Increasingly, Baptists turning to the observation of Lent

[Crabtownboy]

Does your church have lenten service?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) -- Though traditionally viewed as a Catholic rite, increasing numbers of Baptists are discovering the discipline of Lent.

Belmont University, until recently affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, marked Feb. 25 with an Ash Wednesday service co-officiated by a Catholic bishop.

"As a Christian university, we are strengthened by marking the seasons of the Christian calendar," said Todd Lake, Belmont's vice president for spiritual development. "It is thanks to our sisters and brothers in the liturgical churches that we add these practices to our rich Baptist heritage at Belmont."

 

[Joseph M. Smith]

Yes, always have done a Lenten theme. This year all the services will be built on the theme, "Turn, Turn, Turn" and every sermon will focus on a passage of Scripture that has that word in it in one fashion or another. I'm sure you can see that the essence of the seasonal emphasis is to be metanoia, repentance/turning.

I must say that I have never even given the slightest consideration to inviting a Catholic bishop to participate! Sounds like an effort to be a bit outrageous ... maybe not, but at a distance, that's what it feels like.

 

[abcgrad94]

I do not observe Lent, and I do not find instructions to do so in scripture.

 

[Crabtownboy]

I do not observe Lent, and I do not find instructions to do so in scripture.

I am not sure of the logic there. I find no instructions to use grape juice, but we do ... except for very rare exceptions.

 

[abcgrad94]

I am not sure of the logic there. I find no instructions to use grape juice, but we do ... except for very rare exceptions.

My logic says, if it's not mandated in scripture, I don't have to do it. The Bible does talk about "fasting" but not Lent fasting.

Where is it in scripture? Who started it and why? What purpose does it serve? These are questions I ask myself when I see:
dresses only on women
vegetarianism
Lent
not eating at restaurants that serve liquor
Easter eggs
creamation
. . .and a host of other things not found in the Bible.

 

[Crabtownboy]

My logic says, if it's not mandated in scripture, I don't have to do it. The Bible does talk about "fasting" but not Lent fasting.

Where is it in scripture? Who started it and why? What purpose does it serve? These are questions I ask myself when I see:
dresses only on women
vegetarianism
Lent
not eating at restaurants that serve liquor
Easter eggs
creamation
. . .and a host of other things not found in the Bible.

I am just curious, not arguing. Do you see any harm in a lenten service?

 

[abcgrad94]

I am just curious, not arguing. Do you see any harm in a lenten service?

Not really. It might be a good thing, or not. I wouldn't want to confuse new converts into thinking we Baptist should adopt Catholic traditions. That would concern me.

 

[Zenas]

Not really. It might be a good thing, or not. I wouldn't want to confuse new converts into thinking we Baptist should adopt Catholic traditions. That would concern me.

What about Christmas and Easter? They are also Catholic traditions with no more scriptural basis than Lent. Several denominations refrain from observing these holidays for this reason. Why do you think Baptists observe Christmas and Easter but remain somewhat skeptical about Lent?

 

[donnA]

If you want to be a catholic, be honest and be a catholic, but if you want to be a baptist, then be an actual baptist and don't take on rites and rituals of false religions.

 

[donnA]

What about Christmas and Easter? They are also Catholic traditions with no more scriptural basis than Lent. Several denominations refrain from observing these holidays for this reason. Why do you think Baptists observe Christmas and Easter but remain somewhat skeptical about Lent?

Not in my lifetime, nor my parents or grandparents lifetime has these been a catholic holiday.
Ido think easter (though not the name) does have scriptural bases, when we are told to remember what Jesus did,,(the actual purpose of easter).

 

[annsni]

I live on a predominantly Catholic area of the country and to do lenten services would be very confusing for many who are new in the faith. We are not Catholic nor do we celebrate Catholic holidays. The fact that the University did a lenten service co-lead by a Catholic priest shows that it's a Catholic ritualistic holiday - with Catholic practices along with it.

No - we do not nor would we do a lenten service.

 

[4His_glory]

I echo the same thoughts I said in the thread on Ash Wednesday.

I would add that I don´t practice lent because repentance is a day to day practice carried out for ones entire life, not just some 40 day ritual that was never given as an ordinance of the church.

