Lenten Reflections

The following was lifted from Our Daily Bread:  http://odb.org/

   "One night a clergyman was walking to church when a thief pulled a gun on him and demanded his money or his life. When he reached in his pocket to hand over his wallet, the robber saw his clerical collar and said: I see you are a priest. Never mind, you can go. The clergyman, surprised by the robber's unexpected act of piety, offered him a candy bar. The robber said, No thank you, I don't eat candy during Lent."


   When I first left the Catholic church after 21 years, I found out that Baptists do not observe Lent. No stations of the cross, no Ash Wednesday, no holy Thursday service, no Good Friday service, and no giving something up. I realized at that time, not being one to throw out the baby with the bathwater, that in one form or another I would find a church that observed Lent and also return in some ways to the Catholic church. I found a Lutheran church that observed Lent and even had Ash Wednesday services. Also their regular services were liturgical, which I had missed.
   I have made my peace with the Catholic church.  But I do view myself as a born again Christian and not a Catholic any more.
   There are 5 tenets of the Protestant faith that resonate with me. Catholics are aware of Sola Scriptura but tend not to be aware of the other four tenets.

   Solus Christus         Christ Alone
   Sola Scriptura         Scripture Alone
   Sola Fide                  Faith Alone
   Sola Gratia              Grace Alone
   Soli Deo Gloria        Glory to God Alone

I also abide by the 4 beliefs of Evangelicals
   1. Salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus
   2. Personal conversion
   3. Authority of Scripture
   4. Sharing faith with non-Christians

Growing up Protestant, and then being Catholic for 21 years, and now returning to a Protestant religion, I consider myself to be a Catholic-Protestant hybrid. I do not believe that God favors one denomination over the other.

   So this Lent I feel called to give up the internet. I have never liked Facebook. But it is encouraging to read that 61% of current Facebook users have decided to take a break from Facebook. Reasons cited include, too time consuming, lack of privacy, and too much drama. Facebook was cited as a cause of 1/3 of all divorces in the UK. Internet addiction, at home and abroad, is rampant. I have found myself caught up in end time predictions, found on the internet, only later to realize that most prophecies were not of God. After having been duped in the past by the New Age, A Course in Miracles, and Marian Apparitions, and recently by Brother Marchus, Susan Davis, Rick Wiles, a possible Olympic bombing, and end of the year destruction, it is time for me to return to traditional forms of worship, and leave the prognosticators behind. Yes I do believe the Lord is coming soon, but we do not know the day nor the hour. The only way to prepare is spiritually. And maybe stock up on a few supplies to cover all the bases.
   May this Lent find us all focusing on a renewal of our faith, a return to church, the Holy Bible, prayer, fasting and almsgiving. And may we turn away from the ways of the world and turn our hearts to the Lord. It isn't easy. Often I feel like the proverbial salmon swimming upstream against our current culture of death, darkness, and destruction.


Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  Matthew 7:13