Unfathomable though it may be, not everyone loves Lent Madness. At meetings of the Supreme Executive Committee, we often shake our heads in disbelief that there are a few people who find Lent Madness less than magnificent. As a gesture of good will, Tim and Scott have decided to answer the Top Ten Criticisms of Lent Madness. Think of these as at-the-ready talking points if you encounter a Lent Madness hater over chicken casserole at your ubiquitous Wednesday Evening Lenten program. You're welcome.
Top Ten Criticisms of Lent Madness
10. The SEC is rigging the results
Believe us when we say this: we have been as surprised and even outraged as you at some of the results. No one can predict what will happen in Lent Madness, with emphasis on the madness. If the SEC were rigging the results, Scott would not be in the bottom half of the Forward Movement office bracket pool. Now, granted, Scott once ran a full-fledged smear campaign to get George Herbert crowned with the Golden Halo (here, here, here, and here). But now that the SEC is formed, both Tim and Scott remain scrupulously neutral, working hard to ensure a free and fair contest every time.
9. The match-ups are unfair
The point of Lent Madness is fun, and it would be less fun if every contest featured a reformer against a reformer or an apostle versus an apostle. In its current form, we have to grapple with the outlandish notion of picking a modern witness for social justice or a biblical hero, for example. If that seems ridiculous to you, then we'd like to remind you that the entire concept of Lent Madness is that we're voting on a Golden Halo for people who are already in God's company. Lent Madness is not for the faint of heart, so if you can't decide between theologians of the fourth-century and preachers of the modern era, step aside.
8. Lent should be about self-flagellation not self-congratulation
Yeah, yeah, we've heard this plenty: "Every time I tune into Monday Madness, Tim and Scott are touting their latest media triumph. They've even been known to send Lent Madness mugs to church celebrities in exchange for 'mug shots.'" Here's the thing. Lent Madness was in USA Today this year. Last year it was the Washington Post and Sports Illustrated. While Tim and Scott have their picture in the paper, it's really not about them. It's about getting a new image of our church into the press. The SEC believes that it's better to have Lent Madness in the news than, say, lawsuits or church closings. Oh, and we don't much care for self-flagellation. We understand Lent to be a time for fresh conversion -- to renewing our commitment to following Jesus. You can do this whilst turning that frown upside-down.
7. This is a distraction from "real" Lent
See above. We would encourage you to pursue other Lenten disciplines. However, we think "real" Lent is about finding our way back to God. If this silly contest teaches us something about holy men and women, and if we are inspired to follow Jesus because of their example, then we'd consider the mission of Lent Madness accomplished. Also, "real" Lent just doesn't work for some people.
6. Too much of it
What? You're tired of seeing Lent Madness in your Facebook feed? Cry us a river. We can't help it that this is a success. We suggest you give up Facebook for Lent. Or start "Season after Pentecost Madness."
5. Your grammar stinks
Who are you to oppress us with your language rules? OK, so we make some mistakes now and then. You are entitled to a full refund of your Lent Madness entry fee. Oh, wait, it's free. One more thing, while we're on the subject: a few of you have harshed on Maple Anglican's awesome videos. Just remember he's Canadian, and your US imperialism doesn't govern his use of the English language. Incidentally, if you are going to write to us to complain about our grammar, make sure yours is flawless. One commenter pointed out three mistakes in a video. In the "And also with you" department, we pointed out three mistakes in that complaint. See, we're all human. Deal.
4. How can you have fun with ____ (insert martyr here)
We got a few complaints about this, most especially about Jonathan Myrick Daniels. To be clear, and in all seriousness, we would never make fun of a martyr. By including martyrs in Lent Madness, we're able to help them do their jobs afresh. That is, they are able to witness to new generations. We can assure you that plenty of Lent Madness fans had never heard of Jonathan Daniels until now. By including him in our ridiculous game, his brave witness for the gospel of justice is known in our time. By the way, you'd be complaining that we left out all the martyrs if we didn't include them.
3. You used that awful "Keep Calm and Carry On" meme
This is one of our favorites. A commenter was very upset that we used a take-off on the famous British "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters in one of our blog entries. This commenter threatened to boycott Lent Madness because we are basically akin to Nazi sympathizers or something. At the very least, the SEC were called ignorant American-centric buffoons. Look. A few minutes on the Googles, and it turns out that this poster has been proudly displayed at Number 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. If it's good enough for the Prime Minister and the Queen, it's good enough for the SEC.
2. The color for Lent is violet not purple
Yeah, that might be true in your Almy catalog, the people who brought you the imagined need for blue vestments in Advent. We prefer to consult the Bible rather than the Almy catalog when we are seeking truth. It turns out that Jesus wore purple, and we figure that's a good enough endorsement for this color in Lent Madness.
