Comments on: Lent 2009 - I Can Repent 365 Days a Year and So Who Needs Lent? http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/ living the gospel Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:43:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: nathan http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-112751 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:36:47 +0000 http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-112751 Brother Joe: I did not find your comment to be too blunt and reactive. Rather, I see it as a fine contribution to this presentation. For the past several years I have experimented with a lenten practice, fasting and praying. I must say that none of it has rendered any better fruit than the spiritual disciplines I have adopted into my daily life as a Protestant. But I must confess that during this present Lenten season I have lost another 10 pounds! nathan. Brother Joe: I did not find your comment to be too blunt and reactive. Rather, I see it as a fine contribution to this presentation. For the past several years I have experimented with a lenten practice, fasting and praying. I must say that none of it has rendered any better fruit than the spiritual disciplines I have adopted into my daily life as a Protestant. But I must confess that during this present Lenten season I have lost another 10 pounds!
nathan.

]]> by: Joe Staub http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-112695 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:51:53 +0000 http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-112695 Hey Nathan, I think my last comment was too blunt and reactive. Sorry. My Catholic upbringing is a bit touchy. When I became a born again believer I strongly rejected the Catholic Church with its formalism and mediatorial emphasis. My new experience with God was so much different than it was in my youth. I know that you are not advocating anything close to Catholicism. Peace, Joe Hey Nathan,

I think my last comment was too blunt and reactive. Sorry. My Catholic upbringing is a bit touchy. When I became a born again believer I strongly rejected the Catholic Church with its formalism and mediatorial emphasis. My new experience with God was so much different than it was in my youth. I know that you are not advocating anything close to Catholicism.

Peace,

Joe

]]> by: Joe Staub http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-111486 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:04:45 +0000 http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-111486 Nathan, Where does the road to Rome end? Is the Rosary next? "I am looking for someone who can explain to me why a special 40 days on the church calendar to pray and fast, to repent of sins and rely upon God is counter-productive." I spent many years in "the booth" and in the ritual practices of the Roman Catholic Church. It did become counter productive because the physical structures became a substitute for the spiritual reality. I suppose it didn't have to be that way, but it was for me and many others who grew up like me. As Protestants we do have our symbolism, as well, but it is minimal. But, maybe we want, or need, the physical rituals and the "mediation" because the invisible seems so mystifying and uncertain. I don't think anything can substitute for the direct and personal connection with God. That personal experience needs to be encouraged. Just a few thoughts. A provocative post! Nathan,

Where does the road to Rome end? Is the Rosary next?

“I am looking for someone who can explain to me why a special 40 days on the church calendar to pray and fast, to repent of sins and rely upon God is counter-productive.”

I spent many years in “the booth” and in the ritual practices of the Roman Catholic Church. It did become counter productive because the physical structures became a substitute for the spiritual reality. I suppose it didn’t have to be that way, but it was for me and many others who grew up like me. As Protestants we do have our symbolism, as well, but it is minimal. But, maybe we want, or need, the physical rituals and the “mediation” because the invisible seems so mystifying and uncertain. I don’t think anything can substitute for the direct and personal connection with God. That personal experience needs to be encouraged.

Just a few thoughts. A provocative post!

]]> by: Margie http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-109999 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:49:04 +0000 http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-109999 Just a couple of questions: 1) By having a traditional time of repentance such as Lent, do we make it easier for people to segment their lives? For example, "I repent during Lent, therefore I do not need to repent the rest of the year." I grew up in a heavily Catholic community. I saw a LOT of this! 2) I'm still struggling to understand what place such ideas as penance and fasting have in the Christian life. If Christ has paid the penalty for all our sins, past, present and future, doesn't our penance convey the idea that Christ's sacrifice was somehow incomplete or insufficient? And now that the Bridegroom is forever with us in the person of the Holy Spirit, why do we fast as though He had gone away and left us alone? I like your blog. Well written and provocative--just as I would have expected. God bless! Just a couple of questions:
1) By having a traditional time of repentance such as Lent, do we make it easier for people to segment their lives? For example, “I repent during Lent, therefore I do not need to repent the rest of the year.” I grew up in a heavily Catholic community. I saw a LOT of this!
2) I’m still struggling to understand what place such ideas as penance and fasting have in the Christian life. If Christ has paid the penalty for all our sins, past, present and future, doesn’t our penance convey the idea that Christ’s sacrifice was somehow incomplete or insufficient? And now that the Bridegroom is forever with us in the person of the Holy Spirit, why do we fast as though He had gone away and left us alone?
I like your blog. Well written and provocative–just as I would have expected.
God bless!

]]> by: nathan http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-109647 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 05:09:39 +0000 http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-109647 I agree with you. I agree with you.

]]> by: sally http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-109641 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:13:41 +0000 http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-109641 to each his own...Most, ordinarily would not make sacrifice throughout the year but go to confession and do penance. Lent is part of the church calendar and we make EXTRA effort to make sacrifices and go without in reparation for our sins and in doing so we DIE to our sins and hope to rise in CHRIST on Easter Sunday. We are required to be constantly in the state of grace hence the sacrament of penance that is available throughout the year. Lent is a special time where the rest of us can be closer to God during our time of penance and sacrifice and prayer. God bless you. to each his own…Most, ordinarily would not make sacrifice throughout the year but go to confession and do penance. Lent is part of the church calendar and we make EXTRA effort to make sacrifices and go without in reparation for our sins and in doing so we DIE to our sins and hope to rise in CHRIST on Easter Sunday.
We are required to be constantly in the state of grace hence the sacrament of penance that is available throughout the year. Lent is a special time where the rest of us can be closer to God during our time of penance and sacrifice and prayer.
God bless you.

]]> by: Eric Costa http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-109172 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:58:18 +0000 http://nathanlewis.org/2009/03/03/lent-2009-i-can-repent-365-days-a-year-and-so-who-needs-lent/#comment-109172 Nice work, Nathan. Thanks. Nice work, Nathan. Thanks.

]]>