Why I Gave Up Lent for Lent

The primary reason I gave up Lent is that it was never a part of my parent’s Christianity. It’s not that they didn’t pray and fast. It’s because they converted to Pentecostalism in postwar London on Easter 1946. So, I grew up in a happy-clappy, arm-waving type of Christianity which had no ties to church history and restricted "secular" fun as if Lent was a year-long focus on austerity before the world came to an end.

Later, as an adult in the US, I learned that Pentecostals held contempt for my profession (psychology) so I moved on and became aware of historic Christian traditions including Lent. As the years went by, some US Pentecostals merged (sort of) with Evangelicals but by then I explored other traditions. Some practices were refreshing but others, like Lent, reminded me of my childhood—a return to the restricted life.

In a sense, 1950s Pentecostalism was like embracing Lent 24/7. I mean we gave up everything. Or perhaps more accurately, my peers and I were aware that we gave up everything because our non-Pentecostal friends enjoyed movies, dances, a wide range of Sunday activities, partying—just about anything that seemed normal. Now of course, Evangelicals enjoy most things that other teens do except for those living where the rising tide of fundamentalists have captured their churches and built gyms to keep them safe from community activities.

I’m not opposed to the idea of Lent. In fact, when it comes to Christianity, I hope people will find the narrative that promotes their spiritual growth. There’s a considerable variety of spirituality within the 2,000 year-old faith—far be it from me to be critical of that which nourishes another person’s soul. Lent isn’t for me. At least not yet.

For me, I’m celebrating freedom from those old restrictions that made Sunday a day of mandatory lethargy when I wanted to be active and embrace life. Spending 40-days every year focused on grief, pain, and suffering still reminds me of old-time guilt-induction and joy-deprivation. Yes, I know Easter is coming but in the 1950s, life after Easter in fundamentalist homes wasn’t exactly a thrill ride.

For those of us who lived Lent for years, consider Luke 7:34 (NLV):

The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you say, ‘See! He likes food and wine. He is a friend of men who gather taxes and of sinners!’

Cheers to all! —whether you refrain from something during Lent or not.

I write about Psychology and Christianity

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