Evangelical Angst About Ash Wednesday

Aleteia ^ | February 17, 2015 | DAVID MILLS

[Salvation]

Thank you.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Ash Wednesday worship, like Palm Sunday worship, is a Christian tradition. “

Palm Sunday is rooted in the Jewish Feasts. The celebration of that feast was why people were carrying palms and used them to welcome Christ as king in the triumphal entry.

Ash Wednesday has no Jewish Feast connection, nor no practice before 100 ad. In that sense, no, it also has no Christian roots.

At some point after the Scriptures were written, the Apostles died and time moved on quite a way, some Christians began to do this. It arose later. I suspect its origin was pagan religion incorporated into Rome’s version of Christianity.

At this point, some Christian religions do it. It is certainly a tradition for them now.

[xzins]

There is so much we do that is based on sanctified tradition. Pulpits, church buildings, organs, pianos, sermons, testimonies, special singing, altar calls (an endless list, really). It is the same with calendar traditions. There is no place I know of in scripture where we're commanded to worship on Sunday morning, although gathering on the first day of the week can be demonstrated. Just to be really frank with you, I can think of a non-religious reason for fasting toward the end of winter, and that is simply that it would be a good time to do it in regard to stretching food supplies. To use that as a good time also to contemplate Christ and his steadfast progress toward the cross and to engage in sackcloth, ashes, and bearing one's cross is not a bad thing to do. It strikes me as a positive tradition.

[xzins]

You are welcome.

[Responsibility2nd]

What denomination do you attend?

[Mom MD]

LCMS. conservative lutheran, very bible centered and evangelical. I also know of several other evangelical independent bible churches in the area with ash wednesday services. Acknowledging lent does not make one RC or not evangelical.

[Responsibility2nd]

I’m sorry, but I disagree that the Lutheran Church is evangelical.

The idea of following man made doctrines like Ash Wednesday is too questionable for traditional evangelical churches.

[Mom MD]

Disagree all you want. It doesn’t change facts one bit. And just so you know we are the conservative branch and have nothing to do with the ELCA and their craziness.

It matters not at all to ones salvation if one celebrates and recognizes specific holidays and rememberances or not. I happen to find it enriches my worship, YMMV. However I think you would find the doctrine of my denomination straight down the middle.

Lent is focused on the time Christ began His final journey to Jerusalem, and is a time of somber reflection. In my church it has nothing to do with eating fish or giving things up. The focus is on Christ as it should be and not on anything the believer does or does not do. Often the characters and motivations of the key players in the passion are studied, and the focus is on how God used all of them and how they responded to their part in the events, whether they believed in Christ or not.

If you have not been to a Good Friday service you might just find it very powerful, you might not. Same with an Easter service. Those that celebrate religious holidays are no less saved or evangelical than those that do not. Do not look down on certain observances because Satan was able to mimic and try to corrupt the celebrations, look at the motivation and Who the celebration is focusing on. You might be pleasantly surprised. (In some denominations, not all)

[CraigEsq]

>>But trust me. There is NOTHING Evangelical about a Lutheran Church.

I’ve heard it said that Lutherans are catholic but not Catholic, evangelical but not Evangelical, and fundamentalist but not Fundamentalist.

[Heart-Rest]

"Palm Sunday is rooted in the Jewish Feasts. The celebration of that feast was why people were carrying palms and used them to welcome Christ as king in the triumphal entry. Ash Wednesday has no Jewish Feast connection, nor no practice before 100 ad. In that sense, no, it also has no Christian roots."

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Palm branches were used in Jesus dramatic entry into Jerusalem. The crowd eventually went from shouting "Hosanna!" to "Crucify Him!"

Last year's palm leaves from "Palm Sunday" are collected and burned to make the ashes for this year's "Ash Wednesday", the beginning of "Lent", a special time of sorrow for having turned away from God. There is a symbolic connection.

[DouglasKC]

As for the New Testament, participate in the “breaking of bread”.
On Sunday.
Yep, that’s it.
The rest is just stuff. Acts 20:7, “On the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread ..

Not Sunday...study what the greek translated "first day of the week" really means.

[Grateful2God]

And was anyone forcing them to do it? Of course not!!

Somewhere in this thread, the notion that we go around dragging people into church, making them do this, crept in. That is not what we mean by, "imposition of ashes," LOL

Thanks for the post!

[QBFimi]

>> Just another Catholic tradition that some protestants are trying to steal.

Oh, cut it out! What were you doing that was so important that you couldn’t have taken a few minutes to stick out your hand and offer a friendly welcome to anyone you didn’t recognize as being a regular?

[Grateful2God]

Great job- and worth repeating! Jonah was pretty ticked off when the Ninevites were forgiven because of their penance. After all, he had spoken God’s Word to them, then sat waiting for the fire and brimstone to fall. Seems he was more concerned with his reputation than with the welfare of the people. I wonder how much ivy is going to be growing in people’s yards this summer... : )

[Grateful2God]

Read the posts; know the facts; don’t suspect, learn.

[Grateful2God]

Saved the best for last! Praise God and thanks to Him for your new little one! God bless you and your family! :)

[boatbums]

That's funny...I'm not having any "angst" at all today. Now why would Roman Catholics care so much about what non-Catholics do or don't do in their faith?

This article was a dud.

[CyberAnt]

Thank you .. and God Bless you too Virgil.

[Cvengr]

Even more manifest are the upside down crucifix markings of the ashes on the forehead.

I suspect they’ll run to accept the Mark when it arrives.