How Can I Help My Church to Grow part 5

(Click here for the first post)

Wow. If you’ve read all four previous posts, you win a prize! (An autographed photo of myself leaping off Mount Everest). As stated in the previous posts, make sure you’ve addressed the preliminary questions about church growth before you get into how you might do it. 

Here are the final 2 of the 8 things you can do to help your church grow: 

7.     If you want your church to grow, Invite, Invite, Invite. 

Most people who get involved in a local church do so because someone invited them. People moving into town, looking up your church, and showing up, is becoming less and less the norm. Unless invited, many will never come. Invitations to Sunday worship are important (especially on big days). But so are invitations to other events (i.e. social gatherings, service projects, etc.). Different people will respond to different invitations. Much could be said about the art of inviting others, but keep in mind it takes practice to do well and time to see results from. 

8.     If you want your church to grow, You Grow. 


How are you growing as a Christian? Can you say you understand Christian beliefs and doctrines more now than you did five years ago? Can you say you’ve made real growth in living into the fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, Kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, Galatians 5:22-23)? How about in living out Jesus Great Commandment to “Love God” and “Love Neighbor?” (Matthew 22:34-40) A church of growing disciples is almost by definition, a church that is growing. The inverse is almost always true, too. 

Disclaimer A

Church growth cannot be reduced to a simple formula. There are best practices to learn from. Researchers and practitioners have written many fine books on the subject. If you and the leadership of your church aren’t learning from these resources, you should be. Different settings present different challenges and opportunities for church growth (e.g. urban, suburban, small town, rural, etc.). You can be faithful. You and your church can try and try, and sometimes, for a host of reasons, growth in numbers doesn’t happen. HOWEVER! (see below)

Disclaimer B 

The church growth we’ve talked about in this blog series is holistic. If you commit to a holistic approach to the faith, it is almost certain, that church growth of some kind will take place (including in numbers). People will grow in their understanding of the faith. People will grow in their service toward neighbor. People will grow as faithful spouses, friends, parents, grandparents, godparents, and more. People will grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. (People will grow sick of five-part blog series! Well, I hope not.) 


So what’s your next step? How will you take this blog series and begin applying it to your personal efforts at helping your church to grow? How will you encourage your church’s leadership to address some of these areas? In all cases, there are things church leaders can do to encourage growth. Share your thoughts, objections, and questions in the comments below.

How Can I Help My Church to Grow part 4

Parts: 1 (here)  2 (here) 3 (here)

Do you really want to help your church to grow? Then make sure you’ve answered these two preliminary questions first: Why do I want my church to grow? and What do I mean by church growth? (Really, these questions are so important! Start there, first! Please!) 

Here are 3 more of the 8 things you can do to help your church grow:

4.     If you want your church to grow, Warmly welcome.

Warmly doesn’t mean descending on guests with frantic glee, “Oh, look, someone new!” It does mean reaching out to each individual or couple or family graciously. There is no formula here. Some people want a lot of interaction, other don’t. However, going to a church where nobody says anything to you (except the pastor and ushers) can be off-putting. If someone looks like they need some help (e.g. what page to turn to, where a room is, etc.) gently offer to help them. They may want your help. They may not. Respect their wishes.

5.     If you want your church to grow, Support your Pastor. 

Supporting your pastor doesn’t mean agreeing with her about everything. It does mean holding your pastor up in prayer. It means encouraging your pastor when the church, and especially they personally, are facing challenges. It means offering critique and disagreement in ways that will build up your pastor and not tear them down. A healthy church supports it leader. Supported leaders tends to lead more effectively. Leadership in a church almost always involves many leaders, support all of them. Well led churches are more likely to grow. 

6.     If you want your church to grow, Serve the Community.

As discussed in an earlier post, the kind of church growth we are talking about is holistic. This should reflect growing in Jesus’ Great Commandment to Love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40). Yes, this means within the congregation, but also beyond the church. Find ways to serve your community (e.g. feeding the hungry). You don’t serve the community as a means of growing, you serve the community as a means of being faithful Christians. However, a church that is making a difference in people’s lives is a church better positioned to grow. 

While you’re waiting for next week’s post, you can review the previous posts and see what might be your next steps for helping your church to grow? (Some will note there were no jokes in this post. That’s because I received a complaint from the Ecclesiastical Anti-Fun Society). 

