Is Lent Biblical? Why I Personally Don’t Observe Lent
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Every year around Lent, I receive questions from Christians asking: “Is Lent Biblical?”
And my answer usually surprises people.
Because while I deeply love the Easter season and intentionally prepare my heart for Resurrection Sunday…
I personally do not observe Lent.
That may sound strange coming from someone who loves Bible studies, spiritual disciplines, and intentional seasons of reflection.
After all, I do celebrate Advent every year.
But for me, Advent and Lent are very different.
The reason ultimately comes down to this:
As a born-again believer, I don’t believe repentance, self-denial, and identification with Christ are meant to be seasonal practices.
I believe they are meant to be part of everyday Christian living.
So in this post, I want to gently and clearly explain:
- Why I personally don’t observe Lent
- What concerns me about some modern Lenten practices
- and what I choose to focus on instead during the weeks leading up to Easter.
What Is Lent?
Lent is a 40-day season observed by many Christians leading up to Easter.
Traditionally, it emphasizes repentance, fasting, prayer, and self-denial in preparation for remembering Christ’s death and resurrection.
While many sincere believers observe Lent meaningfully, I personally do not practice it for several biblical reasons.
Can Christians Observe Lent With Sincere Motives?
Even though I personally do not observe Lent, I also recognize that many sincere Christians do so with hearts that genuinely desire to seek the Lord.
My purpose in writing this post is not to attack believers who practice Lent differently than I do, but simply to explain why I personally choose a different approach.
Is Lent Biblical? Why I Personally Don’t Observe Lent
1. I want to live before God with a clear conscience.
One of the main reasons I don’t observe Lent is that I don’t believe repentance was intended to be seasonal.
As believers, we are called to live with sensitive hearts before the Lord every day — not only during a specific season of the year.
Acts 24:16 says:
“I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.”
When the Holy Spirit convicts me, I want my response to be immediate:
- confession
- repentance
- restoration
- obedience
Not delayed until a particular season.
A Christ-Centered Alternative to Lent
Instead of observing Lent, I personally spend the weeks leading up to Easter focusing on:
- Christ’s victory
- Scripture meditation
- gratitude
- renewal of the mind
- resurrection hope
To help you do the same, I created a free 40-Day Easter Bible Reading Plan. <IMAGE>
Download the free reading plan here.
2. I don’t want to make past sins or mistakes a focus.
When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, something that displeases Him, we should repent and move on.
He doesn’t want us focusing on the wrong that has been forgiven, but on the relationship with have with Him as our heavenly Father.
When Christ forgave us of our sins, we became a whole new person, and that person has a whole new identity.
Instead, this should be our focus:
✔ What Christ has done for us
✔ The new person He has made us to be
✔ The truth that we are justified before God
✔ The grace that fully forgives and restores us
Even in our repentance, we should not dwell on the transgression.
Instead, dwell on the grace of Christ and that He fully forgives every time!
For years, I tried to impress God by trying hard to do all of the Christian things I thought I was supposed to do.
In the end, all of my efforts to impress God only burned me out, and I didn’t feel closer to Christ.
The answer wasn’t to stop doing the things that I know are right.
The answer was to change my motivation and identity.
I died with Christ and was buried with Christ.
My old man no longer exists.
That person who lived in sin and brokenness in the past
The person who was taken advantage of as a child
The person who was abused
That person no longer exists.
I don’t identify with her at all, because she’s dead!
I was raised to new life in Christ.
That same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me and daily enables me to live in this new life I have in Christ.
This new person has a whole new identity, brand new behavior patterns, new desires, and new thought patterns.
I am justified – made just as if I’ve never sinned.
3. Denying ourselves isn’t about suffering
Jesus said in Matthew 16:24: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
The point of this verse isn’t suffering.
Yes, Jesus suffered when he bore the cross, but He suffered for sin once and for all time. The suffering of sin has been paid for.
We don’t deny ourselves in suffering; we deny ourselves in obedience to God’s Word.
The cross is summed up in this sentence: “Not my will but yours be done.”
Obedience isn’t about impressing God. We obey Him because we love Him and want to show our honor for Him and our relationship with Him.
What I Focus on Instead During Easter Season
The most important thing we should remember in this season leading up to Easter is that Christ is no longer on the cross.
For every born-again believer, the cross is not a symbol of suffering but of victory.
