Fasting

I suppose it is rather contradictory to talk about fasting after having just finished by Pop-Tart! Nevertheless, I will.

Sometime in my journey of faith, I know I have fasted. But that memory is distant and almost non-existent. That spiritual exercise has never been a part of my growing in Christ. Therefore, I expect that I have missed something.

In the lengthy discourse given by Jesus to his disciples, as Matthew records it, Jesus focuses on three spiritual disciplines; giving, prayer, and fasting. His introductory remarks to each of these is not "if" you do them, but "when" you do them. They are not new to any of his intimate hearers, they are expected practices.

Frankly, I am gung-ho for the first two, but that third one scares the daylights out of me.

As a part of my examining Matthew 6:16-18, I did some supplemental reading on fasting. The practice of that discipline as it sets in the Old Testament, New Testament, and practices in the Church today. Most of it was what I knew already, fasting was a regular practice, often done two times a week or associated with special occasions or needs.  For the ancients up to and including NT times, fasting was usually done on what we call Monday and Thursday. For the believers, it moved to Friday and Sunday. Practices today vary but are seldom seen in Protestant churches, usually in Anglican or Catholic assemblies.

The intent of fasting is a redirection of focus - off self and onto God. I suspect that for those new to the practice, like myself, the focus would initially be off self and onto food. Then I might progress to off self onto how good I'm doing (oops that is "self" isn't it?). Then, if I am disciplined enough to continue the practice, off self onto God.

I have a least one friend who I know fasts. For my others I am not certain. Which I suspect is appropriate.

In preaching a sermon series through the Sermon on the mount, talking about the Lord's Prayer, my pastor has said "You are not a Christian if you do not pray." I'll be interested if he says the same thing about fasting.  I suspect he won't.

Of course, just like the Pharisees, if you read different selections by churches or groups, you will find "fasting" includes everything form restraining from just certain foods, to restraining from looking out the window for the day.  :)   In other words, fast, but do not make it totally inconvenient.

We are even told by nutritionists that going long periods without food is not good. Uhm....somebody should have told Moses or Jesus that.

I'm not going to say what my intent is toward this discipline. However I do think it is a valid part of Christian discipline. So I suspect I better practice my "oh, I'm not fasting" face.