When do you think about these three ways to grow your church? Share below.

How Can I Help My Church to Grow part 3

Part 1 (here) Part 2 (here)

Do you really want to help your church to grow? Then make sure you’ve answered these two preliminary questions first: Why do I want my church to grow? and What do I mean by church growth? If you’ve answered these questions, hurrah! (I’m happy!) If not (I’m sad). 

Here are 8 things you can do to help your church to grow. 

1.     If you want your church to grow, Pray for it. 

Yes, pray. The kind of holistic growth we’ve been taking about in this blog series requires God’s help. No Christian individual and no Christian congregation can become all they should be without the power of God’s grace operating in their life. Pray individually for your church’s growth and pray regularly. 

2.     If you want your church to grow, Be there. 

In terms of numbers alone (which is not the end goal of Christian growth), you can increase attendance in a congregation in one of two ways: 1) attracting new attenders and 2) by encouraging current attenders to worship more regularly. Be there each Sunday, unless there is some good reason for you not to be there (e.g. staying at home to watch my latest yodeling video). When there is a major event, be there. A church can’t grow without a core base of faithful worshippers and attenders.  

3.     If you want your church to grow, Worship well. 

It’s not enough to just show up and do time in a pew week after week. Worship well. Participate fully in the service, sing (even if you don’t have a good voice), pay attention to the sermon (even if it isn’t that great), respond with energy to shared responses, and in general be dialed into what is happening. Not only will this benefit your own spiritual life, but potential newcomers pick up on the dynamics of worshippers when they visit. A church full of half-engaged worshippers isn’t very attractive, a church that is worshipping well is.  

We’ll have to stop here, my yodeling class starts in a few minutes. So while you’re waiting for next week’s post, you can ponder this very difficult riddle: You find me in December, but not in any other month.  

What do you think about these three ways to grow your church? Share in the comments below.

How Can I Help My Church to Grow? part 2

Part 1 (click here) 

In the first post of this series, we set aside the question of how you can help your church to grow, in order to first address an important preliminary question: Why do you want your church to grow? If you aren’t clear about the why stop here and start over again.

Assuming you have a good reason for wanting your church to grow (e.g. more pews to clean) then you need to answer a second preliminary question: What do I mean by church growth? This is a complicated question. Church growth can be measured by numbers. Increased numbers of members, attenders, and so on. Attendance and membership numbers are not insignificant. They can be worth tracking. However, our obsession with numbers can result in a skewed understanding of growth. People will often say to me, “Wow! That was a great service. There were so many people!” or “It’s too bad, so few showed” (Also, people often say to me, “That joke you told was the funniest I’ve ever heard…”). 

But what if I told you (insert meme here), that at the service with the high attendance, the music did not go well, the preaching was subpar, and, the large number of guest attenders were mostly ignored by the regular congregation? In this case, the “high attendance” service sounds less than successful, right? And what if I told you that at the service that was sparsely attended, a man who had been away from the church for years, had a quiet but meaningful spiritual experience (with simple music and preaching) leading him to begin to make some important life changes and to become active in that particular congregation? (Sounds pretty, good, right? So does my yodeling, btw). 

High attendance by itself doesn’t translate into individuals, couples, and families growing seriously in their faith. It also doesn’t translate by itself into outreach and difference making in the wider community (e.g. The Great Commandment, The Great Commission). There is growth in faithful habits (prayer, worship, service, etc.). There is growth in the fruits of the Holy Spirit (e.g. love, joy, peace, patience, etc. see Galatians 5:22-23). There is growth in understanding and living Christian beliefs and practices. There is growth in people giving the pastor gift cards to Starbucks. This is all church growth (Minus the gift the cards, that’s what we call a joke folks).

Now that you’ve answered the what you mean question and previously answered the why question, we can now move back to the original question: How Can I Help My Church to Grow? (While you’re waiting for the next post, you can clean the pews at your church. Fun, right?)

What about you? Why do you mean by church growth? Feel free to share in the comments.

How Can I Help My Church to Grow? part 1

The first thing you can do to help your church to grow is put this question down (on your immaculate kitchen counter) until you’ve answered preliminary question number one:  Why do I want my church to grow? 

