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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Ash Wednesday
- Thread starter Classik
- Start date
Jethro Bodine
Member
Well, last years palm branches the ashes come from is Biblical. (I'm not Catholic, so if that's not really where they come from correct me). Outside of that I can't think of anything Biblical about it.
Vic C.
Member
From a Biblical theology point of view, not at all. It's a ritual.
Tina
Member
This I think is the most ironical and hypocritical ceremony in some churches. The Catholic Church religiously observes it and a whole flock of them came out after service yesterday (Wed) with cross ashes on their foreheads after confessing and repenting their sins .... and then they go right back into their same old sinful lifestyle of idol worship! :biglol ... Defeats the whole purpose ...
Of course some Methodists and other denominations observe it too and it's fine as long as they observe it with the right attitude, motives and understanding of God's Will.
AirDancer
Member
Ash Wednesday is a remembrance which I wish was honoured in more churches. It is the reminder to us all that our physical bodies originated from dust, and to dust our physical bodies will return. More personally, the ashes bring home to us that our souls are nothing but ashes without Christ as our Saviour. We're absolutely nothing but dust in the wind.
It is a day of atonement, a day when we each must seriously consider the path we are on (i.e., are we walking the walk that we are supposed to be on, according to God's word). Of course, not every person receiving ashes bother to give it any further thought than to calculate how soon the ashes can be removed from sight. But then, this is a condition every congregation experiences: not all in attendance are walking the walk.
The following two quotes serve only as reminders how ashes are part of our humble lives:
Job 30:18-19 (NIV): <SUP>18</SUP> In his great power God becomes like clothing to me<SUP>[a]</SUP>;
he binds me like the neck of my garment.
<SUP>19</SUP> He throws me into the mud, and I am reduced to dust and ashes.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p>Daniel 9:2-3 (NIV): <SUP>2</SUP> in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. <SUP>3</SUP> So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. </o:p>
It is a day of atonement, a day when we each must seriously consider the path we are on (i.e., are we walking the walk that we are supposed to be on, according to God's word). Of course, not every person receiving ashes bother to give it any further thought than to calculate how soon the ashes can be removed from sight. But then, this is a condition every congregation experiences: not all in attendance are walking the walk.
The following two quotes serve only as reminders how ashes are part of our humble lives:
Job 30:18-19 (NIV): <SUP>18</SUP> In his great power God becomes like clothing to me<SUP>[a]</SUP>;
he binds me like the neck of my garment.
<SUP>19</SUP> He throws me into the mud, and I am reduced to dust and ashes.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p>Daniel 9:2-3 (NIV): <SUP>2</SUP> in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. <SUP>3</SUP> So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. </o:p>
Mike
Member
Good post, AD, and I'll add a few thoughts to that.
Some Protestants (not saying you, Tina) can throw good things out because in their view they are too closely associated with the RCC, and they want to rid all things that are. I've been guilty of that, myself. There's nothing unbiblical with it. We do it at our Lutheran church, and no, we don't pray to the mark on our forehead.
Also, the fact that some people don't take something to heart shouldn't be the litmus test for rejecting it, or we shouldn't do anything.
Some Protestants (not saying you, Tina) can throw good things out because in their view they are too closely associated with the RCC, and they want to rid all things that are. I've been guilty of that, myself. There's nothing unbiblical with it. We do it at our Lutheran church, and no, we don't pray to the mark on our forehead.
Also, the fact that some people don't take something to heart shouldn't be the litmus test for rejecting it, or we shouldn't do anything.