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When I was a kid growing up in a conservative evangelical church (moderately Pentecostal) we did not observe Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, or Good Friday. Nor did most conservative evangelical Protestant churches in the U.S. (There were exceptions, of course, especially among Presbyterians.) I attended a moderately evangelical Baptist seminary and I don\u2019t remember any mention of Ash Wednesday, let alone any ashes on foreheads (!), or Maundy Thursday. There may have been a Good Friday service, but I don\u2019t recall one. The semi-charismatic church where I served as assistant pastor definitely did not observe any of these \u201cHoly Week\u201d special days (or Ash Wednesday or Lent).<\/p>\n
Historically speaking, \u201clow church Protestants\u201d reacted not only against Roman Catholicism but also against the \u201chigh church Protestants\u201d (Episcopal, Lutheran, some Reformed churches) with their liturgical and sacramental beliefs and practices. That reaction included Anabaptists, Churches of Christ, Pentecostals, Wesleyan-Holiness churches, and most of the churches that called themselves \u201cBrethren.\u201d When I pressed for an explanation of this omission I was told (probably by my pastor father and seminary professors) that these observances and celebrations were inventions of the Orthodox and Catholic churches and not supported by scripture and that they were inextricably tied in with sacramentalism and clericalism.<\/p>\n
However, we (low church Protestants) did observe and celebrate Easter. Many low church, evangelical Protestants in the U.S. held \u201cEaster Sunrise services\u201d\u2014outdoors if the weather permitted (indoors if not). After that service we enjoyed a breakfast together in the \u201cFellowship Hall\u201d (or a rented space near the church such as a \u201cSettlement House\u201d) and then held an extended and especially exuberant Easter Sunday morning worship service which always included singing \u201cChrist the Lord Is Risen Today\u201d and \u201cUp from the Grave He Arose!\u201d<\/p>\n
As a very low church Protestant (Anabaptist-Baptist-Pentecostal) I still do not get the point of Ash Wednesday or Lent and am confused by low church Protestants who are adopting those observances. They are not part of our tradition or heritage. I don\u2019t criticize people or churches that have adopted them; I just don\u2019t participate myself. I tell people I give up Lent for Lent.<\/p>\n
However, I do now enjoy, if that is the right word, Good Friday and am glad to see low church Protestants, such as my own Mennonite congregation, holding a special \u201cStations of the Cross\u201d Good Friday service. The point is to celebrate the atoning death of Jesus Christ which is why Good Friday is called \u201cGood\u201d\u2014not because Jesus didn\u2019t suffer; he did. But because his suffering is the (efficient) cause of our salvation. (Yes, yes, I know\u2026also his resurrection, please don\u2019t nit-pick here. I\u2019m focusing on Good Friday and Jesus\u2019s atoning death.)<\/p>\n
Good Friday is our Christian celebration of Christ\u2019s saving death on the cross which was and is unconditional good news!<\/p>\n
Years ago evangelical writer and speaker Tony Campolo wrote a book entitled \u201cIt\u2019s Friday, but Sunday Is Coming.\u201d I guess the point was that on Good Friday we are traditionally dour, a bit depressed, grieving our Lord\u2019s death. I would prefer to say \u201cIt\u2019s Friday AND Sunday Is Coming.\u201d There\u2019s a reason it\u2019s called \u201cGood Friday\u201d so let\u2019s strip away from it the sad, sorrowful, dour atmosphere and celebrate this day with great joy and thanksgiving for what Jesus did for us even though, of course, it was horribly painful and sad for him. It was and is great good news for us!<\/p>\n
Evangelical historian David Bebbington has claimed for years now that one of the four hallmarks of evangelical Christianity is \u201ccrucicentrism\u201d\u2014a special focus on the cross, the atoning death of Jesus Christ. Personally, I think that is the one of the four hallmarks (biblicism, conversionism, crucicentrism, and activism) most neglected by today\u2019s evangelical Christianity\u2014at least among white American evangelicals. One reason I say this is the gradual disappearance of the symbolism of the cross and the singing of cross-centered songs. The Apostle Paul knew that the \u201cmessage of the cross\u201d was an offense to many unbelievers, but he preached it above all else anyway. (\u201cI am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified!\u201d) Today, I fear, even many evangelicals are scandalized by the cross and are trying to empty it of its true significance\u2014that on the cross the Son of God, God the Son, suffered our deserved punishment in order for God righteously to forgive us.<\/p>\n
One recent and new hymnal changes the lyrics of \u201cIn Christ Alone\u201d so that on the cross the wrath of God was not satisfied but God\u2019s love was magnified. The truth is that both happened on the cross-the wrath of God against sin was satisfied and God\u2019s love was magnified. If I were leading a worship service where we sing that wonderful contemporary hymn I would ask half the congregation to sing the original words and half to sing the new words\u2014at the same time.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What\u2019s Good about \u201cGood Friday?\u201d *Note to would-be commenters: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is on point (relevant to the blog post), relatively brief (no more than 100 words), civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and contains no links or photos.* When I was a kid growing up in a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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