Is it because your church is getting smaller and the volunteer workload is becoming unbearable? That is a difficult situation, but not a great reason to want to grow your church. There are lots of organizations out there with an aging and shrinking volunteer base, but does this reality motivate you or me to join these organizations to solve their problem?  Yeah, not really. Wait you say! What about our declining budget, surely people will want to come help solve our church’s financial problems? Yeah, not really. 

Ok. How about I want my church to grow because my church has been important to me? You've grown in faith there, made friends there, been supported through the best and worst moments of your life there. You've been challenged and equipped to live life differently and impact your world with love at your church. Those are pretty good reasons to want your church to grow. Those reasons aren't just about you and your church’s needs, but about how other people can be blessed because of your church, too. There are other reasons. All sound reasons for church growth should align with Jesus’ Great Commandment to “Love God and Neighbor” (Matthew 22:37-40). 

Speaking of God, that I hope, would be an obvious reason to want your church to grow. There are lots of organizations, groups, and movements that help address social ills or bring people together for mutual support (like my Thursday night Texas yodeling class) but it is only the Christian Church that exists specifically to help people encounter God through the person of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ Great Commission, “Go…make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:16-20) should also motivate our efforts at growth. The Great Commandment and the Great Commission should complement one another, resulting in growing numbers of disciples, growing in the practice of love.

Now that you’ve answered the why question, you’re ready to answer a second preliminary question: What do I mean by church growth? (Yes, for original readers that means you’ll have to wait until next week for the next post. You can clean your counter in the meantime).

PS: Feel free to share in the comments why you want your church to grow.

More than Animals: Francis of Assisi

When was the last time you stripped in front a gathering of your hometown, with the local bishop and your own father in attendance? When was the last time you kissed a leper? When was the last time you walked unarmed into the camp of your civilization’s enemy, to preach Christ? These colorful events are a few of many in the life of the saint. On another occasion, Francis preached to the birds. I preached to a parrot once, but he said he’d only accept the Gospel if I gave him a cracker (I apologize to members of Polly’s family for this joke).

Francis was born in Assisi, Italy, in 1182. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant. Francis showed more interest in parties and poetry, friends and fanfare, than he did in God. As a teenager he wasn’t particularly interested in his father’s business or his academic studies. He was enjoying the good life. At twenty, he joined the local army in a battle against a rival city state. Perhaps Francis saw this as an opportunity to become a romantic hero and win renown for himself through valor on the battlefield. Instead, he was captured and imprisoned. 

After his release, he began to encounter the poor and they began to affect him in a new way. In one encounter, he exchanged his expensive attire, for that of a poor man’s clothing. During this period, he began to reflect upon his life and to pray over his sins. These and other incidents culminated in his renouncing his wealth and position in order to live simply among the poor. This move was directly inspired by the words of Jesus, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23 NRSV). He preached simple sermons. He cared for the sick and the outcast. He begged for his food. 

I know what you’re thinking: "Wow! That sounds like an exciting life, with comfortable accommodations and interesting people with glittering Instagram accounts. Sign me up." In fact, that is exactly what happened! (Minus the Instagram accounts, Francis’ handle @Liveswith Lepers never went viral). Women and men, from many walks of life began to follow Francis as he followed Christ through the path of poverty. Francis was not sullen. Francis radiated joy. He passionately loved God, people, and of all of creation. (Oh yeah, his feast day is October 4).

Very quickly, men joined Francis in being “little brothers” or friars minor. Thanks to Clare of Assisi, women soon followed.  Over 800 years later, people continue to be inspired by the life and witness of this poor man from Assisi. In popular devotion, Francis is near the top of the heavenly all-star list. Did he love animals? Yes, from the birds to the wolves. Did he love creation? Yes, from brother sun to sister moon. Did he love people? Yes, from the prince to the peasant. But most of all, inspiring all his other loves, was Francis’ love for God.

Saint Michael and All Angels

Information (and misinformation) about angels can be found in abundance as they remain popular with all sorts of people, religious, spiritual, and otherwise (I’m thinking of that store at the mall, but that’s a different kind of angel!). There are questions about the categories of angels (e.g. archangel, seraphim), whether everyone has a guardian angel, and the medieval classic, “How many angels can dance upon the head of pin?” (You were wondering about that, right?)

The Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, also known as Michaelmas, falls annually on September 29. Angels appear throughout the pages of Holy Scripture. Sometimes, as in the case of Michael, they are named in obscure passages (Daniel 10:12:1, Thessalonians 4:16). In other cases, angels are referred to in a general sense (Job 38:7, Revelation 14:6). In other places, angels act as God’s messengers, such as when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (Luke 1:26-38). 

Michael’s importance is tied to Revelation 12:7-9: “And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

It is for this reason that Saint Michael is portrayed in Christian art and iconography as a warrior. Our English word for angel comes from the Greek word “angelos” meaning messenger. For thousands of years, across cultures, human beings have reported angelic encounters. Within the Christian faith and the Western artistic tradition, angels have often been depicted as beautiful human like creature with wings and halos. These are symbolic portrayals. In Christian understanding angels are genderless; they are spiritual beings, not physical ones.

Angels aren't chubby babies with wings (I know they are so cute!) but are super-human intelligences that serve God; usually, behind the curtain of ordinary human perception. But, are they real? Traditional Christian belief and experience suggests, yes! With all that the natural sciences are revealing to us today about the “seen and unseen” it shouldn’t surprise us that there is more to this world that meets the naked eye. But what do you think about angels? Are they a mysterious reality or a medieval supersition? Please share in the comment sections below.  

The Situation of Christianity in the West, part 2

The Good News:


Our current period of flux, decline, and instability of Christian institutions may be the exact kind of spiritual soil needed to birth powerful movements of the Spirit. You don’t have to be a church historian to notice that many of Christianity’s greatest movements were birthed during times of cultural conflict, societal instability and/or spiritual decline.


For example, the early Church’s explosive growth,  the rise of the Franciscans and Dominicans in the 13^th century (see how I humble I am listing the Franciscans first…), the Great Awakenings in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, and the growth of Christianity in the majority world in the last century (Isn’t it great you get to say, “I was born in the last century”?! Ok. Ok. Touchy subject. Let’s move on).

We should be praying for and on the lookout for new movements of the Spirit. This is hopeful news. For sure, like in times past, there will be tensions between the old movements and the new movements. There is already a need for discernment in sorting out robust, fruitful, and faithful expressions of Christian life and community and those that are less so. 

Besides the good news of new powerful movements of the Spirit, there is also the good news of being forced back to Christian basics. When popular culture and Christianity merge, the result has often been a weakening of the zeal and discipleship of the Church. This means it has been possible for many people to go to church without really becoming disciples, mature Christians.

But the good news is that as Christian institutions become more sidelined from mainstream culture, the more individual Christians will have to seriously embrace their faith. If most cultural forces are encouraging people NOT to be active in the faith, then to be active in the faith will require more commitment to basic Christian beliefs and practices by the average church goer. 

But wait, there’s more! (Call now and…oh never mind) This change will mean churches, if they hope to survive, will have to get out of their doors to connect with their communities. It will also mean some new structures for churches, seminaries and denominations. What other good news is there to our situation in the West? Are you seeing any of this yet, locally or globally? 

The Situation of Christianity in the West, part 1

The Old News:

Christianity is booming in the majority world (Africa, South American, and parts of Asia); whereas, overall, Christianity in the West (North America, Europe, and parts of Oceania) has been facing a steep decline for decades. This post isn’t about doom and gloom (I know…I know… you were really hoping for some of that) but this post is about recognizing our current reality.  

In short, Christian faith and Christian institutions, once at the center of Western culture, are increasingly less so, and Christian affiliation, which could once be assumed of most people (at least nominally), now cannot be assumed. There are places and populations where Christian influence is still stronger, but the trend away from our cultural dominance is relatively universal.

There are brighter spots, exceptions, and nuancing of this decline, but my purpose is simply to acknowledge this is the reality we find ourselves in as followers of Jesus in the early parts of the 21st century. This is a change from what many of us have known in past years, and many of you have witnessed this change accelerate over your lifetimes.

Many, from researchers, to practitioners, have written about this change (including me). In my travels, the reality of our situation is apparent to everyone: from the pastor struggling with to lead her church, to the faithful lay leader, who is perplexed why so few people participate in the church anymore, including his own children and grandchildren.

This is old news. Younger generations have grown up with this reality. They don’t remember a time when Christian influence was stronger. This is a hang up for those of us who have a memory (or a perceived memory?) of when churches thrived and Christian cultural influence was supersized (some say for good; some say for ill; some say I should be taking a pill).

