Evangelicals and Lent

We all love celebrations. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and days that have special meaning. Often those days are filled with gratitude and thankfulness. Sometimes those days consist of sadness and sorrow. This mixture of joy and sadness, of rejoicing and weeping is reflective of the Christian life. One (of many) miracle of the gospel in the lives of believers is that we are enabled to do both at the same time. Think of Paul’s words as he describes the life of Christians “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor 6:10). 

These days provide some structure, some rhythms, some mile-markers on our lifelong journey. During these celebrations, we also reflect back, consider the present and prayerfully ponder the future. As we do this personally or as a family, the Church has also historically done this through the Christian year. Each year, Christians and the Church are marked by these various seasons: Advent and Christmas, Epiphany, Lent (beginning with Ash Wednesday), Holy Week and Easter (including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday), Ascension, and Pentecost. Please notice that every one of these times/events focuses on Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

These days and seasons are in addition to the most important day of each week, which is Sunday, the Lord’s Day (Rev 1:10). This is the day Jesus was raised, and although worship is now all of life (Rom 12:1-2; Heb 13:15), the Church also historically gathers on this day and celebrates this truth doctrinally and liturgically (worship) in life together. This marked a shift from the Old Testament, which focused on God’s provision through creation and the exodus, who would also provide a covering (Gen 3:21) and a lamb (Gen 22:8; cf. Isa 53), to the New Testament, from Sabbath to Lord’s Day.

In The Global Church: The First Eight Centuries—From Pentecost Through the Rise of Islam (Zondervan Academic, 2021), 67, Donald Fairbairn reminds us that the early Church remembers their Old Testament roots of time, space and worship patterns (especially in Exodus and Leviticus), but those patterns were transformed because of and through Christ. The reason for the change was not because of the inclusion of Gentiles, but that: 

“…an event had taken place that both fulfilled and transcended the basis of the Jewish patterns. That event was the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it eventually transformed not only the temporal rhythms of the faithful but also the spatial and liturgical patterns. The resurrection compelled the church to adopt new concepts of sacred time, sacred actions, sacred words, and sacred space, and in the process to recalibrate the rhythms of believers’ corporate life around the central events of Christ’s own life.”

Remembering Jesus

For those who follow the Christian year, today is Ash Wednesday. For some history, Ash Wednesday traditionally marks the beginning of the period known as Lent, 6.5 weeks prior to Easter (because this was celebrated on different dates, a fixed date for the corporate Church was determined at the Council of Nicaea (325 AD)). It gets its name from the custom of placing ashes on the head of individuals as a sign of mourning and penitence. It is also a reminder that we were created from dust, and to dust we shall return. Some churches also consider this an opportunity to enter into the Lord’s discipline of 40 days in the wilderness as preparation for ministry, so they engage in some form of fast. In the early Church, this was also a time for catechumens to be instructed in Christian truth and life prior to being baptized at Easter.

Because of our ecclesiology and polity, most churches in the EFCA are less formal liturgically and do not follow a lectionary or the whole of the Christian year. We do, however, celebrate Christmas and Good Friday and Easter. Because the Bible is our foundation, we take our cue for what we do as a church from the Bible, and if something does not have a direct and explicit mandate, it will not be followed or required of others (cf. Rom 15:5-9).

This certainly would not mean remembering a day or a season is wrong. But it would mean that one needs to be careful to mandate it when it is not mandated from Scripture. Over time, these days and events were not only mandated of God’s people (thus binding consciences by something other than the Word of God), but they were also considered meritorious (thus denying that we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone). That is, engaging in these activities earned merit before God. They were used as a means of undermining truth faith. This is why the Reformers were cautious about how and why they referred to these celebrations in the Church, and why some dismissed them altogether.

The Free Church certainly promotes and encourages confession of and mourning for sin, of remembering our mortality, and living a life of repentance, and of gratitude for forgiveness of sin through Christ. But we do not prescribe a time or form in which that is mandated or done. This is appropriate to do any and all days, a reflection of living in a manner worthy of the gospel (Phil 1:27)!

Carl Trueman has been reticent to affirm the Church year or the liturgical calendar. His concern was that it reflected a half-hearted commitment to the Bible, and if I may add, a seasonal approach to Christianity. He acknowledges that as he has grown older, he has warmed to it. He writes—forgive the lengthy excerpt—the following:

"Perhaps the most important benefit it brings is an opportunity to correct the focus of our minds and draw them to those things that are above and away from matters of this earth—matters that are truly important but whose significance must always be relativized by placing them in the greater context of eternity…Particularly at the current moment, when so much seems to be in flux and a sense of social acceleration leaves so many with a sense of vertigo, it is vital to refocus on those things that do not change, of which the Incarnation is surely the supreme and decisive example.

