Why the 40 Days of Lent Is Actually 47 Days Long, March 8, 1920

From the front page of the Hickory Daily Record, March 8, 1920

Lent—Fasting Vs. Feasting

The lexicographer tells us that Lent is the season of 40 days preceding Easter; yet the number of days from Ashe Wednesday, which is the portal of the Lenten season, to April 4, Easter Sunday, is 47. Is the lexicographer correct? Yes. We arrive at the 40 days by eliminating the Sundays. But why eliminate the Sundays? For answer, we must enter deeper into the subject. Lent is defined also as the season for fasting. But a Christian cannot fast on Sunday. Sunday is the Christian’s great day of victory and rejoicing. It is the Day of all days to partake of “good things.” The Bread of Life, the Living Water, is to be publicly dispensed on that day. Deem it, i.e., God’s word, “holy and willingly hear and learn it.” So, while Sunday is in the Lenten season, it is no more part of Lent than oil is part of water when the two are contained in the same vessel. In either case, the two will not mix. The Christian, therefore, alternates between fasting during the week and fasting on Sundays during the Lenten season.

Let us note the high regard in which the early Christians held the great import on the Cross. For 40 days they prepared themselves in order to be better able to partake of the spiritual refreshments which are offered in consequence of the victory of the Cross. From the history of that time it appears that the number of Christians corresponded to the number partaking of the cup. In those days there were but two classes—believers and unbelievers. We have only two classes today, but the class of unbelievers is subdivided into infidels and mongrels who mix their Christianity with worldliness in which all pretentions to Christianity are neutralized. Of course, no Mongrel will confess his Mongrelism and few infidels will confess their infidelity, because both are under the hypnotic influence of satan and will ever remain so until they give the holy spirit free access to their hearts. Every true believer partakes of the cup. Dear Reader, are you one who believes there is salvation outside of the church? How do you gain access to the savior’s blood, that Lifegiving stream? “I am the door, he that climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

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