In regards to Lent

1 Timothy 4:1 to 1 Timothy 4:3 KJV
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

I read this today and it is perfect timing with the kick-off of lent happening this week. 

Fasting is a very Biblical notion however here is the way that Jesus Himself taught us to fast: 

Matthew 6:16-18King James Version (KJV)16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

If everyone is fasting at the same time, isn't that a public rather than a secret act? 

Fasting is something that we should be led individually to do and it should be between us and the Father. Fasting is a way of training ourselves to feed the Spiritual man with the Body of Christ. His body is the Word of God, our daily bread. By taking the distraction of physical food out of the picture, it allows us to solely feed and nourish our spiritual bodies. It should never be forced on someone.

I received a card in the mail when my son was in Catholic school that gave us a chart on what degree of sin that it was to eat meat on certain days during lent. They have names for these various levels of sins, Venial and Mortal to name a couple. Thank God the Lord Himself had opened up scripture to me before I received this. Knowing what I knew of the Bible at that time,  I was very upset with the Catholic Church for not only demanding that the church fast on their command but also for making up different levels of sin to seal the deal.

There is only one sin that is unpardonable and that is Blasphemy of the Spirit. I won't dare say I know exactly what that means to God because that is between Him and the person that is doing it. If I had to guess, I would say that it is someone such as the Anti-Christ who pretends that he is God knowing without a doubt that he is not. 

If you are presently held in bondage to this belief of Lent and worse torturing yourself because you had forgotten and ate meat on Friday during lent or ash Wed or any of these made up days, please rest assured you have not sinned. Lent is not a Biblical practice and was made up by the Catholic church to exert their power over their people. I do believe that the Priests of today have been so far removed from the Truth they may not realize it themselves and truly believe in their hearts that what they are doing is for God. The roots of it however were more than likely another way to set the people up to sin by their definition of sin and eventually have a reason to pay an indulgence fee. This is where the Catholic church, (for a fee), is able to abolish whatever sin  you supposedly committed and pretend as if it never happened. Jesus is the only one that can do that for us and it is free of charge to them that believe in Him, rather than fallible man. 

To address the second thing that was stated in the first 1 Tim verse on this page, they forbid men to marry.. Again the Catholic church who claims Peter was the first pope of their establishment. I am not sure how to tell them this but Peter would not have been allowed in their church because he was married: 

Matthew 8:14-17King James Version (KJV)

14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

 When I was younger and had not read all of my Bible, besides the bits and pieces that were in our religion book, I remember all to well the feeling of guilt if I had forgotten and ate meat. This is why I want to set other's free as I was set free from this religious bondage. I am no longer a slave to Catholicism but a servant to Father. Who the Son sets free, is free indeed! 

Lord please help us all to allow the Bible to be our guide with your Holy Spirit that dwells inside of us, pointing us towards Your Truth.. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask this of you believing..  AMEN!