The Pagan Origins Of Lent

 A.C.Pike

Introduction 

​Lent is the time of year when Christians from all different Denominations around the world observe the forty days and forty nights that Jesus fasted in the wilderness. 

It is at this time of year that Christians give up something (normally a type of food) in honour of that time when Jesus fasted.

But what are the origins of Lent and is it a biblical festival commanded in Scripture?

The name 'Lent.'

The term 'Lent' is a Latin word (Quadragestima) and means "fortieth" and denotes the forty day period of Jesus fasting in the wilderness. 

Lent In Scripture

It is of interest to note that the observation of Lent is nowhere mentioned in Scripture. 

There were some early works such as, 'Apostolic Constitutions' (375-380AD) and the 'Cannons of Hypolytus' (336-340AD) that started to ban the use of certain foods at Lent. (1)

It wasn't until about 325AD at the Council of Nicaea that the church 'officially' sanctioned the observation and length of Lent. 

Observation

It was the Roman Catholic church that originally observed the festival known as Lent. Then after this, other denominations such as the Orthodox church, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists and Anabaptists. In more recent times modern Baptists and Pentecostals have both included the observation of Lent into their practice and worship. (2)

Unfortunately, the practice of Lent has entered into the worship of some Reformed churches (Baptists, Congregationalists, Dutch Reformed and Presbyterians). 

Lent and Paganism

As previously mentioned above (in my Easter Article) Lent is a time where Christians fast in remembrance of the time that Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. It is when Christians abstain from their favourite foods as an act of piety towards God. The period that Lent is observed is a period of forty days. But where did the idea of forty days come from?

Rev. Alexandra Hislop in his book ‘The Two Babylons’ wrote, “Coming from the Anglo-Saxon Lencten, meaning “spring,” Lent originated in the ancient Babylonian mystery religion. “The forty days abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from the worshipers of the Babylonian goddess…Among the Pagans this Lent seems to have been an indispensable preliminary to the great annual festival in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Tammuz…” (3).

The word, ‘Lent’ is derived from a Saxon word meaning, ‘spring.’ Spring is seen by the pagans as the inception of life. It is at this time that nature gives birth to various forms of life.

Also, the festival Lent is based upon a festival that celebrates the death and rebirth of the Babylonian god, Tammuz. When Tammuz died his wife Ishtar mourned him for forty days. This duration of the forty days of the Christian Lent has been taken from this festival (mourning) of Tammuz.

The Bible and Foods

As we have seen, the early church abstained from eating certain foods at the time of Lent. But the Bible strictly forbids this practice for Christians. In 1 Timothy 4:1 & 3 we read that in "later times some would depart from the faith" (1 Timothy 4:1), "Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to received with thanksgiving" (1 Timothy 4:3 AV). 

All food (unless sacrificed to idols) is to be partaken of by Christians in thanksgiving to God. 

Final Thoughts

As we can see, there is no Scriptural basis for the observance of Lent. It wasn't officially recognised as a Festival in the church until the 4th century. 

Also, we can see that the origin of Lent can be traced back to ancient pagan practice of the god Tammuz.

The Bible’s view of Paganism

In light of the above – what is the bible’s view with regards to celebrating these pagan feasts such as Easter? Well, from studying the scriptures we can see that God gave strong admonish to the nation of Israel against the worship of false gods! In Exodus he said to the children of Israel that, “Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images” (Exodus 23:24). He gave Israel strict instructions ‘NOT’ to learn pagan ways, he said, “Thus saith the LORD (Jehovah), Learn not the way of the heathen” (Jeremiah 10:2). Further to these, the Apostle Paul warns the early Christian church with regards to giving praise to demons, he said, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils” (1 Corinthians 10:21). So the bible is clear with regards to what God thinks of pagan festivals that bring honor to false gods. As Christians we cannot willing participate in any of the above knowing that they have their origins in paganism!

The bible is clear that we are not to pollute our Christian worship with other religions or pagan practices. The high-priest Aaron had made the “molten calf” (Exodus 32:4) and then declared the worship of it as “a feast to the LORD (Jehovah)” (Exodus 32:5). Aaron and the Israelites foolishly believed that as long as they honoured Jehovah with a feast, it would be alright to incorporate the worship (custom) of another god. However, as a result of their comprised form of worship to God, “THREE THOUSAND” people died that day (Exodus 32:28).

As we can see, we are not to pollute our worship to God with pagan. Do we as Christians want to pollute our worship of Jesus with that of man made tradition, occultism, and paganism?

Conclusion

Time and time again we are told throughout the bible that we are to worship one God only.

When the house of Israel had sinned against God by worshiping other gods, Samuel told them that, “If ye do return unto the LORD (Jehovah) with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD (Jehovah), and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 7:3).  – So by worshiping other gods the Israelites had gone away from the LORD (Jehovah). To return to him they were told to “put away the strange gods” (v3).

When Jesus was tempted by the Devil in the wilderness, he responded with the following, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Luke 4:8). So, Jesus told Satan that it is God and God only that we should worship.
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So as Christians should we not follow the examples of both Samuel and Jesus and “put away these strange gods” (1 Samuel 7:3) and “worship the Lord they God…only” (Luke 4:8).

References 
1)Wiki - Lent - Wikipedia
2)Christianity FAQ. 
3) Rev.Alexandra Hislop's, 'The Two Babylons.' 
​4) All biblical quotes from the AV/KJV Bible.