message to a mentor

While seeking out where it originated, I found some pretty interesting thoughts on Lent from various sources

(the Restored Church of God's views gave me a bit of a laugh...

"Abomination Masked as Christianity

God is not the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33). He never instituted Lent, a pagan observance connecting debauchery to the supposed resurrection of a false Messiah."

So angry and confusing in itself! It continued, but I think you get the point.)

But from what I got out of the other sources...
Lent's purpose is to help Christians return to living Christ centered lives through prayer, repentance, giving, and self-denial. The idea being, that as humans, we need the reminder to keep Christ first. And in self-denial, if we take the time each day to spend with God and reflect on our own suffering, we might better understand the suffering and temptation Christ went through.

While this did lead me to want to honor God in this way, I'm not participating in the exact same way. My conviction is now to spend the next 40 days examining where I am lacking submission to God. To seek out where Andrew is being glorified and not God, and reverse it. I'm not sure what I will deny myself at the moment, but I'm sure there will be things I discover which are hindering my walk with Christ and I shall deny myself these things.

Where it all started is still a little fuzzy for me though. The internet isn't all to clear on some things. From what I'm gathering it wasn't a first century Christian tradition... but started some time later (5th century maybe?).

...I'm sure you have some knowledge on the matter ;)

I am still frustrated with what peoples offerings have become and how uninvolved the 40 days are. But I suppose that's a passion that God can use to build something more of the time in the years to come.

-Andrew Nycum

lent

Andrew

Well, as I see it. Lent has become a Christian pop culture phenomenon. People asking openly, "what are you giving up?" and bragging about what they are giving up. Most of what is given up is no great sacrifice. No humbling thing that brings a greater understanding of the suffering of Christ's offering. The religious tradition of lent is now a Christian op-out. A luke-warm submission to Christ... Granted, there are, I'm sure, a few out there who actually choose to suffer greatly, but the general market does not. And marti gras? Are you serious world? Let's be like the Jews when Moses left to Mt. Sinai and build a golden calf, get drunk and have sex! Then we'll have something fun to remember when we're 'suffering'.

all of this observation led me to look at it's history

which i'm still looking into

7:51pmHenry

okay

i feel the same way you do

7:51pmAndrew

and i'm sure that like the word 'christian' itself... the religious tradition of lent was once something God honoring and the true Christians of the world need to take it back

there are a couple others who do as well

7:52pmHenry

for some reason i am disturbed by people saying i am giving pop for lent

or i am giving facebook up for lent

7:53pmAndrew

absolutely

7:54pmAndrew

that's like offering a spotted lamb to God in the old testament

7:54pmHenry

exactly

7:55pmAndrew

i wasn't thinking much on it until the chapel today. it frustrated me