Ash Wednesday and Lent - What's a Baptist to do?

As a Baptist I have generally paid no attention to Lent. Usually the Baptist observance of Lent includes jokes about dryer lint and trying to figure out how to politely tell people that they have a big smudge on their forehead. Baptists have generally rejected liturgical traditions as showy, hypocritical and basically too Roman Catholic. In truth, though, Baptists at times have enjoyed a good show and have plenty of hypocrites. We have some major differences with the Roman Catholic Church, though the current political climate has highlighted our commonality in recent years. Some of the traditions of the Catholic Church do have value even for us radical reformers. Tradition connects us with a past that is larger than ourselves and anchors us to a faith that endured through the centuries. Lent can be a positive event for us, but we have to understand what it is.

It would seem that people today are more familiar with and interested in the events leading up to Lent, than in actual observance of Lent. On Tuesday, while flipping through the radio dial for weather and traffic, I heard a local radio personality discuss his plans for Mardi Gras. He was going to celebrate big the evening of Mardi Gras at a prominent Atlanta strip club. He was then asked about his observance of Lent. Very seriously he announced that he was giving up donuts for Jesus! Lent, though, is not just about giving up something for 40 days. Lent is supposed to be about fasting, penance, prayer and other religious practices that focus the mind and heart on Passion Week. Ultimately, Lent is to prepare the Christian for celebrating Easter.

I have never specifically given up anything for Lent. I am still praying about it. I have often thought it would be better for us to focus on improving some aspect of our Christian discipleship than on giving up some item or activity. In other words, I prefer adding something beneficial to the Christian walk that can become a habit beyond Lent. Behavior experts often claim that anything done for 40 days will become a habit and we should take this opportunity to create positive habits. This is not meant as a criticism for those who are fasting and picking up a good habit can be complementary to their fasting.

One of the things I intend on doing during this Lenten season is to offer up a word of devotion each day. For each day I will present a small word to help prepare for Easter. This will help me focus my mind on preparing for Easter and I pray that it will help someone else as well prepare their mind and heart for the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.