Liturgical Calendar UnPentecostal? Say It Isn’t So!

This morning I was regaled with a post from ourCOG (whose posts I have reviewed before) entitled “Strange Catholic Days in Pentecostalism.” As is their habit, they’ve evidently cut and paste from other places, it’s two pieces posted in one. To keep things simple I’ll respond to the second. The post itself focuses on Ash Wednesday (little late to the party, ourCOG) but broader issues are discussed there and will be discussed here. They start the second part with this disclaimer:

Here are 10 reasons why some Pentecostals might choose not to observe or honor Ash Wednesday, based on theological, historical, and practical perspectives commonly associated with Pentecostal beliefs and practices. Note that Pentecostalism is diverse, and not all Pentecostals may agree with these reasons, but they reflect viewpoints rooted in the movement’s emphasis on Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and a distinctive approach to worship.

So we’ll take it point by point:

Lack of Biblical Mandate: Pentecostals often emphasize that Ash Wednesday is not explicitly commanded or mentioned in the Bible. Their focus is on adhering strictly to practices with clear scriptural backing, such as baptism or communion, rather than traditions developed later by the church.

That never stopped anyone from coming up with things like Bill Clinton’s Eucharistic Theology: It Depends on What ‘Is’ Is, which Pentecostals inherited from the Baptists. That includes changing the words of institution from the Scriptures to what they think it should mean.

Emphasis on the Holy Spirit Over Ritual: Pentecostals prioritize a direct, spontaneous relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. Ash Wednesday, with its structured liturgy and imposition of ashes, may feel like a ritual that detracts from the freedom and immediacy of Spirit-led worship.

Fun fact: until the 1979 Book of Common Prayer the Anglican/Episcopal world didn’t have a structured liturgy in the prayer book for Ash Wednesday, which is one reason why I prefer the 1928 Book of Common Prayer over that dreadful book. (They did have the Penitential Rite, but the imposition of ashes wasn’t included in that, and it could be used in other places, as is the case with the Litany, where we “beat Satan down under our feet,” a Pentecostal thing to do if there ever was one.) That brings up another important point: if Pentecostals decide to use a prayer book, they need to avoid one which has a ceremony for every life event conceivable or not, which is a fault of the 1979 book. (They also need one with a straightforward lectionary to follow, something that a recent piece in the North American Anglican pointed out.)

Association With Catholicism: Ash Wednesday is strongly tied to Roman Catholic tradition, and many Pentecostals historically distanced themselves from Catholic practices, viewing them as extra-biblical or overly formalistic. This stems from the Protestant roots of Pentecostalism.

This may explain why more Pentecostals are leaning towards Reformed theology these days, they want to be more “Protestant.” I’ve discussed this in relation to Wesley (who had his own prayer book.) If the Reformation was the last word we wouldn’t need modern Pentecost. I’m more aware than most of the deficiencies in the whole Catholic concept of merit.

Focus on Joyful Celebration, Not Mourning: Pentecostals often emphasize victorious living, joy, and the power of the resurrected Christ. Ash Wednesday’s tone of repentance, ashes, and mortality might conflict with their focus on the triumphant, life-giving aspects of faith.

Repentance may not be the most joyful thing we do, but it’s necessary from time to time.

Rejection of Liturgical Calendars: Many Pentecostals do not follow the traditional church calendar (Lent, Advent, etc.), preferring a less structured approach to worship. They may see Ash Wednesday as part of a system that imposes human-made schedules over Spirit-directed spontaneity.

I discussed this issue in my Advent series at North Cleveland Church of God. The ideal of purely spontaneous, unstructured Spirit-directed worship may have been more realised in the past, but the reality we have today is something that is more structured than we would care to admit. Besides, how is it possible for the Spirit to interrupt our plan when we don’t have one?

Belief in Ongoing Repentance: Pentecostals typically teach that repentance is a daily, personal act guided by the Holy Spirit, not confined to a specific day like Ash Wednesday. They might argue that singling out one day for repentance undermines the continuous nature of a believer’s walk with God.

I don’t know of anybody who seriously restricts their repentance to Ash Wednesday or any other day of the year, unless they are deep into Cultural Christianity. In the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, there is a penitential rite in both Morning and Evening Prayer and in the Holy Communion, one of which should be celebrated every day. And that’s more than I can say for just about any worship service order I’ve seen in the Church of God.

Symbolic Ashes Seen as Unnecessary: The use of ashes as a sign of penitence or mortality may be viewed as an unnecessary outward symbol. Pentecostals often prioritize inner transformation and spiritual experiences (like speaking in tongues or healing) over physical symbols or sacraments.

Somebody needs to explain the need for prayer cloths. I would be the first to prioritise inner transformation, which is a key reason why I have doubts about many Eucharistic practices we see in Roman Catholicism.

Historical Roots in Revivalism: Pentecostalism emerged from the Holiness and revival movements, which emphasized personal conversion and sanctification over established ecclesiastical traditions. Ash Wednesday, tied to ancient church practices, may feel disconnected from this revivalist heritage.

The problem with revival movements–which goes back to the days of Charles Finney–is that they are a) event-driven without necessarily having a follow-up and b) preacher centred. Because of the latter (and the necessity of meetings) they require an open society to flourish, which isn’t the case in many parts of the world where we’re seeing some great moves of God. An example of this is Iran; you can’t have a revival in Iran in the same way that we have here, and besides there isn’t much to revive; Christianity has never had broad acceptance in Iran even in pre-Muslim times.

Potential for Legalism: Some Pentecostals might argue that observing Ash Wednesday risks turning faith into a set of obligatory acts, which they associate with legalism. Their theology often stresses grace, faith, and freedom from rigid rules or traditions.

Legalism has unfortunately been integral to a great deal of Pentecostal life; this is the pot calling the kettle black. It is one reason why, for all of maudlin sentimentality I hear amongst older Pentecostals about the “old time religion,” no one is in a hurry to go back to the full experience, along with the poverty. That’s a big reason why I’ve gravitated to my own old time religion.

Focus on the New Covenant: Pentecostals frequently highlight the New Testament’s fulfillment of Old Testament practices. They might view Ash Wednesday’s penitential tone and imagery (like ashes, reminiscent of Old Testament sackcloth) as less relevant under the new covenant of Christ’s victory and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

“When the people heard this, they were conscience-smitten, and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles: “Brothers, what can we do?” “Repent,” answered Peter, “and be baptized every one of you in the Faith of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and also for all those now far away, who may be called by the Lord our God.” With many other words Peter enforced his teaching, while the burden of his exhortations was–“Save yourselves from the perverse spirit of this age.” So those who accepted his teaching were baptized, and about three thousand people joined the disciples on that day alone.” (Acts 2:37-41 TCNT)