So, recently on the ship I posed the question to one of my Christians friends on the ship..."what is the origin of Ash Wednesday, and does it have any biblical basis?" We both basically came to the conclusion that the subject should be studied further...so I did some studying. My first thought was to search Wikipedia to see what it said on the subject.
There was one paragraph in the article that really answered my question...here it is:
It (Ash Wednesday) marks the start of a forty day period which is an allusion to the separation of Jesus in the desert to fast and pray. During this time he was tempted. Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13.[13] WHILE NOT SPECIFICALLY INSTITUTED IN THE BIBLE TEXT, the 40 day period of repentance is also analogous to the 40 days during which Moses repented and fasted in response to the making of the Golden calf.
Herein lies the answer to our question...Ash Wednesday is not instituted in the Bible. I believe however that we can find some guiding principles in the bible that can help us decide if this is a practice that we should partake of. I think in the end it must come down to the heart...while Ash Wednesday practices may be good, and the subsequent fasting and prayer that often follows, what matters is if we have the proper Godly motivation for doing it, and do we have the correct heart attitude about it.
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:16-18
Often times people will fast, and will give up something for this 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter, but they do it for the status...they do it so that they can appear to be spiritual. This is where we miss the mark...I would rather not even participate in this practice if I know that my heart is not right about it, than do it for the wrong reasons.
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Colossians 3:22 & 23
We were put on this earth with the purpose of serving the Lord with our lives...we should not do anything because it pleases men, or it gives us a status here on earth. We must do all things to the Glory of our Father in Heaven. If we participate in the fasting following Ash Wednesday in an honest heart of wanting to draw closer to God through it, by all means participate, but if participating is done to please men it is not right, and should not be done.
There was one paragraph in the article that really answered my question...here it is:
It (Ash Wednesday) marks the start of a forty day period which is an allusion to the separation of Jesus in the desert to fast and pray. During this time he was tempted. Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13.[13] WHILE NOT SPECIFICALLY INSTITUTED IN THE BIBLE TEXT, the 40 day period of repentance is also analogous to the 40 days during which Moses repented and fasted in response to the making of the Golden calf.
Herein lies the answer to our question...Ash Wednesday is not instituted in the Bible. I believe however that we can find some guiding principles in the bible that can help us decide if this is a practice that we should partake of. I think in the end it must come down to the heart...while Ash Wednesday practices may be good, and the subsequent fasting and prayer that often follows, what matters is if we have the proper Godly motivation for doing it, and do we have the correct heart attitude about it.
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:16-18
Often times people will fast, and will give up something for this 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter, but they do it for the status...they do it so that they can appear to be spiritual. This is where we miss the mark...I would rather not even participate in this practice if I know that my heart is not right about it, than do it for the wrong reasons.
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Colossians 3:22 & 23
We were put on this earth with the purpose of serving the Lord with our lives...we should not do anything because it pleases men, or it gives us a status here on earth. We must do all things to the Glory of our Father in Heaven. If we participate in the fasting following Ash Wednesday in an honest heart of wanting to draw closer to God through it, by all means participate, but if participating is done to please men it is not right, and should not be done.
Comments
I do try to be a Berean, but I don't always do a good job. But I think all Christians should strive to be Bereans. I think it's so important for Christians to be searching the scriptures daily. So often we allow things to come into our church that should not be there because we don't have a good knowledge about what God's word says on that particular issue. My goal is that, as a pastor in the future, I will be a Pastor who seaches the scriptures to preach, and doesn't use his own fleshly opinions on an issue. Anyways...like I said, I'm glad I can be a blessing. I will have to check out that book. It's sounds like it could be an interesting read.