Does your church talk about this reality openly? Or is it something people only talk about in the church parking lot, in between complaints about church meetings not being long enough? (That was a joke in case you were wondering) Is this old news in your church circles? Is this something your leaders, whether local or regional, are actively seeking to address? Do you want them to? 

Lenten Practices, Stations of the Cross

The stations are a way of remembering and entering spiritually, the final hours of Jesus earthy life and ministry. This period is also referred to as Christ’s passion. Passion coming from the Latin word for passionem, meaning suffering. Hence the term, Passion Week. That is Holy Week. Each station remembers a point along the way Jesus took from his condemnation by Pontius Pilate to his death on the cross and burial in the tomb. By observing the stations, the individual believer, family, or congregation, accompanies Jesus in his last moments. For centuries, Christians have physically retraced Jesus’ Way of Sorrow (Via Dolorosa) in the Old City of Jerusalem on Good Friday. Usually, there are 14 stations.

The practice of the stations allows all Christians, regardless of geographic location, to enter this experience. Many Roman Catholic and some Anglican Churches display the stations of the cross in their churches all year. However, many don’t and still observe the stations on Fridays in Lent. This is often done by using temporarily displayed stations. Also, many monastic communities and retreat centers have the stations of the cross displayed on their grounds. These, while sometimes used by congregations formally, are often used more by individuals for personal reflection and devotion. Whether used as a formal service by a congregation or more informally by individuals for personal meditation the stations can be a powerful practice. 

It’s not necessary to have “official” stations to observe this practice on your own. You could look up the fourteen stations in the Bible, with a passage per station, perhaps moving from room to room. You could print out stations from various websites and create actual stations around your home or property. You could identify locations in your neighborhood or community with the traditional stations and observe them as a walking pilgrimage. Meditating, praying, and accompanying Jesus in his passion, as the Christian community has for over 2000 years can stir the heart, prompt deep reflection, and nurture faith. If a local church offers the stations you may wish to go experience them for yourself or try doing them in your own. 

Lenten Practices, Silence

Silence has long been understood as an ideal environment for fostering personal reflection and encounter with God. Silence is regular part of the life of many monastic communities. This isn’t done only to create a relaxing and peaceful environment (something parents of young children fantasize about!). Rather, exterior silence invites individual reflection, sometimes painfully, as thoughts, memories, and temptations arise. Much soul work cannot begin until we are willing to deal with our internal noise. Exterior silence is also an invitation to interior silence. The practice of quietening the heart and mind is often associated with Eastern religions, but in the Christian faith this practice is also an important means of making space to listen for God.

Stillness is associated with silence and both are associated with an awareness of the divine, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). The Prophet Elijah, fleeing persecution, encounters God not in the awesome power of earthquake or fire, but within “sheer silence” (1 Kings 19:12). Silence can be healing. Silence can be energizing. There are some who go to remote locations simply for the respite from the noise of our devices and the noise that our human communities create, complain about, and sometimes celebrate (click here for example.) Prayer is often described as a conversation with God. Silence fosters listening. Recall a person you’ve met who relishes talking but not listening. You don’t get to say much.

They say a whole lot. If you had something powerful, profound, or even pressing to tell them (e.g. “A tractor trailer truck is coming this way.”), they might not be able to hear it (with consequences that will run right along). Might this be God’s experience with you and me? We talk, but we don’t listen. Our culture is not comfortable with silence. Every single moment must be filled with noise. Our phones, with their wonderful abilities to play music, movies, and to entertain with massive choices of games, mean we don’t have to experience silence unless we choose to. It’s worth choosing silence. It’s a time-honored way of coming to terms with our anxieties, gaining clarity about our callings, and entering fuller awareness of the Triune God.   

Lenten Practices, Confession

While the saying, “confession is good for the soul” remains well known, the actual practice, in its various forms, is less well known. It is important to begin any consideration of confession by acknowledging that all Christian Churches, whether Protestant or Catholic, teach of the necessity of confession. Confession at its basic level is admitting to God you have erred, you’ve messed up, you’ve sinned. Considering Christian discipleship is about striving to Love God and Neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40) by aligning one’s whole life with the teachings of Jesus, it is not surprising that we often stumble along the way. I also stumbled earlier today while riding a unicycle and juggling four Bibles, three prayer books, two rosaries, and one Grizzly bear.

