Should I Give Something Up For Lent?
Pastor’s Window on March, 2007
Should I Give Something Up for Lent?
Many people give something up for Lent as a matter of disciplining the body, as Paul says, “I beat my body and make it my slave” (1 Cor. 9:27; NIV). So, for example, some people give up coffee or chocolate, or even sweets altogether. Some even fast, using their hunger as a reminder of our Lord’s sacrifice for us and for our salvation, and that we should hunger and thirst for righteousness. The idea here is to discipline the body, reminding it that it cannot control the soul.
But what about those people who don’t give up anything for Lent? Are they sinning? Of course not! This is a matter of Christian freedom. It is neither commanded nor forbidden in the Bible. Those who fast should not judge those who do not. And those who do not fast should not judge those who do. Lenten sacrifice is a personal act of devotion between the believer and our Lord. There is no law about such things. We are free.
Even so, some sort of discipline is commendable. We remember each day that we are in the fallen flesh, and that flesh must be beaten into submission, as Paul says above. Lent offers us an opportunity to apply such discipline. Perhaps rather than giving something up for Lent, we should add a new spiritual exercise. This may include increasing the time set aside for daily Scripture reading and prayer. It may include beginning to attend one of our Bible studies here at Epiphany. Perhaps it will include a special service project that helps our neighbor. It may include an increase in the amount of time or financial support we give to the needy or to our church. It may even simply be the resolve to attend all of our congregation’s Lenten services this year, if that has not previously been your habit.
In Lent and in other times throughout the year, we need to beat our body so that it is our slave, because left to itself, the fallen flesh will take over. There is no denying that it is easier for our fallen flesh to sleep late on Sunday morning rather than attend the Divine Service. There is no denying that it is easier for our fallen flesh to say a quick prayer that God would help our needy neighbor and do nothing ourselves to improve his condition. There is no denying that it is easier for our fallen flesh to be consumed with its own gluttonous and greedy desires than the true needs of our neighbor. This is self-idolatry, the number one sin that plagues every one of us.
Of course the answer to this sin is not our own works or discipline, but the salvation won for us by our Lord Jesus Christ in His innocent suffering and death. He offers this salvation to us in the Word and in the Sacraments. He makes us His own in Holy Baptism. He washes away our sins, even the sin of self-idolatry. Ultimately, he kills the old sinful flesh. But in this life, it continues to cling to us. That is where Christian discipline comes in. It is the daily drowning of the Old Adam in us, the flesh. In other words, it is the Baptismal life of repentance.
Whatever acts of devotion we may choose during Lent or at other times, we should be careful that we don’t begin to trust in them as if they merit us anything before God. If we trust in our own works, we’re back to committing that self-idolatry which glorifies ourselves above Jesus. We remember that our status in God’s sight as forgiven and righteous comes from Christ alone, by grace, without works. Our devotions should always point us to Him. Christian discipline is an exercise in denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, and following Jesus. If we are to follow Him, our eyes must ever be upon Him alone, and not on ourselves. The Holy Spirit keeps our eyes of faith focused on Jesus. In fact, that is the very aim of this penitential season.
God grant us all a blessed Lenten journey. May He keep our eyes focused on the cross of Christ. May He keep us in His Word and Spirit. And may He bring us speedily to the Feast of Easter when the fast will be ended and our resurrection joy will be complete.
Pastor Krenz
Should I Give Something Up for Lent?
Many people give something up for Lent as a matter of disciplining the body, as Paul says, “I beat my body and make it my slave” (1 Cor. 9:27; NIV). So, for example, some people give up coffee or chocolate, or even sweets altogether. Some even fast, using their hunger as a reminder of our Lord’s sacrifice for us and for our salvation, and that we should hunger and thirst for righteousness. The idea here is to discipline the body, reminding it that it cannot control the soul.
But what about those people who don’t give up anything for Lent? Are they sinning? Of course not! This is a matter of Christian freedom. It is neither commanded nor forbidden in the Bible. Those who fast should not judge those who do not. And those who do not fast should not judge those who do. Lenten sacrifice is a personal act of devotion between the believer and our Lord. There is no law about such things. We are free.
Even so, some sort of discipline is commendable. We remember each day that we are in the fallen flesh, and that flesh must be beaten into submission, as Paul says above. Lent offers us an opportunity to apply such discipline. Perhaps rather than giving something up for Lent, we should add a new spiritual exercise. This may include increasing the time set aside for daily Scripture reading and prayer. It may include beginning to attend one of our Bible studies here at Epiphany. Perhaps it will include a special service project that helps our neighbor. It may include an increase in the amount of time or financial support we give to the needy or to our church. It may even simply be the resolve to attend all of our congregation’s Lenten services this year, if that has not previously been your habit.
In Lent and in other times throughout the year, we need to beat our body so that it is our slave, because left to itself, the fallen flesh will take over. There is no denying that it is easier for our fallen flesh to sleep late on Sunday morning rather than attend the Divine Service. There is no denying that it is easier for our fallen flesh to say a quick prayer that God would help our needy neighbor and do nothing ourselves to improve his condition. There is no denying that it is easier for our fallen flesh to be consumed with its own gluttonous and greedy desires than the true needs of our neighbor. This is self-idolatry, the number one sin that plagues every one of us.
Of course the answer to this sin is not our own works or discipline, but the salvation won for us by our Lord Jesus Christ in His innocent suffering and death. He offers this salvation to us in the Word and in the Sacraments. He makes us His own in Holy Baptism. He washes away our sins, even the sin of self-idolatry. Ultimately, he kills the old sinful flesh. But in this life, it continues to cling to us. That is where Christian discipline comes in. It is the daily drowning of the Old Adam in us, the flesh. In other words, it is the Baptismal life of repentance.
Whatever acts of devotion we may choose during Lent or at other times, we should be careful that we don’t begin to trust in them as if they merit us anything before God. If we trust in our own works, we’re back to committing that self-idolatry which glorifies ourselves above Jesus. We remember that our status in God’s sight as forgiven and righteous comes from Christ alone, by grace, without works. Our devotions should always point us to Him. Christian discipline is an exercise in denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, and following Jesus. If we are to follow Him, our eyes must ever be upon Him alone, and not on ourselves. The Holy Spirit keeps our eyes of faith focused on Jesus. In fact, that is the very aim of this penitential season.
God grant us all a blessed Lenten journey. May He keep our eyes focused on the cross of Christ. May He keep us in His Word and Spirit. And may He bring us speedily to the Feast of Easter when the fast will be ended and our resurrection joy will be complete.
Pastor Krenz
posted by Pastor Krenz | 1:53 PM
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