Portico Church

In past years we have talked about lent historically & observed it in appropriate and meaningful ways to us. Yesterday (Wednesday Feb 25) was Ash Wednesday the first day of lent. But this year we haven't even mentioned it, until now.

This is not because our views or opinions about lent have changed at all. It's simply because of the other things we are focusing on as a community together. But I did want to mention one thing in regards to lent.

Typically Lent is the 40 day period leading up to Christ's sacrifice on the cross, death and resurrection from the grave. As a way of drawing near to God, of depending and trusting in Him more, of recognizing our sin of clinging on to other things and having other idols in our lives, people give something up during this time. They seek forgiveness of these false and sinful ways of living and pursue God in hopes of living more in the ways of Jesus.

On the radio today I heard people mentioning giving up facebook, coffee, cell phones, etc. during this time. It very may well be that these things have taken a place in their lives they shouldn't. It may be that they have been put on an altar, made a god (Ex 20:2-3).  And so giving them up may be very needed and appropriate.

However, I want to "warn" against meaningless "sacrifice". I'm referring to giving something up during this time because other people are, out of tradition, because the church is "making" you or because it's kinda cool or the thing to do. In this way giving something up during Lent is just a gimmick. As if just giving something up will really be significant apart from taking hold of Jesus more. The only real point of giving these things up during lent (or another time) is to draw near to God.

It is to truly seek him out more, trust in him more, see the idols and ask for forgiveness, to repent, to let go of something that has a hold on us and grab hold of God. It is to truly hunger and thirst for the fullness, life, satisfaction, joy, peace, love, community, mission/purpose, contentment, happiness, freedom, abundance, beauty...that are ultimately only found in God and not anything or anyone else. It is to crave for life with God as it once was and one day will be. It is to recognize our smallness, sinfulness, frailty, selfishness, deranged minds, wicked hearts, insane actions, false gods, and messed up lives. And it is a time to be renewed and transformed with God's righteousness, majesty, holiness, beauty, power, grace, mercy, kindness, justice, purity, greatness, sovereignty, perfection, goodness, salvation and awesomeness!


I encourage us to give something up if it leads you in this direction. Pray about it. See what the Spirit of God says to you & those you're in community with. I know this season has been very meaningful to us in the past and I know it can be this year as well.