A Vent About Lent

Whenever visiting the Washington, DC area, I usually stay with a friend who’s a retired government worker. Shortly after meeting Jim at Calvary Campground nearly thirteen years ago, he invited me to live at his home in Northern Virginia for a season. During that time, I got to lead him in receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Since then, we’ve gone to various church services and revival meetings together.

Jim is still a member of an Anglican Church that’s more traditional than I prefer. Nevertheless, I’ve gone to a few of their bible studies and other gatherings. This past Tuesday, we went to an all-you-can-eat pancake dinner. On our way there, I noticed a sign in front of a Methodist church doing the same thing. Soon I learned this is a tradition with some denominations the day before Ash Wednesday, which signifies the start of Lent.

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines Lent as “the period preceding Easter that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christ's fasting in the wilderness.” The Lutheran church I attended as a child posted announcements in their bulletins such as “1st Sunday in Lent.” However, I don’t recall my family ever observing Ash Wednesday or Lent.

I know Christians who observe the original Jewish feasts. One can argue there is Biblical precedent for that. However, I don’t see anything like that for Lent. There are no commandments for the New Testament church to fast and pray over a specific period. Romans 14:5 says, “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.”

Observing Lent can be a good thing if it helps a believer draw closer to the Lord without becoming a religious duty. One practice associated with it that I find degrading is someone marking their forehead with ashes on Ash Wednesday as a sign of penance. This promotes sin consciousness. Jesus already took the punishment we deserve. Christians need to have the mindset that once they repent, they can confidently walk as children of God.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9

Family Traditions

Uncle Greg in action

Among the things that make the holiday season memorable are family traditions. One dictionary defines tradition as “the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation.” While growing up in Moorhead, Minnesota, my family had our share of Christmas rituals. One of them was my sister Tanya and I took turns opening up the little flaps on our advent calendar.

My immediate family always opened presents on Christmas Eve after Dad came home from work in the late afternoon (or in the morning if he had the day off). To pass the time Tanya and I played the board game Monopoly, which often took two hours to complete. Sometimes we also went to a candlelight service at the Lutheran church we attended across the river in Fargo, North Dakota.

Later that night I would get together with my mother’s side of the family at Grandma Tweiten’s house. Often we ate a light dinner but then always sang Christmas carols before opening presents. Eventually, my Aunt Gaye added a tradition I grew to appreciate…singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. After all, that’s whose birthday we’re supposed to be celebrating. 

Christmas Day afternoons were spent with my father’s side of the family. Initially, we met at Grandma and Grandpa Post’s house. Then in 1979 my uncle Greg bought a large house in Fargo. From that point on, Post family gatherings usually took place there. By that time we had a tradition that actually started years before during the summer.

Grandma and Grandpa Post also owned a mobile home near Lake Lida in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. At the end of one family gathering, Uncle Greg jokingly ran after our car as Dad began driving away to take us home. Tanya and I got such a kick out of that we always begged Greg to run after the car when leaving other gatherings. Soon Greg and his wife Jill started having kids. They often joined their father in his runs.

One time I came back to Fargo for a visit and stopped at Greg and Jill’s for another family gathering. Before leaving I asked Greg if he would “keep up the tradition.” Greg replied, “Nah, I don’t think so.” I then said, “Yeah, you’re probably getting too old for that.” When I left the room, Greg told the rest of my relatives, “I can’t let him get away with that.” Moments later as I pulled out of his driveway, Greg emerged from the house and ran after my car while using Grandma’s cane. I wish someone had filmed that hilarious Kodak moment! Years later I managed to capture one of Greg’s runs with my camcorder and later added the “Chariots of Fire” theme to the video.

The word tradition originates from the Latin word tradere, which means “deliver” and “betray.” Likewise, the Bible talks about traditions in both the positive and negative sense. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” On the other hand, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” (Mark 7:8)

Like many other families, my parents did the Santa thing. Tanya and I woke up on Christmas morning to find more presents for us under the tree or on the living room couch. Back then I enjoyed the extra gifts but now wish we had done something else to emphasize the reason for the season such as reading the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2. 

Family traditions can build togetherness but should ultimately draw us closer to the Lord instead of away from Him.

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” - Colossians 2:8

Critiquing Confirmation

During the late 1970s, I went through two years of confirmation at the Lutheran Church I attended as a kid. Back then I didn’t have much interest in spiritual things. It didn’t help I was mistreated by some of my classmates. Nevertheless, I learned more about the Bible from reading assignments and listening to tapes. One of the latter was a comedy routine by Bill Cosby about Noah that had me laughing hysterically.

Occasionally I served as an acolyte, which the dictionary defines as “a person assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession.” My duties were to light candles and put them out at designated times while wearing a long white robe. Another thing confirmands had to do was turn in critiques of the pastor’s sermons. That was an adjustment for me. I was used to letting my mind wander while sitting through unemotional messages containing few (if any) Scriptures.

My confirmation class also went on retreats. We traveled to a campsite in rural North Dakota on a bus that often broke down. Aside from the obligatory lessons, we played volleyball and other games. A couple times the pastor practiced hypnosis on us for fun (I didn’t know at the time that can open up doors to the devil).

Finally in October 1979 I was officially “confirmed” during a Sunday morning service. Hands were laid upon me but I felt nothing significant happened. It was simply a ritual I had to go through. Afterwards I ate lunch with family members and received a few gifts. One of them was a small wall cross a Lutheran business gave to all the confirmands. Included was a note suggesting I write a thank you letter. My parents told me I didn’t have to do that. They suspected it would put us on a mailing list to receive solicitations.

Looking back on all this, I can see why confirmation influenced me to stop going to church for a while. I wasn’t taught how to be born again and live a victorious Christian life. Instead we studied Lutheran doctrine through a catechism booklet. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for “…making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.” (Mark 7:13)

We also made recitations like the Apostles’ Creed, which meant nothing to me since it was said rote like the Pledge of Allegiance. Jesus said in Matthew 6:7, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.”

Two decades after going through confirmation, I reconnected with one of my old Sunday school teachers. She was thrilled to hear I became born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. Although my former teacher had remained a member of that Lutheran church (I just found out this morning she passed away ten days ago), I don’t desire to go there again. I’d rather go to fellowships where miracles are happening and God confirms His word through accompanying signs (Mark 16:20).

All churches that have confirmation classes need to teach their students the whole counsel of God. Joining a church or denomination will not get anyone into heaven. Without knowledge of the new birth, confirmation will lead to damnation.

“how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him” - Hebrews 2:3