Spanking During Lent

As Lent approaches, many Christians around the world will begin their preparations for the Easter season by making a Lenten sacrifice. And I don't just mean our Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ, either; many Christian denominations include Lent as a required or optional season for Christian growth, including Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and even some fundamentalist Christian groups.

A conversation came up on FetLife about the good of adding or giving up spanking during Lent. Of course, the group's members came up with no consensus, but I thought it was worth sharing. Here are some ideas to consider:

• The Lenten season is to be one of solemnity and penance, preparing our hearts to receive the joy of Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday. We are to follow Christ's model and bear our cross, embracing His suffering. For many people, spanking--because of its sexual nature--may not be an appropriate sacrifice for Lent.
• Some people, especially BDSMers, really like spanking. I mean really, really like spanking. They get some sort of kick from it, whether it is sexual, pain/pleasure, relaxing, kinky, or just the rush of endorphins. For people who enjoy spanking, perhaps giving it up could be a fitting sacrifice.
• Other people do NOT like spanking, and use it only as a punishment in their BDSM relationships. For these people, adding physical pain like what Christ endured could be a good sacrifice during the season.

As always, whether you choose to add spanking or give up spanking or do nothing at all, it depends upon the two people in your relationship and what they enjoy doing. If you feel spanking can help you bring to mind Christ's sufferings, teach you spiritual discipline, or bring you closer to God, then it's something to think about!