A message from Pastor Dave
Lent is for Love
Lent, a 40-day period of spiritual preparation and renewal, begins on Wednesday, March 5th. We typically consider what we plan to sacrifice. Historically, the church practiced a form of intermittent fasting during lent. You could eat one vegetarian meal in the evening–no meat, fish, or dairy. The rest of the day you abstained from eating and drinking. Gradually, the fasting requirements were relaxed. And, in many Christian traditions, a narrow practice of fasting isn’t really encouraged or practiced.
A more generic “fast” from something we enjoy has become the norm. I know people that have abstained from chocolates, alcohol, or social media during Lent. All good. But, it’s important to remember why we abstain from these pleasures. Many Christians mistakenly believe that voluntarily imposing suffering on themselves is a way to curry God’s favor. “Look at what I’m sacrificing for God!” The point of fasting is to deepen our love for God: “Look at what Jesus sacrificed for me!” It’s not so much about proving as it is about experiencing more love for God. We habitually, almost unconsciously, put other pleasures ahead of God, unwittingly cooling our passion for God. Lent is about reordering our loves. We refuse to allow our phone, taste for chocolate, or relaxing glasses of wine to distract us from our greatest Love.
