What is Ash Wednesday? | Lent Fasting | GotQuestions.org

What is Ash Wednesday? Should a Christian observe lent fasting?

In this video, Pastor Nelson looks at the Ash Wednesday meaning and unpacks why Ash Wednesday fasting is significant to some, even though it's not directly found anywhere in the Bible.

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*** Transcript:

Question: “What is Ash Wednesday?”

In this video we’ll see what the Bible has to say, and after - I’ll point you to some helpful resources, so stick around to the end.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Its official name is “Day of Ashes,” so called because of the practice of rubbing ashes on one’s forehead in the sign of a cross. Since it is exactly 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter Sunday, it will always fall on a Wednesday—there cannot be an “Ash Thursday” or “Ash Monday.” The Bible never mentions Ash Wednesday—for that matter, it never mentions Lent.

Lent is intended to be a time of self-denial, moderation, fasting, and the forsaking of sinful activities and habits. Ash Wednesday commences this period of spiritual discipline. Ash Wednesday and Lent are observed by most Catholics and some Protestant denominations. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not observe Ash Wednesday; instead, they start Lent on “Clean Monday.”

While the Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday, it does record accounts of people in the Old Testament using dust and ashes as symbols of repentance and/or mourning. The modern tradition of rubbing a cross on a person’s forehead supposedly identifies that person with Jesus Christ.

Should a Christian observe Ash Wednesday? Since the Bible nowhere explicitly commands or condemns such a practice, Christians are at liberty to prayerfully decide whether or not to observe Ash Wednesday.

If a Christian decides to observe Ash Wednesday and/or Lent, it is important to have a biblical perspective. Jesus warned us against making a show of our fasting: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen.” (Matthew 6:16-18) We must not allow spiritual discipline to become spiritual pride.

It is a good thing to repent of sinful activities, but that’s something Christians should do every day, not just during Lent. It’s a good thing to clearly identify oneself as a Christian, but, again, this should be an everyday identification. And it is good to remember that no ritual can make one’s heart right with God.

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[carolineorellana]

This is the most straight forward explanation I could find that also explains how this “ritual” is something we should do everyday with our actions and not just for show. Thank you!!

[ChrissyGotTheCoils]

I think it's great, a day and season commemorated to denying yourself as Jesus taught us. But like he said, this should be a daily thing all believers should practice.

[piratesmvp]

Ash Wednesday is actually observed by more than just "some Protestant denominations" when you consider that it is part of the Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and various other reformed denominational traditions. In fact, most Protestants probably observe Ash Wednesday when you consider the total number of believers from all those denominations.

[aartmark]

I understand that the ashes are to remind us of our mortality. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. People who have the ashes don't wear the ashes all through Lent.
It's just for one day so I don't think it's used to show off that the person is fasting.
Just some thoughts on the subject.

[stevenking]

Im getting ashes this evening at my Methodist Church. Peace

[joelstotler]

Matthew6, 16-18. Moreover,  when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast,  anoint your head and wash your face,  18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
These are traditions of man. We truly need to repent of our sins and to make every effort to resist the temptation to sin. This means we to do that everyday of our lives and not just between the time of ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. I'm not here to put down this tradition but I do ask that people be careful in their walk of faith with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[kellyfriess]

I understand that in the bible, it mentions numerous times that people used to either sit or put ashes on the top of their heads and wore sackcloth to demonstrate grief over sin. This is biblical. I have not found any where in the bible where the sign of a cross was put on their foreheads. To me, the sign of the cross on your forehead is not biblical and I find it idolatry.

[joshuatrott]

This can be said of any Christian practice.

[myrataguiam]

Jesus died for our sins and who ever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. We are covered with the blood of the Lamb. No ashes as ritual can do anything more. Jesus said, “ it is done” and died on the cross. He is risen from the dead. We should be celebrating the coming of Jesus . He is alive forevermore. I do not need to be reminded that I am mortal, because with Jesus this mortal body will receive immortality as he promise us believers the eternal life. True believers of Christ have direct access to God because of Jesus, for God is with us.

[el-roiletmeforu]

Ash Wednesday is not biblical let us not to be deceived

[surferchef]

You don’t need to identify as anything. Just be kind to others and Mother Earth that is the answer

[E-]

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1 Timothy 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

[bthompson]

It’s sun worshiping it represents north south east and west and it has to do with astrology and astronomy, which is our natural religion. If you wanna call it that and the Catholics have adopted it.

[MikiUnfolded]

Yea put cross on forehead thats sounds demonic 😂... The story didn't just end on the cross but an empty tomb

[josephinede]

I will skip dont know where ashes come from. Dust ash dirt wood or cremated remains.

[jme]

Mathew 7 verse 1-5
3 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye, ’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

[vinsonlatten]

Witnessed persons putting ash on for ash wednesday. A cross of ashes put on a persons head to show that a blocked action is desired from persons not wanting persons that is infatuated with a third eye implementation onto unwanted 3rd eye experiences. ...Also, a Christ like action is a person utilizing help offered from persons symbolicly helping persons based off a symbolic reason void of biasness and political strategy. An eligibility criteria on paper causing persons to get help as needed because of a following of a process rules with an experience of being blocked from symbolic sacrificing from paper processer proof reader person designated to do a job. Is there any help for persons participating in ash Wednesday? Pastors and Priests should know. A plane ride in a jet persons preached for isn't needed placement is so needed now, not unneeded giving like a gift not used because of a misidentifying of an interest of a

[johnminshell]

Jesus died and paid for your Sins so get over it .