Christians Tailor Lent Outside Catholic Traditions
By Alex Murashko , Christian Post Reporter
Source: christianpost.com
Though Lent is often seen as part of the Catholic tradition of fasting for 40 days (calculated sometimes to exclude the weekends in the days leading to Easter), many Christians view this time as serving as a reminder to the importance of getting closer to God.
Christine Smith, founder of the online site Womens Bible Cafe, wrote on Tuesday, “Throughout biblical history we see 40 days of testing, waiting and drawing closer to God.”
Smith said that Lent typically marks a spiritual quest for Christians and the Bible has several examples of 40-day tests and journeys.
“Look beyond the face of religion and into the heart … and see if God is calling you for the next 40 days,” she stated. “Does He want your attention and your heart focused on Him?”
While Protestants generally do not mark their foreheads with ashes from last year’s Palm Sunday ceremonies – a tradition mainly observed in the Catholic and Anglican churches – they hold special services and give special prayers for repentance and renewal on the holiday.
Among the few Protestants that do use ash in their observances are Lutherans and Methodists. In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, and repentance – a day of contemplating one’s transgressions.
Oftentimes, in the days leading to Easter, Christians of all denominations choose to abstain from eating, drinking or doing certain things to remind them of the Lord’s sacrifice for mankind.
Some pastors outside of the Catholic faith say that although Lent is not a requirement, focusing on God by way of fasting and other faith-related practices is a good idea in the weeks and days before Easter.
Steve Crenshaw, pastor and founder of the leadership ministry Pinnacle Balance, said his family observed Lent for the first time in 2008.
“We gave up television and video games and spent much more time praying and studying the Bible together,” Crenshaw recently wrote on Pinnacle Balance’s Website. “We fast for six days taking Saturday or Sunday off because there are actually 46 days in the seven weeks from Ash Wednesday to Easter.”
He acknowledged in his article that “celebrating Lent as an Evangelical can be awkward” but he emphasized that it can also be “eye-opening.”
“It can be awkward because most of the people you know will think you are weird or trying to earn God’s favor. It can be eye-opening because you can learn what really has a hold on your life, and how far you are from putting Christ first.”
Crenshaw believes that although Christians can “take 40 days and fast any time we want,” doing so during Lent is a way to help prepare for Easter and the celebration of Christ rising again.
“For many of us abstaining from anything could be a big breakthrough in our faith because we over indulge so much in American Christian society,” he said.
Smith enlisted the help of other Christian leaders who frequently use social media in making suggestions that she included in her article, “Ideas for 40 Days of Fasting or Lent.”
Under the section of her article headlined 40 Days of Prayer, she wrote that Mike Kelly of the Bible Memory Coins ministry suggests memorizing Scripture.
Smith quotes Kelly as saying, “Too often our minds are filled with TV, social media, newspapers and general busy-ness. How revolutionary to our spiritual life would it be to truly feed our hearts and minds exclusively with Scripture for 40 Days?”
Another suggestion listed under 40 Days of Praise is to change the radio station in your car or on your computer to Christian music and “listen exclusively for the next 40 days.”
“Scan YouTube for Christian songs and save your favorites in your profile,” Smith stated. “Richard of www.Tworship.com writes ‘Praise and worship are contrasted with attachments to or pursuits of things honored by the world.’”
While offering suggestions, Smith noted that “the decision to spend 40 days focused on God is yours alone.”
“Pray over this and see if you are led to do something or possibly wait for another time. Know that during your 40 days you with God you will attract the attention of the enemy and he will throw flaming arrows your way. Stand firm with the shield of faith and keep your eyes and heart on God,” she said.
March 20, 2012 at 7:16 AM |
real christians do not judge others besides no one knows for a fact what is right and what is wrong. no man has that wisdom for sure we can only speculate and interpret the bible in whatever way suits us.
REPLY: Can you please give scripture to support this statement? Otherwise…
March 4, 2012 at 5:09 AM |
Thank God I didn’t participate in that crap,i can fast anytime and deny myself anytime and I don’t need a pagan tradition to do it either.
April 11, 2012 at 10:01 AM |
Before Jesus Resurrected he sacrificed much for all. For a person to make some sacrifice for Jesus before His Resurrection(easter)is not much to ask & is not “crap”.
