Lent, a topic for Christians

[Vincent M]

All I know is there are a few people at work to today who need to wash their face. Maybe tomorrow I will come to work with Limburger Cheese on my face and proclaim it a religious holiday. "Stinky Cheese Face" day.

Just remember...there are no rituals in christianity.

At first, I respected backglass' comments and opinions. I've reconsidered. When somebody goes out of their way to be insulting against someone else's beliefs, it's ridiculous.

You've given up your right to be taken seriously.

if you take this forum seriously you need to get your head examined.

[Vincent M]

Look i can't stand this crazy Christian nonsense.

Your lord and Savior gave his life (respectively)

and look you give him only forty days (shows ya what he is worth to you guys)

Hows about that gents

P.S. I am sensing a harsh reaction from this

[flashleg8]

Is Lent a religious practice all Christian sects perform? Or is it just restricted to Catholicism (as I though)?

[Hitman079]

probably the latter. my dad's christian, and christian churches have no mention of lent.

[millej11]

And then a thought crossed my mind, a friend of mine from highschool would try giving up the dirty deed, aka masterbation, every year, only to fail halfway through and be completly insane the first half. If I could somehow last 40 days, I would endlessly respect my will power. Maybe I could set up some reward for if I would succeed, some form of motivation.

[benmor78]

Is Lent a religious practice all Christian sects perform? Or is it just restricted to Catholicism (as I though)?

I grew up in the Baptist and Methodist churches (if Anglicanism is Catholicism lite, then Methodism is Anglicanism lite), and Lent was discussed but no one gave anything up for Lent.

[Vincent M]

I was thinking giving up drugs or alcohol. Drugs will be easy seeing as I'm not adicted. Alcohol will be tough because it's practically the focal point of all parties.

And then a thought crossed my mind, a friend of mine from highschool would try giving up the dirty deed, aka masterbation, every year, only to fail halfway through and be completly insane the first half. If I could somehow last 40 days, I would endlessly respect my will power. Maybe I could set up some reward for if I would succeed, some form of motivation.

look if you truly believed in your religion you wont be giving up DRUGS for lent. There shouldn't be any DRUGS.

Its like "ya think ill stop getting pussy and smoking pot to tip my hat to the big JC"

[millej11]

Why would doing drugs make me a bad person? It's for recreational purposes and enjoyment with friends. And I'm pretty sure it isn't against the lords will.

[reverend_kyle]

I gave up cutting my hair.

[Kid_A]

im giving up abortion. but JUST for lent!

[Backglass]

You've given up your right to be taken seriously.

Excellent! It's about damn time.

Why would doing drugs make me a bad person? It's for recreational purposes and enjoyment with friends. And I'm pretty sure it isn't against the lords will.

jay? Any comments?

[Vincent M]

Why would doing drugs make me a bad person? It's for recreational purposes and enjoyment with friends. And I'm pretty sure it isn't against the lords will.

If you listen to the bible you might have know that

God now i am sounding like you guys.

Do you think God likes you damaging your brain. I have a better idea put the money that you would have spent on your next high and buy someone whos hungry a meal.

[millej11]

I already did that, and boy am I stuffed. On top of that, I listened to the bible all night yesterday only to get bored and fall a sleep.

[Guiscard]

I already did that, and boy am I stuffed.

[Vincent M]

Now see my hate for these religious nut sacks

They don't do what the preach OUCH that must hurt

[millej11]

If you would take a look at "the Jesse bad boy discussion", there is probably several pages showing what I preach on the topic of giving to the needy.

[CrazyAnglican]

I have a better idea put the money that you would have spent on your next high and buy someone whos hungry a meal.

That is the idea. We are supposed to keep mite boxes and give a bit each time we are tempted. The whole amout is to be given to the poor after Lent.

[Backglass]

That is the idea. We are supposed to keep mite boxes and give a bit each time we are tempted. The whole amout is to be given to the poor after Lent.

Too bad for "the poor" that lent doesn't last all year, huh.

[CrazyAnglican]

Yeah..............Um.............I guess so.

No, seriously it's just a time when we are encouraged to give a little extra, both monetarily and by examining our faith. It's a remembrance of Christ's fourty days in the wilderness. He was tempted and resisted those temptations, but somehow I think you already knew that. It's a personal choice to fast or not.

[Backglass]

It's a personal choice to fast or not.

I think it's wonderful that people are helping the poor. But I also think it's a bit disingenuous when people choose some petty vice to give up for a few days, give some coins to the poor and then feel good about themselves for the rest of the year. I don't see anyone giving up food, heat or shelter for lent. I wish that people could just forgo the rituals and just help the poor all year round. THAT would be something.

[2dimes]

It's a personal choice to fast or not.

I think it's wonderful that people are helping the poor. But I also think it's a bit disingenuous when people choose some petty vice to give up for a few days, give some coins to the poor and then feel good about themselves for the rest of the year. I don't see anyone giving up food, heat or shelter for lent.

Can't disagree with that except, I thought fasting is giving up food, isn't it?

I wish that people could just forgo the rituals and just help the poor all year round. THAT would be something.

It seemed like you said before the bible is a bad thing. Now you're pretty much quoting some of Jesus' speeches to the religious people all through the new part?

42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

12"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

He talks about good people doing good things comparing them to trees and bushes. Fruit trees have fruit and you don't get grapes from thorn bushes because they just have thorns, figs don't come from thistles. I guess the people he's talking to don't eat raspberries but makes sense mostly.

Then same book further down, he even flat out warns Christian types, there's going to be people that will come to him for a pat on the back and he'll tell them off.

21"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

22"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

23"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

So yeah, I agree with what you're saying there Backglass.

That's pretty much the theme of the bible, doing the right thing and helping out those that need it instead of putting on a show. I'm consistantly suprised by people and our natural tendancy to be religious. It sure is good for a laugh though.

[Backglass]

It seemed like you said before the bible is a bad thing. Now you're pretty much quoting some of Jesus' speeches to the religious people all through the new part?

I have never said that the bible was a "bad thing"...and I'm quoting Jesus now? Well how about that! Great minds think alike.

That's pretty much the theme of the bible, doing the right thing and helping out those that need it instead of putting on a show.

YET, there are shows all around us.

I'm consistantly suprised by people and our natural tendency to be religious.

I would say it is our human tendency to be superstitious...it was a primitive survival instinct long ago, and some of us still have it.

[millej11]

Blackglass, please don't critisize us Christians for trying to make a difference.

[Backglass]

Blackglass, please don't critisize us Christians for trying to make a difference.

Um...I'm not.

...and out of curiosity...how (and for what) exactly are you "making a difference"?

[Vincent M]

Blackglass, please don't critisize us Christians for trying to make a difference.

If you Christians were making a difference there would be a difference