What all Christian Traditions do not agree about is sacramental confession. The centuries long practice of penitents (those with something to confess) of making a formal confession to a priest. Christian Traditions that practice sacramental confession (Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, some Lutherans), believe that God has blessed certain practices, as either instituted by Christ or developed by the Church in response to Christ. Practices that have proven, over long centuries, effective means by which human beings might receive and encounter the presence, forgiving power, and love of God. These practices are called sacraments. Besides confession, there is the sacrament of Holy Communion, Baptism, and Marriage, among others. 

Christian Churches that don’t believe in the seven traditional sacraments (often holding to just two: baptism and the Lord’s Supper), argue that these rituals were not instituted by God or that you do not need to go a human being (as helpful as that might be on occasion) to confess your sins. You can do that directly to God through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Certainly, all Christian Churches, even those that require private confession, acknowledge you can confess directly to God. But some argue that sacramental confession is also necessary.  Why? One reason is the importance of dealing with failures and sins sooner, rather than later. Another reason is power of the sacrament to bring healing and hope to persons dealing with guilt

Yet another, is that these Churches tend to view the weekly reception of Holy Communion as a serious act. Thus, it is necessary to prepare. Not all Churches that make private confession available require it. In the Anglican Tradition, the view of private confession is, “All can, some should, none must.” As someone who has been a penitent and a priest, I can say that it is often powerful, often liberating and often healing for people. It can also be a useful practice to help support intentional and faithful living. If you know you are going to have to regularly make confession to another human being, that can impact how you live in subtle and significant ways. Ow! (Please excuse me, the Grizzly bear I was juggling earlier, is currently eating my leg.) 

The key is preparation and intention. Some Christians have had bad experiences with confession, because of an inattentive confessor (the priest hearing the confession). Others experienced it as a perfunctory ritual, something “you had to do” and thus did not experience it as an opportunity for soul cleaning, encouraging accountability, or gracious support of becoming the best person you were meant to be as God intended. Confession is about these larger purposes and not just “reporting about breaking rules.” Confession at its best is medicine for the soul. Confession is a way to sweep your conscience through the compassionate and convicting strength of the Holy Spirit. So, practice confession, daily in prayer, weekly in worship, and if your church offers it, sacramentally. 

Lenten Practices, Almsgiving

What are alms? Alms are a rare species of endangered leopards in the amazon (just kidding). Alms are food or money or assistance given to those in need. Almsgiving has always been part of the faith.  A concern to give to those in need. This practice encompasses both ideas of charity “let me give you a token of kindness or let me help you with a specific need in this immediate moment” and  ideas of justice: “not only should I help you in this immediate moment, but I should ask why you need help, and seek to address those root causes” and ideas between.

You can still find churches that have boxes labeled “For the Poor.” Some of you are familiar with the practice of mite boxes. Mite being an old translation for coins in the Bible. Some of your congregations do this now. A good practice. These are handed out at the start of Lent and individuals and families are encouraged to place them on their dining room tables. Change is collected throughout the season of Lent, for a specific cause, often associated with those in need (e.g. Heifer International, a Local Rescue Mission, spot removal surgery for Almcats , etc.).

Almsgiving can also be done directly to a person in need. This is part of the traditional practice. This can involve the giving of good, meeting a specific need, or financial assistance. Whether in person, through a mite box, or special project, even the small act of giving away our change can be a step toward developing greater awareness of need and greater generosity of spirit. Wrestling with how much we should give to the poor, as part of, or beyond a tithe, or a percentage of one’s income, forces us to look at our lives and deal with some tough questions.

How much do I really need? There are a lot of people out there whose basic needs are not being met. What is reasonable for me to keep and live on considering the profound suffering in the world? To often we ignore this entirely or make token gestures. While some are called to give away much of what they earn and have, the practice of almsgiving doesn’t require all of us to move this far and this fast. What this practice does do is invite us to think about Jesus’ Great commandment to “Love our neighbor” (Matthew 22:39) and take action to help those in need.

Lenten Practices, Fasting

Wednesdays and Fridays are the traditional days of fasting in the Christian faith. Fridays have received attention, both in Lent, and year around, with the well-known and widely practiced discipline of Roman Catholic and other Christians refraining from meat. Eastern Orthodox Christians are known for more stringent fasting during the season of Lent, sometimes encompassing a total fast from meats, various dairy products, and all water (except water imported from Greece or Russia). Yes, that was a joke (apologies to Orthodox readers). 