“Regular Lord’s Day worship is, of course, the routine way in which this is done, but it is impossible to cover the whole counsel of God on a weekly basis. The danger for those who pay no attention to the concerns of a liturgical calendar can be that they end up neglecting areas of teaching or missing the opportunity to build a dramatic rhythm to their pedagogy over periods of time. Setting forth that whole counsel over a whole year on an annual basis therefore has pedagogical and liturgical advantages.

“These are strange times for Christians. The temptation to prioritize earthly things is acute at a moment in history where so much on this earth seems to be at stake. But compared to the eternal weight of glory that is to come, these things are light momentary ephemera. Indeed, they are such in comparison with the glory that has already come in Christ.” 

As we consider engaging in spiritual disciplines “for the purpose of godliness” (1 Tim 4:7), not for meritorious means or in a legalistic manner, we can approach the season of Lent (including Ash Wednesday) “for the purpose of godliness.” It is always good to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ. We do it every Sunday. But like other days of remembrance, this can be done for the sake of worship: consider it doxological doctrine for the purpose of doxological discipleship.

We are in the world, but we are not of the world (John 17). In other words, as Christians, we are aware of and attuned to what is happening in our lives, our churches, our neighborhoods, our country and the world. But we are not driven or controlled by it. This is a good thing to reflect on, repent of and be renewed to (God’s truth and the Lord Jesus Christ).

Biblical meditations and reflections

As both Bible people and Easter people—that is, the resurrection of Jesus Christ changed/changes everything—let’s spend time reflecting on God’s Word with some pertinent application questions during this season of Lent. This focus is critical in this day of constant distractions, 24-7 social media (doom)scrolling, and the perpetual ruminations and meditations on the things of this world, rather than setting one’s mind on the things above (Col 3:1-4). This is a good time to “be still, and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). These would be good to read and pray through each week through this season. Please do not read, ponder and pray through this with someone else in mind. Do it personally. The implications will certainly go beyond you, but they must begin with you.

Here are seven texts from God’s Word followed by a personal question of application.

Genesis 3:1, 4-5: "‘Did God actually say, “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden”?’...But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’"

• What are the ways today that the Deceiver, the Liar is saying, “Did God actually say?”

Deuteronomy 8:11-20: 11 "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today…then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

• What are the ways we are tempted to become comfortable and forget God? What idols have we created which have caused us to forget God and His Word?

1 Kings 22:19-23: “And Micaiah said, ‘Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; and the LORD said, “Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?” And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, “I will entice him.” And the LORD said to him, “By what means?” And he said, “I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” And he said, “You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.” Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has declared disaster for you.’"

• What is the message of the “lying spirit” we are hearing from the mouths of contemporary prophets?

Matthew 4:1-11: “And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’…‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you,” and “On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”’ Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”’…And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.”’ Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”

• What are the tempter’s temptations for believers and the people of God today?

Mark 8:34-38: “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’"

• Why is taking one’s cross to death always offensive? In what ways do we either struggle with or refuse to deny ourselves? How do we seek to save our lives, and in what ways then have we lost it? What are the issues with being a living sacrifice? Are we ashamed? What does it mean to follow Jesus now at this moment in your life and in the place where you are?

2 Timothy 4:1-5: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

• What is the origin of the present-day “itching ears” and what is the message they are hearing “to suit their own passions”?

1 John 5:18-21: “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

• What are the idols in your life? Can you identify them? Are you willing to confess them, that is acknowledge them, even to another, and repent of them?

Idolatry does not just consist of a “golden calf” (Exod 32). The heart of idolatry is seen in what God has revealed in the Ten Commandments: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me” (Exod 20:2-3). No other gods!

In Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters (Penguin, 2011), Tim Keller gets to the heart of idols and idolatry:

“[An idol] is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.

"A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought. It can be family and children, or career and making money, or achievement and critical acclaim, or saving ‘face’ and social standing. It can be a romantic relationship, peer approval, competence and skill, secure and comfortable circumstances, your beauty or your brains, a great political or social cause, your morality and virtue, or even success in the Christian ministry.

“When your meaning in life is to fix someone else’s life, we may call it ‘codependency’ but it is really idolatry. An idol is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, ‘If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I’ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.’ There are many ways to describe that kind of relationship to something, but perhaps the best one is worship.”

Other spiritual disciplines for the purpose of godliness

In addition to reading and praying through the Scripture and application questions above, here are several other disciplines to consider doing either individually or as a family during this season.

