Isaiah 58:2-11 (NIV)
…the following comes from the mouth of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah…
“For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and have you not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’
Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is is only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter–when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
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The people who really know me, know I am an not a religious type of guy. I am sure there are lots of people who classify me as “religious.” But those who do, obviously do not view religion the way I view religion. I believe organized religion has turned many people away from the life-transforming properties a real relationship with Jesus provides. The best way to describe me is I am a man of faith and a Jesus follower with too many sins, pimples and blemishes to handle on my own, so I choose (through a personal relationship with Jesus) to try to become a little bit less of me and a little bit more of Christ each and every day. If that is religion to you then fine, call it what you want. I call it a personal relationship with someone who faced the same challenges, suffering and struggles I face every day, yet always did the right thing…and today I am trying my best to simply do the next right thing.
This lenten season is one of the many “religious” rituals I often scratch my head about. It always amazes me the number of people that walk around with a cross of ashes on their forehead on Ash Wednesday. For many religions, Ash Wednesday signifies the beginning of the Lenten season when Christians are called to prepare themselves for Easter weekend, i.e. the death and resurrection of Jesus. If observed the way it is supposed to be observed, (i.e. everytime you deny yourself of something you’ve given up for lent you take time to reflect and draw closer to Christ), then it truly is worthwhile. But if you are doing it to just do it, well that is another story.
How many people have you seen walking around on Ash Wednesday with a cross of ashes on their forehead, with their hands folded, their head bowed humbly…you know kind of acting like a monk and by Thursday they are “flipping off” the guy who just cut them off in traffic? Or they ignore a stranger in need or go back to their place of work and treat their employees like slaves? (Read Isaiah above) I’ve heard of drinkers that give up hard liquor but still drink beer during Lent. I do not see how the ice cream industry survives during lent, as it seems as though everyone gives up ice cream for Lent. Once again, great thing to do if everytime you deny yourself of the desire to take a shot of whiskey or eat ice cream you draw closer to Jesus and reflect on his sacrifice. But if your replacing your ice cream desire with rice cakes and your whiskey with beer and leaving Jesus out of the equation…hopefully you are understanding what I am saying.
Someone, somewhere decided to observe the 40 days of Lent a particular way and people, one-by-one, fall into line and just do what they are told to do. For the life of me I cannot find any place in the Bible where Lent is outlined and explained. Can you say religion?
Here is my problem, if I waited for lent in order to fast (deny myself of my physical desires), repent, do things in moderation and practice spiritual discipline and reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice for me…I would be dead. Okay, maybe I’m getting a little carried away but at least I know I would be spiritually dead. If I don’t start every day by dying to self and drawing close to and being resurrected through Christ, I’m not going to make it. I will eventually turn back to my old ways and I don’t want to go there.
Oh, and by the way, the guy who got the ashes placed on his forehead on Ash Wednesday and then flipped a person off the next day for cutting getting cut off in traffic…that was me about 15 years ago. I’ll never forget the feeling I had when I caught the traces of the ashes that were still slightly visible on my forehead while looking in my rearview mirror to see if my traffic friend saw the salute I gave him.
Although this blog may make you feel as though I am anti-Lent…I am not. I am just strongly encouraging you to let go of “religious” rituals if they are not helping you change your spiritual condition for the good, and grab hold of a personal relationship with Jesus. Start celebrating Lent daily by celebrating His death and resurrection by dying to yourself and allowing Jesus to live through you. Slowly but surely you become a little bit less of you and a little bit more of Christ and that is what Lent is all about.
P.E.A.C.E.
