-28)! Let us, together, put on the discipline of Lent.