Most conservative evangelicals functionally believe that we shouldn't fast, even if theoretically they think it is appropriate in the church age. This is probably due to the lack of interest in the physical and (not unconnected) right suspicion of justification by works.
God is not pleased with fasting in and of itself (Is 58:3), and it is not something that he needs to receive from us. Fasting is not something with inherent worth that we can present to God, although he does respond to his people fasting as he does to prayer.
However, I think evangelicals would be more likely to give it a place as a discipline which bears on us rather than God. I think it is often seen as a way to develop self-control, holiness and a desire for God (ala John Piper?). However, this seems to ignore that the Bible seems to see it as a response to felt need, practised irregularly in order to obtain a particular blessing from God.
Perhaps, it is better to see it joined with prayer as an expression of need. Like donning sackcloth and ashes it is not something we offer to God as some 'thing' but an expression of how empty we are before God.
We feel we need God's blessing, so we express that in words by prayer. But as psychosomatic beings we should express particularly serious awareness of need physically as well. It is not uncommon for those suffering from depression, and other mental illnesses, to suffer a loss of appetite. Even if we haven't experienced that most of us know what it is like to be sufficiently preoccupied or stressed to 'not feel like eating'. Fasting in the Bible is tied to these extreme times of mourning or crisis where food should be the last thing on our mind.
This does not mean that we should just fast when we feel like it though, just as we should not only pray when we feel like it. It is good to fast when we know we should fast even if we don't feel like it; just as it is good to pray when we know we should pray even if we don't feel like it.
I hope that makes sense.
I hope it's okay to share my experience with fasting. Your reference to John Piper brought it back to mind because it was through an article on his site that I first seriously considered that Christians ought to be practicing this on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the original motivation was to "prove" that God is more important to me than anything else. Then, I came across a Bible-based online program that emphasized fasting as one spiritual "tool" most believers neglect far too often when petitioning the Lord.
My thoughts went something like "He DIED for me, therefore, if I actually have been born again, I ought to be able to summon up enough Spirit-reinforced will power in order to offer back a weekly, 12-hour fast--punctuated by prayer and meditation on scripture which expresses my acknowledgment of how much I need Him to get me through the day."
That might seem foolish, but because of my ongoing battle with gluttony, it seemed like the perfect response at the time.
And it worked. Sort of. I did find a measure of freedom and benefited greatly from spending extra time in prayer and reading of my Bible.
Then, I had a severe spiritual upheaval during which I was questioning everything I'd been taught, wondering whether I was self-deceived, and terrified I'd end up standing in the goat-herd on judgment day. The reality of seeing what a sinner I am was eating me alive and I couldn't find comfort anywhere. Even when consulting scripture, I constantly gravitated toward the most mournful Psalms as they expressed the hopeless sense of lostness I was feeling even as I pleaded with God for answers.
Because of this, I found I had no interest in food. It became a chore to try to eat a meal and all I wanted was to have peace in my soul. My spiritual state was being reflected in my eating habits. On one level, I can identify with Daniel 10:1-3. A state of mourning tends to kill the appetite naturally.
(Sorry, this is getting long)
I recently was considering something Jesus said about fasting:
Luke 5:33-35
And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink."
And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days."
The Lord has been gracious to open my eyes to be able to see better how the physical shadow-pictures relate to spiritual reality that we cannot yet fully comprehend. Fasting mirrors the spiritual hunger we feel when we are not in the immediate presence of Christ.
Anyway, what I was able to finally recognize is that physically, we often can see the effects of what is happening in the spiritual realm. In a sense, my soul was "fasting", as the true Bread of Heaven seemed to be nowhere in sight. I was spiritually starving and knew it and physical food was no longer a priority. Recognition of sin and need accompanied by godly sorrow seem to fall right in line with the proper attitude that is to accompany a fast.
When the Lord finally let me up, food still didn't appeal all that much but I was "feasting" on His goodness for weeks. Everywhere I looked--in scripture, in conversation--even the mundane chores of everyday life screamed to me about how amazing God is. The experience is as addictive as any chocolate candy and it could be easy to get distracted in looking for an emotional high instead of close communion with God. The little appetizer-like "taste" of His glory definitely leaves one hungering for the main course!
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Heather
That is very helpful, thanks Heather.
ReplyDeleteI think that fits in with what I was struggling to express (did you think it did?)
Fasting should not be seen as a work, or something we offer back to God. Serious mourning over sin, and external sorrows, should lead to a loss of appetite. That's natural, and we should express it rather than hold back.
But hearing and believing God's promises of forgiveness and new life should restore our appetite. The emptyness of our lostness and our fasting, should be mirrored by feasting on Christ (John 6 and your experience), and also feasting on his gifts of physical food.
But, that feasting on physical food shouldn't be gluttony either. I know eating excessively can sometimes be a way to make me feel better (a counterfeit god), but if I am satisfied in God I shouldn't need to do that. But I should enjoy what he has given - for his promises are for physical as well as spiritual fullness.
On reflection I think you can think of fasting as primarily:
1. bearing upon God (to obtain blessing);
2. bearing upon you (a tool to discipline the flesh); or
3. Self-expression to God.
I think it is all three, but first of all it is 3. If it is not self-expression you won't get the other two - it will seem like work in God's eyes, and will increase your pride making you less dependant and holy in yourself.
Spiritual sin led to physical death in Adam. Full Spiritual healing comes when we get full physical healing at the resurrection. So we should remember that the physical naturally should mirror the Spiritual. That also ties in with the sacraments by the way. Sometimes there is a disconnect between the physical and the Spiritual in this life (body wastes away, but inner person is renewed), but that is always temporary and not the way we are designed. I think contemporary medicine is finally realising what the Bible has been saying for centuries.
I'm glad my comment didn't distract terribly from your point.
ReplyDeleteI've been known to wander off topic on occasion. :)
On reflection I think you can think of fasting as primarily:
1. bearing upon God (to obtain blessing);
2. bearing upon you (a tool to discipline the flesh); or
3. Self-expression to God.
I think it is all three, but first of all it is 3. If it is not self-expression you won't get the other two - it will seem like work in God's eyes, and will increase your pride making you less dependant and holy in yourself.
Interesting thoughts. I'll have to contemplate for a while.
You may be right about contemporary medicine. It does seem that the more "advances" we make in our human arrogance, the worse off we are in the long run. Side effects from treatments often bring more pain and complication than just setting the situation in Jesus' hands and living with (or dying from) a condition.
Is it an indication that we don't actually trust the Lord when we make use of modern medical offerings? That's a tough call for Christians when this existence is what we know, we have the potential to "heal" on some level-- but know that ultimately we will pass out of this life anyway.
Our (US) govt has been pushing for years to get a federally-run socialized medical system in place. It is likely going to be a disaster as it seems to be the pattern with nearly every other thing we hand over while trusting in man's wisdom rather than God. But, I wonder if it isn't exactly what needs to happen because, in our country, our appreciation for health and freedom has become serious idolatry.
If the Lord would hand over Israel to be destroyed by the enemies it tried to befriend, I don't see why He wouldn't allow us to have our way to show us how foolish we are.
Okay. I'm back in full form. There's an off-topic comment for your file. ;)
Heather