1. Scripture: In addition to meditating on the Scriptures included above, seek to memorize Scripture. You can choose to memorize one of the passages above, or you could memorize other Scriptures. Think of the doctrinal heart of the atonement as stated by Paul in Romans 3:21-26. Or think of the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 3:3-12, which reflect the heart of the community created by God the Holy Spirit through His application of the work of Christ in our lives.

2. The Heidelberg Catechism (1563). One of the idols of this age is expressive individualism (the autonomous self). The first two questions and answers of the catechism strike at the heart of this idol and reflect Jesus’ call to be His disciples, that the only way to life in Christ is death to self. As Christians, we are not our own.

Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A. That I am not my own but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood and has set me free from the tyranny of the Devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.

Q. What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?

A. Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are; second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery; third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.

3. Hymns: God has given gifted musicians who are able to put biblical truth to hymns and choruses. We sing the truth of the Scriptures which reinforces Scriptural truth, and we most often do this communally/corporately. Consider using a hymnal to accompany your reading of the Scriptures. Sing familiar songs and seek to learn a few new ones focused on the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is a time to remember, focus on, give thanks for/to and worship our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Some of the most beautiful and profound hymns of the church have been written about Christ’s life, death, burial and resurrection. All registrants to the 2026 EFCA Theology Conference were given a copy of The Sing! Hymnal (Crossway, 2025). There is a whole section devoted to “The Life of Christ,” and a subsection focuses on hymns associated with Palm Sunday and Holy Week (799-822) and Easter (833-842).

4. Books: Personally, each year I use these days to focus my reading on additional works of the meaning and significance of Jesus' death, the cross, the atonement and the resurrection. Every year, I read a book or a few books on these truths so I can continue to broaden and deepen my understanding and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are a few for you to consider consisting of various levels of difficulty:

• Leon Morris, The Atonement: Its Meaning and Significance (IVP, 1983)
• John Stott, The Cross of Christ (IVP, 1986)
• Charles E. Hill and Frank A. James, ed., The Glory of the Atonement: Biblical, Historical and Practical Perspectives (IVP Academic, 2004)
• Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, and Andrew Sach, Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution (Crossway, 2007)
• Graham Cole, God the Peacemaker: How Atonement Brings Shalom (IVP Academic, 2009)
• Thomas McCall, Forsaken: The Trinity and the Cross and Why It Matters (IVP Academic, 2012)
• Jeremy Treat, The Atonement: An Introduction (Crossway, 2023)
• Stephen Wellum, It is Finished (Union Publishing, 2025).

5. Devotionals: Another thing you can do is to read a devotional during this season. There are several books that are worthwhile to consider, and here are a few:

• Nancy Guthrie, ed., Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross: Experiencing the Passion and Power of Easter (Crossway, 2009)
• Sinclair B. Ferguson, Lessons from the Upper Room: The Heart of the Savior (2021)
• Paul David Tripp, Journey to the Cross: A 40-Day Lenten Devotional (Crossway, 2021)
• David Mathis, Rich Wounds: The Countless Treasures of the Life, Death, and Triumph of Jesus (2022)
• Jonathan Gibson, O Sacred Head, Now Wounded: A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Pascha to Pentecost (Crossway, 2024)
• Tim Chester, Our Radiant Redeemer: Lent Devotions on the Transfiguration of Jesus (2024).

6. Others: One of the marks of Christians is how they love both God and others (Matt 22:37-39; cf. John 13:34-35). Think of Jesus who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark10:45). Thankfully, Jesus gave His life for us, and through life in Him, we not only can serve others, we want to serve others and find delight and joy in doing so.

John Stott, The Cross of Christ (IVP, 2006), 226, rightly summarizes the work of Christ in this way: “Jesus Christ is successively the Savior, the Teacher and the Victor, because we ourselves are guilty, apathetic, and in bondage.” Think of Paul who writes, “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake” (2 Cor 4:5). This is one of the major challenges in churches today. When we consider others who see things differently, whether it is politics or cultural engagement or group identity, we question their Christian faith and consider them an estranged friend or an enemy. The dividing wall Christ destroyed (Eph 2:14-16) is being rebuilt. The gospel we rightly proclaim with our lips is the gospel wrongly lived out in our lives (Eph 4:1-6; cf. Gal 2:11-14).

During this season, reflect on your love of God and your love of/for others. In The Mark of the Christian (IVP, 1971), Francis Schaeffer exhorts us, “we must never forget that the final apologetic which Jesus gives is the observable love of true Christians for true Christians.”

Closing prayer

I close with a prayer from The Sing! Hymnal (809), which is adapted from The Valley of Vision: