It's Lent Again Already 


Jim decides to once again take this annual pilgrimage, even as the fit isn't precisely right for him. 

It is Lent again, Ash Wednesday is today. I found myself once again reading the thoughts of Dennis Bratcher on the topic of Lent. For those Christians who have a traditional view of Christ and Christianity (whatever that means), this website can be a gold mine of information on historical practices of the Church. However, even I, who am definitely a progressive Christian, can draw both information and inspiration in his writing; it is powerful and succinct. To take just one example consider this concluding quote to his article on Lent.

"But it begins in ashes. And it journeys though darkness. It is a spiritual pilgrimage that I am convinced we must make one way or the other for genuine spiritual renewal to come. I have heard the passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14 quoted a lot: ". . .if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." This usually is quoted in the context of wanting revival or renewal in the church, and the prayer is interpreted as intercessory prayer for others. But a careful reading of the passage will reveal that the prayer that is called for here is not intercessory prayer for others; it is penitential prayer for the faith community, for us. It is not to call for others to repent; it is a call for us, God’s people, to repent. It is our land that needs healed, it is our wicked ways from which we need to turn, we are the ones who need to seek God’s face.

"Perhaps during the Lenten season we should stop praying for others as if we were virtuous enough to do so. Perhaps we should take off our righteous robes just long enough during these 40 days to put ashes on our own heads, to come before God with a new humility that is willing to confess, "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner." Maybe we should be willing to prostrate ourselves before God and plead, "Lord, in my hand no price I bring; simply to the cross I cling." That might put us in a position to hear God in ways that we have not heard Him in a long time. And it may be the beginning of a healing for which we have so longed.

"O Lord, begin with me. Here. Now."

Powerful words, indeed, and helpful, even for a person such as me, who does not buy much of the traditional Christian worldview.

For one example, I have written elsewhere in this blog about how I view our alleged sinfulness. I simply can't accept that part of the story of Christ's death and resurrection that does some kind of cosmic calculus and arrives at the conclusion that Christ's death undoes our sin, not as literally true, anyway.

That said, and even as I value the scientific method and the use of practical intelligence to manage my life, I stand very, very humbly before my Creator. I know that these things are true of me: I am indeed willful, selfish, impossibly short-sighted, operating on a very distorted view of my own world and the world of others. I do from time to time, more perhaps than I am willing to admit, consciously behave in ways that are hurtful and harmful to myself and others. I get it, I admit it. 
 
Not only that, but I am going to die. The ashes to ashes and dust to dust part of Lent I absolutely get. And my work won't be finished, possibly will only barely be started. 
 
I don't need to believe that Adam screwed the human race, including me, literally and figuratively in order to understand that the word "sinner" or some synonym of that word applies to me. As Stephen has said, "There is no Adam and Eve." Meaning, there is no first man and no first woman. We evolved. 
 
So here I am, a progressive Christian in a somewhat progressive episcopal parish, in an increasingly progressive provence of the very traditional Anglican Communion. I really do need this 40 days of self-examination, penitence, and humility before God. Whatever part I have to play in the Second Coming of Christ as I understand it, will be immeasurably improved by my thoughtful participation in this season with my fellow parishioners. I am grateful for the opportunity that my church provides me for this journey. Even if I don't buy the whole kit and kaboodle. 

Posted: Wed - February 25, 2009 at 06:28 PM          

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