Making Ritual, RELEVANT!
ASH WEDNESDAY
Making ritual, relevant!
Today some "Christians" will be seen with a grey cross of ashes applied to their foreheads - this symbolic act begins a forty day period during which they remember their sinfulness, repent, ask God's forgiveness, and recognize that God's forgiveness comes at an infinite price -- the death of Christ on the cross on our behalf. This 40 day period is called: Lent. Most pentecostal denominations & fellowships do not practice this ritual. Yet, I cannot help but find a personal challenge in these events. And, I have several catholic friends, who I honor and respect greatly, who are very sincere and faithful during this time (and throughout the year).
Seems like in many of our modern churches we spend our time and finances preparing for some extravagant (and often cheesy) musical production, complete with 12 men wearing fake beards and bathrobes, and/or easter egg hunts on the church lawn… I’m not trying to be hater — these things can be ok — but can’t we also devote our time and focus meditating on what the Cross and Resurrection, and these 40 days leading up to it, truly means?!
Today, on "Ash Wednesday," let’s be reminded as Christians that we are a sinners in need of a Savior, and realize that our salvation comes at the sacrifice of God's Son:
"So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that great, perfect sanctuary in heaven, not made by human hands and not part of this created world. Once for all time he took blood into that Most Holy Place, but not the blood of goats and calves. He took his own blood, and with it he secured our salvation forever" (Heb. 9:11-12).
Perhaps we could also find and apply meaning to the period known as Lent — a time of repentance that extends from Resurrection Sunday (Easter) back for 40 days, not including Sundays. Sundays are not included because they commemorate Christ's glorious resurrection. The 40 days commemorate the significant "forty" periods in Scripture (although forty is not always significant)... This includes the 40 years the Jews wandered in the desert after God rescued them from Egypt, after which they did still refused to repent. Jonah preached that God’s judgment would come to Nineveh in 40 days. During that time the people repented and thus were spared God's judgment. Jesus was tested by the Devil in the desert for 40 days before He began His public ministry, announcing salvation to the repentant and judgment to those who continued to rebel against God. Jesus prophesied that God's judgment would come against Israel for rejecting Him as Messiah within the time of His own generation (Matt. 24; Luke 21; Mark 13). Within 40 years of His death, burial, and resurrection, Jerusalem was destroyed (AD 70) and the temple was so ravaged that "not one stone was left here upon another" (Matt. 24:2). The Jewish Christians, however, escaped this judgment of God by fleeing to Pella before the final Roman siege, just as Jesus had warned them to do (Matt. 24:16-21).
During Lent Christians are to contemplate their sinfulness, repent, ask God's forgiveness, and realize the infinite sacrifice God made on their behalf. It is to be a time of quiet contemplation, but not a time of despair, since it culminates in the commemoration of the resurrection. These 40 days usually include certain times of fasting - specifically of meat (besides fish), desserts, junk food, etc. as well as certain forms of entertainment such as movies, sporting events, parties, etc.
I'm not calling anyone to observe Ash Wednesday or Lent - my challenge is simply this:
Let's really think about what Christ's death and resurrection means to us. And during these days leading up to Resurrection Sunday, let's spend personal time repenting, meditating on His Word, praying, fasting, witnessing and worshipping.
ALL about Jesus, Chilly
