{"id":1460,"date":"2011-03-08T01:42:45","date_gmt":"2011-03-08T01:42:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2011\/03\/ash-wednesday-practice-and-meaning.html"},"modified":"2011-03-08T01:42:45","modified_gmt":"2011-03-08T01:42:45","slug":"ash-wednesday-practice-and-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2011\/03\/ash-wednesday-practice-and-meaning.html","title":{"rendered":"Ash Wednesday: Practice and Meaning"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Ash Wednesday?<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

What is Ash Wednesday? For most of my life, I didn’t ask
\nthis question, nor did I care about the answer. I, along, with most
\nevangelical Christians in America, didn’t give Ash Wednesday a thought. <\/p>\n

But then, in 2004, Ash Wednesday loomed large in American
\nProtestant consciousness. Why? Because on that day Mel Gibson released
\nwhat was to become his epic blockbuster, The Passion of the Christ<\/em>.
\nFor the first time in history, the phrase “Ash Wednesday” was on the
\nlips of millions of evangelical Christians, not just Catholics and other
\n“high church” Protestants, as we anticipated the official release of The Passion<\/em>. <\/p>\n

I grew up with only a vague notion of Ash Wednesday. To me,
\nit was some Catholic holy day that I, as an evangelical Protestant,
\ndidn’t have to worry about, thanks be to God. In my view, all of “that
\nreligious stuff” detracted from what really mattered, which was having a
\npersonal relationship with Jesus Christ. In my early evangelical years
\nit never dawned on me that some of “the religious stuff” might actually
\nenrich my faith in Christ. <\/p>\n

During
\nthe spring of 1976, my first year of college, I was startled to see a
\nwoman who worked in my dining hall with a dark cross rubbed on her
\nforehead. At first I wondered if it were a bizarre bruise. Then I
\nnoticed other women with similar crosses. It finally dawned on me what I
\nwas seeing. Here was my introduction to Ash Wednesday piety. These
\nwomen, who were are Roman Catholic, had gone to services that morning
\nand had ashes placed on their foreheads. I felt impressed that these
\nwomen were willing to wear their ashes so publicly, even though it
\nseemed a rather odd thing to do. It never dawned on me that this would
\nbe something I might do myself one day. <\/p>\n

\"ash-wednesday-girl-5.jpg\"<\/form>\n

Fast forward sixteen years, to the spring of 1992. During
\nmy first year as Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church, I learned
\nthat this church had a tradition of celebrating Ash Wednesday with a
\nspecial worship service. It included the “imposition of ashes” on the
\nforeheads of worshippers. I, as the pastor, was expected to be one of
\nthe chief imposers! So I decided it was time to learn about the meaning
\nof Ash Wednesday. I wanted to be sure that the theological underpinnings
\nof such a practice were biblically solid, and that it was something in
\nwhich I could freely participate. <\/p>\n

Here’s some of what I learned . . . .<\/p>\n

Ash Wednesday is a Christian holiday (holy day) that is not
\na biblical requirement (rather like Christmas and Easter).
\nNevertheless, it has been honored by Christians for well over ten
\ncenturies at the beginning of Lent, a six-week season of preparation for
\nEaster. In the earliest centuries, Christians who had fallen into
\npersistent sin had ashes sprinkled on their bodies as a sign of
\nrepentance, even as Job repented “in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). Around
\nthe tenth century, all believers began to signify their need for
\nrepentance by having ashes placed on their foreheads in the shape of a
\ncross. Notice: even this sign of sinfulness hinted at the good news yet
\nto come through its shape. Ash Wednesday is not some dour, depressing
\nholy day because it symbolically anticipates Good Friday and Easter. <\/p>\n

