Is The Lent Period Necessary?

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Apr 3, 2019
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#21
I usually have hash on Tuesday, I just call it Hash Tuesday.

I borrow the ingredients from the neighbor, so it could be said that lent comes before Hash Tuesday.
 
Feb 28, 2016
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#22
hub and I NEVER 'lend', we 'give', without expecting...
it's worked for decades, and the benefits have been mind-blowing,
nothing we could have ever imagined...
:):)
 

MadHermit

Junior Member
May 8, 2018
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#23
posthuman:

"why - Biblically - is it disrespectful to tell the truth about whether Lent is commanded by God or whether it is a tradition and commandment of men? [/QUOTE]

(1) Slander: the ungodly comparison of Lent to the debauchery of Mardi Gras
(2) Posters on this thread display an anti-Catholic tone for their desire to organize the pursuit of fasting, prayer, confession,, repentance, and spiritual transformation within the liturgical rhythm of their lives. It is simply asinine to point out that it is man-made tradition because no one claims otherwise. They instead point to the solidly biblical principles that are applied to their lives during Lent.
 
Dec 12, 2013
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#24
So I have read that ..

''The rules for fasting and abstinence in the United States are: Every person 14 years or older must abstain from meat (and items made with meat) on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent. Every person between theage of 18 and 59 (beginning of 60th year) must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. ''

I practice not to eat meat on Good Friday weekend, and on Ask Wednesday. However, I cannot understand the purpose of the Lent period nor its importance. Is it from man or from God? How is it necessary for Christians?

Please help.
Post 2 states it ALL...........it is just more religious hoop jumping from a religion that binds the hand of men behind their back.......Eat a big steak and be happy.........!!!!
 
Dec 12, 2013
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#25
I
hub and I NEVER 'lend', we 'give', without expecting...
it's worked for decades, and the benefits have been mind-blowing,
nothing we could have ever imagined...
:):)
I am the same way....I leave my keys in my truck and have told all my neighbors.....If you need it, do not ask me, just come get it and use it......!! My neighbors and I have keys to everything we own...I leave key in my 4 wheeler, I have keys to their tractor etc.....we give each other stuff all the time and or use each other's stuff without asking.....and if we break something....we do not even ask we just replace or fix......the way it should be.....
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#26

(1) Slander: the ungodly comparison of Lent to the debauchery of Mardi Gras
the connection between fat tuesday and ash wednesday is not slanderous.

quoting from the RCC's website:


Mardi Gras is strongly associated with wild bacchanalia and debauchery, but the original intent of the holiday and how it's kept by the faithful is much different. Fat Tuesday, as it is known in English, is a long-standing tradition of the Catholic Church and it marks the last day of ordinary time before the start of Lent, a time of fasting and repentance. While the parties in Europe, South America, and parts of the United States have gained the most attention in popular culture, they seriously misrepresent and outright eclipse the Catholic intent of the holiday.
According to historians, the celebration of Mardi Gras has its roots in the pagan Roman celebration of Lupercalia. This was a February holiday and it honored the Roman god of fertility. It involved feasting, drinking, and carnal behavior.
However, with the rise of the Church in ancient Rome, Christian teaching and morals took root, but there always remained a strong need to blend ancient Roman traditional practices with the growing Christian faith. The blending of tradition with new religious beliefs was a common practice in the ancient world and it helped people to transition away from paganism. In fact, there are a number of ancient Roman traditions that persevere in the Roman Catholic Church to this day, where they continue to guide the faithful.
As Catholic Christianity spread throughout Europe during the first millennium, different cultures celebrated the last day before Lent in their own ways, adapting the practices to suit their cultures. In France, the holiday became particularly popular as people feasted on foods that would be given up during the forty days of Lent. Meats, eggs, and milk were finished off in one day, giving the holiday its French title of 'Mardi Gras' which means Fat Tuesday.
 
Apr 3, 2019
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#27
(1) Slander: the ungodly comparison of Lent to the debauchery of Mardi Gras
(2) Posters on this thread display an anti-Catholic tone for their desire to organize the pursuit of fasting, prayer, confession,, repentance, and spiritual transformation within the liturgical rhythm of their lives. It is simply asinine to point out that it is man-made tradition because no one claims otherwise. They instead point to the solidly biblical principles that are applied to their lives during Lent.
"the liturgical rhythm of their lives".

