Filipino Daddy Blogger Observes Lent for the First Time

I’m observing Lent for the first time this year. My wife inspired me and gracefully challenged me into fasting and committing the next 40 days for self-reflection, sacrifice and prayer. This article from writer Nathan Finn also articulate what I was thinking and feeling about it (excepts posted below).

I'll keep the details of my fasting to myself. But one thing I made sure before deciding to do this is to set the motive of my heart right. Am I doing this to please others, myself or God? I started to prayerfully reflect on this question the other day and will continue to do so during Lent. I'm a dad, a husband, I'm religious, a Baptist, none of these labels matter before the Lord. In the next 40 days of Lent, the only identity important to me and will humbly practice before my Holy Father is "beloved son." 



Why One Baptist Chooses to Observe Lent by Nathan Finn
(Click here to read full article)

As a Baptist, I do not believe we should bind people’s consciences by prescribing extra-biblical traditions. And like many good Christian practices, even among the most scripturally punctilious of evangelicals, Lent is most certainly an extra-biblical tradition. For that reason, I would never insist that someone observe Lent. But I do believe it is appropriate to recommend Lent, which is what I’m doing in this post. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, especially of the low church, free church type, then I would encourage you to consider celebrating Lent over the next forty days.

For my part, I choose to observe Lent because it affords me an opportunity to disengage a bit from the culture of what Tim Suttle calls satiation—“the absolute satisfaction of every human need to the point of excess.” As a relatively affluent American evangelical, at least compared to most believers in the world, I’m particularly prone to satiation. And the more I’m satiated, the easier it is for my affections to become dulled to the most important priorities—the kingdom priorities—that ought to animate my life. So, if you want to think about this way, I’m making an Edwardsean argument for my own Lenten observance. (Recognizing, of course, that Edwards himself would not have been a fan of Lent.) I want to unplug for awhile (metaphorically speaking) in order to redirect my affections towards the One whose infinite beauty and worth surpasses all the good, but fleeting pleasures of this life.