The chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Abia State chapter, Rev Ojo Uduma, and the special assistant to the state governor on Religion, Kenneth Wiper, have urged Christians to observe the Lent with faith and hope.
They spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday as the Lenten period began with the observation of Ash Wednesday last week by the faithful in Umuahia, the state capital.
According to them, the 40-day period, during which some individuals and Christian denominations engage in praying and fasting, terminates with Easter celebration and calls for sober moments.
Uduma said the period is so important in Christendom because it is observed in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s preparation for His journey to the cross to save mankind from sin and eternal condemnation.
“It is not as if we’re competing with Christ, but it a period for us to refresh our memory and to keep ourselves for the journey ahead of us,” said Uduma of the Evangelical Church Wining All (ECWA).
On whether faithful should mandatorily fast during the period, he said, “In the Christendom, faithful go into praying and fasting as a memorial. So, it is not wrong for any to use the period to pray and fast.”
Uduma, while enjoining believers to pray and fast, however noted that Christ didn’t specify the periods of the fast, emphasisng that the importance of the exercise is to discipline the body for spiritual elevation.
On his part, Wiper said, the fundamental essence of the period is to build the spirit of a man with the understanding that “we believe and know that Christ went to the cross on a particular day.
“It should be a period of retreat, deep and sober reflection, and fasting and prayers. It should be a period to reflect and think back why we are made in the image of God.
“It is a time for us to make reconciliations on our relationship with God and other people generally. That is to say, both vertically and horizontally and vice versa.”
On the merits of observing the period, the governor’s aide quoted the Holy Bible as saying that physical exercise profited little, but Godliness is profitable to all things “and this is a spiritual exercise.
“Definitely, we stand to benefit much from it. It helps one to get closer to God and to be more receptive to spiritual things because the atmosphere you create has much to do with how much you receive from the heavenlies.”
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