In the small towns of Island Lake and Wauconda where I grew up, there were not many Lutherans. Between the two cities there were about 17,000 people, and maybe about 100 Lutherans. Growing up, it seemed that everyone was Roman Catholic. Every year when Ash Wednesday would come around, I would hear my Roman Catholic friends talking about what they would be giving up for Lent. Some would give up soda (or “pop” as we called it Illinois). Others would give up something like candy. In college, the brave kids would give up things like Facebook, or other social media sites, or even videogames. As Ash Wednesday comes around, and as people begin this popular act of piety, I thought it would be helpful to reflect on this popular tradition.
If you decide to give something up for Lent, I encourage you to keep some of the following in mind. First of all, giving up something for Lent is not required. It is a completely optional thing. The goal of giving up something for Lent is to grow closer to God through faith by not using that thing or activity that you have given up. Instead of using that thing or doing that activity that you have given up, perhaps you can replace it with prayer, reading God’s Word, meditating on what Jesus has done for you, serving others, or even giving that thing that you gave up to others (ex. if you stopped drinking coffee for Lent, perhaps give someone your coffee).
I remember when friends would give up soda that they would make a big deal about it. When people would ask what they would like to drink, they would say something like, “I would love a coke, but I gave that up for Lent. I guess I will have to have water or juice instead.” Their response would bring the focus on them and on what they were doing. This echoes Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:1, which is one of the traditional readings for Ash Wednesday. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Jesus makes the point that if you are going to do something like this for Lent, don’t brag about it or bring attention to yourself. The point of giving up something is to grow closer to God through depending on and trusting Him more. It is not about telling others what you are doing for God.
There is one more point that is important to bring up when giving up something for Lent. Doing this activity will not make God love you more. Doing this will not save or forgive you. That is what Jesus’ death and resurrection did for you. Giving up something for Lent does not have to be permanent, nor will it make God angry at you if you stop, or if you fail at what you are doing. The goal of it all is to grow closer to God during this season of repentance as you give up something for the Son of God who gave it all for you!
~Pastor Nick Kooi
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XVIII, Number 8, March 2017)