REPLY: You are in error with your interpretation of the word “sacrifice.” According to scripture there are no more sacrifices. Besides us as the body of Christ presenting our selves living sacrifice by obey and keeping the Lord’s commandments. Either Christ paid it all or he didn’t. Which one is it?
March 2, 2012 at 9:35 PM |
I know of some baptist churches that celebrate lent every year. My sister asked me years ago where did lent come from. Now that i know I will inform her. Come out of Babylon so that you will not taste of her wrath. Babylon is soon to fall. In that day all the saints in heaven will be rejoicing.
March 1, 2012 at 8:34 PM |
Lent’s Ancient Roots
Coming from the Anglo-Saxon Lencten, meaning “spring,” Lent originated in the ancient Babylonian mystery religion. “The forty days’ abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess…Among the Pagans this Lent seems to have been an indispensable preliminary to the great annual festival in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Tammuz” (The Two Babylons).
Tammuz was the false Messiah of the Babylonians—a satanic counterfeit of Jesus Christ!
The Feast of Tammuz was usually celebrated in June (also called the “month of Tammuz”). Lent was held 40 days before the feast, “celebrated by alternate weeping and rejoicing.” This is why Lent means “spring”; it took place from spring to early summer.
The Bible records ancient Judah worshipping this false Messiah: “Then He brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz” (Ezek. 8:14-15). This was a great abomination in God’s eyes!
But why did the church at Rome institute such a pagan holiday?
“To conciliate the Pagans to nominal Christianity, Rome, pursuing its usual policy, took measures to get the Christian and Pagan festivals amalgamated, and, by a complicated but skillful adjustment of the calendar, it was found no difficult matter, in general, to get Paganism and Christianity—now far sunk in idolatry—in this as in so many other things, to shake hands” (The Two Babylons).
The Roman church replaced Passover with Easter, moving the pagan Feast of Tammuz to early spring, “Christianizing” it. Lent moved with it.
“This change of the calendar in regard to Easter was attended with momentous consequences. It brought into the Church the grossest corruption and the rankest superstition in connection with the abstinence of Lent” (The Two Babylons).
Before giving up personal sins and vices during Lent, the pagans held a wild, “anything goes” celebration to make sure that they got in their share of debaucheries and perversities—what the world celebrates as Mardi Gras today.
March 2, 2012 at 4:24 AM |
Shouldn’t we be getting closer to Christ on a daily basis anyway? Wow! What if someone dies before lent and they are not closer to christ?
It’s so funny to me that these people “FAST”. I am an ex-catholic (THANK GOD) and I never understood this foolishness.
These people fast and also have the ashes on their foreheads and have no clue why they do it – only because they are told they have to, it’s part of the religious thing to do. I remember asking a relative why do they get the ashes on their foreheads ( I myself do know the answer), and they answered “I don’t know”, and “it makes me feel better”. WOW!
April 11, 2012 at 10:07 AM |
“These people fast and also have the ashes on their foreheads and have no clue why they do it” — You make broad Assumptions. Some Catholics are uninformed, other Catholics are informed about their faith.
March 2, 2012 at 7:57 PM |
Wow Hamilton, quite interesting. Thanks for the info!!
April 8, 2012 at 6:04 PM |
Thanks I didn’t know that! We are never to old to learn. WOW!!!
March 1, 2012 at 6:50 PM |
Lent or any religious sacrifice doesn’t save only through the blood of Jesus will you be save. Therefore all the ash on the forehead and 40 days fast before easter are meaningless…..
March 1, 2012 at 8:40 AM |
I could not read the blog for noticing the “cross like” emblem all over what ever he’s wearing. Did anyone else notice it? This is not a cross, but it I think it is a symbol of some other pagan religion. As for the Catholic religion, I am with you ex ministries. I have done other research as well, and I do believe the Catholic religion is fighting and fighting hard to bring the world together into a one world religion. I keeping myself informed, and praying that God would purify my heart, help me to yield to him, so I can be ready him, when ever I die. I also would like to inform my family, especially those that are in the next generation, so they can be informed and ready when things really go down.
March 1, 2012 at 12:11 AM |
I actually didn’t see anything wrong with this at first since I’ve seen many of my friends with the cross on their foreheads on campus but I just started thinking after seeing this article “where exactly is “Lent” found in the Bible?” I’ve read of the Lord’s supper, water baptism, the baptism of the Holy Spirit but Lent? Jesus and the New Testament Apostles warned against this very thing, man made feasts. New Moons, Sabbath feasts, etc. These don’t have any power to save. True circumcision of the heart, not the flesh or any outward sign for that matter. Besides, I’m leaving the Catholics alone…sorry but the blind leading the blind only ends with both falling into a ditch.
