Do Southern Baptists Celebrate Lent?
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Today is Ash Wednesday. It’s a day Southern Baptists often don’t observe. At least that is my own personal story. Celebrating Easter is joyous. But observe lent? Give up something? That just wasn’t in my background. Until a few years ago.
My pastor, Dr. Rick Thompson, has led our church in the past few years to not only focus on the resurrection, but to focus on the cross. There would be no resurrection if there had been no cross. No sacrifice. No perfect, unblemished sacrifice.
One of my friends recently returned from India where he observed the Muslim holidayof Eid al-Adha. He had taken a group of university students to watch the slaughter of goat after goat. He said it was gruesome and difficult to watch. The thought of slitting an animal’s throat and seeing all the blood is not a picture this city girl really wants to experience.
A blood sacrifice is not something our western ears or eyes are familiar with. But shouldn’t we consider the ultimate sacrifice that gave us freedom from continuing the slaughter of imperfect sacrifices? As New Testament believers, we realize there was only one substitution for sin– Jesus Christ. I love how Eugene Peterson paraphrased Romans 3:25 in The Message. “God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public–to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it’s now–this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.”
So today I consider the season of lent. What sacrifice will I make this season to help me focus on the cross? How will I use these 40 days to draw closer to the one who created me and gave His all for me? In the past I’ve fasted from chocolate, coffee and soda. Each time I was tempted to want those things, it caused me to consider how little a sacrifice food is in comparison to the cross. But this year I still haven’t decided how I will fast. I’ve decided it’s not about the fasting of a worldly pleasure as much as the development of my heart. Instead of just skipping the Diet Coke, I’m consider how much different my life might be if I memorized one verse a day for the next 40 days. Would that cause me to consider my Savior more if I immersed myself into His word and hid it in my heart?
Will you consider the lent season? How will you prepare your heart for Easter? Is there something you need to “give up” for 40 days? Or is there something you need to “add” to your spiritual walk? I’d like to know what God is teaching you today about lent.
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Joel 2:12
I am the Women's Missions and Ministries Specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Our purpose is to encourage women to embrace and echo God's heart for the world.
Our church, an SBC church in Birmingham, has used lent as a concentrated time of service rather than a typical fasting period. We sacrifice our time and efforts to build the kingdom of God in a tangible through community outreach and local mission projects. The past few years we have, as a congregation, built a Habitat home. This year, we are building two homes.
That’s awesome Jonathan! I love the thought of us being a living sacrifice just like Romans 12:1.
The Passion of our Savior was reflected within our Community Group Bible study last evening. We were impressed with the story revealed in Mark 14:1-9; where a woman “did what she could..” how that plays out in our lives today…then Mark 14:32-36…”Yet I want your will not mine.”
Passionate pursuit of the will of God in my life is something to “add” to the story of the Passion of Christ.
Kelly, I was impressed most by your statement:” I’ve decided it’s not about the fasting of a worldly pleasure as much as the development of my heart. ”
Can’t you just hear the voice of our Savior as He stated, ” She did what she could” & then Christ’s heart-cry …”Your will not mine.”
Always, Connie Copenhaver, ewomen emmanuel sbc edmond ok
Our church, an SBC church in Birmingham, has used lent as a concentrated time of service rather than a typical fasting period. We sacrifice our time and efforts to build the kingdom of God in a tangible through community outreach and local mission projects. The past few years we have, as a congregation, built a Habitat home. This year, we are building two homes.
Finally a SBC that celebrate Lent! I have been debating on whether or not to celebrate lent, and now i have a reason to!
Yep! Southern Baptists can and do celebrate Lent. We just need to remember that it’s not about the ritual, but about the attitude of our heart as we prepare for Easter.
Kelly,
I was raised in Kansas in the Lutheran Church but became a member of a Nazarene Church 6 years ago. My husband (who attended the Friends Church) and I were married in the Nazarene Church 4 years ago. We moved to a small town in North Texas and after several months of “church shopping” have found a wonderful Baptist Church where we feel welcomed and loved. We have not yet joined the church but feel it is a good fit for us and my father (who is Lutheran and also lives with us). He really loves his Sunday morning class and they love him.
I am writing this because today is Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday and tomorrow begins Lent. I asked my husband “Does the Baptist Church observe Lent” because nothing was mentioned this past Sunday. His response was “I don’t know” so here I am. Growing up my parents never “enforced” the giving up of something but my best friend was a strict catholic so I would encourage her in her “fast” by doing it with her and observing “fish Fridays”. As an adult Lent became more about the constant reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for me and like you said, every time I wanted that Dr Pepper or candy bar it reminded me to pray and thank Jesus for His sacrifice and thank God for His Grace.
Being “new” to the Baptist Church I am still learning the differences in the doctrine and beliefs of the Southern Baptist compared to my Lutheran/ Nazarene knowledge. I was encouraged when I found your blog from Feb 17th 2010, Do Southern Baptists Celebrate Lent? It reminded me that whatever I do, it should be because I strive to please God first and not man.
I would like to know where the mention of Lent is observed in the Bible. I do appreciate the views of my brothers and sisters in Christ but, I would like to read for myself where Christ commanded this ritual to be observed.
Rene, I think your question is valid and I hope that I can respond in a way that will help. You’re right–Lent is not found in the Bible. But the principle and spiritual discipline of fasting is very Biblical. The forty days that represent Lent can be found throughout Scripture, including when Jesus fasted prior to being tempted by Satan. (Moses in the desert is just another example) I believe Lent is not something that should be a legalistic ritual, but a matter of the heart. Why do we observe it at this time? Actually, fasting and spiritual focus should happen throughout the year, but I tend to see this as a spiritual preparation of my heart to focus on the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord. Many times I believe we are very casual in our approach to the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf. This time of focused fast often reminds me that my fasting is nothing compared to what Christ did for my salvation and redemption. Easter is more precious when I’ve spent time recognizing that Christ conquered death and offers me eternal hope. I pray this gives you an answer. Lent is definitely not an ordinance instituted by Christ, but a spiritual practice.
To me this is just a tradition of men. Why do we need to set aside 40 days to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ when this is something we as true born again Christian should remember every day. Not a day goes by that I am not reminded of the great price that was paid so that I may have forgiveness of sin and eternal life. The things that people do at Lent, the way they live their life, the good deeds they do, the sacrifices they make, giving, prayer and fasting are all things that should be a normal part of the Christians life. We are to pick up our cross and follow Him Daily, not just 40 days before Easter. We are to be imitators of Christ daily, not just for the forty days before Easter. If you need to celebrate lent to live this way by all means do it but continue to live this way everyday. Maybe you do not need Lent but you need to repent and surrender your life to Jesus every day. If the Church’s served the Lord like this every day instead of just the forty days before Easter they would have a mighty impact on their communities. If the individual believer would live this way every day he would have great influence and impact on the people in his mission field the Lord has given him, his sphere of influence. Matthew 10:38
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
Matthew 16:24
[ Take Up the Cross and Follow Him ] Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
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Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
If you ask me Lent teaches people they can live as they want for the rest of the year as long as they practice Lent 40 days.