Lent

Here is an email I sent to our core team about Lent:

This is lengthy but please take a minute to read.

Many of you are familiar with the Lenten season, but some of you may not be. In contemporary lines of faith we rarely see adherence to the practice of Lent. You may be familiar with or have heard people talk about “giving something up for lent”. Many people give up sweets or fast food for lent. What was created and intended for deep spiritual transformation has evolved into a self-serving ritualistic practice. I would like to give a brief explanation of the lent, express why I find it valuable, address why it is important to Life at the Ridge and encourage all of you to take advantage of what is a very powerful spiritual experience.

Lent

Lent is the forty days leading up to Easter, not including Sundays. It is forty days in length to share in Christ’s suffering as he fasted in the desert. We do not practice lent on Sundays because Sunday has been set aside to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Observing lent is not a biblical mandate but a practice created by followers of Jesus to remember and share in Jesus suffering in order to grow spiritually and maximize eternal benefit. Lent is observed by committing to a specific fast for the duration of the forty day celebration.

Why Fast for Lent?

In a recent sermon by Dr. Joe Fuiten he addresses the issue of voluntary humility. This is a consistent theme throughout scripture from cover to cover. In the New Testament we see many references to voluntary humility. 1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” Notice that this is not a request but an instruction. Also, true humility recognizes God’s authority and sovereignty. Erwin McManus says that the option to voluntary humility is humiliation. When we fail to see our need for humility in the sight of a powerful, perfect and holy God, we eventually end up being humiliated. Either in failure, public or private, or in years lost pursuing self. Many people look back over life and see the missed opportunities, the many times God tried to get their attention, only to be humiliated by a life spent seeking self. Lent is a powerful tool in the process of re-focusing spiritually.

Throughout scripture we see fasting as a key method of self humbling. Remember the king of Nineveh, upon hearing the message of Jonah, he called the entire city to humility, to fasting and seeking God for forgiveness and mercy. There is something deeply impacting about voluntarily humbling ourselves before God, it’s put us in a position of dependence on the Spirit for strength and clarity.

Richard Foster, in his book on spiritual disciplines, addresses how during times of fasting our weaknesses come to the surface. During these moments of temptation we are forced to confront issues that in other times remain undetected under the surface of every day life. Our busyness and, as Fuiten says, self pampering allow us to ignore issues which God desire to purify within us.

We fast in order to humble ourselves before God. He brings to the surface in us the issues which desperately need addressing. We are purposely denying flesh in order to increase in spirit. As a result we find ourselves more in tune with God and what he is doing. We find ourselves more in tune with the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual ears get a good cleaning.

I Find Lent Personally Valuable

Quick story:

A couple years ago I was fasting and had been praying that God would reveal to me the issues which needed attention. I picked up Tanya from work and we were driving down 7^th ave. downtown Seattle. We got to Pike and somehow I ended going through the intersection a little late. A lady had already begun her walk across the street. Perturbed at me she began to yell at me, so I rolled down my window and yelled back. After enduring the punishment from Tanya for my outburst, I began a process of introspection. You see, I NEVER do things like that. I may think it all the time, but I NEVER take that type of action. I asked God to speak to me about the experience, he did. He revealed to me that I had a deep issue with pride, a desire to prove that I was right. I repented and he has been working on me with this issue. It seems as though every time I voluntarily humble myself and seek God, he comes through and speaks to me.

Life at the Ridge

We are rolling Life at the Ridge out to the public the weekend of Easter 2006. With our involvement in the Easter Egg Hunt, the gathering on Easter night and the transition to gathering every other week. This is a huge milestone in the life of our church. As your pastor I would like to remind you of two passages which inspire me.

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

God desires to radically change the culture of Redmond Ridge and the surrounding communities. I believe that he has called us to play a vital role in this process. What an adventure! We as a church humble ourselves and pray, and keep in mind that we are fighting a spiritual battle for the souls of people.

Please Join Us

Please join us in a commitment to fast and pray for Life at the Ridge and the community from now until Easter during this Lenten season.

Live the Adventure!

Josh