Thnx EX Ministries once again for making me think deeper and really examining things like these rather than just accepting it at face value.
March 1, 2012 at 3:36 PM |
I’m not a catholic, but I’ve known of their traditions concerning Easter. Can you please provide information about lent. It would be really good to know about it. Thanks!
February 29, 2012 at 10:29 PM |
Well, I personally think that Lent is a “known” holiday set aside for Catholics. As a Christian, I do not believe in Catholicism or the practices thereof.
So, for me to take part in doing something in the same “time period” known to the world as when the Catholic’s do their thing, even if it were for my own personal walk with God, doesn’t seem quite right. I just don’t think as Christians that we should connect ourselves with doing things “along with” religions that go against the word of God. If you aren’t for God in ALL ways, you are denying Him and you are against Him. Period.
It’s almost like trying to BLEND the two religions together in a sense. (Little by little folks are trying to ease things in so that religion becomes unclear and confusing to those that are lost) I don’t think that is right or pleasing to God. I do think and believe the praying and fasting are pleasing to God, but not with us doing it by rubbing elbows with the devil’s crowd.
We, as Christians, can pray and fast at any time during the year, so why do it when a known false religion does their thing. And this Lent thing is for 40 days, but what are they doing for the other 320 odd days of the year?? So what if you make a big outward appearance of having ashes on your forehead, what is your heart saying? And, if you are not a Christian, it really matters not what you do for “works”, it won’t get you to heaven. So in reality, Lent is all in vain. It is an outward sign, but it doesnt save your soul. Sorry, that’s the truth.
Like my Pastor said the other day: ALL roads do NOT lead to heaven. The Bible reads that Jesus said: I am the way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes unto the Father but by ME.” So, there is only one way to heaven, ALL other roads lead to hell.
And so far as the article mentioning you should stop drinking and change our stations in the car and on their computer’s to Christian music, etc., for 40 days, uhhhhh, I don’t see why if you are a Christian that you would even be drinking to start with or listening to worldly music on a regular basis, you know? That was kinda funny to me. Jus sayin…..
Personally, I would not join in. I can get my meditation, prayer, fasting and whatever else I need to do within my spiritual life on my own; by myself or with my true brothers and sisters IN CHRIST.
February 29, 2012 at 7:41 PM |
A have yet to fully study the purpose of Lent but from my understanding it is fasting from something to earn God’s favor. I had a catholic co-worker that participated in lent and it was a joke to me because nothing in her life changed.
Now I am a 100% behind fasting and feeding the spirit and starving the flesh. I believe this should be apart of our walk with God. No man is above his master and if Jesus being the son of God fasted then we should as well. Fasting is a personal thing that should not be on display* and only by prayer and fasting can certain things be done according to the word of God. **
Its crazy how many cults and trippy religions that lack the true gospel fast more than us born again Christians. I hope this whole lent thing challenges us (me included) to seek gods face through prayer and supplication (fasting) before its to late and I miss his window of opportunity!
*Matthew 6:16-18
Fasting to Be Seen Only by God
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly
**Mark 9:14-29
A Boy Is Healed
14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,[a] all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
February 29, 2012 at 3:42 PM |
It is being taught that this doctrine is ok in alot of seminary schools in the south and encouraging alot of young ministers to adopt these attributes in ministry stating that we arent much different than the Catholic church and that we must embrace their doctrine.
February 29, 2012 at 1:34 PM |
Lent is a joke ! Coming out of the Catholic church myself I look back and see how foolish this thing is . In Louisiana where I grew up it was you go sin all you want to at Mardi Gras on fat Tuesday and then get ashes on Wed. , and now your forgiven . Everything people would so call give up for lent were things that was sinful anyway . People would give up drinking, smoking etc… just for lent . And then after 40 days THEY WOULD GO BACK doing the SAME THINGS and the they would worship false gods( EASTER) .
