From the minister... 

Dear friends
Questions are powerful things. If we ask the right ones, the impact can be profound, opening up new possibilities by causing us to look at a subject or person in a way that we hadn’t done previously.

There’s a question that I frequently ask myself at this time of year: ‘What am I going to give up for Lent?’ That ‘what’ question immediately focuses my attention on habits I need to break or patterns in my lifestyle or diet that need to be altered. In recent years I’ve given up – predictably – chocolate, and sometimes salty snacks or alcohol, or I’ve abstained from social media in an attempt to detox my soul from content and influences that I know to be unhealthy.

But as I reflect on this question of ‘what’ to give up, another one often comes to mind. ‘Who am I doing this for?’

I recently came across an article on Lent for atheists. It was written over a decade ago, describing an experiment by a group of non-Christians who each practised some kind of self-renunciation, but minus belief in God. I was struck by a comment made by one of the participants:

‘I really like the idea of Lent,’ said Chelsea Link, 23, a Boston-based Humanist who is abstaining from alcohol. ‘It’s giving yourself a set amount of time to break a bad habit or form a new good one, and that seems like a really healthy practice. But we are not doing it because God told us to; we are doing it because there is a benefit to us.’¹

At this point, it would be all too easy to give in to a reflex reaction of criticism of Chelsea. Pah! Imagine it… just thinking about herself and all the benefits Lent will have for her. How little she knows…

But instead of rushing to judgement, I find myself challenged by her outlook on this season, wondering how uncomfortably close it comes to my own perspective. How many times have I seen Lent as an opportunity to do something about my health? If that’s the case, am I seeing this is as more about an exercise in self-improvement than spiritual discipline? I realise these are complex matters. I know that living in a way that is faithful to God does bring benefits to our health and relationships, but I still can’t escape the thought that I need to examine myself and work out what is really motivating me. While reflecting on this, I’ve been drawn back to these famous words of Jesus: 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33).

All of this brings me back to the power of questions. As Lent approaches again, could it be that there are healthier ones that each of could ask, such as: How is God calling me to change and grow in the coming year? Who is Jesus to me right now, and what does it look like for me to become more like him? And, in light of that, we can then ask: What should I give up or what new habit should I form?

Whatever you do in Lent this year, I pray that you find yourself blessed, having received more from God than you’ve given up. Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days Lord, who throughout these forty days for us did fast and pray, Teach us with you to mourn our sins and close by you to stay. As you with Satan did contend, and did the victory win, O give us strength in you to fight, in you to conquer sin.

Wishing you God’s grace and peace, Trevor
¹ Source: https://religionnews.com/2013/03/18/after-giving-up-religion-atheists-try-giving-up-something-else-for-lent/