Practices and Principles 3.6.2025

     Having abandoned Ash Wednesday, too many of we protestants have also abandoned the principle of introspective penance. There are many reasons for this. The top of the list is a sense of moral superiority, which seems altogether out of character for disciples of Jesus. We should examine any practice which has the effect of helping us perform a Biblical function, in this case a penitent attitude as expressed, for example in 1 John 1.9-10

“1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:9-10 ESV)

    John expresses and recommends, though the actual term is only fully formalized later, a penitential attitude. For our purpose his is the best example because his words express an elementary principle rather than a specific practice. The principle itself may find a variety of forms of expression, differences in practice which all express the essential principle at stake. 

    The various historic and denominational practices in which the principle is embedded, even those practices which may have dubious Biblical warrant do not invalidate the basic principle—Christian people should be well aware of their own sin, expressing repentance—public and private whenever they can.

    It always interesting, and often surprising to examine broader the Christian community in evaluating the prominence of a practice and its use throughout Christian history. A simple search on the internet asking about Ash Wednesday observances shows not only the expected Roman Catholic observances, but also the traditional liturgical practices of Anglican/Episcopalian congregations, the reformed tradition in its various bodies, and many evangelical non-denominational bodies. Though not a scientific survey it would appear that Ash Wednesday is a fairly wide-spread phenomenon. Whereas in the past there would have been significant chatter among certain religious traditions about not participating in events or actions not specifically mentioned in Scripture (by current name) there seems to be a general agreement (again, I did not do a scientific poll) that the principle of being repentant is valuable and that historic practice, though sometimes innovative, can be valuable. 

    Let me digress a moment to talk about innovation. For a Roman Catholic or an Anglican there is nothing innovative about Ash Wednesday nor the whole Lenten season. These practices are foundational elements of the Church Calendar which evolved over centuries to unify a globally scattered Church prior to modernity. Not to be condescending, but for typical illiterate peasants of the 12th Century the Calendar in general and Ash Wednesday and other holy days in particular, helped orient the devout in time and space, when there was an absence of other reliable demarcations of passing time. Until invention of our modern calendars and the human creation of the mechanical clock most people did not know what the date of the current day even was, much less the time.

    As the modern world exploded out of the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the first Scientific revolution everyday people—like you and me were able to nibble the crumbs from the table of the sophisticated. We might own a watch, and keep track of our days in an Almanac, but the big questions of how to regulate our days and hours according to broader, Biblical principles required reference to the external apparatus of the Church year. Not just because that was all we knew but more importantly, that was all we had.

    As Protestantism itself grew, splintered, and evolved it, inherited the luxury of debating the dubious and fixating on the inessential. Ash Wednesday is not the only practice which was abandoned out of a sense of vague Biblical certitude. We argue vociferously about something peripheral, mainly because we can, not because we ought or should.   

    Our brotherhood does not celebrate Ash Wednesday, and for every highfalutin reason, or theological diatribe, or spiritual threat we might articulate in defense of our practice the fact is that Ash Wednesday fell out of favor for those whose denominational evolution culminated in a congregational form of government. In all likelihood, our current practice was derived more from our churchmanship than any Biblical or Theological principle. Ash Wednesday and Lent—whether it was the case or not—appeared to be the sort of thing done out of compulsion and denominational uniformity rather than faith, producing a sense of order our congregations did not otherwise feel or express. In abandoning the practice perhaps, it is inertia that prevails. Yet the practice is subsequent to and dependent upon the principle as articulated in scripture. And that, we have no warrant to abandon. 

    For the congregations we serve, the primary question should be “How can we maintain a penitent attitude, and would we be better served with a practice like Ash Wednesday?” In answering that question, I expect most would say, “What we are doing is just fine.” Is it? Really? Do we actually do anything? Have we thought through the issues of how to inculcate this dependent attitude with respect to our salvation? Isn’t it of increasing importance in an age where the term (Big E) "Evangelical" has become radically detached from the actual Evangel to remind every believer that being a Christian means entering into a relationship with Jesus that transforms every other relationship? Do we adapt practices which remind the communities in which our Churches are embedded that we are “In the world but not of it?” When people look at us, do they still consider us a “Third Race”, neither Jew nor Gentile, subjects not of any Empire of this world but of the Kingdom of God. Ash Wednesday is certainly not the only way to clarify who we are in this fallen world, but by all means there, should be something!

    Our congregation does not have Ash Wednesday observances planned. In my interactions between now and then I will encourage everyone I meet to examine their life in a grateful attitude of penitence. My personal prayer life will, for a few days at least, focus not on the commonplace of common needs requested and blessings pronounced. Instead, I will pray that God’s people look to this season as a time to feel the refreshing, renewing breath of God which comes upon us because of the passion of Jesus. We need quiet times, rooted in Biblical principles, set aside for repentance, regardless of the practices we embrace. But by all means—do something.