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Whatever Happened to Fasting? There
was a time when fasting was a regular part of
the Christian life. That was years and years
ago. What did God say about this spiritual
exercise and is there really any place for it in
today's food-filled world?
was a time when fasting was a regular part of
the Christian life. That was years and years
ago. What did God say about this spiritual
exercise and is there really any place for it in
today's food-filled world?
Fasting. It’s not the opposite of slowing. In some circles,
this spiritual strength-builder has faded into near obscurity.
According to John M. Drescher, fasting deserves renewed
consideration.
Fasting is, from the start, not particularly appealing. We
love our big meals, coffee breaks and midnight snacks. It is,
simply put, the practice of going without food for a specified
period of time for a spiritual purpose. It is a form of worship
and spiritual self-discipline. It may also be done for physical
well-being, but, for the most part, biblical fasting is for a
spiritual purpose.
A Fresh Look
Many people steer clear of fasting because of the criticism.
“It is better to do something positive than to deny
ourselves.” Others point out that “the kingdom has come
and our faith is one of joy and fullness.” Still others point
out that in the Bible, “the man who fasted twice a week was
sharply rebuked.”
The Scripture speaks of fasting about 55 times, with about
an equal number of times in Old and New Testaments.
Matthew records that Christ fasted. But does he command
fasting as a practice for us, his followers?
Jesus’ Commendation
In Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus says “Moreover when ye fast, be
not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance: for they
disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to
fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou,
when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father
which is in secret and thy Father, which seeth in secret,
shall reward thee openly.”
Here Jesus not only assumes fasting on the part of his
followers, but commends it. It seems his disciples accepted
the practice. Christ is concerned only with the manner in
which his followers carry out a practice everyone took for
granted.
In Matthew 17:21, Jesus again commended fasting to
those who would do his work. There are tasks, he said, for
his followers, which are accomplished only by prayer and
fasting. Jesus, in condemning the motives of the Pharisees
in their tithing, praying and fasting, was not saying that we
should cease fasting any more than he was telling them to
cease giving or praying. These are not the kind of things to
organize or publicize “to be seen of men”.
It is true that few things lead more quickly to Pharisaism,
popular show, or false security than giving, praying and
fasting. The very fact that Satan attacks here so severely
points to the potential of all these for God rather than the
elimination of these from our lives. It is a call to the practice
of right and Christian motives. Jesus was criticized by the
Pharisees because his disciples did not fast as they did
(Mt. 9:11). Jesus’ answer was that “the days will come,
when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then
shall they fast” (Mt 9:15). Can we infer that Jesus expected
his disciples to fast? Perhaps more correctly, it could be
said that fasting was commended but not commanded by
Christ. It seems he assumed his disciples would fast.
The Apostles’ Practice
After Christ left, the disciples fasted and prayed while they
tarried in Jerusalem. It seems the disciples accepted the
practice. Notice in Acts 13:2,3 what took place in the
commissioning of Paul and Barnabas. “As they ministered
to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me
Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called
them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their
hands on them, they sent them away.”
Paul speaks of “(giving) yourselves to fasting and prayer”
in special seasons and on special occasions (1Cor. 7:5),
and also of ministers of God approving themselves in
fasting, along with watchings and labors (2Cor. 6:5). Luke
in Acts 14:23 tells us that fasting and prayer were a part of
the appointment of the elders in every church.
A Fasting Primer
So how do we go about fasting in a doughnut-filled, snack-
obsessed world?
There are basically three kinds of fasts. The total or
absolute fast is abstaining from all food and liquid. Three
days without water is the limit for the body.
The partial fast restricts the amount of food or the kind of
food, or both.
The regular fast refers to the practice of fasting from food
on a certain day or meal on a regular basis.
There is, of course, a fasting also from TV, the telephone,
the media, shopping, or any other desire or addiction which
has a grip on life.
Getting Started
The following can help one begin a life of fasting and
prayer. Have a spiritual goal in mind, such as knowing
Christ and His Word better or to overcome some habit.
Seek to sincerely worship the Lord.
