While Lent is not a season commanded in Scripture, the concept of a period of 40 is very biblical. 

•  The 40 days of the flood (Gen 7:12) and how that represents judgment and a new beginning for the world. 
•  Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness (Num 14:33-34; Deut 8:2) as a period of forming of God’s people. 
•  Moses on Mt. Sinai for 40 days (Exod 24:18, 34:28) as a period of God’s revelation. 
•  Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-2; Luke 4:1-2) as preparation for ministry. 
• Jesus’ 40 days of Post-resurrection ministry (Acts 1:3)
• The spies in Canaan – 40 days of exploration (Num 13:25)
• Moses’ life in three 40 year periods (Acts 7 – Stephen’s speech)
  • 40 years in Egypt
  • 40 years in Midian
  • 40 years leading Israel
• Goliath’s challenge of 40 days (1 Sam 17:16)
• Elijah’s journey to Horeb – 40 days in the wilderness (1 Kings 19:8)
• Ninevah’s warning – 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4)

 In each of those moments, God was doing something with his people – shaping them, revealing himself, or preparing them for what comes next. 

• The practice of fasting leading up to Easter has been a part of the Church since the first century.
• At first, the fasts varied widely: most believers practiced a 1-2-day fast leading up to Easter, fasting through Good Friday and Holy Saturday; others fasted for weeks during this time.
• By the second century Church Fathers like Irenaeus mention disputes in their writings about the length of pre-Easter fasts, showing it as a well established concept, but not yet standardized.
• The earliest official establishment of a standardized 40 day fasting period leading into Easter came during the Council of Nicaea in 325.
• Throughout the centuries the Churches specific practices around these 40 days of fasting have varied widely.
• It was common for those going through Catechism to use lent as a preparatory time with their Baptism happening on Easter Sunday.
• During the Middle Ages the church would use the season of lent as a practice of public penance for sinners to demonstrate their repentance.
• Today it’s a tool that Christians use not to earn something or demonstrate how holy you are to people in your life, but rather it is a way to prepare our hearts and minds as we get ready to celebrate the most important day in history, Easter Sunday. We give up something in this time because we have a great savior who gave up everything for us.

Irenaeus

(2nd c.)

“For the controversy is not only concerning the day, but also concerning the very manner of the fast; for some think that they ought to fast one day, others two, others more; some moreover count their day as consisting of forty hours.”

(Fragment preserved in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 5.24)

Meaning: Pre-Easter fasting existed but length varied.

Tertullian

(3rd c.)

“The days on which the Bridegroom was taken away… these will be the days when the children of the bridegroom shall fast.”

(On Fasting, ch. 2)

Meaning: Christians fast before Easter in mourning for Christ.

Athanasius

(4th c.)

“We begin the holy fast of forty days on the 19th of the month Phamenoth… so that when we have thus purified ourselves, we may be able to partake of the holy feast.”

(Festal Letter 1)

Meaning: 40-day Lent established and tied to purification before Easter.

Augustine of Hippo

(5th c.)

“Our fast at any other time is voluntary; but during Lent it is a matter of obligation.”

(Sermon 205)

“The observance of Lent is the common practice of the whole Church.”

(Letter 54)

Meaning: By Augustine, Lent seen as universal and expected.

“Fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a fine outward training.”

(Small Catechism)

“No Christian is bound to fast or to abstain from foods… unless it be done of his own free will.”

(Treatise on Good Works)

Meaning: Fasting good but not compulsory or meritorious.

“As for Lent, I do not deny that it was an ancient custom… but I say that it was founded on no divine command.”

(Institutes 4.12.20)

“Superstition has so corrupted this observance that there is nothing in it but a pernicious abuse.”

(Institutes 4.12.21)

Meaning: Ancient but unscriptural and abused.

“Fasting is a withholding of meat, drink, and all natural food… to the intent the flesh may be subdued to the spirit.”

(Homily of Fasting)

Meaning: Retains Lent as discipline, not merit.

Lent begins on February 18 and is a season of fasting, or giving something up, as a way to make room and create a focus on God. It's a "sacrifice" that follows in the footsteps of Jesus, who gave all for us.

When considering what to fast from, there isn't a "right or wrong" thing. But, we recommend something that you will miss so that the sacrifice will be felt and the body's yearning for that thing will serve as a reminder to spend some time with God.

Whatever you give up, don't look at it as a good way to get a jump start on a personal goal. The purpose is not self-help but opening up space for God to transform you spiritually.

There are two main categories of items you might choose to fast from:

• Food:
  • Fast from a particular meal daily or perhaps a 24-hour fast each week.
  • Give up a specific food group such as coffee, caffeine, sweets, soda, fast-food, etc.
• Media
  • Give up TV or a specific program you regularly watch.
  • Give up social media.
  • Give up secular music or podcasts

The "what" you give up isn't as important as the reminder and space it will create. The formation does not occur in what we give up, but what God does in that space.

Look for a new Zoomcast each week that will take us deeper into the practice and give us a focus each week.