Fasting--what is that? And why should we do anything so seemingly ridiculous? What does going without food have to do with one's spiritual life? Why is it considered to be a spiritual discipline? And how do we preach on this subject in today's culture?
Well, when in American culture do we EVER practice self-denial, self-control like this? We are in a Super Size me culture. The microwave culture. The instant gratification culture. And as the above SuperSize Me video shows, the results are not pretty, either physically or spiritually.
Think--why is Apple now the largest company in the world? Yes, they have great products and fabulous designs. But they are also the largest company in the world because they have tapped into impulsive desires. Apple knew that if they could make it where people could buy a song or album that they just heard for $1/$10--or put out a new phone each year that people had to have--they would make a lot of money. And they have.
Fasting and self-denial is counter-cultural. And for that reason, we need it even more. Our focus upon ourselves and instant gratification shows up in our credit card debt, affairs, and what we eat. Fasting teaches us that we can wait, that our cravings do not control us, that God is above all.
There are numerous passages on fasting, and fasting is almost always linked to PRAYER. Jesus himself fasted before facing temptation (Luke 4:2). And while physically weak, if fasting draws us closer to God, he may have been spiritually strong THEN--maybe even fasting so as to be able to face Satan's temptations. Jesus also says, "when you fast..." (Mt. 6:16f).
I think that what Dallas Willard said about the spiritual disciplines of solitude and silence--you practice these, so that when you need to be silent you can be--can be applied to fasting. Fasting is a form of self-denial, and we practice this in fasting so that when we are called to self-denial, we have practiced this and have asked God's help in this.
Finally, I think that 1 Corinthians 9:24f is a good passage/approach to this subject when preaching: "24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."
Fasting is a type of training of our body, mind, and spirit, not as an end goal, but as a way to help us in drawing closer to God and for our sanctification as we seek the prize of eternal life.
What are your thoughts on fasting?
Comment
Ok, I'm on a roll and I apologize. Last reply (unless someone asks me a question). I very much dislike the use of the word "fasting" for giving up the internet or television or a type of music. While there may be some precedent in Isaiah 58:6,7
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
However, if you read the text clearly the "fasting" is not giving up something, it is actually performing acts of justice. Isaiah is using "fasting" in a metaphorical sense and chastising Israel for it's lack of justice. So there really isn't a precedent to say "I'm going to fast from Instagram."
Fasting is related directly to food. If you fast you are giving up food, not Facebook.
Now, there is nothing wrong with taking a vacation from Facebook or social media. I'm just wanting to make the distinction that fasting is primarily about giving up food.
Why is that a big deal to me? Because some people will think they have engaged in the discipline of fasting when all they have done is temporarily stopped some practice that has nothing to do with food at all. When they then hear of the discipline of fasting they dismiss it immediately because they think, "oh, I do that. For Lent I gave up Netflix." And they end up missing out on the true practice which is a body-response to a "grievous spiritual moment."
Ok. Sorry for the ramble. I'll shut up now! 8^)
Scot calls this the "grievous sacred moment." You can find a review of Scot's book here: http://christiancognition.blogspot.com/2011/02/fasting-by-scot-mckn....
While I disagree with the reviewer's dislikes (I didn't find Scot's repetition distracting at all)--the reviewer does give a good summation of the book. I highly recommend McKnight's treatment on the subject.
My father taught me fasting as a very young adult and it has been a practice of mine for years.
Again, I do not recommend it as an attempt to receive something, but as a response to what is going on in your life.
An interesting connection is the phrase in the Hebrew Scriptures: "Humble yourself". To "humble oneself" is most often connected to fasting. In fact, it has led some to see this phrase as a synonym with fasting.
In the Didache ("The Teaching of the Twelve"--a training guide for new Christians written around the last decades of the first century), Christians were instructed to fast two days a week (I forget the exact days--I think Tuesdays and Thursdays).
Also, Scott McKnight has a wonderful book on fasting. The important thing to realize is that fasting is not done to cause an effect. It is not done to get God to do something or to make oneself more spiritual. It is done as a reaction to a challenging life event, spiritual experience, or deep emotional pain. If something meaningful happens in the course of fasting, or if God does something: wonderful. But that isn't the purpose or the intent behind fasting.
Wow, Jerri. Thank you for sharing. I appreciate your powerful testimony--especially about God helping you through this despite your health issues. I have to say that I do not always fast as I should not because of the hunger from fasting, but because of blood sugar levels and how it makes me feel. I am sure that God would want us to take care of our health, and fasting is not the end goal. But I definitely appreciate your thoughts and testimony. Blessings, dear sister!
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