The Perils of Lent

Last week’s post considered the good aspects of Lent. To summarize, we cannot properly celebrate Christ’s victory on Easter without lamenting his suffering and death during Lent. Thus, the concentrated repentance and self-denial of Lent is a fitting way to approach Easter.

Now let us consider the negative aspect of Lent. Despite Lent’s importance, it is common for it to become petty. For example, we “sacrifice” in trivial ways and for the sake of self-improvement, like forgoing junk food in order to improve our health. Improving our health might be good, but we shouldn’t fool ourselves into thinking that it’s a “sacrifice” for God. This might fall under the heading of “using the Lord’s name in vain.” To co-opt God’s name in order to support one’s agenda is problematic, and it seems that Lent is filled with such deviousness.

To use the previous example of abstaining from junk food, what do you do if this “fast” becomes a burden to others? What if junk food is all that is offered by the one serving your meal? Do you, as Jesus commands, “eat what is set before you”? (Luke 10:8) Or do you make a god out of your self-imposed fast? Sometimes Jesus will call us to end the fast for his sake and for the sake of loving our neighbors. When He calls us to do so, our self-imposed fast must be abandoned if we are to remain true to Christ. In other words, the true self-denial commanded by Christ might mean abandoning the “self-denial” we have chosen for Lent.

The other potential problem with Lent is the notion that observing church seasons is what makes one a Christian. Quite simply, this is ridiculous. Christianity is not about things we can do quite easily like observing Lent, but about faith, hope, and love. A self-imposed fast is not to be equated with the “worship in spirit and truth” that God desires.

We would do well to read Colossians: “Why do you submit to regulations, ‘Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’? All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings. These have indeed the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence.” (Colossians 2:20-23) For that reason, “Do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)

Ultimately, we must not confuse our self-chosen Lenten fast with the true self-denial commanded by the living Christ. Because Christ lives, his call to deny ourselves and follow him will come in ways we don’t expect and haven’t chosen. We can try to make a law out of our self-chosen fast during Lent, but “the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities.” (Hebrews 10:1) Insofar as Lent directs us to Jesus Christ, it is a good practice in which to participate. We must remain mindful, however, of our tendency to confuse the shadow with the reality, and to choose our own form of self-denial over and against the self-denial required by the living Christ.

Because He is risen and still lives, Jesus’ call to follow Him is alive and continual. (“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35) His call to deny ourselves (Lent) and to rejoice in the living God (Easter) continues to this very moment, and it ought to ring in our ears always, regardless of the season.