Lenten Vocabulary
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Introduction
This morning as we continue in the Lenten season, I want us to look at several of the practices that we make use of throughout the church year and therefore we shore up/refocus during Lent FN#1.
My reason for doing so is that I want us to have a clear understanding of what these practices are, how they are to be used, as well as a clear understanding of their grounding in the Gospel. Why? If we are not clear on what these practices are, the aspect of the Gospel they are intended to reflect, and their proper manner of use, then we are far more likely to misapply them and so rob ourselves of their true blessings.
Second, I want you to notice that underlying each of these practices is the notion of visible grace. That is, behind each of these practices is a grace that moves you from the concealment of sin to the visible witness of a changed life (remember the grace that saves you is a grace that changes you- and that change is visible/noticeable to others).
Therefore, as we turn our attention to these Lenten devotions, we need to make sure we are clear on the way that each of them gives faithful expression to the grace of the Gospel
A] Confession– Throughout Lent, one of the primary focuses is repentance/
confession. Simply put: Confession is admitting your sin to God, self, and others FN#2. As such, Confession is moving from hiding to healing. Importance: sin always seeks to remain hidden (we sneak, conceal, lie, deflect blame, try to rationalize, and minimize the severity of our sins).
Genesis 3:7 They sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. 8 and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God 11 And the LORD said, “Who told you that you were naked? 12 And the man said, “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”
John 3:20 “For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
However, notice the contrast: the fundamental motion of grace is to bring sin out into the open. Why? That it may be eradicated (that is, that it may be acknowledged, forgiven, and healed)
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Bottom line: Confession is visible grace bringing you out of hiding and bringing you before God that He may forgive and heal your sins.
B] Abstinence– is giving something up for Lent FN #3. However, please note, the point of abstinence is not self-abasement. That is, the point of Abstinence is not to punish ourselves for wrongs done. Why? We are healed by His wounds not our own (I Pet 2:24; Col 2:23) FN#4.
Instead, Abstinence sets the proper context/attitude for Lent. How? First, it reminds us that we do not come declaring our own unworthiness, guilt, and shame while at the same time treating ourselves to the rewards of life (in other words, we don’t treat repentance casually. We take it seriously). At the same time, Abstinence also reminds us that sin is what robs life of its sweetness and delight (deterrent).
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, FN#5
In addition, Abstinence provides important training for the Christian walk in that it teaches us to say no to the urges and cravings of the flesh that we may follow the motions of God’s Holy Spirit unencumbered.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Lent 1 Collect: Give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to thy Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions
Bottom line: as Abstinence clarifies the nature of true repentance and trains us to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, it mirrors the work of visible grace
C] Fasting– The point of fasting is Focus not punishment or religious dieting. Likewise, its purpose is not to get God’s attention but yours. In other words, the idea behind fasting is that a matter is of such importance that you will lay aside every other endeavor (work, recreation, and even the very sustenance of life) until that matter is resolved before the Lord
Nehemiah 1:3 and they said to me, “the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.” 4 Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Not only that, Fasting also provides important training for the Christian walk in that a true fast teaches us to give of ourselves that another may be blessed.
Isaiah 58:5 “Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed, And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD? 6 “Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free? 7 “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Importance: notice at once the notion of visible grace behind a true fast. As you turn to God and as His grace begins to heal you, God expects that healing to become a blessing to those around you (2 Cor 1:3-4).
D] Penitence– Simply put penitence is repentance that seeks to make amends for the wrong done. That is, Penitence seeks to restore that which was damaged or lost due to sin FN#6.
Leviticus 6:4 it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery, 5 he shall make restitution for it in full, and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering.
Matthew 5:23 “If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Importance: notice at once, penitence is not self-righteousness, works righteousness, nor is it a supplement to grace. Rather, it is a result of true grace (remember the grace that saves you is a grace that changes you). Restitution then is the fruit and the concrete/visible result of the healing that grace has brought to your life. Simply put, it is the new man pursuing the health (not harm) of his relationships.
Matthew 3:8 “Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance;
Bottom line: during Lent we walk through the motions of true visible grace. As we do so, we are reminded at every step that true grace moves from the inside out, healing the whole person and restoring the health of our every relationship.
Footnotes
1] Note: here we see a prime example of one of the chief functions of Common Prayer (Corporate Worship) and the Church Calendar. Every year we walk through the major events of redemption and take note of the devotional responses that Scripture solicits in light of them. The result is that when we confront one of these issues in our own quiet time or walk at some point in the year, our understanding is clear, or focus has been renewed, and we have already practiced the proper way to respond. It is thus that Common prayer is intended to inform and guide our individual devotion throughout the year.
2] Notice, true confession is always public (vs. private). In fact, the public nature of Confession directly reflects the public nature of our healing (visible grace). As such, true Confession always turns to another with its sin:
Psalm 51:4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight,
(b) To others
(1) to the one directly hurt, for forgiveness and reconciliation
Matthew 5:23 “If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
(2) to your brothers and sisters in Christ for their assistance, prayers, and help in healing
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
However, the irony is that while biblical confession brings sin and repentance out into the open, many believers privatize confession and thus use it to continue their hiding. That is, we will talk all day to God about our sin until we feel better about it. However, we will never mention a word about it to the one our actions have hurt. This is a parody, a partial enactment, and far less than the true confession that Scripture prescribes.
Matthew 5:23 “If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
3] We see this notion of abstinence throughout Scripture. For example, in I Corinthians, Paul addresses marital relations:
1 Corinthians 7:5 Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time that you may devote yourselves to prayer
Here Paul talks about giving something up that is otherwise permissible (and in this case absolutely necessary) for a time that you may devote yourself to a season of prayer. This is the governing principle behind Lenten abstinence
4] Importance: notice the Biblical psychology of repentance: Repentance is genuine sorrow and shame for what you have done. However, it is not self-loathing and abasement. Why? God’s love and grace trump sin.
5] In addition, Abstinence provides important training for the Christian walk in that it teaches us to say no to the urges and cravings of the flesh that we may follow the motions of God’s Holy Spirit unencumbered.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Lent 1 Collect: Give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to thy Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions
Bottom line: as Abstinence clarifies the nature of true repentance and trains us to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, it mirrors the work of visible grace
6] We are leery of the notion of penitence due its abuse of during medieval times. However, any practice that has been cut loose from right theology and its biblical moorings is open to abuse. During the middle ages, penitence was cut loose from the biblical notion of grace and reestablished on a semi-pelagian works righteousness basis. From there it became open to all manner of manipulation and guilt. A sure sign that penitence has been misapplied is when the prescription is for an unrelated payment (you have been impatient with your kids therefore you need to give to the building fund) vs a directly related correction (for example Eph 4:28). Simply put: penitence seeks genuine grace and then sets its actions based on the sort of change that grace brings to that specific need.