I have never really quite understood what “Evangelical” means.
I think there are good principles about Lent that can be kept at any time. It’s always a good time to put your life on hold in order to make time to understand a Biblical principle or to deny yourself the cost of a pleasure in order to increase a charitable giving.
Where in the New Testament does it implore us to observe “Lent”? Nowhere. It is a man-made tradition.
” the Bible has a lot to say about fasting”. It mentions a number of times that persons fasted but only once does it suggest to fast. God tells His people to feast many times. Jesus did not tell anyone to fast, only if they do - do it this way. As if He resigns that some may fast and He addresses the heart above the public actions.
Lent. Another pretend thing. No true Evangelical buys it.
I fast, but I know nothing about Lent.
“Is Lent Becoming More Popular Among Evangelicals?”
I hope not. It’s a made up holiday...like Easter. There are REAL holy days and God created them and expects his followers to observe them.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” [Philippians 4:8]
I guarantee you all: Each of you is doing something that was not done in the First Century Church, yet is treated as de rigueur in your denomination or congregation. The vaunted, formalized, obligatory altar call by many an “Evangelical” church - see my above criticism of the abuse of this sacred term - is one such tradition.
If one makes it an article of faith, a legalistic requirement, then one has gone too far.
But choosing to do it, choosing to encourage it, choosing, on a congregational level, to formally promote it, is not wrong - if one makes it clear that it is voluntary. If it has some inherent value (see above), then it may be worthwhile.
I began fasting when young, not because anyone told me to do so, but because Jesus Christ, our Exemplar, did so - and noate that he said “When (not If) you fast...”
I once met with our senior pastor as a young man, and simply asked him to preach a sermon (just one!) on fasting from a Biblical perspective. He flatly refused, saying that would promote “works righteousness”.
He was wrong - and I never suggested he demand it of anyone. My rebuttal was simple:
Do our pastors preach on Tithing (Giving)? Emphatically yes! Do our pastors preach on Praying? Emphatically yes!
Those are the other two Christian disciplines from that very same passage and context: The Sermon on the Mount [Matthew 6].
My pastor’s refusal was actually a form of legalism; my request was not. (Americans are lazy and fat, and do not want to exercise discipline.)
As both a biologist and a theologian, I am well aware of the valid benefits, physically and spiritually, that can come from fasting. But I have known few Christians who are willing to attempt it even briefly.
I have read many books on the subject, and almost all of them are not written by Christians - because few Christians want to follow Christ’s example in this area.
Nota bene: There may be some benefit to fasting for a day, but to really begin to experience tangible benefits from fasting, it generally is necessary to set aside three days minimum, and to ease into and out of the fast (ramp up and ramp down on eating: be gentle).
That has nothing to do with legalism; it has to do with the body and mind changing their mode of operation and experience. That takes about three days for most people.
After the third day, superficial hunger, which is a habit, tends to diminish; clarity of mind and spirit tends to grow. Physically, autolysis (self digestion: of the detritus in the body) does not begin until the third day. Real starvation, for someone who has been normally nourished, does not begin until the third of fourth week.
Evangelicals are not in the Bible.