Things Change Over Time
On Lent:
People used to study for baptism. It was a huge decision and a great risk to the person and to the Christian community. Beginning of Lent was studying for Baptism at Easter. 40 hours, 40 days??? Now, barely want to give it any sacrifice or effort.
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says…whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do. James 1
LENT BEGINS MARCH 1ST
Joining the church in the early years of Christianity was a substantial decision. For the new convert it could mean a loss of wealth, income, and even life in a culture that occasionally used the church as a scapegoat for problems. For the church, there was the potential loss of life or position if a new convert turned out to be someone who would report all the members to the authorities during a persecution. So the church established a time of vetting, training and preparation for being baptized and joining the church. At one point, it took three years of regular training to be baptized and join the church. Eventually the church settled on the forty days before Easter as a time of extensive training and examination of a candidate’s life. Usually they would meet with the pastor for three hours a day for instruction, and they would fast during the forty days. Family and friends would be interviewed to determine if the candidate’s life exemplified Christian commitment. Finally, they would spend 40 hours from Good Friday to Easter sequestered away in prayer, fasting, and preparation for baptism on Easter.
Things change over time…..
As the culture became more Christian and more babies than adults were baptized, the process of joining the church was changed to a period of preparation we call confirmation. Lent became a time for all Christians to fast, study the faith, and examine their life to see if it conformed to appropriate Christian behavior. Easter was a celebration of a transformed life.
Things change over time…..
Today, many Christians focus on having a big party before Lent (Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday), and searching for the right chocolate bunny or ham to celebrate Easter. While many people mark the beginning of Lent with a service on Ash Wednesday, and remember Christ’s sacrifice on Good Friday, too often Lent, at best, has been reduced to a form of dieting accompanied by modest reflection on our faith and eating fish on Fridays.
Things change over time…..
We don’t live in a culture where a commitment to Christ is near as much a danger as it was in the early church. But I think we can certainly use a bit of their focus. For the next forty days, try fasting for God, studying your faith and examining what part of your life needs to change. It will lead to a different appreciation of Easter, the celebration of new life in Christ.
Pastor Tom