2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the Editor
RE: Lent
Amber Short
Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Dear Editor,
Betsy Walker's perception of the purpose of Lent is a little off center. Lent is not punishment. It's not even a moral test. You are not a bad person if you "fail" and break your fast. Christianity teaches that there is nothing you could do to make God love you more or less, and that Christ took your judgment upon himself when he was crucified.
Lent is not really about our sacrifices at all, it is about Christ's sacrifice. It's about recognizing that he suffered and sacrificed himself so that we don't have to pass a series of moral tests to be accepted by God. Lent is a time to honor that sacrifice by making one of our own. It's a time to regain appreciation for Christ's sacrifice of his comfort, dignity and time on Earth by attempting to forfeit even a small comfort in our lives. It lays bare the "me first" mentality of our culture.
Lent reveals our addictions. It reveals the material comforts we have become dependent upon instead of God. It shows us the ways in which we feed and please our physical selves while neglecting our spiritual selves.
It's not a "Survivor" challenge, it's a way of redirecting and strengthening our faith's focus. The point is not to make you uncomfortable, but to show you, through that discomfort, where you truly draw your comfort, peace and happiness from. And after recognizing just how hard it is to give up a silly little thing like sugar, caffeine, TV or Facebook, it gives you a whole new appreciation for the sacrifices Jesus Christ made for humankind. So when Easter comes and you can end your fast, hopefully you will have a renewed appreciation for freedom from the legality in the Old Testament.
Jesus is rad. Amen.
Sincerely,
Amber Short
Betsy Walker's perception of the purpose of Lent is a little off center. Lent is not punishment. It's not even a moral test. You are not a bad person if you "fail" and break your fast. Christianity teaches that there is nothing you could do to make God love you more or less, and that Christ took your judgment upon himself when he was crucified.
Lent is not really about our sacrifices at all, it is about Christ's sacrifice. It's about recognizing that he suffered and sacrificed himself so that we don't have to pass a series of moral tests to be accepted by God. Lent is a time to honor that sacrifice by making one of our own. It's a time to regain appreciation for Christ's sacrifice of his comfort, dignity and time on Earth by attempting to forfeit even a small comfort in our lives. It lays bare the "me first" mentality of our culture.
Lent reveals our addictions. It reveals the material comforts we have become dependent upon instead of God. It shows us the ways in which we feed and please our physical selves while neglecting our spiritual selves.
It's not a "Survivor" challenge, it's a way of redirecting and strengthening our faith's focus. The point is not to make you uncomfortable, but to show you, through that discomfort, where you truly draw your comfort, peace and happiness from. And after recognizing just how hard it is to give up a silly little thing like sugar, caffeine, TV or Facebook, it gives you a whole new appreciation for the sacrifices Jesus Christ made for humankind. So when Easter comes and you can end your fast, hopefully you will have a renewed appreciation for freedom from the legality in the Old Testament.
Jesus is rad. Amen.
Sincerely,
Amber Short
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