Not too many years ago I was in Seminary and was taking my first major theology class. We spent the semester studying all the usual suspects like Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Barth, feminist theology, constructive theology, liberation theology, process theology, neo orthodoxy and so on. Near the end of the class we were asked to turn in a draft of our final assignment: a review and critique of many of the theologians we had studied, ending with a section of our own beliefs and convictions.

I spent endless hours re-reading sections of the many theological volumes we were assigned. I engaged each theologian summarizing their main points and then going on the attack, tearing them down on any point I could. I ended my paper railing against the doctrines of old as outdated and irrelevant. In my final paragraph I justified my reflections on the premise that theology needed to go in a new direction for the 21st century and the Augustine’s and Luther’s of old were irrelevant. I proudly turned my draft in convinced it would come back with minor comments and little need for revision.

The next week, however, I received my draft back, dripping in red ink. According to my professor I had done a great job telling him about everything I did not believe, but nowhere in the paper could he find what I did believe. I had spent so much time focusing on the negative that I completely missed the point of the assignment.

Today marks the beginning of the Lenten season. A season of deep personal reflection and practice of the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and meditation. What we really tend to focus on during lent though is the negative- the practice of giving something up. It’s usually something we think will be difficult for us to give up, like a favorite food, eating out, shopping, or in the case of a friend of mine who will be giving up TV, except in the case of watching DVD’s or going to the movie theatre. But is the season of Lent really just about giving stuff up or is it about something more?

In some ways Lent is about giving up, letting go, and starting over. Mostly this is to come in the form of repentance from sin. We take this season to reflect on our lives, to take inventory about all the negative things that have built up in our lives and we come before God to ask for forgiveness and a chance to start over. In this sense Lent is certainly about giving up, the giving up of sins rule over our lives. I would like to believe though that this is just the first step of Lent. From there it’s less about giving stuff up and more about taking something on.

By focusing on the negative things in our lives we take inventory of where we stand before God and our neighbor, however, if we stay focused on the negative we miss out on the positive. So what then is so positive about a season focused on inner contemplative reflection that culminates in the violent acts of Christ’s arrest, trial, and crucifixion?

The positive comes in that initial recognizing of sin in the world and then beginning the journey of repentance. It is the recognition of the forces that bring darkness and death to the world and then taking action to confront those forces with the love of Jesus Christ. I would suggest then that this Lent we take something on instead of or in addition to giving something up.

Henri Nouwen was a Catholic priest, writer, and peace activist who devoted his life to helping others and inspiring people to practice peace. In an essay titled “Celebrating Life,” Nouwen suggests in the struggle against evil and oppression in the world our focus must be firmly fixed on life and not death. His point is that instead of engaging in a sort of spiritual and especially in physical warfare that we focus on only things that bring life. Instead of trying to battle the forces of darkness we turn from them and take on the qualities of Christ, qualities of love, joy, and compassion. Here the focus turns from a battle of good vs. evil or us vs. them and does not turn into a battle at all. Instead we say Yes to life and silence the power of death through how we live our lives and work to transform the world.

Indeed as we enter Lent and head towards holy week the violence of the cross uncomfortably looms ahead. As strange as it may sound though, Jesus’ death on the cross is a radical statement of non-violence. Instead of engaging his accusers with violence and resistance, Jesus chose a non-violent form of opposition. Instead of giving into the powers of violence and death he chose the life giving powers of non-violence and forgiveness. His actions exposed a vicious world of violent sin that seeks to silence and even kill those who make a stand for God’s Kingdom where a voice is given to the voiceless. Jesus’ entire ministry offered us an alternative vision to a world set on death and violence.

Through his non-violent response to this world Jesus calls all of us to participate in God’s Kingdom and not in the kingdom of sin and death. Christ continues to expose this world and calls us to repent from it and transform it through actions of peace and justice.

So this Lent instead of giving something up or in addition to giving something up will you take something on? Will you take on the task of making your life and making our world a more peaceful place? A few weeks ago our conference released a Lenten devotional on peace. The devotional suggests seven things we can do to bring peace this Lenten season and beyond.

First we are challenged to respect self and others, to avoid uncaring criticism, hateful worlds, physical attacks, and self destructive behaviors.

Second, to communicate better, to share feelings honestly, to look for safe ways to express anger, and to work at solving problems peacefully.

Third, to listen carefully to others, especially those who disagree with us, and to consider other’s feelings and needs rather to insist on our own way.

Fourth, a focus on forgiveness, practicing justice and not vengence.

Fifth, to respect nature, to treat the environment and all living things, with respect and care.

Sixth, to play creatively, to select entertainment and toys that support or family’s values and to avoid entertainment that makes violence look exciting funny or acceptable.

And finally, to be courageous, to challenge violence in all its forms whenever we encounter it, whether at home, at school, at work, or in the community, and to stand with others who are treated unfairly.

These are all actions we can take in our everyday lives to focus on the positives of peace and not the negatives of violence.



When I went back to write my final draft of my theology paper I approached it completely differently. I made a rule where I could not use the phrase “I do not believe.” Instead I would only frame my statements in the positive. Needless to say my final effort was more productive and actually helped me be inspired by the positive aspects of theological doctrine throughout the centuries. I was able to form a coherent and meaningful set of beliefs that has shaped my life and ministry.





I think if we can begin to stop focusing on the negative in our lives, in the news, and in the world and instead focus on the positive aspects of living lives of discipleship, we may find this Lent to be more meaningful than ever. So don’t give up this Lent. Don’t fall into a spiritual depression. This is our time to focus on how our lives and our actions can bring the love, joy, and compassion of Jesus Christ into a hurting world. Amen.



[download the peace study here: http://desertsouthwestconference.org/churchsociety]