Don't be disappointed if your prayer and fasting, at times,
is a difficult and a dry experience. Begin with fasting a meal
a week and spend that time in prayer and reading of the
Scripture. A teacher, who said she had never fasted one
meal for a spiritual purpose before, fasted one meal each
day for a month. She had to share the blessings she
experienced spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally,
and in every other way.
Practice fasting one meal or one day for some time before
launching into longer periods. Expect a headache if you
drink coffee or tea. This is a withdrawal symptom. To
avoid these, drink juices instead several days before you
fast.
In a three day or longer fast, expect feelings of weakness
for one or two days if you have been overeating.
Expect a real awareness of those things which bring you
into bondage.
If health is questionable, consult your doctor, especially for
more lengthy fasts.
Physical Benefits
Much has been written in recent years about the physical
value of fasting. Popular magazines have carried articles.
James Morrison long ago said something which was
repeated in one way or another over the centuries and
especially in our day: “There are multitudes of diseases
which have their origin in fullness, and might have their end
in fasting.” Testimonies to this truth are numerous, and our
much eating no doubt brings spiritual drowsiness and
sluggishness as well as physical.
Spiritual Blessings
Above all, the Scriptures seem to speak quite clearly
concerning spiritual blessings to those who keep the fast in
its true spirit. There are some rather striking promises
connected with the fast as recorded in Isaiah 58:6-9. There
are individual and corporate blessings. There are spiritual
and physical blessings.
I remember that, as a boy, it was the practice in our
community to refrain from food previous to the communion
service. We were expected to spend the hours in prayer
and Bible reading. I’m not sure what all this meant to me as
a boy; I do know that it left a deep impression that the
communion service was something extremely important and
heart-searching and that being a Christian was serious
business.
Is Jesus saying to us again, “These things come only by
prayer and fasting?” There is no telling what God will do if
we pray and fast unto the Father which is in secret.
What could God do if his children became more concerned
about spiritual things to the extent they could say, like
Jesus, in the midst of spiritual need, “I have meat to eat that
ye know not of?” For true fasting flows from a burdened
heart which experiences a greater concern for another
person and purpose than for the flesh and abundance of
food.
John M Drescher is a pastor and writer from the Mennonite
Church tradition. He lives in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.
this spiritual strength-builder has faded into near obscurity.
According to John M. Drescher, fasting deserves renewed
consideration.
Fasting is, from the start, not particularly appealing. We
love our big meals, coffee breaks and midnight snacks. It is,
simply put, the practice of going without food for a specified
period of time for a spiritual purpose. It is a form of worship
and spiritual self-discipline. It may also be done for physical
well-being, but, for the most part, biblical fasting is for a
spiritual purpose.
A Fresh Look
Many people steer clear of fasting because of the criticism.
“It is better to do something positive than to deny
ourselves.” Others point out that “the kingdom has come
and our faith is one of joy and fullness.” Still others point
out that in the Bible, “the man who fasted twice a week was
sharply rebuked.”
The Scripture speaks of fasting about 55 times, with about
an equal number of times in Old and New Testaments.
Matthew records that Christ fasted. But does he command
fasting as a practice for us, his followers?
Jesus’ Commendation
In Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus says “Moreover when ye fast, be
not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance: for they
disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to
fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou,
when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father
which is in secret and thy Father, which seeth in secret,
shall reward thee openly.”
Here Jesus not only assumes fasting on the part of his
followers, but commends it. It seems his disciples accepted
the practice. Christ is concerned only with the manner in
which his followers carry out a practice everyone took for
granted.
In Matthew 17:21, Jesus again commended fasting to
those who would do his work. There are tasks, he said, for
his followers, which are accomplished only by prayer and
fasting. Jesus, in condemning the motives of the Pharisees
in their tithing, praying and fasting, was not saying that we
should cease fasting any more than he was telling them to
cease giving or praying. These are not the kind of things to
organize or publicize “to be seen of men”.