March 1, 2012 at 4:28 AM |
Lent may be a joke to you but not alot of Catholics and some other christians. By getting ashes on Wed doesnt mean your sins are forgiven,they are not.- wrong misunderstanding. People you grew up with maybe set bad example of “sin all you want”. Alot of catholics do set bad examples but the faithful(practicing) ones set good examples, seeking to walk in God’s grace. Easter is not “false gods”, its day celebrating Jesus resurection, sadly many celebrate as secular day with eggs and bunnies.
March 1, 2012 at 11:18 PM |
I know the origin of Easter . It is pagan ! If you are born again the Bible says for us not to practice paganism .Come out from among them and be separate says the Lord . Rob I am not saying that getting ashes on your head will get your sins forgiven ! It is a joke ! Faith in Christ alone will forgive your sins .You say that good faithful Catholics set good examples ! Wow , no good practicing Catholics DO NOT know Jesus Christ ! If they knew Christ they would leave CATHOLICISM ! Do you know the origin of Catholicism ? Do your research ? I was a practicing Catholic for 28 years and I did not know Christ and I knew no one in the Catholic church that really was born again , now that I think back . Rob have you seen Truth behind HIPHOP part 7 ? The things that G Craig taught about Catholicism are true ! It is a false religion ! The Catholic church also brought in Easter and introduced it to Christianity . We DO NOT celebrate Easter ! It is false god worship ! We are to celebrate the resurrection of Christ ! The resurrection of Christ has absolutely nothing to do with Easter ! You CAN NOT mix Easter with the resurrection ! I do not understand why Christians say that they are celebrating the resurrection of Christ while yet celebrating Easter ! You CAN NOT mix the two ! EVERYTHING ABOUT CATHOLICISM IS FROM SATAN
March 1, 2012 at 11:54 PM |
Easter started 2000 years before Christ by Babylonians that honored the resurrection of their god, Tammuz , who was brought back from the underworld by his mother/ wife Ishtrar ( pronounced Easter ).
Lent also was a 40 day abstinence period and observed in honor of pagan gods Osiris, Adonis, and Tammuz .
The wicked Catholic church brought it in and mixed it with christian beliefs as they did with everything else .
March 1, 2012 at 3:43 PM |
BT AND JEWELS,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT HERE ON ‘LENT’, AS I WILL NOT FOLLOW THEIR LEAD EITHER, BETTER TO FOLLOW “BIBLICAL FEASTS” THAN ‘MAN MADE’ ONES. THE FACT THAT TOO MANY ARE FOLLOWING THESE ‘TRADITIONS’ OF MEN, AND ‘THINK’ THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM SPEAKS VOLUMES TO ME. ONE REASON IN PARTICULAR WHY THE “APOSTATE CHURCH” IS GROWING IN POWER, BECAUSE NOW EVEN THOSE WHO ‘SAY’ THEIR CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN WILLING TO ‘ADAPT’, IN SPITE OF SEARCHING FOR THE “TRUTH” VIA THE GOSPEL.
I URGE YOU TO GO TO THE WORD, TO SEE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ‘FOLLOWING THE THINGS THAT BE NOT OF GOD’? DID YOU KNOW THAT CHRIST CELEBRATED THE BIBLE FEAST DAYS, AND THAT CHRISTIANITY AND BIBLICAL JUDAISM ACTUALLY “COMPLETE ONE ANOTHER”, SO WHY SHOULD I WANT TO FOLLOW ANYTHING THAT THE CATHOLIC OR ANY OTHER NON-BIBLICAL CHURCH IS DOING? I CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR “ALL” OF THEM “DAILY”, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT I SHOULD FOLLOW THEM DOWN THE ROAD TO PERDITION EITHER. THE LORD HELP US TO ‘DISCERN’ THE “TRUTH VIA THE WORD”, IN THESE LAST AND EVIL DAYS.
February 29, 2012 at 6:41 AM |
I have a special friend in my life who happens to be catholic, and I’ve given her what she needs to learn the truth about catholicism, but she’s hard to get to because she was raised catholic, and I worry about her soul! So EX supporters please pray my friend N. Wells eyes be opened to the truth of our LORD & Savior JeSUS, and that she comes out of bondage from the catholic church!
March 1, 2012 at 11:46 PM |
Jermaine it is not easy to get a Catholic to believe that their ways are not of God . Being a former Catholic myself, it really takes the power of the Holy Spirit to get people out of that mess. Be encouraged, I have seen people get saved and leave Catholicism . My whole family the Lord pulled out of that False religion ! Keep praying and hold to Gods word. But remember at the end of the day , its your friends choice . If they are seeking the truth( Christ ) He will open their eyes !
