The LEN In Lent

By Dr jalarth Uche Opara

Few days ago I had a robust conversation with two brothers on different platforms. The crux of the conversation was Muslims being our step brothers, sharing same Abrahamic paternality with us. They had their views and I had mine. It was very insightful and enriching.

Lent is a period of serious self check. A moment one looks so hard on a mirror and sees how disfigured one is and makes efforts to adjust, using spiritual make ups. These spiritual make ups come in two qualities. One with low quality that washes away with time while the other with high quality that endures, getting better by the day.

Sadly, many of us get stuck with the former. It glows while it is applied. It shines and sparks within the first few months but wanes and dulls as months dawn. It gives momentary beauty but falls or caves in when the elements of the weather begin to drag and pull it.

Yesterday I talked about LENT in Lent. Today I would talk about the LEN in Lent. The LEN in this our Lent is the reason for the season. The Gospel that defines the ministry of Jesus. It is equally a pointer to the validation that religion has become that long log of wood, blinding us from seeing the true message of Jesus, which should form our lifestyle.

The truth which of course would taste so bitter is, Jesus wasn’t and isn’t about religion. He didn’t preach religion, he neither preached dogma nor doctrine. He preached unapologetically lifestyle, a lifestyle that gets its oxygen from the LEN in the lent.

The challenges that have unsettled us as Christians are hinged on our weakness in making the LEN in the Lent very operational in our dealings with people who share different religious, doctrinal and dogmatic ideologies with us.

We have become too religious, nothing else defines our life and approach to things but religion. Religion however good and grandeur in practice without the LEN in the Lent is a wide road that leads to nowhere but pains, agony and gnashing of teeth.

Doctrines, dogmas, denominations etc are good in themselves, but not an end. They could be helpful, but not inevitable. They could prop up but not the main lift.

L E N (Love Every Neighbour ) is the main game, every other thing is supportive. Love earnestly your neighbors is the religion, the doctrine, the dogma for any Christain that worths it salt of salvation.

The attitude of harping on religion, denominations etc as a defining factor in our relationship with others is awkward and antichrist. In Christ there is no Catholicism, no Pentecostalism, no protestantism etc only life that is christocentric. The life in Christ isn’t a badge of denominations, it isn’t a garland of religion not even a medal of doctrinal superiority. It simply life that sparks, glows and glints with love of neighbours and God. Miss this Mark, your religion wouldn’t save you .

Let us stop shouting religion and denominations with an energy of superiority complex. It helps nobody. Your religion and denomination can only be oxygenated through the principles of LEN ( Love Every Neighbour) in Lent. Christ is there for all who embrace him through his lifestyle. He isn’t exclusive for any religion or denomination. He is the door, anybody with the real key — LEN in Lent opens the door. Religion or denomination isn’t the key that opens the door of Christ. Know this and stop living in an inflated balloon of superiority complex of “Na our church be the real church” in the affairs of Christ, ones heart and lifestyle either gain one access or get one bounced

Jarlathuche@gmail.com
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