Lent is the period from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, during which Christians purify themselves by praying, fasting, repenting of their sins, and making changes and sacrifices in their lives. The final week of Lent is called Holy Week; during this period, observant Christians reflect specifically on the last days of Jesus Christ's life.
So according to a definition this is a time that we are using to make sacrifices and changes in our lives. I have heard people since Wednesday say, “Oh you have to do it now? Our church doesn’t do it now. “or “ Aren’t you being legalistic about this?”, or “I’m not sure what I would sacrifice.”
We live in a world where there are so many rules that we feel we have to follow. Rules that tell us what to do when, how to do it, how much to do, how less to do it, what to eat, what not to eat, where to go, what is healthy, what isn't healthy... Get my drift?
This has really put me to thinking about what and why I am giving up what I gave up this year. The key word in my mind is a sacrifice. Does that always mean that we have to give up food? Not necessarily, but most do because in today’s society we see food as our addiction. Look at your life. What do you depend on that you think you can’t live without? Last year my sacrifice was Facebook. I removed myself from social media, removed the app from my phone to use my time to spend with PEOPLE, not their faces on a phone or a computer screen.
This year it is processed foods and preservatives. Yes it is food. But I find myself this year trying to allow my body to become healthier. If I lose weight in the process great, but I have to start looking at what goes in my body. I only have one. In using this 40 days to sacrifice processed foods, I have to say I have had to rely on strength from prayer. You say, “That is crazy. You prayed to not eat a preservative, or something processed?” Yes I have, and I will continue to do so for the next thirty some odd days. I feel that if we become judgmental of those who are sacrificing either by what they are doing, or HOW they are doing it, then in turn we have to look at our own lives. Sacrifice what you can, do the best you can do. It isn’t about what you give up, it the preparation of your heart and reflect on what Christ has done for us. Yes He never made mistakes, so when he chose to fast with the 40 days and 40 nights in the desert he made no mistakes. That is why He is the only perfect person that was/is.
Here is my challenge to you today. Don’t let the legalistic society that we live in today bog you down in your choices. Will you backslide? Of course we all do. But maybe there is something that you could do without for the next 32 days that could lead to a life change for the future years.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Lent in a Legalistic Society...
Lent is the period from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, during which Christians purify themselves by praying, fasting, repenting of their sins, and making changes and sacrifices in their lives. The final week of Lent is called Holy Week; during this period, observant Christians reflect specifically on the last days of Jesus Christ's life.
So according to a definition this is a time that we are using to make sacrifices and changes in our lives. I have heard people since Wednesday say, “Oh you have to do it now? Our church doesn’t do it now. “or “ Aren’t you being legalistic about this?”, or “I’m not sure what I would sacrifice.”
We live in a world where there are so many rules that we feel we have to follow. Rules that tell us what to do when, how to do it, how much to do, how less to do it, what to eat, what not to eat, where to go, what is healthy, what isn't healthy... Get my drift?
This has really put me to thinking about what and why I am giving up what I gave up this year. The key word in my mind is a sacrifice. Does that always mean that we have to give up food? Not necessarily, but most do because in today’s society we see food as our addiction. Look at your life. What do you depend on that you think you can’t live without? Last year my sacrifice was Facebook. I removed myself from social media, removed the app from my phone to use my time to spend with PEOPLE, not their faces on a phone or a computer screen.
This year it is processed foods and preservatives. Yes it is food. But I find myself this year trying to allow my body to become healthier. If I lose weight in the process great, but I have to start looking at what goes in my body. I only have one. In using this 40 days to sacrifice processed foods, I have to say I have had to rely on strength from prayer. You say, “That is crazy. You prayed to not eat a preservative, or something processed?” Yes I have, and I will continue to do so for the next thirty some odd days. I feel that if we become judgmental of those who are sacrificing either by what they are doing, or HOW they are doing it, then in turn we have to look at our own lives. Sacrifice what you can, do the best you can do. It isn’t about what you give up, it the preparation of your heart and reflect on what Christ has done for us. Yes He never made mistakes, so when he chose to fast with the 40 days and 40 nights in the desert he made no mistakes. That is why He is the only perfect person that was/is.
Here is my challenge to you today. Don’t let the legalistic society that we live in today bog you down in your choices. Will you backslide? Of course we all do. But maybe there is something that you could do without for the next 32 days that could lead to a life change for the future years.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)