- QUESTION:
How would you reply a neighbour who criticizes you for not observing Ash Wednesday?
ANSWER:
Among most Christians, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent (that is, the first day of Lent, occurring 6½ weeks before “Good Friday” or Easter and is symbolized by placing ashes on the heads of the entire congregation. There is no command for the observance of Ash Wednesday in the Bible. And if anyone wants to fast, Jesus Christ says he should not disfigure his face or make people to know he is so doing. That is personal righteousness. (Matthew 6:16-18). Christians are strictly warned to steer clear of the traditions or commandments of men which are not after Christ. – Mark 7:6-8,13; Colossians 2:8,23; Titus 1:14; Matthew 15:1-14.
- QUESTION:
Some have cited instances of showing affliction with the use of ashes: Tamar did so (2 Samuel 13:19); that of Mordecai in Esther 4:1, Job renting his clothes and covering self in ashes in Job 2:8; Daniel did same in Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21 where Christ chastised Chorazin and Bethsaida, saying they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes. Are these not convincing enough?
ANSWER:
They are not. In the Christian era, one can fast but it should be voluntary and not a group thing and he should not show it. (Matthew 6:16-18). Jesus Christ chastised the religious leaders of his days for doing things to be seen of men (Matthew 23:1-5). He condemned the Pharisees for observing formalities or traditions of men which have nothing to do with the essence of the faith. – Mark 7:1-4.
- QUESTION:
Passages such as Revelation 7:3; 9:4; 14:1 and 22:4 where the forehead is given significance have been cited as reason for putting the ash on the forehead.
ANSWER:
Those passages are figurative (e.g. having the name of God on their foreheads) they give no support to anyone literally putting ash on the forehead and putting on sackcloth and ashes. The prophet Joel had been used by God to charge his people to rend their heart, not their garments. – Joel 2:13.
- QUESTION:
A number of important events in the Bible were within 40 days duration: the spying of the Promised land, the time Moses the prophet spent in the mountain receiving the law inscribed in stone, the days Elijah spent in the journey to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8) within forty days God was to destroy Nineveh (Jonah 3), the days Christ spent in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). Is it out of place to use the 40 days to purify ourselves in remembrance of Christ’s passion?
ANSWER:
The Bible does not give the understanding that we should attach significance to the 40 days. It is His preserve to use that number of days for His purposes, not for man to imitate. In any case it serves no purpose spending 40 days for the purpose of penitence when Christ has finished his work and is now glorified and is with us in spirit (Matthew 9:14-17). We should not be tied to days. – Colossians 2:8; Galatians 4:8-11.:
- QUESTION:
Please comment on the following statement: “Since the Bible nowhere commands or condemns such a procedure, a Christian is at liberty to prayerfully decide whether to observe Ash Wednesday or not”.
ANSWER:
The Bible is not in support of compulsory fasting for everybody and disfiguring of faces to show one is fasting. And it never instituted anything like Ash Wednesday. So it has no biblical support. – Matthew 6:16; 9:14-17.
- QUESTION:
The anointing of their members with ashes on Ash Wednesday, the Priest prints the symbol of the cross on the forehead of the worshipper. How appropriate is the use of the cross symbol in worship. Cite at least a Bible text to back your answer.
ANSWER:
The use of the cross symbol in worship is wrong. Christ was not killed on the cross but on a tree. – Acts 5:30; 10:38-40; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:21-24, etc.
- QUESTION:
Both Ash Wednesday and Lent seasons observed by most Christians are connected to Easter celebration. What should be the attitude of a true Christian to Easter celebration?
ANSWER:
Easter is a pagan festival. A true Christian should not have hand in it but should keep himself unspotted by the false religions of the world and get separated from it. – James 1:27; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.