It is true that few things lead more quickly to Pharisaism,
popular show, or false security than giving, praying and
fasting. The very fact that Satan attacks here so severely
points to the potential of all these for God rather than the
elimination of these from our lives. It is a call to the practice
of right and Christian motives. Jesus was criticized by the
Pharisees because his disciples did not fast as they did
(Mt. 9:11). Jesus’ answer was that “the days will come,
when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then
shall they fast” (Mt 9:15). Can we infer that Jesus expected
his disciples to fast? Perhaps more correctly, it could be
said that fasting was commended but not commanded by
Christ. It seems he assumed his disciples would fast.
The Apostles’ Practice
After Christ left, the disciples fasted and prayed while they
tarried in Jerusalem. It seems the disciples accepted the
practice. Notice in Acts 13:2,3 what took place in the
commissioning of Paul and Barnabas. “As they ministered
to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me
Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called
them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their
hands on them, they sent them away.”
Paul speaks of “(giving) yourselves to fasting and prayer”
in special seasons and on special occasions (1Cor. 7:5),
and also of ministers of God approving themselves in
fasting, along with watchings and labors (2Cor. 6:5). Luke
in Acts 14:23 tells us that fasting and prayer were a part of
the appointment of the elders in every church.
A Fasting Primer
So how do we go about fasting in a doughnut-filled, snack-
obsessed world?
There are basically three kinds of fasts. The total or
absolute fast is abstaining from all food and liquid. Three
days without water is the limit for the body.
The partial fast restricts the amount of food or the kind of
food, or both.
The regular fast refers to the practice of fasting from food
on a certain day or meal on a regular basis.
There is, of course, a fasting also from TV, the telephone,
the media, shopping, or any other desire or addiction which
has a grip on life.
Getting Started
The following can help one begin a life of fasting and
prayer. Have a spiritual goal in mind, such as knowing
Christ and His Word better or to overcome some habit.
Seek to sincerely worship the Lord.
Don't be disappointed if your prayer and fasting, at times,
is a difficult and a dry experience. Begin with fasting a meal
a week and spend that time in prayer and reading of the
Scripture. A teacher, who said she had never fasted one
meal for a spiritual purpose before, fasted one meal each
day for a month. She had to share the blessings she
experienced spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally,
and in every other way.
Practice fasting one meal or one day for some time before
launching into longer periods. Expect a headache if you
drink coffee or tea. This is a withdrawal symptom. To
avoid these, drink juices instead several days before you
fast.
In a three day or longer fast, expect feelings of weakness
for one or two days if you have been overeating.
Expect a real awareness of those things which bring you
into bondage.
If health is questionable, consult your doctor, especially for
more lengthy fasts.
Physical Benefits
Much has been written in recent years about the physical
value of fasting. Popular magazines have carried articles.
James Morrison long ago said something which was
repeated in one way or another over the centuries and
especially in our day: “There are multitudes of diseases
which have their origin in fullness, and might have their end
in fasting.” Testimonies to this truth are numerous, and our
much eating no doubt brings spiritual drowsiness and
sluggishness as well as physical.
Spiritual Blessings
Above all, the Scriptures seem to speak quite clearly
concerning spiritual blessings to those who keep the fast in
its true spirit. There are some rather striking promises
connected with the fast as recorded in Isaiah 58:6-9. There
are individual and corporate blessings. There are spiritual
and physical blessings.
I remember that, as a boy, it was the practice in our
community to refrain from food previous to the communion
service. We were expected to spend the hours in prayer
and Bible reading. I’m not sure what all this meant to me as
a boy; I do know that it left a deep impression that the
communion service was something extremely important and
heart-searching and that being a Christian was serious
business.
Is Jesus saying to us again, “These things come only by
prayer and fasting?” There is no telling what God will do if
we pray and fast unto the Father which is in secret.
What could God do if his children became more concerned
about spiritual things to the extent they could say, like
Jesus, in the midst of spiritual need, “I have meat to eat that
ye know not of?” For true fasting flows from a burdened
heart which experiences a greater concern for another
person and purpose than for the flesh and abundance of
food.
John M Drescher is a pastor and writer from the Mennonite
Church tradition. He lives in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.
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