In Christian circles, East and West, fasting as a spiritual practice has probably waned in overall observance (less people are doing it), but I would suggest there is a resurgence of interest in and the practice of this ancient spiritual discipline (more people doing it intentionally, and not just because they “have” to). Fasting is often touted as having various health benefits. While this may be true, depending on how you fast, our concern here is fasting as spiritual practice. Isn’t fasting just about beating up ourselves by not eating rattlesnake steaks on Fridays? 

No. To be clear, the idea of Christian fasting has often meant partial fasting (full fasts being a matter of personal practice or limited to days like Ash Wednesday and Good Friday), such as abstaining from certain foods (e.g. meat) and eating two smaller meals and one regular meal on a given day. There is also the practice of fasting before receiving Holy Communion, especially on Sundays.  Ok. So, sometimes it’s a partial fast or abstaining from chocolate or coffee (Yes, really!) or whatever for the season of Lent. Why? Self-denial is about realizing what is important in life. 

Fasting reminds us how much we depend upon food, those who prepare it, those who grow it. Fasting reminds us of those who regularly go hungry and to take action. Fasting can be an opportunity to depend upon God more deeply. Fasting is a way of training our wills to choose the better instead of the merely convenient. Fasting can be painful, because it reveals our weaknesses. But such knowledge is essential if we want to grow in character. Also, in the Bible, fasting is often seen as a powerful complement to prayer. (For the record, there is no Friday of the year where I eat steaks made from rattlesnakes).

Lenten Practices, Ashes

“You are dust and to dust you shall return” shall be said over millions of Christians on Ash Wednesday as their foreheads are marked with ash by the sign of the cross. Many of these millions will receive peculiar looks by those who are not familiar with the practice. Even for those who recognize it as something Christians do to mark the beginning of the season of Lent, many may still wonder why? Why be marked with ashes? What’s the deal? In the Old Testament, the wearing of ashes was a sign of personal regret at sin, an expression of a desire to change and of humility. 

Ashes for Christians echo these Old Testament meanings, Lent is a season of intense spiritual training. A season when Christians are to take stock of their lives, express regret for their sins and failures and with God’s help seek to grow more fully into the kind of persons God would have them be. This is something Christians should do year-round but in Lent, it is intensified. Ashes are also a reminder of our mortality. You will die. I will die. There is no escaping this fact. Coming to terms with the brevity of this earthly life, sharpens the focus for how we should live.

By receiving ashes, you are recognizing one of the fundamental of human realities which must be grasped to live life well. Many of our societies are keen to ignore the reality of death, to pretend it doesn’t exist. This recognition of our morality on Ash Wednesday is not an exercise of doom and gloom, but of inspiration toward living life well with God, with others, and with all of creation. The Christian faith proclaims a life that is everlasting, but before we can cling to that hope, we must first come to terms with death. Receiving ashes is one way of doing this.

Lenten Practices, intro

This Lent, I’ll be writing a six-part series entitled, “Lenten Practices.” Lent is my favorite season of the Christian year. I look forward to Lent ever year. As the days grow closer, a sense of expectation fills my spirit. It’s not as strange as it sounds (Granted, I often sound strange, especially when practicing for my annual Lenten yodeling concert). I’m a fan and observer of Lent because of the season’s powerful potential to be used by God to transform your life and mine. How can it do that? 

Because Lent is a time where many Christians engage in some sort of intentional spiritual practice. For many there is still the idea that “I should do something for Lent” whether that’s “giving something up” or “taking something on” (I recommend both). The word Lent comes from the Old English word, lencten, which means, spring. Lent is meant to be a spring time for your soul. A time of growth and new life. It has been referred to as a period of spring cleaning. It might also be thought of as a period of spring training.

Many sports teams get back into the “swing” of things during the spring. If you’ve been off the field for a few months, the initial weeks of spring training can be tough. This is often true of our observance of Lent, too. But by God’s grace, we keep at it despite our slips, falls, and fouls. It’s a shame many congregations and Christians don’t take advantage of the potential of Lent (or host Lenten yodeling concerts). To benefit from this traditional season of reflection, repentance, and renewal you need to do a little planning. Plan now for how you will observe Lent. (Yodel here).