Is it only Catholics that have Lent, Advent?

Question

Or is that all Christians?

Answer 1

I am pleased to say that I have seen many more Protestants taking the season of Lent and Advent more seriously, as times of preparation for Easter and Christmas.

Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians all take it seriously.

More are finding the ways of the Ancient Faith "Once Delivered" were wise.

Lent began in the apostolic era and was universal in the ancient church. For this reason, Lent is observed by the various Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, and Anglican denominations, by Roman Catholics, and by Eastern Orthodox Churches.

It is much easier to explain who stopped observing it and why.

In the 16th century, many Calvinists and Anabaptists discarded all Christian holy days, on the theory that they were Roman innovations. That was their best information at the time, but today we know that they were wrong. In the late 19th century, ancient Christian documents came to light. The Didache from the first century, the Apostolic Constitutions from the third century, and the diaries of Egeria of the fourth century; all which give evidence of the Christian calendar and holy days. The Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions were written in the east, which denies it ever recognized the institution of the papacy. Egeria was a Spanish nun, but her writings also describe practices in the east. All of these documents came to light 300 years after it was too late for the groups who had already discarded Christian holy days.

In many cases, Rome was the last place to observe the holy days. For example, the idea of moving All Saints Day to November 1 did not reach Rome until 700 years after it originated in England, and the idea of celebrating Holy Week as Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, was quite elaborate in Jerusalem before the early fourth century but did not spread to Rome until the 11th century. Advent began in medieval Gaul and spread to Rome from there. Lent, on the other hand, appears to have originated in the apostolic age. The Apostolic Constitutions attribute the observance of Lent to an apostolic commandment. We can’t verify that, but we also can’t disprove it.

The Anabaptists gave rise to or influenced the Amish, the Mennonites, the Baptists, and the Plymouth Brethren. The Puritans, who were Calvinists, had similar views on worship, which is why they made Christmas illegal in Massachusetts at one time. (Some Mennonites, however, never rejected the Christian holy days.)

In the United States in the 19th century, the established denominations were slow to spread west of the Appalachians, which was the frontier at the time. The area was thinly populated and there were very few seminary-trained clergy. The lay people had been converted at camp meetings without any church background. They were influenced by the groups that had rejected Christian holy days, but frontier conditions were not conducive to structured liturgical worship anyway. They weren’t aware of the Christian holy days, and they didn’t have the equipment, the facilities, the education, the authorization, or the training to conduct liturgical worship. Therefore most of the religious groups that were formed in the United States in the 19th century do not have a custom of observing Lent. This environment had some influence on individual congregations in denominations that have historically observed the Christian holy days—so you will occasionally find a Methodist church that does not observe Lent.

Gradually, the holy days have returned to the churches that had lost them. The restoration quickly began with Easter. Christmas followed in the 19th century, and Advent and Holy Week became widespread among them in the 20th century. Lent is mounting a come-back in the 21st century.

Answer 2

I can see where there MIGHT be a prohibition on dancing during Lent. Lent is a time of repentence and soul search, our own "desert time" before the joy of Easter, so I can see where dancing MAY not be appropriate. Advent is a time of anticipation, so dancing in joyful anticipation of the birth of Christ is probably appropriate. BTW, the song "Lord of teh Dance" is a song that is often sung during Advent.

Answer 3

I grew up Methodist and we've always observed both Lent and Advent.

Answer 4

Why are people getting thumbs down ratings for stating the fact that so and so other denominations celebrate Lent???

Thanks to Father K for the background info!

Answer 5

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.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1438:
http://www.nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm#1438

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

Orthodox & Anglicans/Episcopalians also have Lent & Advent.

Answer 7

I attend a community church. We have Lent.

Well Chris Lent actually, that's the name of the youth Pastor.

United Methodists have Lent.

I remember the First Methodist Church in Normal, Illinois in cooperation with the Wesley Foundation, the campus ministry at Illinois State University had a series of mid week communion services during "Lent of 1976".

The first communion service was in honor of Elton John. That was held on Ash Wednesday.

The second communion service was in honor of Olivia Newton-John.

The third communion service was in honor of . . . does it matter? It WAS NOT in Honor of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And that is sad.

Pastor Art

Answer 8

Lent is a Christian observation, not just Catholic. However, most non-Catholic Christian churches don't dictate any kind of formal observation of it.

Answer 9

The mother of harlots (catholics) has many children (some "protestants").

Neither is in the Bible, neither accomplishes anything spiritually.

Answer 10

Not all Christians.

But Presbyterians do as well and Methodist.