Give up something bad for Lent #1

Give up something bad for Lent #1

2/10/13

RUMC

 

Isn't that a great story? Jesus is on the mountain with a couple of disciples.  Suddenly his face is transfigured and his clothes become dazzling white. What an experience it must have been. What an honor it would have been to be allowed to witness this great Epiphany.

To tell you the truth, though, I'm glad I wasn't there.  I would have felt honored, but oh so unworthy. So undeserving of being in such magnificence. So pitiful next to Jesus' glory. Next to the dazzling purity of Jesus, my life is not just dingy; it is torn, and stained, and just plain shabby.

That's not the purpose of the story, but that is the effect isn't it? Maybe that's one reason the church year places Transfiguration Sunday just before Lent. It is kind of like a mirror into which we would rather not look.

 

Lent, however, is the time to courageously look in that mirror, stand in the presence of God, and face our true selves. So that is what we are going to do together this Lent.

Traditionally Christians ever since the 4^th century have given up something for lent as a sign of their penitence. In other words, as a sign that they know they are sinners and they are sorry. Early on, it was meat to one degree or another. Different traditions banned

·        red meats,

·         or all meats,

·         or even meat products like eggs and

·        some traditions had particularly severe restrictions like only eating bread for Lent.

·        Fasting became part of the Lenten tradition.

Of late, in our self-indulgent society, giving up something for lent has almost become a joke.

·        I once heard someone say, "I am giving up self control, abstinence, and sobriety for Lent."

·        I have heard of people giving up space travel, or

·        perfection for Lent.

Others more genuinely give up chocolate, soda, or TV. That's OK, I suppose, if you fill that void with a spiritual discipline, like praying instead of watching TV, or reading scripture every time you crave chocolate. That's why for the last few years I have been teaching that we should take on something NEW for Lent. Perhaps dedicate ourselves to prayer, scripture reading, service, or sacrificial giving.

 

This year I have a different perspective.

James W Moore came out with a little Lenten study book this year that he called "Give up something bad for Lent." That idea changed the way I look at Lent. Why do people give up things that are fairly innocuous for Lent? Sure, we could all do with a little less sugar in our lives, or a little less fat in our diets, but we should be following a reasonable diet all year, not just for 7 weeks. If we are going to give up something, why not give us something that really harms us?

 

Maybe you have a habit that really harms you. The common ones would be drinking too much, smoking, excessive gambling, or hanging out on porn sites. Frankly, any time is a good time to give up those harmful habits. By all means, start today.

I have in mind, however, some things that harm us in a different way.

·        Why would we give up chocolate for Lent when spiritually speaking anger does a lot more damage?

·        Why would we give up meat for Lent when jealousy is a much greater danger than cholesterol?

·        Why would we give up soda for Lent, when our own negative thinking is making us chronically unhappy?

·        If we are going to give up something for Lent, let's make it discouragement,

o    or pettiness, or

o   bitterness or

o   resentment, or something else that is destroying your life.

 

Jesus says, "If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me." Deny- what… chocolate? NO, deny YOURSELF. Stop doing the things that separate you from God. Stop giving in to those things that destroy who God wants you to be.

Even more graphically, in Mark, Jesus says, "If your hand causes you to sin, chop it off. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. If your eye causes you to sin, poke it out." Tear it out, cut it off, throw it away.

·        If smoking is destroying your lungs, cut yourself off.

·        If drinking is destroying your family, throw the bottle away.

·        If gambling is jeopardizing your future, stop gambling.

·        If there is a relationship that is breaking up your marriage, break off the relationship.

Just like a surgeon- cut out the stuff that is making you sick and get rid of it.

Maybe you are feeling pretty good, because you don't have any of those destructive habits. ..

·        What about judgment…constantly huffing and puffing about what someone else does will destroy you as surely as smoking.

·        Pettiness can destroy your family just as quickly as the bottle.

·        Procrastination can wreak your future as fast as gambling.

·        Jealousy will wreak your marriage just as fast as an affair.

I'm right aren't I? You know I am. I know there is something… maybe more than one something that you really need to pluck out and throw into the ocean this Lent. There is something in each of our lives, maybe it's up on the screen maybe it isn't, but I am 110% sure that every one of us has some sin in our lives, some brokenness, some weakness, some habit, that not only can we live without, we can live for Jesus a lot better without it.

 

What is stopping you? Let me take a guess. I am going to say either apathy or procrastination.

Apathy says,

·        "I've always been like this…  I get along pretty well wallowing in self pity, so I'm fine thank you very much."  Apathy says,

·        "you know what?…  I kind of like my stuff. So I'm good with greed, I think I'll just hang on to that." Apathy says,

·         "It's your fault that I chronically blame all my problems on others."  Apathy says,

·        "She gets to keep her jealousy."

Let me tell you, in Revelation 3:16 God has John write these words," Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."  Neither hot, nor cold- that's apathy right there.  There is no such thing as following Jesus half way. You can't live with one foot on the shore and one in the boat of faith. Like the rich young ruler, you either completely sell out for Jesus, or you go away unhappy, because there is no kingdom for part time Christians. Do not let apathy or lukewarmness rob you of the joy of the kingdom by convincing you that your sin is OK; by convincing you that you CAN'T change anyway; by convincing you that YOU don't need to change.  Don't sell out to apathy.

 

Procrastination is no better than apathy. Proverbs calls those who put off what needs to be done "sluggards." Luke 9 says, "He said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' And Jesus said to him, 'Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.' Yet another said, 'I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.' Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.' " Those are hard sayings but what Jesus is saying is that NOW is the time to act. Not tomorrow, or when it is convenient, or when you feel ready. But NOW.

Procrastination or dragging your feet, is bad when paying your bills or checking out that medical problem… it is DEADLY in our spiritual lives.  Do not be paralyzed by Procrastination.

 

Giving up a judgmental attitude, or jealousy, or gluttony, or resentment won't be easy. I'm not saying it will.  I'm not saying that you will be free of it by Easter. I cannot even guarantee that next year you won't be trying to give up the same bad thing. I know I might be.

What I am saying is that if you let apathy and procrastination take control right now I can absolutely 100% guarantee that your judgmental attitude, or jealousy, or gluttony, or resentment won't go away by itself. And I guarantee that they will continue to gnaw away at your heart and keep you away from Jesus.

It won't be easy, but

·        keep coming back and each week.  Each Sunday we will

·        talk about a different kind of problem like these on the screen, we'll

·        strategize together how we can give them up, and we'll

·        encourage and support each other in giving up something bad for Lent.

So, NOW is the time.  This is the day.  Lent starts on Wednesday and if we're going to do this, now is the time to start. What bad thing will you give up for Lent? What destructive habit are you going to do without?

Keep thinking about that while the ushers pass out papers and envelopes.  When you have

·        decided what bad thing you will give up for lent,

·        write it on the paper,

·        seal it tightly in the envelope, and

·        put your name on it. I guarantee you that no one in the world besides you will ever see it.  I will keep them and we will pray over them each week, and you'll get it back still sealed later on.

·        After the communion prayer, when you are ready,

·        bring your envelope up with you for communion,

·        leave it  in a basket offering your intention to God,

·        seal your Lenten discipline with communion and  

·        ask God to be in you and to walk with you and to change your heart.