Riverside will also have a special Bible study series during Lent, and Culpepper said he will use his sermons to try to help his church's members understand the season. It is also a symbol of mourning for our disappointing lives for God. It is a mark of our sinfulness, but also a mark of our hope and redemption through Christ. Gardner said Episcopalians also traditionally follow one or two other practices during Lent. They either take on some new discipline or responsibility, such as studying Scriptures or religious books or helping with a ministry to feed the poor or help others, or they give up something in their lives that they enjoy but which might not be good for them as a sacrifice and an attempt to better themselves.
Some people do both.
But other Christians see no need to designate a certain season to repentance and redemption. Many Baptists and members of more evangelical churches believe it is a Christian's duty to be focused on salvation and service all year long. He did say he often focuses his sermons on Christ's ministry in the last days before his crucifixion in the weeks before Easter as a preparation for that special day. And of course on Easter is a salvation message. The Rev. Tommy Jones of Wesleyan Drive Baptist said there's nothing wrong with observing Lent, it's just not something Baptists have traditionally done.