Today, celebrations of Ash Wednesday vary among churches
\nthat recognize this holiday. More and more Protestant and even
\nevangelical churches hold some sort of Ash Wednesday services. At Irvine
\nPresbyterian Church, where I served for sixteen years as pastor, and at
\nSt. Mark Presbyterian Church in Boerne, Texas, where I now attend,
\nashes are placed on our foreheads as a reminder of our mortality and
\nsinfulness. The person who imposes the ashes quotes something like what
\nGod once said to Adam after he had sinned: “You are dust, and to dust
\nyou shall return” (Gen 3:19). This is the bad news of our sinfulness
\nthat prepares us to receive the good news of forgiveness in Christ.<\/p>\n

What
\nI value most about Ash Wednesday worship services is the chance for us
\nall to openly acknowledge our frailty and sinfulness. In a world that
\noften expects us to be perfect, on Ash Wednesday we freely confess our
\nimperfections. We can let down our pretenses and be truly honest with
\neach other about who we are. We all bear the mark of sin, from the
\nyoungest babies to the oldest seniors. We all stand guilty before a holy
\nGod. We all are mortal and will someday experience bodily death. Thus
\nwe all need a Savior.<\/p>\n

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of Ash Wednesday is
\nthat it begins the season of Lent. This is also a foreign concept for
\nmany evangelical Christians. Tomorrow, I’ll weigh in on the
\nmeaning and benefit of Lent. <\/p>\n

<\/a>An Ash Wednesday Experience: Staring Death in the Face  <\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

The denial of death . . . it’s all around us. When people
\ndie, they are often alone, sequestered in hospitals far away from the
\nsad eyes of friends and family. If someone happens to die at home, the
\ncorpse is quickly sent away from the grieving relatives. In polite
\nsociety one doesn’t talk much about death. And when it’s necessary to
\nsay something that has to do with dying, nifty euphemisms keep us from
\nconfronting the brute facts. When I lived in California, people would
\nsay, “Uncle Fred passed away.” In Texas, for some reason, people are
\nmore succinct, saying, “Uncle Fred passed.” <\/p>\n

Of course our own fears concerning our own demise match
\nour cultural squeamishness about death. We don’t want to think about our
\nown mortality, and we do many things to pretend that its not
\napproaching. We dye our graying hair. We cover our age spots with make
\nup. We get cosmetic surgery to preserve the image of youth. Rarely do we
\nseriously think about our own death. As a pastor, I’m amazed at how
\nunusual it is for someone to make plans for his or her own memorial
\nservice, or even to leave notes for the family. These are things we’d
\nrather not have to bother with.<\/p>\n

I’m reminded about a story told by my friend Tim, who was a
\nrestaurant manager. Part of his job was to explain the company’s
\nbenefit package to his new employees. One time, Tim hired a young man
\nwho didn’t speak English very well because he had recently immigrated to
\nthe United States. Tim explained the vacation policy, sick leave, and
\nhealth insurance, all without incident. Then he came to the life
\ninsurance. He showed that if the employee died, his family would get
\n$25,000. <\/p>\n

At this point the employee had a shocked look on his face, and said, “No, no, Tim!” <\/p>\n

Tim wasn’t sure he had been clear, so he explained, once again, “Look, if you die, your family will get $25,000.” <\/p>\n

Again, the employee was unhappy. “No, I don’t want it,” he said urgently. <\/p>\n

“Why not?” Tim asked. “If you die, this will be good for your family.” <\/p>\n

“But Tim,” the employee cried, “I don’t want to die!<\/em>” <\/p>\n

Ash Wednesday is a day when we stare death in the face.
\nChristians who observe this holiday get ashes “imposed” on their
\nforeheads, while a minister or lay church worker says, “You have come
\nfrom dust, and to dust you will return.” In other words, “You are going
\nto die. And here are some ashes to remind you, just in case you’ve
\nforgotten.”<\/p>\n

For sixteen years of Ash Wednesday services at Irvine
\nPresyyterian Church, I put ashes on the heads of older adults, some of
\nwhom had serious cancer and didn’t live much longer. I also put tiny
\nblack crosses made of ash on the foreheads of babies far too young to
\nrealize what was happening to them. I imposed ashes on teenagers and
\nsenior citizens, on men and women, on boys and girls. All of these I
\nreminded of their mortality, and they freely received the reminder. “You
\nare dust,” I said, implying, “You are going to die.” <\/p>\n

