Should Protestants Observe Lent?

By Pastor Dan Eckart

BIBLICAL ROOTS The Christian Lent has Older Testament Hebrew roots. It is related to the annual Jewish Passover Festival which celebrates the beginning of deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery and bondage in Egypt around 1300 B.C. Our current observation of Lent developed over many centuries. In the early church, Lent became a time of preparation for baptism into the Christian faith. For those already baptiZed, it was a time of reflection upon one's own baptism and a renewal of the vows and commitment taken in regard to Christian discipleship. Those who were new to the Christian faith needed to be instructed and educated in the beliefs and doctrines of the Church. The Lenten Season became a time to provide such indoctrination. Originally, the period of time set aside for this was 36 days, which is 1/10 or a tithe of the calendar year. Later, 4 more days were added. The 40 days are symbolic of the 40 days Moses spent on Mount Sinai receiving the Law, the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness, the 40 days Elijah fasted on the mountain of God, the 40 days Jonah preached for revival in Nineveh, the 40 days Jesus was tempted and fasted in the wilderness, the 40 hours of Christ's entombment, and the 40 days between Christ's triumphant Resurrection and His Ascention into heaven. Lent is rich with Biblical symbolism and meaning. SYMBOLIC MEANING Though not the longest season in the Church calendar, Lent is one of the most important because of its symbolism. Lent is a time of spiritual preparation for Resurrection Sonday. We can not get into heaven with the Ascended and Reigning King unless we experience the power of His Resurrection. We can not experience the Resurrection unless we embrace the cross of Jesus Christ. We can not embrace the cross unless we have our sins covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. We can not have our sins forgiven unless we acknowledge our sins and confess them before Jesus Christ. Lent is a time of reflection and introspection upon one's own lostness and need for Jesus Christ. The focus is always upon God's acts of mercy and His grace through Jesus Christ. Sober awareness of one's sin and mortality, with an emphasis on repentance characterize the Lenten Season. But Lent is not a morbid observation. For because of God's saving act of grace through Jesus Christ, it is a time of joy in celebration of the Atonement as we anticipate His return. May these Words from The Holy Scriptures set the tone for this Lenten Season: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His Own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. . . For if by the trespass of the one man [Adam], death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One Man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. . . If we have been united with Christ in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. For we know that the old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we also shall live with Him." Romans 5: 6-8, 17-18; 6:5-8 Praise Him during this Lenten Season for the forgiveness of confessed sins and the promise of eternal life! Pastor Dan Eckart presently serves as Senior Pastor at Warren Park Wesleyan Church. He is married to his wife Laurie. He has two boys - Nathan and Evan, who is married to Courtney. He has a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Indiana University and a Master's of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. He is an Ordained Elder in both the Wesleyan and United Methodist Churches. He does free lance writing for various publications.