Ash Wednesday: Exploring its Significance and Biblical Perspective

Question: 

Do we celebrate Ash Wednesday, and if we do, why?

Answer: 

Before I fully address this question, let’s delve into what Ash Wednesday signifies. 

Traditionally, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, observed by Catholics and some Protestant denominations. Lent spans 40 days leading up to Easter, characterized by fasting, self-denial, and spiritual discipline. It’s a time to identify with Jesus and seek the Lord. 

On Ash Wednesday, believers often attend church to confess sins, where the priest marks their foreheads with ash in the shape of a cross. This ritual symbolizes confession, repentance, and self-denial as part of preparing for Lent.

But, as we look at this biblically, Ash Wednesday and even Lent are never mentioned in the Bible. And so, how do we approach this question, and how do we want to understand this Biblically? 

Looking back at the Old Testament, we find practices similar to those observed on Ash Wednesday:

• In 2 Samuel 13, Tamar tears her robe and puts ashes on her head.
• Esther 4:1 describes Mordecai hearing bad news, putting on burlap and ashes, and crying in the city.
• Job 2:8 depicts Job, suffering and mourning, sitting among ashes and scraping his skin with broken pottery.
• In Daniel 9, Daniel pleads with the Lord through prayer and fasting, wearing burlap and sprinkling himself with ashes.

We can kind of see where the tradition that Catholics and some Protestant denominations practice is Ash Wednesday. We see similarities in these Old Testament examples, but the question is, as born-again believers who follow Jesus, should we practice Ash Wednesday? 

So, the thought would be that the Bible doesn’t promote or really condemn Ash Wednesday, so you can take this prayerfully to the Lord if that’s something that you want to practice. But I think that there’s something that we should consider as we have the liberty to practice this. 

While Ash Wednesday offers a valuable time for fasting and seeking the Lord, shouldn’t this be our daily lifestyle with Jesus? We shouldn’t confine confession of sin and repentance to a six-week period. Instead, let’s make it a daily practice, inviting the Lord to examine our hearts and root out any sin or wrongdoing.

My attitude towards this is, “I don’t need a 40-day period to set aside to really confess my sins and seek the Lord. But I want to do this on a regular basis.” And so, that’s why I don’t observe Ash Wednesday. 

Jesus cautioned against making a show of fasting and spiritual disciplines, as mentioned in Matthew 6:16-18 NLT. These practices should be private between you and the Lord in the intimacy of one’s prayer closet.

“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair[a] and wash your face. Then, no one will notice that you are fasting except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” 

Jesus emphasizes the importance of maintaining outward appearances while fasting. In Matthew 6:17, he advises, 

“When you fast, comb your hair and wash your face, so that no one will notice you are fasting except your Father, who knows what you do in private, and he will reward you.”

We want to explore the idea of our prayer closet, this time with the Lord. Ash Wednesday promotes the outward appearance that you’re living a spiritual life and doing things right. But God always looks at the heart. So, where’s your relationship with the Lord in that?

And then, the final verse I’ll share with you, Joel 2:12-13 NLT: 

“That is why the Lord says, Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.”

So, God’s really speaking about this as we fast, as we seek the Lord to matter in the condition of our heart and not just an outwardly traditional observance. That’s kind of my approach to it. I want to just live for the Lord daily. I don’t need or want just to follow traditions and become stuck in a routine of traditions, but really give my heart over to the Lord. 

source https://calvaryyouth.org/biblical-answers/ash-wednesday-exploring-its-significance-and-biblical-perspective/