March 2, 2012 at 2:52 PM |
Jermaine, ust a piece of advice and for anyone else who has catholic friends. When speaking to those raised in catholicism you have to be careful how you address it. You must you wisdom. Understand that when you speak with them in you go on the attack they see it as you attacking their family and therefore shut you down and out. Get them into the Word. Show them scripture. Ask any Catholic what the Immaculate Conception is. They will reply that it is the birth of Christ and it is not. The Immaculate Conception is the birth of Mary. Being born with out the stain of original sin by a single act of grace from God. Get information from the catholic encyclopedia and learn some of the basics. How they use relics, different things. By doing so you can get them into the Word and get them to question it for themselves. Allow the Spirit to convict them, however you will be used by the Spirit to guide them into the Word. Video 7 is amazing, however at the same time, do not thing you can sit your catholic friends down in front of it and they will readily receive it. In relationships use the Word. Allow it to do the work.
February 29, 2012 at 12:20 AM |
I’m kind of doing something like this. I’ve never celebrated Lent, but I hate that all I do for Christ’s death and resurrection is go to church Sunday (maybe Friday) and possibly watch kids at an egg hunt. It’s so important, but how can I truly prepare and celebrate?
Instead of fasting, I am reading the 4 gospels over and over until Resurrection Day. I want to fill my mind and heart with Jesus’ birth, life, teachings, death and resurrection. I want to understand on a deeper level what these events mean, who Jesus is.
I don’t think it’s a bad idea to increase your fasting, praying, and study of the Word during either of our Christian celebrations as these are not just another day but times to join with other believers in focusing on God for specific fulfilled promises. Of course, we can (and should) do this at other times of the year, whenever the Spirit leads, and just because we love Him.
Easter has always felt like a more reflective time in comparison to Christmas. Fasting, praying, studying the Word, worshiping God (going beyond what you normally do) seem like they should be natural “in-pourings” of this season. This should be led by the Holy Spirit and done in a time best for the person (40 days, 60, 7, 3 days). The focus should be submission to God.
February 28, 2012 at 11:26 PM |
So you “prove” to love God only at this time when it should be a daily part of the christians life.
February 28, 2012 at 10:05 PM |
Lent originates from the 40 days of weeping for Tammuz, which God called an abomination…Ezekiel 8:14-15. Give up lent and come out of Babylon
March 1, 2012 at 5:13 PM |
Thank you, I knew it was something of the sort, but now I am equipped with the facts.:-)
February 28, 2012 at 9:21 PM |
“Being a Christian is an “every day” event…NOT just a “season” of Lent!”
February 29, 2012 at 3:26 PM |
Amen Godlysoldier, we should deny ourselves, take up our Cross daily and follow The Lord Jesus Christ
February 28, 2012 at 8:35 PM |
I believe the catholic lent thing is just another thing to distract ppl from the truth. These ppl eat all day long and just withhold the meat on friday and call it fasting. I’ve been around catholics. We are suppose to fast when needed and it is between you and God not cause some man made tradition told u to.
February 28, 2012 at 8:01 PM |
but happens at the end of the 40 days do they go back to their ‘old’ way of thinking and liviing why not give God ALL 365 days instead of waiting until lent…
February 28, 2012 at 8:14 PM |
Yea kinda like Christmas and Thanksgiving. We get together and feed the poor, then when the holidays are over the poor are back on their own…. sheeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzeeeee.
February 28, 2012 at 7:55 PM |
It shouldn’t be a certain time of the year for you to acknowledge and focus on God, that should be mandatory all year round.Amen?
February 28, 2012 at 8:53 PM |
Amen!
February 28, 2012 at 7:38 PM |
This Post has everything to do with relationship not religion, getting closer to God should be the main focus, Its nothing wrong with lent, nobody is obeying the pope just Jesus.
February 28, 2012 at 11:38 PM |
God bless you brethren. People are just looking for something to criticise.
February 28, 2012 at 7:33 PM |
catholics… i still run into a lot of them who say that they’re “christian” but i tell them they’re catholic.
cause catholics got to an old man and ask for forgiveness,
Christians go straight to the Father.
catholics say the same thing over and over and during service.
Christians teach the Word and don’t care about who it is that’s a sinner, because a Pastor’s Job is to reach people through God’s Word, delivering the message. <- those who have ears, let him hear.
