Five Reasons Not to Observe Lent

Every year in February or March, Ash Wednesday kicks off the first day of Lent — a largely Roman Catholic tradition which is essentially a six-week season of grieving and remorse over your sin. It is, however, also observed by Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, and Methodists officially, and in recent years, many mainline Protestants and Evangelicals have jumped on the bandwagon.

See also: Why Ash Wednesday is Not Christian

Typically, it involves some modernized notion of fasting — basically, giving something (traditionally, meat) up for a few weeks. But, over the course of modern history, it has morphed into a free-for-all kind of abstaining from anything you choose.

1.) Fasting is not a corporate activity and, in fact, Scripture warns against the corporate practice of fasting and prayer. It is to be done privately.