Isn't lent primarily a christian belief, not just catholic?

Question

Technically, I am catholic, but I plainly read the bible and do alot of research on the word of God and the Bible. Isn't the season of Lent something that has to be observed by all christians, I mean it has to do with Jesus being in the desert for 40 days while being tempted by the Devil near the time of his crucifixion and resurrection?

Answer 1

The lent season never observe by the early Christian and never teaches by Jesus and his apostles. It is against the doctrine of Christ.
If you talk about Jesus fasting for 40 days and night: this is His teaching about how we should fast “Mat 6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thane head, and wash thy face;
Mat 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
So we see that the concept of lent is against in the teachings of Christ.

Answer 2

None of the seasonal practices of the Church appeared fully formed from the beginning. The only holy days were Saturday, when you went to Temple (until the Christians were expelled for proselytizing) and Sunday when you shared the fellowship meal. Easter and Christmas did not exist until after Christianity was legalized in the 4th Century. So ideas like Advent and Lent had to come along much later. The scriptural tie-in to Christ's "40 days" in the desert was merely the explanation for the new idea.

At the time the practice of Lent was developing, the whole Western Church WAS Roman. There weren't any Christian "denominations", so yes, EVERYONE did it. But part of the Protestant Reformation was a rejection of "man-made traditions", including Lent. The worship of early Protestants was very straightforward and unadorned, without the accretions of music, bells, incense and stained glass.

In time, some Protestants began to see the practical wisdom of having some kinds of symbolic, ritual action. After all, it was voluntary and helped focus the mind on the occasion. Others feared the creation of "graven images" and never readopted such practices.

Lent is a coloring added to the season to help people prepare to celebrate Easter by examining their spiritual paths and behaviors. But even among Catholics, Ash Wednesday is NOT a "holy day of obligation". Protestants adopt Lent only as it suits them, not because it is an article of faith. After all, Christ has already died and risen. To "pretend" it hasn't happened yet is a kind of spiritual hide-and-seek, meaningful to participants but silly to bystanders. We must pursue the spirituality that makes sense to us.

Answer 3

I am a former Catholic - now a non-denominational Christian.
We don't celebrate Lent in our church - and I do miss it. I try to either give something up in sacrifice, or do something I don't normally do.
It does mark the time Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days.
And it's around 40 days (not exactly) from Ash Weds. to Easter.

Answer 4

Christians (or at least some) think they can do whatever they want and the good Lord will throw open Heaven's doors and welcome them in no matter what. Lent is something that they think sounds suspiciously Catholic so alot of them do not have anything to do with it. Some other Churches think that the more they copy Catholics, the more legitimate they will appear but, again it's just copies and not the real thing.

Answer 5

I'm catholic too, but yes, it is a Christian tradition to observe Lent. However, fasting and not eating meat on Fridays during Lent is primarily a Catholic tradition.

Answer 6

I'm a devout practicing Catholic. I enjoy observing Lent each year. It puts me in the proper frame of mind and is a time of spiritual growth and renewal.

While I'm sure all Christians have heard of Lent, I believe Catholics are the only ones who observe it.

Answer 7

Do we have a special season to celebrate when Jesus healed Peter's mother in law? Or a season to celebrate when Jesus cleansed the temple?
No.
So it's a choice. it's not a "Christian" thing. It's quite all right to celebrate it, but it's not something all Christians necessarily celebrate. The Catholic church is strong on the "Christian calendar year". So is the Anglican church and many Reformed churches.
The more radical reformation churches, descended form the Anabaptists, were historically suspicious of anything that smelled of tradition. So you don't find many Baptists, Mennonites, Brethren or Pentecostals celebrating Lent, although I don't think you'll find any of us particularly opposed to it either.

Answer 8

Many non-Catholics (such as Episcopalians) definitely observe Lent. However, certain evangelical Protestant groups refuse to observe it, because they either see it as legalism, or as a custom that's too closely tied with the Roman Catholic Church.

Answer 9

I am Protestant & I gave up pop for lent because I felt it was something I was placing befoe God. I am a pop addict, I started drinking pop right after I quit smoking. Anything that we place ahead of God is a false idol. I learned alot about myself & feel that I did come closer to God. I know that this sounds silly & it is. It is just one woman's opinion.

Answer 10

Yes.

The Catholic Church and many other Christians Churches follow the Biblical practice of Jesus Christ and the Jews in setting aside days where the entire Church fasts and prays as one in a attitude of constant renewal.

By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert and in spiritual preparation for the celebration of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

This season of penance is an intense moments of the Church's penitential practice and are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and charitable and missionary works.

With love in Christ.