Posted on 03/08/2011 6:45:53 PM PST by Alex Murphy
It is remarkable that anyone who claims to be Reformed let alone a Calvinist would ever countenance the exercise of such corrupt and false piety as is called for by the idolatrous ‘Season of Lent.’ Yet, examples of such absurdities are not hard to find.
In obedient submission to the Sacred Scriptures, Calvin taught that nothing may be called true worship or piety which is not first required of us by God in His Word. Let us hear Calvin.
20. Then the superstitious observance of Lent had everywhere prevailed: for both the vulgar imagined that they thereby perform some excellent service to God, and pastors commended it as a holy imitation of Christ; though it is plain that Christ did not fast to set an example to others, but, by thus commencing the preaching of the gospel, meant to prove that his doctrine was not of men, but had come from heaven. And it is strange how men of acute judgment could fall into this gross delusion, which so many clear reasons refute: for Christ did not fast repeatedly (which he must have done had he meant to lay down a law for an anniversary fast), but once only, when preparing for the promulgation of the gospel. Nor does he fast after the manner of men, as he would have done had he meant to invite men to imitation; he rather gives an example, by which he may raise all to admire rather than study to imitate him. In short, the nature of his fast is not different from that which Moses observed when he received the law at the hand of the Lord (Exod. 24:18; 34:28). For, seeing that that miracle was performed in Moses to establish the law, it behoved not to be omitted in Christ, lest the gospel should seem inferior to the law. But from that day, it never occurred to any one, under pretence of imitating Moses, to set up a similar form of fast among the Israelites. Nor did any of the holy prophets and fathers follow it, though they had inclination and zeal enough for all pious exercises; for though it is said of Elijah that he passed forty days without meat and drink (1 Kings 19:8), this was merely in order that the people might recognise that he was raised up to maintain the law, from which almost the whole of Israel had revolted. It was therefore merely false zeal, replete with superstition, which set up a fast under the title and pretext of imitating Christ; (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Ch. 12.20)
***Jesus fasted so much that they could count all his bones.***
ALL his bones? Even the malleus, incus, and stapes*? That’s quite a fast!
BTW, according to Scripture “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard....”” (Matthew 11:19)
Seems like those around him saw him chow down and have a glass of wine.
*Bones of the inner ear, deep inside, and not visible.
We are not here to feel good about ourselves..
Scripture ????
BTW, according to Scripture “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard....”” (Matthew 11:19)
On my way home today I had on talk radio.. now my area is 80-90% RC ..so they were talking about not seeing as many people with "ashes" and then they diverted to talk about Lent.. so one of the radio folks says "I try not to eat meat on Ash Wed. and Fridays during lent .. "I love Fish fries"
I had to LOL and commented to someone with me. .thats a REAL "FAST" isn't it when you give up meat to eat something you REALLY enjoy
We had "meatless" fridays when I was a kid..I LOVED fridays ..I love mac and cheese and tuna salad..
This whole fast thing is traditional legalism ....and nothing more..
Fasting because it is a church tradition is not about Christ.. it is about the comfort of tradition, feeling good about yourself.. and hoping to impress God..
To fast can be a PERSONAL spiritual discipline ... but there is nothing personal about a church dictated fast or a fast because everyone does it during lent..
Psss there are Calvinist evangelicals and Calvinist Baptists.. and most Calvinist were not BORN or SAVED as Calvinists..they came to that doctrine by their study of scripture..
BTW, he raised snakes at home, refused to give Christmas gifts to his children (proudly called himself the “Anti-Claus”) and began each day praying for the rapture and the coming of the End Times.
LOL I am having a hard time believing some of this ... Calvinists are not snake handlers.. .... Reformed doctrine deals with the sovereignty of God .. it deals with the fallenness of men ... it has not uniform doctrine on the end time.. that is a NON ESSENTIAL
Calvinists of the presbyterian , Baptist and evangelical faiths celebrate Christmas .. So something seems a miss with this picture
***My former coworker (I’m retired) was a Calvinist...***
I know of a guy who claims to be Pope, goes by the name Pope Michael.
Fasting because it is a church tradition is not about Christ.. it is about the comfort of tradition, feeling good about yourself.. and hoping to impress God..
To fast can be a PERSONAL spiritual discipline ... but there is nothing personal about a church dictated fast or a fast because everyone does it during lent..
AMEN!
"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." -- Matthew 6:16
Amen, Alex. Great thread.
"A multitude of ceremonies in the mass is a form of Judaism quite contrary to Christianity." -- John Calvin
It really is the hardest thing in the world to convince men that NOTHING they do will earn them salvation. The only thing that saves Christ's sheep is His finished work on the cross, freely imputed to them according to the undeserved mercy of the Triune God.
All day long I heard Roman Catholics brag to each other, and anyone else who would listen, what they were giving up for Lent.
Seems they were trying to out-pious each other.
At least it's consistent. Under cover of piety, they are debauched.
lol. Yeah, all those darn, anonymous crazies.
There is no such entity as "penance" in Christianity.
There is repentance; sorrow for our sins.
But the price of our sins has already been paid-in-full by Christ on the cross.
Roman Catholics struggle to earn what Christ has already achieved for His sheep.
Seems they were trying to out-pious each other.
Haven't you heard? Salvation is all about US and all the work WE do!
Since there is no scriptural support for the pagan feastshalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
of Easter, any 40 day run up to the pagan feast is not
supported as well.Easter was promulgated in 325 CE by the Pagan Pontiff
Constantine.The Council of Nicea rejected the scriptural feasts
of YHvH replacing them with Sunday and Easter.
lol. Exactly.
I like your homepage. I learn something new here every day.
That said, it is not that there is not some truth behind many ceremonies, but that ex opere operato ritualism fosters a perfunctory professions in any church. The life of faith requires seeing God manifestly work in grace in obedience to Him by faith.
That”s today’s Reading!
March 9, 2011
Ash Wednesday
Reading 1
Responsorial Psalm
Reading 2
Gospel
Reading 1
Jl 2:12-18
Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.
Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, “Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
and took pity on his people.
Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
2 Cor 5:20-6:2
Reading 2
Brothers and sisters:
We are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Working together, then,
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:
In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.
Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
Seems like those around him saw him chow down and have a glass of wine
Amazing how so many want to take this robust young man and turn him into a fragile little mama's boy.
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
Like prayer, it should be private.
Nor should we applaud ourselves for giving up Juicy Fruit Gum and snowmobiling in April. It's all just more "works salvation."
And that error rightly belongs to Rome.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.