This is basic Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, Orthodoxy and other oxy off shoots of the RC that are man made doctrines.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#28
posthuman:

"why - Biblically - is it disrespectful to tell the truth about whether Lent is commanded by God or whether it is a tradition and commandment of men?

(1) Slander: the ungodly comparison of Lent to the debauchery of Mardi Gras
(2) Posters on this thread display an anti-Catholic tone for their desire to organize the pursuit of fasting, prayer, confession,, repentance, and spiritual transformation within the liturgical rhythm of their lives. It is simply asinine to point out that it is man-made tradition because no one claims otherwise. They instead point to the solidly biblical principles that are applied to their lives during Lent.
you're not answering my question.
that makes sad post :(



it's not asinine to answer the OP's direct question...
Is it from man or from God?
answering truthfully is the right thing to do. it's courteous. it's the opposite of asinine.





but good job on *almost* using the quote function correctly! this is a real improvement :)
 
Dec 12, 2013
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#34
I understand how people can get upset with observances that have meaning to them.
I hear ya.....religion and tradition..........when I was in Seminary we had an a teacher that brought to our attention a good lesson.....

An idea becomes a practice, which becomes a religious tradition, which in turn becomes a law!

We see this evidenced in almost, if not EVERY religious denomination in some form or fashion......tragically I might add.....
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#35
makes as much sense as dismissing the practice of closing your eyes for prayer as unbiblical man-made tradition.
if someone asks, "does the Bible command us to close our eyes when we pray or is that just a tradition?"

the answer is similarly, no, the Bible does not command that. it is an human tradition.


that's not disrespectful; it's the truth.
that doesn't mean there's no value in it. but look at the thread title: is closing your eyes when you pray necessary? commanded? nope.
 
Apr 3, 2019
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#36
I hear ya.....religion and tradition..........when I was in Seminary we had an a teacher that brought to our attention a good lesson.....

An idea becomes a practice, which becomes a religious tradition, which in turn becomes a law!

We see this evidenced in almost, if not EVERY religious denomination in some form or fashion......tragically I might add.....
That is the problem right there..
 

Didymous

Senior Member
Feb 22, 2018
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#37
Thanks, its true, it is not from God. I remember when I was in high school, a preacher came to us and stated that we dont have to give up meat but anything that you enjoy in life whether it be music, chocolate, etc. I was confused then and felt guilty since I gave up nothing. Ive always felt the guilt. Now I understand that its man-made and not necessarily instructed by God. :)

By the way its great to see you! Gosh its been awhile :D
It's nice to see you too, young lady! :cool:
 
Apr 3, 2019
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#38
This is the problem:

''The rules for fasting and abstinence in the United States are: Every person 14 years or older must abstain from meat (and items made with meat) on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent. Every person between theage of 18 and 59 (beginning of 60th year) must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. ''

The liturgy may have meaning, but to turn liturgy into musts is the error.
 

MadHermit

Junior Member
May 8, 2018
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#39
Have you read that in the bible? Yes, it's from man, and no, you don't have to do it.
Citing Mardi Gras as an excuse to disrespect Lent is a truly cheap shot.
Have you read in the Bible that you need to close your eyes when you pray? No, but it still helps to shut out distractions from focusing on God.
Have you read in the Bible that churches should give altar calls after worship? No, but altar calls still help in bringing people to Christ.
Have you read in the Bible that the New Testament is divinely inspired? No, but Catholic tradition proved trustworthy to select the right books for the NT canon.
 

MadHermit

Junior Member
May 8, 2018
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#40
salvation chil: "Yes I agree. Its sad how many of these things are created by men and forced onto believers as a requirement."

How unkind and judgmental! Liturgical traditions offer the discipline of structures to encourage the church to fast, pray, reflect on whether they have unconfessed sin, recognize spiritual testing, and depend their appreciation of Christ's atoning sacrifice and this Fundamentalist Ghetto thinks this is "sad!" Lent is only a requirement in the sense that these spiritual disciplines are recommended. I mean, you don't need a healthy prayer life to qualify as a Christian, but it is a requirement in the sense that you won't grow spiritually without it. But churches don't check up on you to see that meet that requirement.