What
\ngives us such freedom to think about death? Are we Christians morose?
\nDo we have some peculiar fascination with dying? I don’t think so.
\nRather, what allows us to stare death in the face is the assurance of
\nlife, real life, eternal life. When we know our lives are safe in the
\nhands of God, and that this physical life is just the beginning of
\neternity, then we’re free to be honest about what lies ahead for us. We
\ncan face death without fear or pretending, because we know the One who
\ndefeated death.<\/p>\n

I’ll never forget my last visit with a dear member of my
\ncongregation named Helen. She was a tiny woman when healthy, but old age
\nand disease had ravaged her body. I wouldn’t be surprised if she
\nweighed 75 pounds on the day of my last visit. <\/p>\n

There was no question that Helen was soon to die. And there
\nwas no point for me to pretend as if that weren’t true. So I asked her
\nstraightaway: “Helen, it’s obvious that you don’t have too much time
\nleft in this body. How are you feeling about dying?” <\/p>\n

“Mark,” she said with a weak but confident voice, “I’ve
\nlived a good, long life. I’ve been blessed far beyond what I could have
\nhoped. You’re right, my body is giving out. I don’t have much longer to
\nlive. But I want you to know that I am ready. I’m not afraid. I’m eager
\nto see my Lord. I hope I get to soon.”<\/p>\n

Talk about staring death in the face! What gave Helen such
\nunusual bluntness and boldness when it came to her own imminent death?
\nHer faith in God. Her confidence that her life was really just
\nbeginning. Her assurance that her soul was safe in the hands of a
\ngracious, loving God.<\/p>\n

And so it is for Christians on Ash Wednesday. We can face
\ndeath. We can admit our own mortality. We can talk openly about the
\nlimits of this life. Why? Because we know that through Christ we have
\nentered into life eternal, the fullness of life that will not end when
\nour bodies give out.<\/p>\n\"Nathan-Dad-Bishop-Pass-5.jpg\"<\/form>\n

The
\nemotional result of Ash Wednesday observance isn’t depression or gloom,
\nbut gratitude and new energy for living. When we realize how
\ndesperately we need God, and how God is faithful far beyond our
\ndesperation, we can’t help but offering our lives to him in fresh
\ngratitude. And when we recognize that life doesn’t go on forever, then
\nwe find new passion to delight in the gifts of each and every day, and
\nto take none of them for granted.<\/p>\n

One year, as I returned to my seat after imposing ashes
\nupon dozens of worshipers, I sat next to my 12-year-old son. I couldn’t
\nhelp but notice the prominent black cross on his forehead, placed there
\nby another leader. All of a sudden it hit me that my dear boy will die
\nsomeday. Though I knew this in principle, I had never really thought
\nabout it before. My boy won’t live forever. His life, like mine and that
\nof every other human being, will come to an end. At that moment I
\nprayed that God would give Nathan a long and blessed life. And then I
\nhugged him for a good minute, treasuring the life we share together. <\/p>\n

How grateful I am for the grace of God that allows us to
\nstare death in the face so we can live with greater passion and delight!
\nAnd how thankful I am for a day that allows me to think about death so I
\ncan cherish life even more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is Ash Wednesday? What is Ash Wednesday? For most of my life, I didn’t ask this question, nor did I care about the answer. I, along, with most evangelical Christians in America, didn’t give Ash Wednesday a thought. But then, in 2004, Ash Wednesday loomed large in American Protestant consciousness. Why? Because on that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[157],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holidays"],"yoast_head":"\nAsh Wednesday: Practice and Meaning - Mark D. 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Roberts","description":"Mark D. Roberts: Thoughtfully Christian Reflections on Jesus, the Church, and the World","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/1ff094a57b7e41f534434b1723df3d73","name":"Mark D. Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1460"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1943,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1460\/revisions\/1943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}