What We are Giving Up

"What are you giving up for Lent?"

This was a question I remember being asked for the first time in college. Up until that point I had attended only nondenominational-type, Baptist, or Evangelical Free churches. None of these were big on following the church calendar except for Easter and Christmas. The seasons of Lent and Advent went largely uncelebrated.

But in college I had started attending an Anglican church, and they were BIG on the church calendar. So someone asked me in church one Sunday in January,

"What are you giving up for Lent?"

And I stumbled over my words. Ah... uh... mmm...

Truth was, I hadn't thought about it. The only people I knew of who gave up things for Lent were my Roman Catholic relatives who made a big deal about eating only fish on Fridays, not meat. (I still think that Fish is a meat. I totally don't get it.)

Yet as I pressed into that church community, I began to see the value in "giving up" during the Lenten season. Not to reach some standard of perfection, not to become a self-righteous ascetic, but to make room for God.

The first few years I gave up food items - candy, sweets, baked goods. I realized before long that it was becoming my yearly Lenten diet, and that at least part of my motivation was to lose some weight before swimsuit season. Not really what the Church Fathers had in mind.

Now that I pastor a church, I've emphasized more about the "taking on" during Lent - picking up a spiritual practice anew, whether that be daily Scripture reading, prayer, or meditation. But I've missed the "giving up."

Giving up something shapes us. It reminds us of our dependence on God. It startles us out of our usual daily routine so that we can hear God in unexpected ways. It reminds us that, without God, we are weak and frail and dry and broken.

The other part I missed about "giving up" was the celebration afterward. You can't really feast unless you've been fasting. You can't enjoy dinner if you're been snacking all day. When we give things up and walk humbly with Jesus on his road to the cross, the celebration of Easter morning is that much greater.

So this year our church is doing a series of "Lenten Challenges," giving things up together so that we can fill that time with spiritual practices. I wasn't sure what kind of response I'd get, but for the most part folks seem really excited and ready to try this challenge together.

In case you want to join us, here is our plan:

Lenten Challenges

Week One: Feb. 17 - 23 - Scripture Challenge

Challenge: Read the Bible every day

Fast: Fast from Facebook (or games/puzzles, if you aren't on Facebook) for the entire week

Week Two: Feb. 24 - March 2 - Prayer Challenge

Challenge: Pray each morning and evening

Fast: Fast from watching/reading the news for a week

Week Three: March 3 - 9 - Fasting Challenge

Challenge: Fast from food or beverages (other than water) for one meal or one day*

*Those medically unable to fast (diabetics, nursing mothers, children, etc.) are invited 

to give up beverages other than water for one day or one meal

Fast: Fast from food or beverages for a day or a meal

Week Four: March 10 - 16 - Sabbath Challenge

Challenge: Take a true Sabbath day

Fast: Fast from work (including housework) for a day

Week Five: March 17 - 23 - Service Challenge

Challenge: Serve a neighbor, friend, or stranger

Fast: Fast from radio and music for the week

Week Six: March 24 - 30 - Worship Challenge

Challenge: Attend a church each Holy Day during Holy Week (Palm Sunday, 

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter)

Fast: Fast from TV for the week

Week Seven: March 31 - Celebration Challenge

Challenge: Celebrate Jesus' resurrection!

Fast: No fasting, just feasting!