The Way Matt Sees It

That is the question. Why do some Christians observe Lent, while other Bible-believing Christians don’t?   What’s the deal?   Is it unbiblical?   Is it sinful?   Is it simply a matter of taste? WHAT IS LENT? What is Lent anyway?   Lent is the 40-day period of time between Ash Wednesday and Easter that many liturgical Christian churches observe.   Ash Wednesday is when ashes are placed on one’s forehead in the shape of a cross (usually ashes from the palm branches of the previous year’s Palm Sunday).   The idea comes from Jesus Himself; after He was baptized, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert before starting His ministry. “The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, penance, repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement and self-denial.” –Wikipedia Lent is a time in which Christians heighten their sensitivity to what Jesus did on the cross.   In preparation for Easter (the day we c...

Starting this Wednesday, February 13, 2013, I am going to start a 40-day prayer challenge.  Valley Forge Christian College is doing this, along with reading Mark Batterson’s sequel to The Circle Maker called “Draw The Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge.”  Mark Batterson’s church in Washington, DC will be participating, and probably other churches as well. It’s going to be really cool knowing that thousands of other people are doing it together, from Lent until Easter 2013.  Who knows what God will do?  I’m excited, but also nervous.  I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of anything this big before.  But I know that awesome things are about to go down. The beginning of 2013 for me was not fantastic in terms of me spending time with God.  I’ve only recently gotten myself back into a daily quiet time (and let me say, it feels great).  But the goal of this prayer challenge is that I will still be praying on Day 41.  I...