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Lent is Biblical?!
So proclaims one blog. Of course, there’s no mention of Lent in Scripture. So, how could it be Biblical? The tortured reasoning is that there are “several forty day parallels in Scripture.” Let’s look at those parallels: Moses’ fasts on the the holy mountain (Ex 24:18; 34:28; Deut 9:9) and his intercession for Israel (Deut…
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Biblical Basis for Ash Wednesday?
One of my readers asked me what the Biblical basis for Ash Wednesday is. I answer: I don’t see any biblical basis either for Ash Wednesday or for Lent generally (Ash Wednesday marking the start of Lent). In fact, the practice of traipsing around throughout the day with ashes on one’s forehead is contrary to…
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Samuel Miller on Fasting
One of my readers recently pointed out that Samuel Miller’s work on fasting is apparently available in reprint. Here’s a link to a very readable web version (link). Even more significantly, here is a link to an older (and one would think, copyright free) copy of Miller’s Sermons (there are two back-to-back) beginning at page…
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Public Solemn Fasting according to the Directory for Public Worship
Concerning Public Solemn Fasting.WHEN some great and notable judgments are either inflicted upon a people, or apparently imminent, or by some extraordinary provocations notoriously deserved; as also when some special blessing is to be sought and obtained, public solemn fasting (which is to continue the whole day) is a duty that God expects from that…