1. People shouldn't laugh during Lent. Ever.
Awesome. You can give up laughter as part of your Lenten discipline. We laugh at this idea. The SEC thinks that Jesus had quite a sense of humor. In fact, the SEC finds humor throughout the Bible and in much of life, for that matter. So while we are focused on getting closer to God this Lent, we're going to laugh a bit. We invite you to join us.
There you go. If there's something rubbing you the wrong way about Lent Madness, the SEC, Forward Movement's offerings, or the way Tim runs his parish, please leave a comment. We'll get right back to you.
119 comments on “The SEC Answers Critics”
I recently read that, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the people say "Alleluia" more often as Lent moves toward Easter. Fasting and returning to God are thought to be joyous activities. I like this much better than the "gloom and doom" style of observing Lent.
I love LM. I agree with all the wonderful comments. This is my first year and I have learned so many amazing things. I have introduced LM to my coworkers and friends and it is a topic at our dinner table when I pass on the things I learned to my children. It has been a wonderful experience! Thank you all!!
As an Episcolutheran also known as a Lutherpalian I am constantly trying to explain Lent to my husband, the former Baptist, who says he went to church so often as a child he need never go again. To put some levity into Lent doesn't make it any more Lent, just as forgetting not to say "Alleluia: wouldn't make it any more Not Lent. So continue the madness. I gave giving up for Lent a long time ago. And think this is a great way to learn something about the Saints before me AND remember it IS Lent.
It should be any Less Lent. Oh well. It is late.
I've been referred to as a Cathodist myself. I do believe God recognizes us hybrids, don't you? I have been trying to give up Catholic guilt for lent, but I can't find anyone who'll take it.
Thank you for helping me get closer to God during Lent. Wish I could attend Fr. Tim's church one day. Blessings to you both. Come visit SC anytime. We would love to see y'all.
This is my first time participating in Lent Madness. I am a member of St Mary Magdalene in Coral Springs, Fl who gave us the information. This has been very educational for me. For those who criticize the choices and methods, that is reserved for the theologians. But for some of us who wish to ad our spiritual growth and meditation during the lenten season, this has been a fun and informative twist to our Lenten journey. I love it. Alison Clarke DeSouza, MD
This is my third lent madness and I love it. I find myself counting down the last days to Mardi Gras, not just for the pancakes. I've even suffered from LMW.
I cannot agree more that God has a sense of humor. From Isaac, named "laughter" because his parents thought having a child was impossible, to Jesus making a pun by renaming Simon Peter, i.e. "Rocky," there is humor sprinkled throughout the bible. How can our Creator give us a sense of humor without having one Herself?
I also couldn't agree more that Lent doesn't need to be dour to be effective . The point if Lent, and, most likely, the point of LIFE, is to grow closer and closer to God. Why can't letting go of the roadblocks to God's love be filled with joy instead of, or at least in addition to, sorrow?
While it is indeed ludicrous to pit saints against each other in a "saintly smackdown," (that term always makes me laugh) the truth is that it's a painless, dare I say "fun" in Lent, way to read about so many people and their lives of faith. All of them were real human beings with their flaws and gifts... Apostles, monks, slaves, poets, musicians, 1st to 20th century martyrs; men and women, rich and poor, young and old, from every corner if earth...ALL of them so profoundly moved by the love of Jesus that their lives were irrevocably changed. The very same Jesus inspired each and every one of them. Maybe they're all in a giant coliseum in the sky cheering future saints along. Maybe, just maybe, they're saving a few seats for some of us in that great arena. Maybe there's room for all of us. Maybe Jesus has some inspiration for us, too.
Good Grief! I can't believe the complainers--you wrote great Top 10 responses. Please ignore any future criticizers because this is great for making learning fun & also proving Episcopalians can be humorous!! It's also voluntary--they don't have to read it/be offended! As for errors, we're all only humane :- ) & we're lucky you're making time ib your busy lives for this== Thank you!!
To quote one of my favorite saints, who is glaringly not in the running this Lent, St. Teresa of Avila: "God save us from sour-faced saints!"
Jay Leno is an avid Lent Madness follower. Did you see his bracketology for the new Pope?! Guess Tim and Scott didn't launch that new website soon enough. 🙁
Can we really, really have a Time After Pentecost Madness??????
Tim, you do that. We are having Fifty Days of Fabulous for Easter. No voting (well, we might, who knows!). Stay tuned!
Lawsuits and church closings do certainly seem to get the church in the news but apparently resigning from high office does it too, even better.
(Don't even THINK about it, SEC!!)
This year is my 2nd. LentMadness encounter. Can't say enough good about the program. There are soooo many Saints and Holy Folks that I've never heard of and am pleased to have learned about. Hats off to Scott and Tim and the Bloggers for all their hard work and dedication. Can't wait to find out who will wear the Golden Crown this year.
