Comments on: Should Christians Celebrate Lent?

By: Bob Hackendorf

Bob Hackendorf — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 02:01:03 +0000

The Galatians were making the error of requiring obedience to the ceremonial Torah as a condition for salvation. I suppose this passage would apply to the observance of Lent if some one were to say keeping Lent was essential to salvation, but I for one would not make this claim. Nor would any of the Christians I know who keep the liturgical year.

By: CJ

CJ — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:17:03 +0000

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Gal 3:1) “Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain” (Gal 4: 10-11)

By: Bob Hackendorf

Bob Hackendorf — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:32:58 +0000

First, to my brother John W.– Lent was almost certainly not designed to override a pagan holiday. The issue of Christmas is less clear, but there is an interesting article about that at Touchstone magazine, http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=16-10-012-v

I am not worried about following Church tradition, as long as it is not promoting something prohibited by Scripture. Some take a stricter view, the regulative principle, whereby they will not embrace something not explicitly commanded by Scripture, so for them Lent is out, I understand. For me, I know that the very canon of Scripture was decided by the Church. So I trust the Church to appoint certain days as feasts and fasts, as I believe Paul gives us the liberty to do. On the other hand, I would never say Christians must keep Lent, since that too would violate what I understand Paul to say.

Brother Kunal,

I understand your point more fully now. Yes, Lent does not celebrate an event, any event, biblical or otherwise. And, I believe Christians are at liberty as to whether they observe such days. I can only speak from my own experience– and I have found Lent to be a useful practice– it prepares me to celebrate Easter, it reminds me of the seriousness of my sin and the enormity of the price paid for me by the Lord Jesus. But I would never say that all Christians must keep this season, only that I have found it to be useful, and I do not see that Scripture forbids it.

Blessings to you all,
Bob

By: Evangelist Kunal Mukherjee

Evangelist Kunal Mukherjee — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:11:31 +0000

Beloved brother Bob;

Scriptures do never ‘command’ to celebrate the Birth of Christ in figurative terms, but they do mention about the event and the observation of that eventful moment has been inscribed in the Scripture very candidly. So are in the events of Death and Resurrection, but never about the LENT.

Now, as far as HANUKKAH is concerned, it is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and eight nights ( not for forty days and forty nights as in case of Lent)and it starts on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev which coincides with the late November – late December of the secular Calendar. The Hebrew name Hanukkah(dedication) reminds that this holiday commemorates the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.

I believe my beloved brother will be convinced to declare that ” LENT” is not an Scriptural event to celebrate.

With much LOVE and Prayers
Your ” dear ” brother in Christ
Rev. Kunal Mukherjee

By: John W

John W — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:47:54 +0000

One thing I think is worth pointing out is that Jesus was fulfilling his religious obligations under Jewish law. He did not miss any of them as far as I am aware.

Christmas and Lent were times of worship created after Christ died. The precise dates of observance of those two in particular align with pagan rituals in order to provide a Christian alternative/override of those pagan festivities.

Easter was essentially converted from Passover which Jesus was dutifully observing as a good Jew.

That being said, I do believe that such rituals/routines can be beneficial to one’s Faith as they provide times of reminder and reflection. While it is easy to say that we should always be thinking about our Faith, there’s a lot to think about in the Bible. Having times dedicated to remembering specific facets and events provides an opportunity to reflect on those more fully.

By: Bob Hackendorf

Bob Hackendorf — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:41:59 +0000

But my dear brother, the Scripture never commands us to celebrate the birth of Christ, nor does it define the exact day of His birth. This too is tradition. But yet, I think it a good tradition. And let me go further… Jesus would not oppose Lent just because it is not explicitly commanded in Scripture. How do I know this? Because in John 10, Jesus celebrates what we call today “Hanukkah” (the “Feast of Dedication”) which is never commanded by Scripture, and yet Jesus observes the holiday.

By: Evangelist Kunal Mukherjee

Evangelist Kunal Mukherjee — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:57:58 +0000

As a follower of the Truth that the Holy Spirit has laid down through the sixty-six Books of Bible, I personally am convinced that observing LENT is practicing just another method of ritualistic legalities which can no way be compared with observing Birth (Christmas), Crucifixion (Good Friday)and Resurrection (Easter) of Jesus. As we know that the Bible speaks about these days very clearly whereas no where in the Bible it is mentioned about observing Lent for forty days prior to the Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

We must understand, Fasting is a PROCESS that God has very insistently advised His children to follow in His ways so that we can ensure the EFFECTS thereby, not by our own frenzied carnal determination of mind science and work through that without any effect whatsoever..