 

[4His_glory]

I live on a predominantly Catholic area of the country and to do lenten services would be very confusing for many who are new in the faith. We are not Catholic nor do we celebrate Catholic holidays. The fact that the University did a lenten service co-lead by a Catholic priest shows that it's a Catholic ritualistic holiday - with Catholic practices along with it.

No - we do not nor would we do a lenten service.

Exactly what I was arguing in Ash Wednesday thread. To practice lent here would confuse the gospel.

 

[4His_glory]

Not in my lifetime, nor my parents or grandparents lifetime has these been a catholic holiday.
Ido think easter (though not the name) does have scriptural bases, when we are told to remember what Jesus did,,(the actual purpose of easter).

Or your great grandparents lifetime you could add.

 

[blackbird]

Does your church have lenten service?

The predomantely catholic holiday of Lent is preceeded the day before by a celebration of Mardi Gras

Lent begins on Wednesday---Mardi Gras is celebrated on the Tuesday before---------and is set aside for the pagans to "gorge" themselves with festivity before they must give it up on the day following, which begins Lent

Its an opportunity to prove what Scripture says as "their gods being their bellys"

 

[Alcott]

I observe Lent every time I take my clothes out of the dryer. I wonder if anybody else has ever thought of that line before.

 

[HankD]

That depends on what you mean by Baptists observing Lent.

If one means adopting any of the ritual of the Church of Rome, no.

If it means a greater focus upon the death and burial of Jesus Christ with an emphasis on His suffering, IMO that's fine, as long as the observance ends with His glorious resurrection.

Some Bible believing Protestant Churches have such observances.

Personally however (as a former Catholic), I think such observances should be avoided by Baptists so as to avoid confusion or suggest some kind of alliance with Rome.

To celebrate Christmas and Easter are universal Christian observances (for the most part) and different than the observance of the Roman Lent.

For one reason, within the scope of the observance of Lent in the Roman ritual is the practice of doing "penance" to make ones self pleasing to God.

No Christian should put their stamp of approval on the so-called "sacrament" of penance.

Penance has been renamed "reconciliation" by the Church of Rome but a rose by any other name...

It is still a "sacrament". One which supposedly restores one to sanctifying grace which can be lost by committing a "mortal" sin. This "sacrament" can only be admistered by an ordained sacerdotal priest of the Roman ritual.

Christian repentance on the other hand involves personal acknowledgment and godly sorrow for sin.

It restores the fellowship of the Christian with God without a human mediator (other than Christ).

So I would avoid such practices, especially calling them by the term "Lent" or "Lenten" observances.


HankD

 

[Thinkingstuff]

The predomantely catholic holiday of Lent is preceeded the day before by a celebration of Mardi Gras

Lent begins on Wednesday---Mardi Gras is celebrated on the Tuesday before---------and is set aside for the pagans to "gorge" themselves with festivity before they must give it up on the day following, which begins Lent

Its an opportunity to prove what Scripture says as "their gods being their bellys"

I always thought that was about baptist since most I know have nice rotund bellies and the fellowships halls are always filled with food :tongue3:

 

[tinytim]

We had a WONDERFUL Ash Wednesday service...
But I did it Baptist Style...

After Reading Psalms 51, and doing a Bible Study on it...
We had an opportunity to write down a sin, obstacle, fear, or anything else that we need to allow God to remove from our life...

EDITED TO ADD: Then we burned them along with some palm branches we saved from last yrs Palm Sunday...

Then, sang "Change my heart O God"


There were tears... and sweet fellowship... as we stood repentant before God!


We are also working our way through a devotional book "Seek God for the City 2009" A 40 day devotional/prayer guide that started on Ash Wednesday.

We not only observe Lent... but other "Catholic" holidays as well.. Easter, Christmas, Maundy Thursday, Palm Sunday, Advent...

I am finding the Liturgical calander a great help....

Why should the Catholics have all the good things...
Don't throw out the baby with the bath water...
We can do it better than them anyway!

These are my thoughts...

 

[tinytim]

Here is a link to the book we are using.. http://www.waymakers.org/?p=sgftc


A sample page http://www.waymakers.org/index.php?p=sgftc&pp=samplepage