You guys are awesome! Lent madness is fun and educational (what a concept)! I'm learning about saints I've never even heard of (except Luke and Lucy the martyr) and I look forward to visiting the website every morning I wake up! Also, your 10 responses were healthy and funny! Keep up the good work 🙂
I'm very grateful. Mary Kaye. I believe in the power of prayer. And in return I offer prayer for those who pray for me. Endless circle...
Note to Alison Clarke Desouza MD: Give Mother Cynthia a big Yankee hug from Jo Meachem from Buffalo, NY!
This is my first year with Lent Madness; I saw the article in USA Today. Unfortunately Lent used to be just a Sunday exercise. Now with Lent Madness I think of Lent, its meaning, throughout the week. The saints and the match-ups are very thought provoking and the tongue in cheek commentary is fun. I especially like reading the posts. I even enjoy Maple Anglican. Thank you SEC. If your objective was to bring more people to reflect on Lent, its meaning while having fun you have succeeded. I just wish you had ignored the ferrets with the battle of the Martin Luther’s in the first round. That was a tough one. I suspect the Saintly and Elate rounds will even be harder and more thought provoking.
I see nothing wrong with a dose of good-humored churchiness during Lent. In fact, I've become so attuned to the spirit of Lent Madness that I read the names of the the national mag that picked up on Lent Madness last year as "Sports Illuminated." And that raises visions of some anonymous monk at Lindisfarne or Iona watching Michael Phelps's alignment on a golf course and figuring he could that weird curvature in the initial of some Gospel or other. And speaking of that, does the SEC have ways to include anonymous saints into the bracket? How about the Master of the Parament vs. the Upper Rhenish Master?
This is the best educational program in the church! Like a spoonful of sugar
Don't the critics know the SEC is infallible?
Diggin' Lent Madness (!) and post it daily on our parish FaceBook page along with SSJE's series on prayer. Thanks for helping us keep Lent in such a positive way.
Ignore the critics. They're just jealous cuz they didn't think of Lent Madness first. Carry on, and keep calm. Or carry a keep and calm on. Whatever.
As for Lent being a time of 'giving up' something, it really should be about taking something on. In my case I've found that LM is a great platform for learning more about our holy women and men. Using the tubular miracle of the internets to discover more about the saints in the brackets has been a wonderful experience.
DON'T CHANGE A THING!
Keep up the good and holy work, guys. As my friend Anna has pointed out to me, in the church if you're not pissing someone off, you're probably not doing your job.
This is my first Lent Madness; it's educational and funny, so I don't get the criticism. Of course, my brackets went down the first round, but I don't think it was rigged; some of you just didn't know any better. Now, of course, when it comes to the NCAA, my team will win--Go Orange!
Lent Madness critics need to come to a certain realization. Lent Madness has "saints" in the brackets who may not have even existed as persons. Lent Madness has "saints" who have lives that we know virtually nothing about so the blanks are filled in by wondrous and probably fanciful stories. People have voted for or against certain "saints" based largely on race, gender and even geography. In short Lent Madness is neither a theological exercise nor an exercise where carefully reasoned decisions are always being made.
What Lent Madness has accomplished is making learning about our "saints" fun, instead of it being an exercise as interesting as watching paint dry. In our parish we complete brackets, turn them in with a donation and see who picks the most winners with the winner picking a charity for the money to go to. Guess what, Lent Madness is now actually provoking conversations at coffee hour about guess what, saints! We are learning while at the same time raising money for charity. I think that trumps any complaints about Lent Madness.
I'm your average Plain Jane Episcopalian. Lent Madness has inspired me and has helped me fall even more in love with our Church. I AM LEARNING! If this thing of yours is not spreading the Good News, then nothing is.
This is my second LM and I'm lovin' it. Learning so much about our spiritual ancestors, many of whom I'd never even heard of before. Some of the match ups have been difficult, all have been thought provoking. My EFM group even did a TR on the match up between Nicholas Ferrar and Harriet Tubman. Keep up the good work SEC.
Oh, the silly people who take life too seriously. It is bad for your health! This is my first year with LM and it is delightful. Thanks for doing this.
This is my second year following LM. Easter through Ash Wednesday was a dry season of sorts, and I couldn't wait for Lent to roll around again. Thanks to SEC for all the members do to help us appreciate our diverse heritage.
I have been posting a link to the daily Lent Madness match ups on my page. It is one of the most viewed regular postings I have. I commiserate with your annoyance with nay sayers. I've had a few such comments about my postings from Louie Crew's 365+ Reasons for Becoming an Anglican/Episcopalian. They haven't stopped me either!
Oh, good! Someone else who thinks that Blue for Advent is a horrible idea!