How Is Lent about More Than What We Give Up?

The time leading up to Easter is a wonderful time to step back and reflect on life, thinking about what habits or practices are harmful or beneficial in our spiritual life. However, we need to remember why we are giving up something during the Lenten season.

It is not just for the sake of changing our habits, but to spend more time with the Lord. The essence of fasting (whether from TV or from coffee) is to devote the time you would spend on a certain activity to, instead, spend it with God in prayer, Bible reading, worship, or service. Primarily, Jesus should be our focus during Lent, not ourselves.

Lent and Fasting

The church has various traditions about fasting during Lent. The Oxford Concise Dictionary of the Christian Church notes that “[i]n the early centuries the observance of the fast was rigid,” however the Roman Catholic Church has eased these requirements while the Eastern Church still upholds these rules. Depending on the tradition and denomination, Christians approach this time of fasting differently.

It is important to note that the Bible does not tell us to fast during the 40 days leading up to Easter. The practice of fasting during certain periods stems from traditions in church history, not from Scripture.

Jesus never commanded His followers to fast at certain times or seasons. We are not holier than others by giving up meat, fish, or anything else during the Lenten season.

Giving Up Something for a Purpose

Throughout Christian history, believers have engaged in fasting as a form of devotion to God and as a discipline to grow spiritually. To understand how Lent is about more than what we give up, we must keep in mind the purpose of fasting as a spiritual discipline.

It is not just about abstaining from something but doing so for a purpose: to deepen our relationship with Christ.

The act of fasting is not only about food. People traditionally think about drink or food when they hear the word “fast.” However, believers can choose to abstain from any activity or habit as a form of fasting.

When we remember that fasting is giving up something to spend time with God, we can see that giving up food is probably not the best option. Many people use the time of fasting as an excuse for a personal weight loss agenda, which can influence eating disorder behaviors.

Furthermore, when people do not receive proper nutrition, they usually do not feel well, which hinders them from spending time with the Lord. Also, most people do not take long to eat meals, so the purpose of using that time to read the Bible or worship God seems mute and ineffective.

Really, we should ask ourselves, “With what are we spending most of our time?” In today’s world, at least in the global West, people usually watch numerous hours of television on streaming devices.

Lots of people also spend long stretches of time scrolling through social media or playing video games. Wouldn’t it be wiser to fast from these activities so we can instead read our Bible, pray, worship, or serve Christ in some capacity?

Most of us enjoy entertaining activities, so giving them up for specific days, including the Lenten season, would be sacrificial. However, by doing this, we will free ourselves from distractions and instead focus on our Savior, which is the whole point of the Lenten season or any practice of fasting.

Focusing on Christ

Easter is about Jesus’ resurrection. On that day, around 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ was physically raised from the dead.

As the angels told the women at the tomb that day, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee” (Luke 25:5-6, emphasis mine).

Jesus’ resurrection is the defining factor of our faith, the basis for our hope, and the essential ingredient in the message of the gospel. If Christ had not been raised, then our faith is useless, and we have no hope for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:17).

Easter and the season of Lent provide us with an opportunity to reflect on the fact that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose to life on the third day. He “destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

Because He gave Himself for us and defeated death in His resurrection, we can receive new life and forgiveness of sins (Romans 10:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 2:24).

The salvation and hope we find in Christ should be our focus during Easter and Lent. We are unworthy of God’s love, yet He still sent His Son to save us (Romans 5:8).

Even in all our failures and weakness, Christ still loves us. If we focus too much on giving up certain things, thinking that fasting alone will make us holier or closer to God, we miss the point of Easter altogether.

Nothing we do could ever have saved us (Ephesians 2:8-9). Only in Jesus’ death and resurrection are we washed of our sins and presented as new creations. The things we choose to give up, or fast from, are catalysts for growth in our relationship with Christ.

These activities, items, or habits are not the ends themselves. If we choose to partake in the season of Lent, the purpose should be to deepen our walk with God and our focus should be on Christ. Any other reason, whether to earn merit with God or to pursue a personal agenda, is not biblical or beneficial.

Why Does This Matter?

Lent is a time of reflection as believers around the world consider Jesus’ death and resurrection. Although Scripture does not command us to observe Lent or to fast during the 40 days leading up to Easter, the Lenten season can help us grow in Christ.

To ensure we are observing this holiday for the right reasons, we need to remember the purpose of fasting as a spiritual discipline. Choosing to abstain from something during Lent does not earn us grace or make us more righteous than others.

Only Christ can give us grace and His righteousness through faith in His death and resurrection. During Lent, our focus needs to be solidly fixed on Jesus as we forgo an activity or habit to grow in our walk with Him.

Each Christian can decide if the tradition of giving up something for Lent helps or hinders their faith. In either case, we can rest assured knowing that Lent is more than what we give up. It is a deliberate time where we focus on Christ as we look forward to Easter, the anniversary of His resurrection.

For further reading: 

Is Lent Really in the Bible?

What Should I Give Up for Lent This Year?

How Do We Observe Lent in a Biblical Way?

What Is the Difference Between Lent and Fasting?

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/nambitomo

Sophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotionals, and stories. She completed a BA and MA in Christian ministry, which included extensive study of the Bible and theology, and an MFA in creative writing. You can follow her blog about her story, faith, and creativity at The Cross, a Pen, and a Page.

This article originally appeared on Christianity.com. For more faith-building resources, visit Christianity.com.