Historical Background:
Lent refers to the 40 days leading up to Easter beginning with Ash Wednesday (but excludes Sunday’s). It is celebrated not just by Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Anglicans but also many Reformed and various other Protestant denominations, although most of the latter aren’t as traditional and don’t do anything for Ash Wednesday.
The word “Lent” is an Anglo-saxon word that means “spring”, but the idea of Lent originally came from a Latin word meaning “forty”. The 40 days is (supposedly) symbolic of Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the wilderness (although how this exactly relates to preparing for baptism or repentance I’m not really so sure). There is some evidence that there was a springtime pagan festival that lasted 40 days and many think that as the area was Christianized that the festival was transformed into a period of preparing for Easter. This could certainly be “a” reason, but I would not go so far as to say it’s the only one, nor is it reason enough to write it off. (Some people also think Easter was connected to a pagan holiday for the goddess Eoster. That certainly could explain the name we give the day today, but in Scripture, Resurrection Sunday [the term some prefer for beforementioned reason] was clearly the Sunday following Passover and thus we celebrated it at that time.)
The Lenten season dates back to the late 300’s where, after the conversion of Constantine and the legalization/encouragement of Christianity there were many new people coming into the Church. With the dramatic increase of seekers, the Church found itself needing a way to “vet” the newcomers to be sure of their seriousness and commitment to Christ. (Prior to this the commitment of someone to baptism in a culture that persecuted Christians was enough!) There are some traces of the idea prior to this around the Easter season (looking forward to the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection and being more focused on the idea of death to sin/self and new life in Christ) but the 40 days and the various things that went along with it were put into place quite a bit later. Originally, these preparation days (it wasn’t 40 days in every area, but it became unified over time) were specifically designed for new converts who were preparing for baptism (that would take place on Easter Sunday). For x-number of days they were required to focus on repentance and confession of sin (acts of penance were later added), death to sin and self (which was practiced by various forms of fasting) along with doing various good works/acts of service in order to show/prove their repentance of their old way of life and their desire to live for Christ.
It then somewhat gradually became an opportunity for baptized believers to also take the season to prepare for remembering Easter, reflecting on their sin, fasting in different ways, growing in repentance and their need for Christ for life/deliverance from sin. The liturgy for Lent is certainly beautiful and filled with Scripture on repentance, and our desperate need for God’s forgiveness and mercy.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Catholic/Orthodox/High Anglican churches will have Mass (church service with communion) and will utilize ashes, making a cross sign with them on the forehead that often then is symbolically washed off on Easter Sunday. Ashes symbolize death, and Easter obviously is the celebration of the resurrection (and thus our new life in Christ). Not all lower Anglican churches will incorporate the ashes (it is not required in Anglicanism) but will still have a service (often with communion) and focus on the theme of death to sin and self.
There are various spiritual disciplines encouraged or provided during Lent. Many higher churches have the “Stations of the Cross” which commemorates the final hours of Christ’s life. Flowers are removed, things are veiled, and various other symbolic means are used to aid in the remembering of Christ death for sin. There are Lenten devotionals that are focused on the theme of repentance and a deeper confession of sin that are encouraged for families to go through together.
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The idea of having a season for new converts to learn doctrine and to give them a chance to bear the fruit of faith and repentance is certainly NOT a bad thing. Taking care to disciple new believers is very important. Of course, on the other hand, it would be easy for this preparation time to become focused on one’s good works and acts of contrition as what makes you “worthy” of being a Christian/being baptized. For baptized believers as well, it’s not bad at all to have seasons where you do some form of fasting (it is assumed in Scripture that believers will fast), and/or where you spend more time focused on reading Scripture/immersing yourself in the things of God. I have had seasons like this. They were seasons of growth (in various ways), refreshment and spiritual blessing. The danger of course with any kind of good works is that we can find pride in it. How natural is it for us to think “wow I just gave up social media for a month” and find satisfaction in ourselves! What prideful creatures we are! Scripture tells us over and over again to beware of pride or of finding righteousness in ourselves/our good works. The parable of the Unprofitable Servants (Luke 17:7-10) is very helpful for us in this area. Here there are servants who are doing what they are supposed to, they are being obedient, but the Master does not thank them for it. Jesus says in conclusion, “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done’”. In other words, when we obey, do a good work, or take a season for fasting/repentance we should not look to God as if to say “God, look what I did!” Rather, it should humble us, and we should say “Anything I have done is worthless before You, and all is by Your grace”. In all our spiritual disciplines, they should humble us and bring us closer to God. Again, I do believe Christians should be fasting in some forms and taking seasons where we spend more time in prayer/spiritual disciplines. It’s assumed and encouraged in Scripture. If you as a Christian have not really considered this, you should be.
But is Lent Scriptural? The season certainly is not. It is hardly Scriptural for you to feel obligated to keep it since it’s not found in Scripture and no one should ever feel obligated or be pressured into keeping a tradition. However, is it “wrong” to celebrate Lent? No, it’s your heart and attitude that is important. If you are celebrating Lent just because that’s what your church tradition does, or to gain some sort of bonus points before God, to attempt to “show” Him how repentant you are or even perhaps (even secretly) to feel better about yourself, then you’re doing it wrong and furthermore, you’re distorting the Gospel. But if you take it as an opportunity to focus in more on Christ, to take time away from the world/things in order to pour into others or into Scripture and prayer and your heart is humbled and challenged by it, than it can absolutely be very encouraging and beneficial for a Christian. Pastors can take the opportunity leading up to Easter to preach a series on sin, repentance, the cross, etc. At the very least, taking time to emphasize the coming of and the remembrance of Good Friday and Easter is extremely valuable. Certainly, it will make Good Friday/Easter a little more meaningful and special as you anticipate them together. (The same can be said about the Advent season and looking forward to Christ’s coming.) Personally, I think most Protestant churches do not make a big enough deal about the Easter season – Palm Sunday is sometimes not even really referenced at all, “Holy” week gets a Maundy Thursday OR Good Friday service (rarely both) but besides making Easter Sunday more special that’s about it. What is the season really about? I challenge you: Are your decorations more about spring or bunnies and eggs than they are about Jesus? Is the start of the baseball season more interesting than gathering and remembering/celebrating with your church family?
If you’re wondering if I’m celebrating Lent, well, no. I do not personally feel the need to something “just because it’s Lent”. Again, I do think Christians should be encouraged to take times of spiritual fasting, etc. but to emphasize a certain time of the year where people feel obligated to do this (I think) takes away from the personal desire and conviction of the Spirit. Lent can be a reminder for us that we should take seasons to fast, seek deeper repentance and spiritual growth. Those are all good Biblical things (and I will also say that I appreciate the emphasis of this in the church services leading up to Easter). But it doesn’t have to be during Lent, and especially should not be “just because” it’s Lent. Using the Lenten season in a way that makes people feel obligated to follow tradition I don’t believe is most faithful with Scriptural teaching. But it’s very important to not make assumptions or judgements about those who do or question their motives. Many Christians keep Lent from a desire to love and honor God and that should be admired. But others see the season leading up to Easter as a joyous time of looking forward to remembering Christ’s resurrection and the salvation He accomplished for us. Both are acceptable. May our hearts just be every more focused on Christ and His work for us.
As a follow-up, here is a helpful/interesting article on Lent from a Reformed (non-Anglican) perspective: https://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/yes-and-no-lent-and-the-reformed-faith-today/?fbclid=IwAR2Te0GnuV3D5L518SfTml-9d6BbJx54eTD0fdfKfIaaKSaU92ImAeR8utU
And HERE is another Reformed perspective on Lent which I thought was really helpful from Doug Wilson.
