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)
....It was therefore merely false zeal, replete with superstition, which set up a fast under the title and pretext of imitating Christ.
And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
-- Matthew 6:16-18
The caucus label was removed because the article criticizes the beliefs of non-members of the caucus who have an interest in speaking for themselves.
You know, several Catholics on FR saw the doctrine-based caucuses as a way of making anti-Catholic assertions without being challenged. After nibbling at the bait myself, several of us convinced the others that challenging the caucuses really served no purpose, because there really wasn’t anyone who was interested in the Catholic position who didn’t recognize the censorship.
But this is either simply deliberate provocation, or testing the religion moderator.
The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the Virgin Mother by the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, united substantially with the word of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Divinity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, rich to all who invoke Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, saturated with revilings, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, crushed for our iniquities, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord,
Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart.
R. Make our hearts like unto Thine.
Let us pray
Almighty and everlasting God, look upon the Heart of Thy well-beloved Son and upon the acts of praise and satisfaction which He renders unto Thee in the name of sinners; and do Thou, in Thy great goodness, grant pardon to them who seek Thy mercy, in the name of the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, world without end.
Any good Catholic is quite familiar with that passage from Matthew; it’s the gospel reading immediately prior to Lent. It’s also why I decided against giving up sugar for Lent several years ago; I had to explain myself so frequently that I decided I couldn’t do it without letting my left hand know what my right hand was doing.
Two weeks before lent is the week of the Publican and the Pharisee, wherein we’re reminded not to consider ourselves holy because of any pious practices we might do.
And I’m surprised at Calvin’s ignorance of the scriptures. Jesus fasted so much that they could count all his bones.
I was just in southeast Louisiana, about 60 miles from New Orleans. It’s Marti Gras time there, the RCC lent festival. “Fat Tuesday.” A pastor there has a unique name for it, with all it’s debauchery and blatant homosexuality, he said it ought to be called Naughty Gras.
My former coworker (I’m retired) was a Calvinist so arrogant that he disparaged both Baptists and Evagelicals. They and Catholics like me were bound for hell for rejecting predestination. Not even Rev. Billy Graham was spared.
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.
The calendar in my shop depicting classical paintings of the Virgin and infant Jesus was not appreciated and served as proof that Catholics are idol-worshippers. Oh, well.
I believe the Bible only records Jesus fasting when he was out in the desert (40 days and 40 nights). Am I wrong? It certainly isn’t mandated in the NT. Was it expected though? Yes I think it was. Jesus said “when you fast” not “if you fast”. Where did you get “they could see his bones” from?
He wasn’t a Calvinist. He was a kook.
I had no idea Calvin was so ignorant of scriptures.
Sure, Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast: “Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?” (Mat 9:14), but Jesus answered that they WILL fast, once he is no longer among them in the flesh: “...but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. (Mat 9:15b). That’s why he gave instructions about what to do WHEN THEY FAST: “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.” (Mat 6:16).
And this did indeed continue when Jesus had left them: “Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished [them],” (Acts 27:8)
Jews did indeed fast twice a week, as do present-day Eastern Christians: “I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” — Luke 18:12
There are also many occasions when prophets and pious leaders called for additional fasts:
“So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.” (Jon 3:5)
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly” (Joel 2:15)
“Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders [and] all the inhabitants of the land [into] the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,” (Joel 1:14)
“And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” (2 Cor 20:3)
“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.” (Ezr 8:21)
“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (Est 4:16)
If your ultimate destination has been predetermined, why would your views on predestination--or, for that matter, anything else--make a difference?
It’s someone having a confrontation with himself.
I thought only crazy people did that.
I am curious...(and I agree with your assessment. There is good evidence that the practice of Lent is derived from the Mystery Religions of Babylon)...why do the “devout” participate in what I would call “symbolic fasting”? They give up little things like sugar, chocolate, or the Internet, etc. But there is no all out fast...just symbolism. It is almost tokenism...and seems quite superficial.
Wow. You (allegedly) knew a (alleged) Calvinist who was a jerk. I guess that all Calvinists are like that guy?
40 days, isn't that just about the length of Lent???? Catholics use these little acts of penance to try, in some small way, to commerate the sacrifices that our Lord did for us...important? no, satisfying?....very
Hey, nice try. I didn’t say all Calvinists are jerks (though I believe John Calvin himself was an arrogant intolerant jerk who terrorized Geneva and anyone who didn’t believe exactly the way he did).
My coworker was actually a nice guy, even when he was waving the KJV in my face and calling it the finest fruit of the English language. He swore that if I paid his plane fare, he’d jet to Rome and argue Pope Benedict XVI into abject surrender. Sola scriptura, sola scriptura.
Dominus vobiscum, y’all.
Agreed. Reformed Christians do not believe in the Rapture.
He does not sound at all like a Calvinist. The whole “praying for the Rapture” thing is not a normal behavior for Calvinists. The KJV only thing is not really typical either. So, I guess your only point was that you knew an arrogant guy who may have been a Calvinist. I know a Catholic who has a pork rind that she thinks looks like the Virgin of Guadalupe. She keeps it in the freezer. The story is true, but oh, so utterly pointless.
Wow, I had no idea the King James Bible translated this so oddly! Psalm 22:17 reads, “I can count all my bones; Others look and stare at me.” I checked my lexicons; King James’ wording makes no sense.
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou [art] holy, [O thou] that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I [am] a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying],
8 He trusted on the LORD [that] he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou [art] he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope [when I was] upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou [art] my God from my mother’s belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble [is] near; for [there is] none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong [bulls] of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me [with] their mouths, [as] a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look [and] stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
>> why do the “devout” participate in what I would call “symbolic fasting”? <<
Wouldn’t it make sense to ask the person who’s doing it? As someone who has done it, I can tell you that removing a little something from your daily life makes you remember God every time you reach for that little something. It’s not meant to be a sacrifice; Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient and eternal. It’s just meant to remind you to appreciate his sacrifice, and to decide to follow him.
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