So, what are you giving up for Lent? Coming from the non-reformed evangelical background, it's a question I've never really asked. I haven't really ever given Lent much thought other than the glances at the dark spots on random foreheads and curiosity with the kid in my school growing up who gave up gum every year. But what is it and is it something that Evangelicals are missing? The Wiki definition is basically this; It's a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, almsgiving and self denial, representing the 40 days Christ spent in the desert, preparing the believer for the commemoration of the Passion and Resurrection. Sounds nifty really. I like the idea of taking an extended amount of time, a season if you will, to reflect, repent, and focus on the important and lets the non-essential things blur as we pin point our lens on the goal of being Holy, as He is Holy. On the other hand, it seems with an organized effort, it looses some meaning and can become just a ritual. My friend had no idea why he couldn't enjoy Bubblicious for over a month every year. It never had any meaning for him.
But while thinking about Lent and all that it entails, it got me thinking about other church traditions that Baptist and other Evangelicals have given up. And I wonder if it is to our detriment. I was in my 30's before I had seen, much less participated in, the tradition of Advent leading up to Christmas. And loved it. How richer would our collective experience be if we tied our beliefs and our worship to traditions dating back centuries? Instead, for example, of teaching against the evils of Halloween just prior to Oct 31st, we instead have a Sunday celebrating Luther, Grace and the Solas? Or, in lieu of the Mother's Day "Her children shall rise up and call her blessed" sermon, we taught about the significance of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit and celebrated God's tabernacleing in our hearts? Or, maybe we should take baby steps, and actually have communion more than twice a year - thats a start. Communion has always held a special place in my heart. The light came on, and I accepted Christ as they passed the Cup in a service just before Thanksgiving. Good thing the Spirit was leading, otherwise I would have had to have waited until Easter the next year for my next shot.
So how about you? What tradition do you hold dear or wish they did away with? Would you and your brothers and sisters in your congregation benifit from a little more emphasis on certain dates or times of the year?
I guess it wasn't a tradition or a ritual but for a long time there in the 70's and 80's it seemed every preacher during the closing prayer and invitation would say something like this... "Now, with every head bowed and every eye closed, raise your hand if (fill in the blank here with various spititual decisions). No one is looking... yes... yes...in the back? Yes... Yes...Alright, yes." Lots of implied raised hands. Of course, being a tinge on the skeptical side, I would sometimes peek and did I see those raised hands? Often no, not so much, no. It was blatant pyschological manipulation. Of course a pastor or evangelist should use his oratory skills to reach as many as possible, but that sort of thing crossed the line into deception.
ReplyDeleteOK, so much for the negative, let me now align my chi and balance my ying and yang (See, I know how to talk to you people from California!) and say someting postitive. Yes, I think following the Advent calendar is a terrific idea. They were available at our church this year and our pastor shared how he and his family used them at home. We definitely should not be afraid of honoring centuries of church tradition as long as we keep the focus right.
Looks like my new tradition is to write a comment that is almost as long as the original post. Sorry. I'll try to be more pithy next time.
My favorite part of the 'everyhead bowed' closing was the Revival version, where the gues preacher inevitably said "I'm not going to ask you to do anything, just raise your hand as to tell me that your not sure where you'd sped eternity..." then 30 seconds later he'd say "those of you who just raised your hand, I want you to walk down here, He wasn't afraid to walk to Calvary, you shouldnt be afraid to walk the aisle..." Always made got my ire up.
ReplyDeletePithiness is not necessary here, btw