With no acrimonious inference towards any denominational belief (even though denominations are not what the Words of God speak),I truly believe, that Jesus desires to build the Universal Church which is founded on the Rock that He Himself is, being guided by The Holy Spirit through the officials in the Five-fold Ministry ,which He Himself has given to some for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ- read Ephesians 4:11 &12).I persistently exhort that we must prepare ourselves to get into SPIRITUALISATION ( that is WISDOM by the Holy Spirit, Who searches the DEEP things of God), not getting into PERCEPTUALISTAION ( by using our KNOWLEDGES gathered by EYES or EARS), or CONCEPTUALISATION( by allowing those understandings to be implanted in our hearts) as Apostle Paul charges the Church of Corinth through 1 Corinthians 2:9 &10.

By: Sidney

Sidney — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:41:10 +0000

Its a trying time now theese days the Devil exists everywhere the problem is its not the denominations we did that to devide the different styles and believeth in worshop, however over the years the devil and his followers are now manupulating the dominational boundries we set. Gods only requirement for the church is that they honor and glorify him through by reading the bibble and singing praise songs, and believing in trinity even though some may say they don’t believe in trinity it may be called something else in a nearby church that means the same thing. My Mom went to a Johova witness church, that taught you had to earn your way to heaven. Than later I have a friend that lives in the building and they teach the gospel. The Holidays and the Birthday thinks where misunderstood, but they call them celebrations. So becareful make shure you know the church is leading you on the write path. The cathlic churches here are more evangalistic than the traditional cathlic churches, so do not judge one church by its dominational reference as by doing that you are participating in the deception game that saton wants us to fall for.

By: Ray Fowler

Ray Fowler — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:18:13 +0000

Chef – Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I agree that prayer is essential to relationship with God. In fact, that’s why Jesus came, so that we could be forgiven of our sins and restored to relationship with God which manifests itself in prayer. I see that the Mass is very important to you, but I believe that we encounter God most powerfully through Christ in his Word. I don’t believe that Christ is sacrificed again through the Mass or physically present in the bread. (Hebrews 10:11-12) Rather Christ dwells in us through the Holy Spirit when we put our trust in him as Savior. (John 14:20; John 14:23)

By: Chef Macaraeg

Chef Macaraeg — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:28:45 +0000

Greetings of peace to you.
I would just like to post a comment on this post, Ray Fowler February 27, 2009 at 1:55 pm.

I am 16 year old catholic. I may not be the wisest and most knowledgeable about our catholic faith but I’m sure that god’s love envelopes me so I can write this post the best I can. First of all to create a personal relationship with God one must personally reflect on his own. He must learn to pray. Praying is the answer to all our problems. It hols the answer to everything, I myself is continually dazzled by its power and strength. Praying is easy but to talk to god through prayers requires internal peace and silence. One must also remember that prayer is a conversation with God and a conversation requires two people talking so always remember to pause regularly and hear the answer that will give. Always remember that if you’re confused and is overwhelmed by a predicament always pause, pray and listen for God will tell you what you must do. That is how simple it is just learn to believe, listen and fall in love with our Lord.

To all Catholics out there I say to you ” Renare christum volumus !” Anyone can study and memorize facts about our faith but only the ones in which God can see his son in him can enter the courts of God.

This is for all to my brothers in faith. I would like to point out that in attending mass please let us not only think of ourselves and what we can get from it. The mass is for God. Mass is the most powerful prayer one can do. Any mental prayer will pail in comparison with the mass for in the mass you receive God and you pray with God in the flesh. Please bear in mind that the most important event in the mass is not the gospel reading nor the homily but the transubstantiation of the bread to God himself. Homily and gospel reading things that can be done individually all you need is love for God to do them. So now if you attend mass remember to give praise and show your love to God and treat the mass as an opportunity to thank not just an opportunity to learn.

I suggest that to all Catholics that can’t seem to find a personal relationship with God that they join a group that can help them do so in there parishes. God bless

Always keep in mind the ultimate goal of all who follow Christ is not just to go to heave but to become a saint.