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- Ashes Ashes and the Meaning of Lent Part I
Ashes Ashes and the Meaning of Lent Part I
- By Branon Dempsey
- Published March 6, 2008
- Worship Theology
- Unrated
Branon Dempsey
Branon Dempsey is the Editor-at-Large for PraiseCharts Live as well as the Director and Founder of Worship Team Training: a ministry for local church worship ministries. He has studied and been trained by members of Maranatha! Music and Integrity Music for worship ministry and composition. Branon lives in Cypress, Texas where he is also a Worship Leader/Songwriter and has been in ministry for over 17 years. Read more articles and blogs by Branon on PraiseCharts Live or visit him at www.worshipteamtraining.com. Check out the new sponsor Landing Page of Worship Team Training on PraiseCharts.
Remember this catchy phrase from childhood games? Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. Did this occur to you yesterday? I know for me, I had to catch myself. As we become adults, we tend to leave behind elements from our past, the same is true of the Christian faith. We may learn of great theology in the church from early Sunday school studies or classes, but later we often forget our learnings as we become distracted or fade into other responsibilities.
The contemporary views in most churches do not focus so much on the Old Testament, but rather the New Testament. The same is true in looking back to the ways of the Early Church. We are slow to recall historical practices of the Church as seen in events, special services, reflections, festivals and celebrations. However, it is in the study of theology and our Church history that brings more meaning and significance to worship. More importantly, we develop a greater understanding in how and why we worship and praise God. Besides Good Friday and Easter, as a child, I've never had a clue of what days like Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday really meant. In addition, what was this term Lent anyway (?), aside from something I found in the corner of my pockets. These terms may sound foreign to you as well. My only memory as a kid was on Easter Sunday, unwrapping the fancy wrapped pieces of candy and finding every hiding place that stored its rich chocolate treasures. Today, Lent and Holy week are not highlighted in mainstream contemporary times. Good Friday usually means a day off from work, while Easter Sunday is about a bunny who leaves candy pellets or eggs (watch which ones you pickup). Many people and Christians today, leave out the preceding Holy days of Easter; it is here where we find a time of greater reflection, significance and meaning.
Lent signifies a period of preparation before Easter and is marked by Ash Wednesday, while it concludes with Holy week ending with Easter Sunday. Some suggest that Ash Wednesday began around the second or fifth century. The meaning of ashes originated from the Old Testament, in which the Ancient Church used to symbolize repentance. The significance of using ashes is derived from early church practices of burning palms from the previous Palm Sunday. Usually the pastor takes the ashes on the end of his thumb and makes a sign of the cross on the fore head of worshipers. Yes, this happened way before the Catholic church. We use ashes because we identify ourselves to the dust of creation; we remember that we are dust, and it is God who breathed life into man. Genesis 3:19 says this, “remember man that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” These words remind us of our being and nature, as we recognize the status of man and the Holy status of Almighty God.
Dust signifies a time to dedicate oneself to prayer, repentance, self-examination and renewal. You see this personification every time through out the Bible when individuals have covered themselves in ashes and sackcloth in order to humble themselves (i.e. Mordecai, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Job and Daniel). Through the Lenten season we cover ourselves with humility to reflect and examine of our need for God, while at the end we proclaim on Easter Sunday: Alleluia, Christ has risen! Thus, we have a deeper sense, joy and adoration in celebrating our new lives in Christ: being buried with Him, being raised with Him and to live in faith, until His second coming. What songs, art forms and messages come to mind when you think about these truths?
The contemporary views in most churches do not focus so much on the Old Testament, but rather the New Testament. The same is true in looking back to the ways of the Early Church. We are slow to recall historical practices of the Church as seen in events, special services, reflections, festivals and celebrations. However, it is in the study of theology and our Church history that brings more meaning and significance to worship. More importantly, we develop a greater understanding in how and why we worship and praise God. Besides Good Friday and Easter, as a child, I've never had a clue of what days like Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday really meant. In addition, what was this term Lent anyway (?), aside from something I found in the corner of my pockets. These terms may sound foreign to you as well. My only memory as a kid was on Easter Sunday, unwrapping the fancy wrapped pieces of candy and finding every hiding place that stored its rich chocolate treasures. Today, Lent and Holy week are not highlighted in mainstream contemporary times. Good Friday usually means a day off from work, while Easter Sunday is about a bunny who leaves candy pellets or eggs (watch which ones you pickup). Many people and Christians today, leave out the preceding Holy days of Easter; it is here where we find a time of greater reflection, significance and meaning.
Lent signifies a period of preparation before Easter and is marked by Ash Wednesday, while it concludes with Holy week ending with Easter Sunday. Some suggest that Ash Wednesday began around the second or fifth century. The meaning of ashes originated from the Old Testament, in which the Ancient Church used to symbolize repentance. The significance of using ashes is derived from early church practices of burning palms from the previous Palm Sunday. Usually the pastor takes the ashes on the end of his thumb and makes a sign of the cross on the fore head of worshipers. Yes, this happened way before the Catholic church. We use ashes because we identify ourselves to the dust of creation; we remember that we are dust, and it is God who breathed life into man. Genesis 3:19 says this, “remember man that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” These words remind us of our being and nature, as we recognize the status of man and the Holy status of Almighty God.
Dust signifies a time to dedicate oneself to prayer, repentance, self-examination and renewal. You see this personification every time through out the Bible when individuals have covered themselves in ashes and sackcloth in order to humble themselves (i.e. Mordecai, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Job and Daniel). Through the Lenten season we cover ourselves with humility to reflect and examine of our need for God, while at the end we proclaim on Easter Sunday: Alleluia, Christ has risen! Thus, we have a deeper sense, joy and adoration in celebrating our new lives in Christ: being buried with Him, being raised with Him and to live in faith, until His second coming. What songs, art forms and messages come to mind when you think about these truths?