If there is any emotion that I feel when thinking of the suffering and crucifixion of Christ, it is complete and utter joy.
Because of the cross, I am free.
Yes, Jesus suffered, but He wasn’t a victim.
Jesus chose to suffer. His whole existence on earth had only one purpose, and that was to one day bear the sins of all mankind, endure the temporary rejection of His Father, die as the final sacrifice for our sins……
(and if we stop here, how miserable that is!!!)
And then, on the 3rd day, the greatest event in all of history took place , eclipsing even the event of His own miraculous birth.
Only God has power over death itself.
While Jesus ministered on earth, He raised people from the dead – but who in history has ever raised himself from the dead?
Only God could do that.
Jesus wasn’t a victim; He was the ultimate Victor!
And so while I don’t observe Lent, I do take time in the season leading up to Easter to rejoice in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
I reflect on the fact that this is now my identity.
Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection for me isn’t a season of grieving, repenting, and self-denial; it is a season of rejoicing and thanksgiving for all God has done for us.
The cross is a reason for rejoicing!
Do I think observing Lent is sinful?
I do not personally believe every Christian who observes Lent is sinning. Many sincere believers practice Lent with genuine hearts that desire to seek the Lord.
My concern is more about whether Scripture teaches these practices as necessary or spiritually transformative.
A Biblical Alternative to Lent
Instead of observing Lent, I personally spend the weeks leading up to Easter focusing on:
- Christ’s victory
- Scripture meditation
- gratitude
- renewal of the mind
- resurrection hope
To help you do the same, I created a free 40-Day Easter Bible Reading Plan.
Download the free reading plan here.
Check out these resources for Easter
I still need Lent … a time of self-denial , self-reflection and trying to bring this old flesh of mine into line with the the Spiritual. It’s a 40 day retreat for me of self denial , extra prayer , extra spiritual reading before the Glorious Day of Easter ! I often make a habit of whatever sacrifice I have made.
I can see where it could be possibly beneficial for some. My caution is to continue to make reflection, repentance, and denial of self a daily habit as we follow Christ.
Love this and agree!
And I have never read or heard anyone else teach what I believe so strongly about Christ’s true suffering and sacrifice like you’ve done here:
“But here’s the thing Lent has wrong, on this account:
Christ’s real suffering wasn’t physical!
Christ’s real suffering was bearing the sin of all mankind – past, present, future – on Himself and thus enduring His father turning His face from Him.
That was Christ’s real suffering.
Focusing on Christ’s physical pain without understanding the true significance of His suffering never really brings the gospel to our hearts!”
Amen!!!
This is what I believe and have expressed to my husband and children so often since it’s been revealed to me!!
I think when we gain a true understanding of Christ’s suffering, it is life-changing. Suddenly, it takes his suffering from something we grieve, and somehow a reason for us seek out suffering as a way of identifying with Christ to a joyous truth that His suffering purchased our freedom. Now, instead of seeking suffering, we realize that when suffering comes to us uninvited, we can joyfully endure it as Jesus did – knowing that the outcome is a greater identification with Him.
Thank you for such an awesome Word. I am truly humbled.
Praise the Lord!
I taught Sunday School to kindergartners. I always taught Lent as being a time to reflect on Jesus’ earthly suffering, the 40 days in the desert, & prayer. Not reflecting on our sins, but rather how can we be better Christians. That is how I have always felt. The church encourages a choice of giving something up and/or making sacrifices such as serving others more than usual.
I know the common thing for Christians is to give something up during Lent, but you are correct in asking why. They just go back to the same way. One time my family gave up tv for Lent. It was tough, but it made us be more involved with each other and ourselves. I no longer give anything up, but do a Lenten bible study & prayer.
Like anything, we have to fast with the right motive. Fasting throughout the year, including right before Easter, helps me draw nearer to God.
Lent is about reflecting on your relationship with God and how you are living the values taught by Jesus. It doesn’t have to include giving things up often it is about giving more. What can you do today to spread God’s love to your neighbors. during lent and beyond? How can you become closer to God as you prepare your heart for a recognition of the sacrifice God made to save you. In other words a renewed emphasis on the fact that a Jesus died for me so what am I doing for him.
I ❤️❤️❤️ this post! ? Thanks and God bless you, Rosilind ??
Hallelujah! ??