Posted on 03/09/2005 9:24:27 AM PST by TheTruthess
"I Gave It Up for Lent"
Harry R. Osborne
A few years ago about this time of year, a story appeared in the newspaper about a strange occurrence in France. It seems that a thief cornered a man in a dark place. He threatened to slash the man's throat with his knife unless he handed over his money. As the Victim reached for his wallet, the light caught him in such a way that the thief saw his victim was a priest. The robber quickly apologized for his behavior explaining that he was unaware of the fact that he had preyed upon a priest. The priest, still shaken from the incident, pulled out his cigarettes to calm himself with a smoke. As he did, he offered one to the thief. The thief replied, "No thanks, Father. I gave them up for Lent."
A strange sense of scruples, wouldn't you say? The incident well depicts the moral hypocrisy seen in this season. This man had no problem with his practice of robbery and violence, at least on anyone except a priest. As long as he "fulfilled his responsibility" in some ritualistic sense by giving up smoking for a forty day period, everything was alright. Evidently, he gave little consideration to the moral consequences of his every day life as a thief!
When we stop to think of the system that fosters such values, we ought not be surprised about such incidents. On the night before Lent begins, this system condones the celebration of "Fat Tuesday" which is nothing but drunken, licentious revelry. It is the culmination of a period called "Mardi Gras" which is full of the same decadence. Just down the road from us in Galveston, the Mardi Gras is advertised as a big party with participants in various stages of undress, drinking plenty of alcohol. New Orleans bills its Mardi Gras celebration as a bigger party with more liquor and less clothing. Rio de Janeiro is famous for a Mardi Gras celebration which is the synonym for licentiousness.
Where in the world do people get such a perverted set of values? It certainly does not come from the Bible. The Bible clearly and repeatedly condemns such sinful actions at any time. In 1 Peter 4:1-5, notice the writer's clear denunciation of such things:
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles - when we walked in licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
In Romans 13:12-14, the Bible again condemns such "works of darkness" as inconsistent with the life of a Christian:
The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
One is not made righteous because he ceases to do a few things for forty days while continuing to do other things that are just as sinful. Nor is one more pious because he gives up all sinful practices for Lent with the full intent of resuming the actions the day after "Easter." God's standard for conduct is much higher.
Notice God's command: "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct " (1 Pet. 1:15). Not forty days worth, but all of the Christian's conduct must conform to the commands of God. Or consider the question raised by the apostle Paul in Romans 6:1-23. He talks to those who had been cleansed and justified by the blood of Christ and asks if they should continue in sin. His answer is simple, "God forbid! We who died to sin, how can we live any longer in it." To the Christian, sin should be a disgusting and detestable path. It should be intolerable for another second!
The contrast is really very clear. The system which proposes Lent advocates a forty day vacation from sin - and then only some sins, not all. God's Word commands that the practice of sin be put to death:
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you also once walked when you lived in them. But now you must also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds (Col. 3:5-9).
There is a big difference between those two approaches to sin!
Oh yes, it is a more convenient religion for the worldly person to conform to certain outward rituals while one continues to live a life of sin. One might ask, "Then why not choose that kind of religion?" As far as I can see, there are only two reasons to be given:
1. Regardless of how we feel about it, the Bible says such a practice is wrong!
2. Such a religion will lead one to be lost eternally (Matt. 7:21-23).
Let's follow what God says every day and put sin to death in our lives. We must not desire to join in the sins of the world around us. The Word of God gives this exhortation:
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. . . . And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret (Eph. 5:6-12).
We must always seek to expose the darkness of sin, examine all things in the light of the Gospel and exalt the path God directs in everything that we do.
Guardian of Truth XXXVI :7, pp. 204-205
April 2, 1992
pharisee alert.
Very informative article. Thanks for posting!
This author is a nitwit. Lent is not a "forty day vacation from sin," and you don't "give up" a sin "for Lent". You give up something that is objectively good that you enjoy, to redirect your attention back to God, Who is the ultimate objective good. It's a type of fasting, and you'll recall that fasting is spoken highly of in the Bible. Even Jesus fasted. Not only that, but he fasted for ... get this, *forty days*.
This article is anti-Catholic trash, and I'm being charitable.
Anyone who "gives up" a sin with the intent to embrace it again later remains just as guilty.
You claim to know everything about Catholicism; you ought to know that much at least, if your claim was true.
well said. the author of this article obviously knows nothing about Catholicism and is unable to distinguish the behavior of nominal Catholics from the true teachings of the Church. I'm surprised the mods even let this posted; they are usually very good about cracking down on anti-Catholic material.
Agreed. I'd only add it's right up there with all the other common misconceptions about Catholicism, like that we "worship" Mary.
This article is a classic example of how one outright untruth about Catholicism (that Catholics believe good works saves) is simply accepted as truth, and then is demolished using Scripture.
It's called a "strawman argument". I think you'd benefit from studying that concept, Truthess.
If anyone is giving something up for the Lord, it should be in a manner well pleasing to Him - in every way.
I suppose the logic of all of this is similar to a call to do away with the civil law against murder and stealing...People continue to do it, so what's the point.
That there is disobedience to the concept doesn't make the concept wrong.
Another thought. Where would we be without reminders to turn back to God? Being human, we need to constantly be reminded of our distance from God.
Regards
If there is a denomination that understands Lent as the caricature presented in the article, then the article should name that denomination.
It sure is not anything resembling Lent as Catholics know it.
Bzzzzzzzzzt! Strawman! Next.
"If anyone is giving something up for the Lord, it should be in a manner well pleasing to Him - in every way."
So God does not accept anything but perfect sacrifices?
Well, the Jews before Christ will be pleased to know that in your eyes, they were wasting their time.
Really, only Christ can give a perfect sacrifce. Don't you think that God, being that He loves us, is willing to accept ANYTHING that we give Him? An analogy would be to consider a gift from your child. Do you get upset if he/she doesn't wrap it perfectly, gets you something of little monetary value, or something you don't even want???
When you love someone, it is NOT all or nothing.
Regards
Uh, what this author doesn't know about lent, is a lot. If you were really interested in what Catholics practice during lent and why, why don't you go to a good Catholic source? I'm sure Salvation, NYer or one of the others can help you out with links.
What a shame it is to have what seems to be an article on righteous living and sacrifice turn into a provocative argument on catholocism.
When will our catholic brothers and sisters allow us to post for the lay christian articles meant to build the body of Christ without it turning into a grudge match?
Truthess, continue in the spirit of Christ Jesus to post articles that you feel will edify and strengthen the Body of Christ. And may God bless you abundantly in you efforts.
When you love someone, it is NOT all or nothing.
Give to the Lord your firstfruits.
Of course it is all or nothing. That is what He gave for us, as it is also what he commands us to do.
We are to die to self, as it is written in scripture.
Well, since you're not going to be able to give all (being imperfect), I guess you're giving nothing.
Answer: When non Catholics stop posting articles that teach falsehoods about our beliefs and practices.
By lying about Catholic teachings?
A few years ago about this time of year, a story appeared in the newspaper about a strange occurrence in France. It seems that a thief cornered a man in a dark place. He threatened to slash the man's throat with his knife unless he handed over his money. As the Victim reached for his wallet, the light caught him in such a way that the thief saw his victim was a priest. The robber quickly apologized for his behavior explaining that he was unaware of the fact that he had preyed upon a priest. The priest, still shaken from the incident, pulled out his cigarettes to calm himself with a smoke. As he did, he offered one to the thief. The thief replied, "No thanks, Father. I gave them up for Lent."
Solly, Chalie!
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