Well, Ash Wednesday has passed and we are in the season of Lent.
I'm sure you all know by now that my church is The Salvation Army.
Maybe my memory is faulty or maybe it's not faulty but biased by my interests but I have to say, I don't remember lent being an issue in The Salvation Army of my youth. It might have been mentioned at times but I don't remember anyone fasting for lent or anything like that. The last few years I seem to have heard much more about it, but am I generally more interested now?
Wikipedia shines a (little) light on the whole conundrum with the almost throw away line "Some evangelical churches celebrate lent". Yes, I wondered if it was a denominational thing. The Salvation Army once had a strong identity with traditions, symbols and a language all our own. One of our traditions (which is still "a thing") was initiated in 1886. The Self Denial Appeal is a call on Salvationists to give sacrificially to those less fortunate than ourselves. The appeal runs at about the same time as lent but is not directly tied to lent. As I write, I realise that the date of the climactic Altar Service is separated from Easter by a week or two, allowing the event to have a place on the calendar un-shadowed by other major events such as Palm Sunday or Easter Day.
I'm not here to criticise the faithful who observe lent with mindful dedication, spiritual traditions can be deeply meaningful but I have to say I am bemused by some of the lenten observance I see in the modern Salvation Army.
When we give up our creature comforts: sugar / coffee / soft drink / meat / social media. Does it cause us to be self reflective?
Does it help us to identify with Jesus' forty day wilderness ordeal, away from human contact, hungry, sun burnt, cold, without medical care or bathing facilities or any kind of comfort?
Does it help us to think about our relationship to the God we love?
Does our unmet need for caffeine in the morning make us more reliant on Jesus?
Is this kind of self denial meaningful in any real way?
Does a six week period of minor deprivation make us better people? does it count if we spend 46 more weeks indulging our every whim?
Lent ends at Easter when lenten fasting is almost rewarded by the chocolate over load and lamb lunches. It's as though lent was not about self reflection, self denial or identifying with Jesus but about how good we feel when we think about our efforts. It seems to me that we become gods and lose God.
Six weeks of saving followed by a sacrificial donation to someone less fortunate seems to me to be a useful tradition, requiring true generosity and often, faith. If we then follow that with a completely separate, serious and thoughtful appreciation of the Easter story, in my mind at least, we more effectively honour the death of an innocent man.
Thoughtful and interesting reflections Kylie. I like your idea about saving during Lent in order to make a charitable donation. To me that sounds more truly Christian than the self-indulgence of self-deprivation.
ReplyDeleteI was taught that idea almost from the cradle so there is a whole community to thank for that!
DeleteYou ask some very pointed questions which make a person stop and think about a church tradition. Comments on this should be interesting.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I'm a harsh critic of the church.
DeleteI don't celebrate Lent, but I suppose for some people it does help them to focus their attention more on God, with some of the worldly obsessions out of the way. Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI may be too harsh in this post (though I'm undecided)
DeleteIf the habits of lent are a gateway to long term change then their job is well done. I have seen it work this way in my children
I do observe Lent, but I have 2 distinct ways of observing. One is self denial and the other is giving of self. I have a chart to record a daily action of giving that has to be intentional, not something I would do regularly.
ReplyDeleteI do not look at the denial as a pat on the back, but rather doing without something I enjoy, as a physical means of putting God first. I actually don't think God gives two hoots about what we do or don't put into our bodies, but I think God kind of digs that we are denying something for God.
Your mindfulness and intentionality of action is all I hope for, in myself as much as anybody
DeleteWhen I was growing up, Lent was not observed by my church (United Church of Canada); it was very much a Catholic practice. Now that I'm no longer affiliated with any church, my only information is what I hear other people say or I read about in the paper or online. Maybe it's because I don't know those people well enough to ask them personal questions, but I keep seeing - at least on the surface - what you describe here: self-denial without genuine reflection. Maybe what's in their hearts is different; maybe they don't want to talk about that part because it is very personal. I don't know. But I think you've asked some very good questions. I also find myself nodding in agreement with YP's phrase "the self-indulgence of self-deprivation" - I'm sure many people would be shocked to have themselves described this way but perhaps that's not a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm reassured that you have observed a similar thing, Jenny . I sometimes think I make this stuff up
DeleteWell, I'm not religious so I haven't anything to say about Lent, but I do think the odd period of self-denial in a world of endless consumption can be very healthy and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteSo much in life is about attitude, Nick, including this.
DeleteAs far as Im concerned, the planet needs all the deprivation all of us can stand. Plus more
I like this post a lot, kylie. You bring up some good questions.
ReplyDeleteI am certain that our unmet need for caffeine in the morning does NOT make us more reliant on Jesus.
The resuming of self-indulgence at the end of Lent cannot hold a candle to events on the day before Lent begins; that is, Mardi Gras, Carnival, Pancake Day.
