What About Fasting Today? A few weeks ago a good brother asked the above question. I have learned if one has a good Bible question, usually many have the same question but never ask. The word is not found in the Mosaic Law, however it is found often in the historical books and prophets of the Old Testament, and the idea is included in the commands concerning the "day of atonement" in the Law. Israel was told to "afflict your souls" on that day.(Lev. 16:29-31) Because of the special significance of what was done relative to the sins of the people, the solemnity of the occasion necessitated they deprive themselves of amusements and fast. This is the only time God commanded fasting to occur. As time passed, Israel began keeping several fasts a year which were signs of grief, mourning over sins, some calamity, or humiliation. Zechariah mentions four fasts Israel kept after the Babylonian captivity.(8:19) Israel also fasted upon occasions of special devotion to God. Besides national fasting, a number of Old Testament examples include individuals fasting for similar reasons. Some of both examples include:
1. Israel fasting over their sins.(Neh. 9:1) 2. Israel fasting over divine judgment which resulted in calamity.(Joel 1:13-14) 3. David fasting due to his grief over Abner's death.(II Sam. 3:35) 4. David fasting before the death of his son by Bathsheba.(II Sam. 12:16) 5. Moses and Elijah fasting upon occasions of great spiritual involvement.(Ex. 34:28; I Kings 19:8) 6. Hannah fasting on account of her childlessness.(I Sam. 1:4-8)
By the time of Christ, some Pharisees fasted twice a week.(Luke 18:12) Jesus condemned the hypocrites of His day for fasting with the motive of being "seen of men."(Matt. 6:16) He did say, "But thou, when thou fastest(indicating there would be times when true disciples would fast--p.a.o.) , anoint thy head, and wash thy face; that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee."(Matt. 6:17-18) The life of Paul as well as examples of the early church indicate fasting was associated with activities involving great spiritual concerns. For example: 1. The church at Antioch "fasted and prayed" when Paul and Barnabas had been divinely chosen to travel on what was the first journey.(Acts 13:1-3) 2. Paul and Barnabas and perhaps the churches established on their first journey fasted and prayed over the appointment of elders.(Acts 14:23) 3. Paul evidently fasted under trying circumstances.(II Cor. 6:5) Having said this, Jesus' statement in Luke 5:33-35 sheds much light on the nature of fasting. Jesus and His disciples were reprimanded for not fasting as John's disciples. Jesus answered, "Can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come; and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast in those days." In essence, fasting was uncharacteristic of a time of happiness and joy--He was with them at the present. But the time would come when they would be sad as a result of His departure--they would fast then. Therefore, rather than a command to observe, Jesus' words indicate fasting would be the effect of a cause--it would come as a natural outgrowth of deep concern over spiritual matters. This seems to square with the events of the early church when fasting occurred. Advocates for self-imposed fasting today usually make two arguments. One is that it is beneficial to one's health. The other is that it strengthens the "inner man." Jerry Falwell states: "Fasting gives us victory over fleshly desires. I am convinced that if a person has a problem with a besetting sin, fasting is one way to get deliverance. If a person is a slave to alcohol, fasting is one tool that can break the chains of that slavery. When a person says 'No" to his natural appetite (food), he is building the willpower to say 'No' to fleshly appetite(alcohol). Beyond this, God sees his sincerity and gives him power to overcome his fleshly habit." However, if Jesus was concerned for the health of His disciples, He would have either commanded or encouraged them to fast for that reason. He did not do this! Further, if as Falwell says, fasting helps us spiritually, certainly Jesus or the apostles would not have neglected saying something so helpful. The truth is that the Scripture teaches physical deprivation of things that are right does NOT help us spiritually. "Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--'Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,' which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."(Col. 2:20-23) Is there no time for fasting today? Sewell Hall's following statement may help. "I must confess that the difference between our practice today and that of the New Testament Christians has disturbed me. When evangelists were being sent out from Antioch, the brethren fasted and prayed(Acts 13:3). Today on such an occasion we feast and play. But what are we to do, announce a fast, meet together, and have a prayer or two? I do not think that this would duplicate what happened in Antioch. If I understand what Jesus was saying, we would be announcing an effect and then attempting to create a cause. The better plan would be to gather without provision even for coffee and doughnuts and become so absorbed in discussion and prayer that we would not even be aware of the passing of time or the missing of meals. Fasting then would not be a burden, for we could say with Jesus, 'I have food to eat of which you do not know.'(John 4:32) Our problem is not too little fasting but too little prayer and spiritual concentration that would naturally result in fasting."("Acts Associated With Prayer," Praise, Prayer And Providence, Florida College Annual Lectures, 1987, p. 132.) Bro. Hall concludes his lecture by quoting from Donald Mackenzie in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church: "We may conclude, then, that, according to the NT, fasting is not enjoined or even recommended as a spiritual help. The ideal is life with the risen Christ, which involves not only total renunciation of all sinful actions but self-restraint in all conduct. When the individual Christian finds fasting to be a part of this self-restraint, then it is useful; but one fails to find any proof in the NT that fasting is necessarily an element of self-restraint. When it is an effect of an absorbing spiritual emotion, or when practiced to aid the poor, or involuntarily undergone in the straits of Christian duty, then it is highly commendable." Summarized from the foregoing I believe the following facts about fasting can be learned: 1. Jews were commanded to fast only once a year. They were told to "afflict your souls" on "day of atonement." (Lev. 16:29-31) 2. After Babylonian captivity Jews kept at least 4 fasts.(Zech. 8:19)
(II Sam. 12:16; I Kings 19:8) (Matt. 4:2; Luke 5:33-35; Acts 13:2,3; 14:23) Testament practice commanded to continue for individuals. |