In the vast majority of the Roman Catholic world today and in history, it seems that the Lenten season, particularly Holy Week, is an opportunity to promote a false gospel. There are places today where men whip themselves or have themselves crucified to pay for their sins. While I certainly agree that humility is desirable, I would just as readily argue that false gospel should be damned (literally). Christ paid the penalty for my sins, once and for all, and for that I am thankful, and humbled that I could never pain myself enough to pay my debts. The "bath water" of lenten observance appears to me so filthy that I doubt there is a "baby" worth saving in it. Sorry if this is too cynical but I have smelled the sweat and blood of the men who try to pay for their own sins. It's a sad and serious mistake that I would prefer to steer clear of.

Anonymous:
Self-flagellation. My goodness. I would not have guessed my post would be read in this light.

The misuse of something is never a sufficient argument for its disuse. Lent, like so much else in this broken world, has been misused and abused. No argument there, but that fact does not mean it cannot be used for good.

I intended my post to be about the need to grow in humility, the danger of pride, and how Lent was an opportunity to mature spiritually. I would never criticize anyone for refusing to observe Lent, but that refusal can be unwise if some observance is not substituted that will allow the same growth.

Thanks for commenting.

I'd welcome your comments on our role in our sanctification. Our tradition rightly emphasizes that salvation is by grace through faith in the work of Christ and that alone. But salvation is more than justification. Any view of sanctification that doesn't include what I need to be doing, especially in the area of repentance, is a mockery of sola gratia, sola fide.

Greg:
Good issue to discuss in regard to Lent.

I agree with each of your three points. St Paul speaks of "the obedience of faith" (Romans 1:5) not because works save us or because our faith merits God's grace, but because true faith is characterized by always flowing out in obedience. Thus, I define sanctification as a gracious operation of God's Holy Spirit, involving our participation and obedience in gratitude for God's mercy, by which he removes the pollution of sin in us.

Though I am grateful for the Lutheran tradition and honor it, this is one reason I am Reformed not Lutheran. Their concern, it seems to me, to keep justification by faith pure of any hint of works, causes them to downplay our participation in sanctification in a way that is less than fully helpful or biblical.

Blessings
Denis

I would be interested in hearing how your passage through Lent influences your view of God, of yourself and the world in which we live. Would you be willing to give us a bit of a window to your heart in this journey?

24/7 Mom:
I am humbled that you would request this, since it isn't the usual fare I assume people come to my blog to read. But yes, I will do some of this. Thank you for asking me to.
Denis