Different denominations have different emphases. I like the sound of the Self Denial Appeal you mentioned. Southern Baptists (of which I am not one) have an annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (for foreign missions) and an annual Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (for home missions) and nobody else ever heard of them. The Church of Christ (of which I am not one either) take communion every week. Jehovah's Witnesses (of which I am not one either) take it once a year on Maundy Thursday but they do not call it communion or The Last Supper; they call it The Lord's Evening Meal. Some do not take communion at all (Quakers, Salvation Army?) In summary, people are funny -- not funny ha-ha, funny peculiar).
Some people are very proud of what they give up for Lent and announce it to everyone they meet. I thought the right hand was not supposed to know what the left hand was doing (that is, don't toot your own horn, Mabel).
"Jehovah's Witnesses (of which I am not one either) take it once a year"
DeleteI knew a married couple who were JWs turned atheists. They told me that very few JWs take communion because it is presented as being only for those who are closest to Jesus, which means that you lose status if you take it unworthily (in the eyes of your fellows).I, of course, take communion (the drink, that is--I pass on the germ-laden drink) when I go the Episcopal service, but for me, it has nothing to do with Jesus, and everything to do with mediation and affiliation. In the larger Episcopal parishes, communion is held throughout the week.
I'm glad you like the post, Bob.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, we don't take communion in the salvation army. I can't remember the exact reason why and I don't want to get it wrong but it made sense when I was told. We aren't against communion though and I've taken it in other places.
People are indeed peculiar. All people, all the time. God thinks he's so funny, the original dad joker
I love your questioning and thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI grew up as an Anglican (C Of E). We often practiced a form of self denial and as an adult bible studies pertaining to Lent. I remember as a child being scandalised that my godparents' daughter gave up chocolate for Lent and every item of chocolate that came her way was saved for after Lent. It didn't seem right to me.
Thanks for dropping by, suzan. I have to agree that forgoing chocolate at any time is just wrong!
DeleteI liked the reflection of this post even though I am an atheist, raised fundamental Catholic who practiced deprivation during Lent (much more strict than people are aware - i.e. not allowed complete meals but collations, "black fasts", very hard on children who had to walk 2 miles to school and back (for this meagre lunch) 4 times a day. No school buses or cafeterias then. Ensuring our innocent souls would not be fried for ever.
ReplyDeleteToday I just hear bragging and joking about the sacrifices of giving up beer and sweets, etc. from those practising RCs and I find it offensive. I respect more the others who contribute and donate rather than feed their own egos.
XO
WWW
HO, Wiswebwoman! I see that you are a fellow non-supernaturalist. Do you ever post about your nonbelief, how you arrived at it, what problems it has caused for you, and so forth?
DeleteWWW,
DeleteVoluntarily sending children to school on an empty (or near empty) belly is child abuse. Im sorry that happened to you or to anybody.
Thanks for engaging, I am always blown away by the generosity of my atheist readers when I do a post like this.
Snow,
Nick, Www,yorkshire pudding and elephants child are all atheists.... Of course you know EC already
The local Episcopal Church that I sometimes attend is urging its members to consider giving up meat one day a week for Lent. Truly, it takes an affluent group of diehard carnivores to seriously propose something like that as a sacrifice to God. Speaking of sacrifices, can something properly be called a sacrifice unless the person doing it places less value upon what he/she is getting than upon whatever it is that he/she is giving up?
ReplyDeleteI have seen the meat free idea proposed, too, though it might have been intended for every day. Another one I heard was giving up single use plastics (I try to do that every day of my life)
ReplyDeleteYour question about sacrifice is interesting.
Anytime I consider I'm sacrificing it's because I value the thing I'm sacrificing for higher than the thing I sacrifice. In my mind sacrifice comes when it's a choice one would desperately like not to be making.
Speaking of sacrifice, here's an interesting take on it from King David in Second Samuel chapter 24 :
ReplyDelete18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.
19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded.
20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.
21 And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the Lord, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
22 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.
23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The Lord thy God accept thee.
24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
25 And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
I'm a little vague on what you're trying to say. Since David was king, isn't it likely that the money came from the nation's coffers and not from his own pocket, but that, in any event, whatever he spent wouldn't have come near to the widow's mite in that he certainly wouldn't have had to miss any meals. Also, do you believe that famines, plagues, and natural disasters are, at least some of the time, God's punishment for disobedience?
DeleteI've been thinking about this since you posted it. I was brought up C of E and giving up something for Lent was part of that teaching although not something I ever recall being done in my parents' house. I have no religious belief now and have never observed Lent anyway. The idea of depriving oneself and giving money to charity seems to me to be a good idea if one deprives oneself of something that has a significant cost.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up protestant in the era you did is like lent every day so I understand why you wouldn't have observed it :)
DeleteThe reason Lent wasn't celebrated in my Southern US Protestant area was that the Catholic Church was regarded as the Whore of Babylon, and thus arose the desire to avoid observances that were characteristically Catholic. In the Anglican Church, there was a similar desire, which resulted in the "low church movement."
DeleteI still hear Protestants make insulting comments about Catholicism, (the ones I'm think of are actually low church Anglicans) which just makes me think that they have missed the main message
DeleteThe main message being 'love one another'!!
Delete