Catholics tie people down.
Christians set people free.
February 29, 2012 at 5:31 AM |
The bible does say, who’s sins you forgive will be forgiven, sins retain will be retained. Also Jesus gave Peter keys to kingdom of heaven. What is bound in heaven also in earth, loosed in heaven also in earth. Its biblical that church authority can forgive sins in Jesus name, thats what priests do.
Catholics say same thing over in Mass except homily & scripture reading because its the liturgy, prayer of the people & priest toward God. For repentance, thanksgiving and acceptable of Holy Eucharist. A feast of Love.
Many people know very little about Catholic Church teachings. They make assumptions of Catholic teachings.
February 28, 2012 at 6:21 PM |
Well, I personally think that Lent is a “known” holiday set aside for Catholics. As a Christian, I do not believe in Catholicism or the practices thereof.
So, for me to take part in doing something in the same “time period” known to the world as when the Catholic’s do their thing, even if it were for my own personal walk with God, doesn’t seem quite right. I just don’t think as Christians that we should connect ourselves with doing things “along with” religions that go against the word of God. If you aren’t for God in ALL ways, you are denying Him and you are against Him. Period.
It’s almost like trying to BLEND the two religions together in a sense. (Little by little folks are trying to ease things in so that religion becomes unclear and confusing to those that are lost) I don’t think that is right or pleasing to God. I do think and believe the praying and fasting are pleasing to God, but not with us doing it by rubbing elbows with the devil’s crowd.
We, as Christians, can pray and fast at any time during the year, so why do it when a known false religion does their thing. And this Lent thing is for 40 days, but what are they doing for the other 320 odd days of the year?? So what if you make a big outward appearance of having ashes on your forehead, what is your heart saying? And, if you are not a Christian, it really matters not what you do for “works”, it won’t get you to heaven. So in reality, Lent is all in vain. It is an outward sign, but it doesnt save your soul. Sorry, that’s the truth.
Like my Pastor said the other day: ALL roads do NOT lead to heaven. The Bible reads that Jesus said: I am the way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes unto the Father but by ME.” So, there is only one way to heaven, ALL other roads lead to hell.
And so far as the article mentioning you should stop drinking and change our stations in the car and on their computer’s to Christian music, etc., for 40 days, uhhhhh, I don’t see why if you are a Christian that you would even be drinking to start with or listening to worldly music on a regular basis, you know? That was kinda funny to me. Jus sayin…..
Personally, I would not join in. I can get my meditation, prayer, fasting and whatever else I need to do within my spiritual life on my own; by myself or with my true brothers and sisters IN CHRIST.
February 28, 2012 at 5:53 PM |
Why would you want to obey the Pope, are you Catholic?
February 29, 2012 at 4:51 AM |
Narrowistheway,
I won’t dispute the fact that most catholics call themselves Christians.
Neither will I disagree with the fact that they have confessions behind a wall,
cloth or a slidding door.
Also, they (catholics) do repetitions prayers and almost always to the counting
of prayer beads.
Just so you know…not every so called Christian minister, professing Jesus,
is of Jesus our Lord and Savior.
But…I don’t agree that a Christian can save another Christian.
Only the Blood of Jesus can save us..!
(Not ourselves, pastors, man or woman).
God Bless,
Eb.
REPLY: EB the issue is where do their confessions go? To the priest?
Jesus is our mediator not the priest.
February 29, 2012 at 2:30 PM |
I totally agree.
February 28, 2012 at 5:25 PM |
The Bible says do no do what the heathens(Roman Catholic Church) do. Why would you mix with a religion that supports molestation of young men? Why won’t accept the birth, death, and Resurrection of Jesus are sufficing enough for salvation. When did Christ ever mark his head with ashes from a palm tree? TRUE Church, please STOP doing what the world is doing just to Co-exist !
February 29, 2012 at 3:42 PM |
I so agree Robert, my pastor is big on the putting ashes on people’s heads for Ash Wednesday, and I was thinking, “when did it ever say in the Bible that we are supposed to do this????” Sometimes we do so many things and even some pastors don’t even know the REAL story behind why we do such things. You’d think reading the Word would make them know better, but I don’t know what to say about some people, SMH??
February 28, 2012 at 5:23 PM |
Amen
February 28, 2012 at 5:19 PM |
That is true,I agree.