Self-Denial

Self-denial.

We think of giving up chocolate for Lent. We think of denying ourselves what the flesh craves: a nice vacation on a beach, new clothes, steak and lobster. We think of monks who take vows of poverty. We usually think of self-denial in terms of abstaining from things that affect our senses.




Commenting on Luke 9:23, "If anyone desire to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me," Pastor Bender writes,

Self-denial is central to faith in Christ, and such self-denial is the denial that a person's own good works can in any way save him.
From Lutheran Catechesis -- Catechist (2nd edition)



Self-denial. I deny that I can save myself.
Self-denial. I deny that the reason God prefers me is because I'm such a good little Christian.
Self-denial. I deny that my faith and piety are of myself.

Nothing about chocolate....

Fasting

A few years ago, the discipline of fasting came up in Bible class. One of the things we discussed was wrong reasons to fast. Obviously, we do not fast to be extra good and make God like us. Likewise, fasting would be harmful if we're doing it so that other people think, "Isn't he a good Christian to be fasting!"

Some people think that fasting helps to cleanse the soul. That wouldn't be true: only Jesus' blood can cleanse us from our sin and guilt.

Fasting isn't about giving up sinful things. It's about abstaining from some of the good gifts God gives. But why would we do that? Because even the blessings God gives are subject to corruption; even His gifts to us can become our idols. It's easy to say that temporal goods or health or relationships are not our idols; it's easy to say that we trust in Christ. But when we lose those blessings, we see that we relied on them much more than we realized. Such losses would be like a "fast" imposed upon us by God. Similarly, when we freely undertake a fast, we see how much these things are our idols. In the context of a fast, the law shows us our idolatry and how much we need a Savior.

The cross is about killing. The cross is not something that's uncomfortable-but-endurable. It is about death. Killing the Old Adam is a process. (As Korby said, "The old Adam may have been drowned, but he's a good swimmer." He needs to be killed again and again.) In America, our affluence skews our view of the truth that we are needy and dependent and dying. But through the struggle with sin and the temptations of Satan and the world's false teachings, God kills the Old Adam.

Our faith is in Christ's forgiveness, not in His word of law. Sanctification flows from the word of forgiveness. But it doesn't happen until we're killed. Pastor said, "The outcome of the cross is always infinitely better than the satisfaction we thought we would receive from our idols."

Jesus was baptized to die. So are we. The word which sustained Him in the darkness of the cross and suffering was "this is My beloved Son." The word which sustains us in the darkness of our cross and suffering is also "you are My beloved son."



Sorry if this sounds disjointed. If I tried to take my notes from that class and explain them, this would be a terribly long post.

Food for Fasting

So the question of the afternoon is What do you serve at an Ash Wednesday Prayer Breakfast?

Our zone LWML used to have a prayer breakfast on Ash Wednesday, where the food was rolls and donuts and muffins and coffee and juices. Not exactly the makings of a self-denying fast.

However, in recent years the breakfast has gone fancy: delectable egg casseroles and meats and fruit salads and awesome sweets. The ladies of our church are supposed to host this year. Last time they served, they didn't make the eye-popping, belt-loosening breakfast, and there were complaints that just "coffee and donuts" isn't really a breakfast.

My theory is that our ladies should serve oatmeal, bagels (and even have butter with them), coffee, and juice. I'd do it myself, except that I have to go to work on Wednesday mornings. But it is an interesting question to ponder: what food does one SERVE for a fast-day?

Suggestions, anyone?

Fasting

A lot of confessional folks advocate fasting for Lent. Sounds like a nice idea in theory. But I can't imagine how it would play out in real life for a family. When a huge part of a mommy's time is spent in meal preparation for growing children, how does that work for fasting? I know that according to the "rules," children and pregnant women are not to fast. But when you've got bottomless pits to fill (aka: teenage boys), a lot of time is spent cooking. Maybe I'm just hopelessly short on self-discipline, but I cannot imagine chopping and cooking and stewing and baking, and smelling those delicious smells wafting through the house, setting food before my family, and then not eating it.

I had to do that last week one day because the doctor needed me to fast for some tests. That was awful to have to do my job of cooking and then walk away.

But even if I could do that, then what becomes of family mealtime during times of fasting? If you're not eating, then the family is not gathering at the table to talk each day either. I guess I just can't picture how this would work unless it were a situation where a person (or maybe a couple) normally ate alone, so there was not so much family "fellowship" to forego.