WEEPING FOR TAMMUZ

   The world of Christendom and Ancient History agree that our Lenten Celebration of fasting for 40 days, leading up to Easter, is a) not an apostolic tradition, and b) borrowed from paganism.
   According to the Catholic Encyclopedia , the word 'lent' comes from a Germanic word, meaning Spring Season. It reports that Irenaeus -- early Church father [190 AD]  -- wrote to Pope Victor about the controversy of keeping Easter.
   He went on to challenge the idea of a preliminary fast, implying there was no apostolic tradition on the subject, either of Easter or of a Fast [let alone a 40-day fast]
   Tertullian [160-225 AD] and all the pre-Nicene Fathers [prior to 325 AD] were silent on this institution, even though they commented on all sorts of Christian traditions.
   There is written evidence that Athanasius [Egypt - Alexandria] [296/298 - 373 AD] advocated for his flock to fast in the days leading up to Easter -- and having travelled through the West, became a strident advocate due to the fact that [he says] everyone, everywhere he went, was doing it. He did not want to be a laughing stock.
   However, [Catholic] Church historian: Franz Xaver von Funk [1840-1907] says there was not a Lent of 40 days anywhere in the West before the time of Ambrose [340 - 397]
   It is a matter of established historical fact that when Christianity became the official religion of pagan Rome, many of the pagan holidays, celebrations, observances were folded into Roman Christianity. Easter and The Lenten Season were two.
   Our Lenten Celebration dates to about 400 AD, evolving through a number of iterations over the next 200 years. But, nowhere, outside of Roman Christianity, and the Protestant Church Groups which seek acceptance by The Roman Catholic Church, has a Lenten Season been observed in The Church.
   It is a testimony to our Theological and Historical ignorance, along with our predilection for all things 'feeling-oriented,' that many Church groups and individual Churches have picked up the 40-days-of-Lent idea and celebrate it as though it were right and good.
   Aside from the reality that this fast dates back to the Babylonian practice of Weeping for Tammuz [Ezek. 8], the idea of deliberately denying yourself in order to honor God or to achieve some level of spiritual favor or feeling is Law, not Grace!
   Think about it: What are you denying yourself for these 40 days? Good things? Godly things? Or primarily things you know you shouldn't be doing anyway? Food groups. Behaviors. TV programs. Sporting events. Other excesses that do not contribute to Godly Living.
   The Bible is clear: No amount of self-denial [in order to please God] is acceptible. In fact, it is detrimental to faith and is destructive of grace. [Romans 6:14; 11:6; Heb. 13:9]
Christians are indwelt by The Holy Spirit. He is 'the God which is in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure.' [Phil. 2:13] What happens when we begin to apply behaviors in order to be more spiritual or to achieve blessing? We become bound to The Law and we have 'fallen from grace.' [Gal. 5:4]
   The argument is: But I'm simply preparing myself to celebrate Easter!
   Okay.  But, Easter is a pagan concept, as well! Christians are to prepare themselves to worship every week! Christians are to prepare themselves for each days' ministry! Christians are to live in perpetual preparation! What makes Easter more special than this?
   Every Sunday is a celebration of the Resurrection of Christ! It's what sets Christians apart from religionists. Why do we go back to religion once each year, to celebrate a Babylonian custom?

   This Week On The Bible Forum We'll Discuss Tammuz and Babylonian Religion.