M o n t h l y N e w s f r o m F P C Ty l e r • Vo l u m e 1 1 , I s s u e 2 : F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 6
The Lenten Paradox By The Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin Lent begins in a few days and it occurs to me that Lent brings with it a paradox. This paradox is rooted in the nature of Lent itself. Lent is about self-examination for the purpose of preparing us to receive and fully appreciate the grace of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross and the grace of new life in Christ’s resurrection from the dead. For the forty days of Lent, we are invited to ponder our lives and in pondering, see the depth and breadth of our sinful nature. One of the ancient practices of Lent is the act of giving up certain foods and luxuries. This is to remind us of the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry. It is supposed to draw us closer to God by removing as many worldly distractions as possible. Of course, the truth is that for many of us, giving up stuff in Lent is often an opportunity to lose weight or to become healthier—hardly practices designed to focus on God. John Calvin (who else?) drew attention to the spiritual pride some wear in practicing Lenten disciplines. It is possible to believe that in practicing Lenten
disciplines, whatever they may be, we make ourselves superior to others. And worse, it’s possible to believe that we earn God’s grace and favor. These distortions of Lenten practice highlight the very problem Lent seeks to illuminate: the insidious reality of human sin. And sin, at its deepest level, is an inward-turned focus on the self to the exclusion of God and others. The problem is not with Lent; to quote a snippet of Shakespeare, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” The paradox of Lent, then, is that in the practice of self-examination we become self-absorbed, thus falling even more deeply into the sin we hope to uncover. So, does this make Lent suspect, as something to be avoided? I don’t think so. The Lenten discipline of self-examination to understand the depth and breadth of sin in our lives remains an important and useful tool for preparing us for the immensity of the grace given to us in the atoning death of Jesus Christ and in the new life granted us in his resurrection.
i n t h i s i s s u e | h i g h l i g h t s & f e at u r e s Living into Lent | pg 2
Mardi Gras 2016 | pg 3
Souper Bowl of Caring | pg 5
Learn how you can join FPC’s Lenten journey this year.
King’s Cake, gumbo, music, masks, and beads. Need we say more?
Help the youth collect canned goods and monetary donations for local charities. First Presbyterian Church of Tyler, Texas 230 West Rusk Street, Tyler, Texas 75701-1696 (903) 597-6317 | www.fpctyler.com