No, I'm not Catholic, but...

...I am practicing Lent this year. Usually when people have found out about this they look at me pretty confused thinking something along the lines of, "I thought you were a Baptist chick??" Yes, I go to a Baptist church. But, it's not a box that I am in.

And while Lent is often associated only with Catholicism, Lutherans, Methodists, and Anglicans recognize Lent just as strongly. And previous to the Protestant Reformation, all Christian groups practiced Lent just as strongly. Lent is still currently viewed as a general Christian practice.

Christian... what a marvelous term. One that does not depend on where you go to church or what denomination you claim. Now, hear me correctly here: I am not Catholic, and it is because of some very strong differences in belief. Hear me correctly again: I think a lot of Baptists will go to hell and a lot of Catholics will go to heaven.

Basically, where you go after you die doesn't depend on where you went to church when you were alive. But more on that later.

Yes, I am practicing Lent. Here are some reasons:

~ It gives me an early focus and preparation for the Easter celebration. Easter is by far my favorite time of year. What a beautiful, amazing day full of opportunity to celebrate Jesus' resurrection! As it leads up to that precious day, I find a period of self-denial to be more than appropriate. I mean one thought of self-pity at what I gave up just gives God more opportunity to remind me of how much His Son gave up for me.

~ I find that self-denial is crystal clear in the Bible as being much more than a good thing. Often, it's a must. Too often we get used to getting what we want, when we want it, how we want it. So it takes some extra effort on our part to experience self-denial. In the Bible we see examples of many including Jesus Himself who go through periods of fasting, wilderness experiences, and other practices similar in heart to Lent.

~ Not getting what we want often leaves a vacuum. At Lent, it's a great way to give up something to create that vacuum for the sole purpose of God filling it. So with the self-control comes a greater need to pray and depend on God. Through the sacrifice comes praise and realization at just how much we do have. And through the self-denial we get to put into action our beliefs on self-discipline.

I am not Catholic. I believe very strongly with Baptists' doctrines. But that doesn't mean that I can't look at another denomination and learn from them and find value in some of their practices.

I am a Baptist, but not in a box.

And I am practicing Lent.