Articles
Where is Lent in the Bible?
Lent isn’t in the bible…but you can find its rhythm there. Seasons of forty days are found in the Old as well as the New Testament. Early followers of Jesus developed spiritual habits (disciplines, practices) to invigorate their personal and corporate spirituality. Lent traces its roots to this earliest tradition of Christ followers. Wanting to emphasize the power of the Cross and significance of the resurrection, they set aside this season to reflect on life, sin, love, God’s intervention, sacrifice and victory for humankind.
How come this feels new for my church life?
Most church groups that trace their beginnings to 19th century America simply had no real awareness of or provision for spiritual practices like Lent. Today, Lent is making a meaningful comeback in church life as people seriously consider new rhythms for remaining alive and intentional with their faith.
The Invitation and Challenge of Unity
Remember, Imagine, John Lennon’s 1971 idea of peace and harmony? Lennon’s lyrics are inviting but only a faint echo of something more from eternity. Jesus, too, has a dream of harmony. It’s that one day His disciples would live as one: “My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one…and the world will believe you sent me” John 17:21 (NLT). Instead of pairing off by mini distinctions and styles, by the kind of “Christian shoes” we wear, Jesus prays we would live more effectively for His purpose. John and Yoko sang for world peace. Jesus prays that we live as one so the world will believe He is for real! Jesus prays we kick off our separatist shoes so the world sees we are really His feet.
What is Lent?
Lent is a reflective season roughly corresponding to Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness where He endured the temptations of the devil as He prepared Himself for the following years of ministry, the cross and the resurrection.
The Invitation and Challenge of God
The invitation and challenge of God is found throughout the Bible. On page after page, we see God’s inviting people to be with Him and challenging them to do something for Him. Think of this invitation in terms of relationship, our identity formed by God’s covenant with us.
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