Strict partakers of Lent do not eat meat on Fridays, usually opting for fish. The purpose of this spiritual obedience is to increase the faith of the observer and generate a closer relationship with God. As reported by Stewardship , a UK Christian charity, in their 40acts challenge:. It is thought to have Germanic roots and seems likely to have been used to describe the season when the days began to lengthen, signifying new life and renewal.
Over time, the word Lent came to be linked specifically to the Christian tradition of fasting before Easter, which always coincided with the spring. Early Christians knew the significance of Easter called for appropriate preparations.
The first remark of a day period of fasting in preparation for Easter is seen in the Canons of Nicaea AD It is considered that the custom may have arisen from the early church tradition of baptismal aspirants enduring a day period of fasting in preparation for their baptism at Easter. Eventually, the Lent season developed into a time of spiritual commitment for the whole church. Through the primary centuries, the Lenten fast was very stringent but loosened over time.
While Catholics and Protestants celebrate Lent ; observing Lent is more popular among Catholic believers, but the tradition is growing among evangelicals. The churches also start Lent on different days. Eastern churches start Lent on the Monday of the 7th week before Easter and end it on the Friday 9 days before Easter.
Eastern churches call this period the 'Great Lent'. Most people give up a favorite food product or beverage, and many Catholics still abstain from meat on Lenten Fridays. Others may give up something they enjoy or something that distracts them from reflection like video games, television, or even social media. According to the LifeWay Christian Research study cited above,. Additional prayer 39 percent , giving to others 38 percent or fasting from a bad habit 35 percent are also popular.
Fasting from a favorite activity is less common 23 percent. Fasting from a favorite food or beverage is more common out West 62 percent than in the Northeast 42 percent. Young Americans, those 18 to 24, who observe Lent are more likely to choose this option 86 percent than those over 65 43 percent. Catholics 64 percent are more likely give up a food or drink than Protestants 43 percent.
Giving something up for Lent does not lend you any merit toward your own salvation, justification, or sanctification. On the topic of fasting, Crosswalk. Yet, if done correctly, it can be a powerful time of renewing your relationship with God. Fasting can be found in both the Old Testament and the New, with Moses Exodus ; Deuteronomy ,18 , Elijah 1 Kings , and our Lord Matthew all participating in day fasts.
Fasting is a way of denying ourselves the excesses of life so that we might be more attuned to the Lord's voice. It is also a way of disciplining yourself, strengthening your "spiritual muscles" so to speak, so that when temptations arise in life, you are already used to saying "no" to your desires. And finally, fasting is also a way of participating, in a small way, in the sufferings of Christ and can be particularly powerful when accompanied by prayer and confession.
A word of caution: although fasting can be a wonderful spiritual exercise, it is also an easy one to abuse. Make sure that when you fast, you do not deprive yourself so much that you do harm to your body. Fasting should only be practiced by adults and mature teens. On the spiritual front, Jesus warns us to guard against pride while fasting Matthew , Matthew There is nothing in Scripture that requires a day fast before you can celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The Bible is clear that the resurrection and the promise of salvation are to be celebrated every day not just on Easter Sunday. Celebrating Lent is a preference not a biblical principle; therefore, use your best judgment based on Scripture for how you want to prepare your heart for the celebration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If giving something up for Lent causes you to focus too much on your own sacrifice vs. My commitment to Jesus should involve the following:. Motivation is everything. He also spoke of daily fulfilling his vows to the Lord Psalm Another psalmist wrote that he thirsted for God like a deer thirsts for water Psalm This is in preparation for the spring celebration of Easter, a religious holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
But facts about the early origin of the religious observance are not as well known. As a scholar who studies Christian liturgy , I know that by the fourth century, a regular practice of day fasting became common in Christian churches.
The practice of fasting from food for spiritual reasons is found in the three largest Abrahamic faiths : Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In all three, refraining from eating is intimately connected with an additional focus on prayer, and the practice of assisting the poor by giving alms or donating food.
In the Gospels, Jesus spends 40 days in the wilderness to fast and pray. This event was one of the factors that inspired the final length of Lent. Early Christian practices in the Roman Empire varied from area to area. A common practice was weekly fasting on Wednesday and Friday until mid-afternoon. In addition, candidates for baptism, as well as the clergy, would fast before the rite, which often took place at Easter.
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