How true. I know a lot of people who 'give up chocolate.' How insulting to the Lord.
"11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats." Isaiah 1:11
Well, I don’t intend on sacrificing any lambs or any other animal, but if I wish to give up something for the Lenten season, why does it bother some people so much? If when I give up this certain item, and yes I know it is an extremely small sacrifice, if this reminds me, in my everyday life, of the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ is that not a good thing? And, no, I don’t need to give up chocolate or swearing or soda to be a good Christian, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with participating in this tradition. And it is also tradition in my immediate family that some one gives up sweets during this time of many of our family members birthdays and we not only get a good laugh out of it but have a family size discussion about Easter and Good Friday. My mother really didn’t like fish but made it on Fridays during lent. My father was Protestant and didn’t get the tradition but loved fish, so always went along with it and never “cheated” and ate meat. Go figure!