LENT
It's that time of year again. It's the period of Lent as we prepare for Holy Week, the crucifixion (the murder of Jesus Christ the Messiah, Savior, and Redeemer), the death, burial, resurrection, and reappearing of our Lord.
Lent is a period of time that gets me riled up. Why? It's because of this article. Please read it before you read the rest of this blog post.
http://www.religiontoday.com/blog/5-things-christians-are-giving-up-for-lent.html
I read this article and I say:
REALLY?!?
For the Lord, who was murdered in a horrendous way, we are willing, for 40 days, to give up our gluttonous ways--then once that box is checked, we return to the old sinful ways.
Nice.
This is our thanks and response to what Jesus Christ did for us?
Really?
Really. No. Really.
How egotistical, self-centered, off-course, sinful are we? How small are we?
We will be the first to point out how we live in a sinful world. We shake our head at others, but refuse to address the Redwood/Sequoia trees in our own eyes.
(Looking in the mirror.)
For what Jesus did on the cross, we will give up chocolate? (For only 40 days, mind you--and not a second beyond that.)
Pardon me?
Then, we pat ourselves on the back at the end of 40 days.
Nice.
Lent is about TRUE sacrifice. Deep, painful sacrifice. And, it's more than a check-mark when we completed the thing/activity for Lent.
By the way, Lent isn't just about giving something up. It can be adding something to our lives.
What about giving $100 extra to charity this month? Or adding $50 to charity giving each month?
What about pledging three hours a day to nothing but Bible reading and/or prayer, on top of what we already do? And, giving up sleep to do so?
What about reading the Bible all the way through in 40 days?
What about giving up 10 hours a week to volunteer work?
What about serving at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter every weekend or week during Lent?
What about going to your neighbors and volunteering to help them with housecleaning or yard work?
What about sending care packages to troops overseas? Or writing them letters?
Here's another idea: If you get a raise at work, rather than spend that money, continue with the spending you already do, and give the raise's money to charity.
What about taking the sweet lady or man next door or up the block to the store each week--or offer to buy stuff for them when you go?
What about listing 100 things each day for which you are blessed--and giving thanks and glory to God?
What about taking the focus off of self and on others--as the previous things suggest?
The five Lent items in that article are all self-oriented. Did you notice that not one was God or others oriented?
We need to go deeper, not shallower.
We need to quite focusing on me, myself, and I--only you when it's convenient (and that includes You, God, and Your Word).
If you can give something up, like the five things mentioned above for Lent, why not give them up mostly permanently, if not permanently?
Lent means true sacrifice, not something convenient or easy. It's something for God, not for self. It's something to do to remember Christ's sacrifice, not to check a box.
And, remember if you give something up for Lent, you are to replace it with something God or Word-related, not fill in the time with other things you want.
Just some thoughts from an old fool...
(Looking in the mirror as I type. I'm just as guilty of this.)
How are the 5 things from the article living a life of Jesus? (Except if you're an alcoholic or obese. That's different--and I applaud you.)
Updated last on March 12, 2014, 303 p.m.
