A close friend asked me over the Internet if I could explain what Ash Wednesday and Lent were all about. They said that several of their friends practiced this and would give up things such as caffeine and chocolate for Lent. The problem was that they couldn't explain why they were doing this. So, here is my answer.
First things first:
Let me state first and foremost, that the practice of both Ash Wednesday and Lent are no where found in the bible. They are not commanded, nor are there any examples of the early Christians practicing these things. They are purely the design of the Catholic church leaders. Granted they were begun from the best of motives. The stated purpose is to help people remember the death and crucifixion of Jesus, but again, we don't find these two things in the bible.
What is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday is a special day instituted by the Catholic Church, (adopted by some other denominations also). Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving leading up to Easter. Of the 46 days until Easter, six are Sundays. Sundays are not included in the fasting period and are instead "feast" days during Lent.
Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of followers as a reminder of human mortality, and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday.
What is Lent
Lent is a religious observance 6 week period of time in which the adherents are suppose to draw closer to God through self denial. Again this practice was instituted by the Catholic Church, but is also observed by other denominations at this time. The time period for this period of religious observance begins on Ash Wednesday and covers a period of approximately six weeks before Easter Day.
The Purpose: The traditional purpose of Lent is to the believer be more in touch with God in their lives through prayer, penance, repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement and self-denial.
The observance often culminates in the annual commemoration of "Holy Week, marking the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This recalls the events of the New Testament beginning on Friday and climaxing on Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday, which ultimately culminates in the joyful celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ". (Note: the basic explanations come in part from Wikipedia, with commentary by me).
Now you may be asking, "Why would religious people practice something that is not found in the bible?" Well, I'm wondering right along with you. I know that for some, they do it because their religious leaders tell them they need to do it and they really don't bother to stop and ask why. Others do things just because that's the way they have always been done and again, they don't bother to stop and ask why.
Personally, I always want to know why we do something. I encourage the members of our church to always question me or the other leaders, as to what we practice or believe and why. If they can't tell you, then there really is a problem.
I know that some may be offended by what I have just written, but notice what Jesus had to say about this problem in Matthew 15:12-15. "Then the disciples came to Him and asked, "Do You realize You offended the Pharisees by what You just said?" Jesus replied, "Every plant not planted by My heavenly Father will be uprooted, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch."
How about you, will you follow blindly, or search for the truth. Here is an interesting passage of scripture that applies to this problem. Act 17:11, "And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth." How about you, do you think you can handle the truth?
Russ Lawson
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