Is fasting part of the Christian lifestyle?

[Extravagance]

Some of the comments on a different thread makes me think that many don't think fasting is desired of us by God. Why do you think He said in Mat 6:16 'When' you fast, not 'if' you fast?

Many commentaries take Mat 5,6 and 7 to be the sermon of the lifestyle Jesus intended us to live, of fastingwithprayer, giving, serving, forgiving, etc. as the highest expression of our devotion, and at the end He says anyone who teaches other than this will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.


Mat 9:15 How can the friends of the Bridegroom fast when He is with them? but the days are coming when He will be taken from them, and then they will fast. Then they will fast seems to mean fasting will be a part of their lifestyle, because like the wise virgins of Matt 25, they have oil in their lamps, and also in vessels, they can't get enough oil, they can't get enough of the Holy Spirit, because they have a revelation of the returning bridegroom. Both of these NT revelations of the Bridegroom deal with hunger for God. The foolish virgins only get enough of the Holy Spirit to get through the day, bare minimum and mostly desire other things for fulfillment.

This fasting is to get more of God, get closer to Him and experience His presence more, hear His voice clearer. I think it is the very essentials of Christianity. The gospel in the west is kind of Americanized for our cultural lifestyle but Jesus seemed to be speaking something deeper than just fasting in crisis or for direction, once every five years.

For the healthy, it is fasting food, to be weak in the body is to have strength in the Spirit to experience God (2Cor12:9). Not that you have to fast to experience God, but that you want more. Fasting increases our capacity to experience the Holy Spirit and receive from God, revelation and affection and His presence. Blessed are the hungry for they will be filled. (Luk 6:21)
Do not be drunk on wine, instead be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18)
You will seek Me and find Me when you seek with all of Your heart. (Jer 29:13)
I pray you be strengthened with might in your inner man... that you may be filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:16-19)

[RabbiKnife]

You forgot an option....

C. Neither

[Extravagance]

You forgot an option....
C. Neither

unsure of your point here.

[RabbiKnife]

The poll question is "Should fasting be a part of a Christian's lifestyle."

The answer options you gave are:
a. Just for the really hungry for God
b. For everyone.

I added:

c. Neither

Your question ASSUMES that all Christians should have fasting as a part of their lifestyle. I disagree with the premise, and added another option.

And, the first option you gave is quite pejorative. If you don't like (c) neither, perhaps we could use

c. for those that really don't want to know God at all

if that would make your poll answers more in line with what you want them to be.

[Extravagance]

Yes what I am looking for is a way of explaining these Scriptures as not being commands to fast, so I can understand any counter-arguments others might have. Am I reading too much into these Scriptures, if so then how? It was supposed to be a cheeky poll not an offensive one.

[RabbiKnife]

In Matthew 6, he was addressing people that used "fasting" as a way of proving how "holy" they were. He was condemning their religious pride, not the act of fasting. But it is certainly not a mandate to fast.

I simply don't find anything in the NT that would be considered a mandate to fast.

[RollTide21]

delete post.........

[Moses65]

In Matthew 6, he was addressing people that used "fasting" as a way of proving how "holy" they were. He was condemning their religious pride, not the act of fasting. But it is certainly not a mandate to fast.

I simply don't find anything in the NT that would be considered a mandate to fast.

Great Point, RabbiKnife! I have never heard this view and yet it makes complete sense.
Thanks.

[keck553]

You forgot another option:

It's personal.

[BroRog]

Some of the comments on a different thread makes me think that many don't think fasting is desired of us by God. Why do you think He said in Mat 6:16 'When' you fast, not 'if' you fast?

He was talking to his fellow Jews who practice a ritual fast as part of their religion.

Many commentaries take Mat 5,6 and 7 to be the sermon of the lifestyle Jesus intended us to live, of fastingwithprayer, giving, serving, forgiving, etc. as the highest expression of our devotion, and at the end He says anyone who teaches other than this will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.

The only mention of fasting in the sermon is Jesus' instruction that fasting should be done such that others can't tell. Fasting isn't commanded or commended in the sermon.

Mat 9:15 How can the friends of the Bridegroom fast when He is with them? but the days are coming when He will be taken from them, and then they will fast. Then they will fast seems to mean fasting will be a part of their lifestyle, because like the wise virgins of Matt 25, they have oil in their lamps, and also in vessels, they can't get enough oil, they can't get enough of the Holy Spirit, because they have a revelation of the returning bridegroom. Both of these NT revelations of the Bridegroom deal with hunger for God. The foolish virgins only get enough of the Holy Spirit to get through the day, bare minimum and mostly desire other things for fulfillment.

With regard to Matthew 9:15, we need to be careful here. When Jesus talks about going away, is he talking about going away into heaven, or is he talking about going into the grave? I think he is talking about the latter. He tells us that where two or more are gathered in his name, he is there. So if we want to say that we fast to be closer to the Lord, it seems to me that fasting is not the way to be closer to the Lord, meeting with other Christians is the way to get closer to the Lord.

As for the parable of the Ten Virgins, I don't think the oil represents the Holy Spirit. The oil and the lamp work together to convey the need to prepare for a delay.

This fasting is to get more of God, get closer to Him and experience His presence more, hear His voice clearer. I think it is the very essentials of Christianity. The gospel in the west is kind of Americanized for our cultural lifestyle but Jesus seemed to be speaking something deeper than just fasting in crisis or for direction, once every five years.

For the healthy, it is fasting food, to be weak in the body is to have strength in the Spirit to experience God (2Cor12:9). Not that you have to fast to experience God, but that you want more. Fasting increases our capacity to experience the Holy Spirit and receive from God, revelation and affection and His presence. Blessed are the hungry for they will be filled. (Luk 6:21)
Do not be drunk on wine, instead be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18)
You will seek Me and find Me when you seek with all of Your heart. (Jer 29:13)
I pray you be strengthened with might in your inner man... that you may be filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:16-19)

I don't see any Biblical evidence for the claims you are making about fasting. There is very little in the NT about fasting, except a couple of passages in acts in which it is said that the disciples prayed and fasted during critical times when decisions needed to be made about missionary journeys and such. After acts, the practice of fasting is not mentioned again in the NT. In the gospels, Jesus is critical of the Pharisees who fasted for show, and he seems to imply that fasting is the "old wine" that belongs in the old wine skins.

So, I see that Jesus fasted for 40 days, and the disciples fasted when they prayed. But, I don't find any explanation for why Jesus fasted or why the disciples fasted. And I don't have any teachings, either from Jesus or the apostles as to why I should fast, or what difference it makes to God. I don't feel comfortable about cobbling something together from unrelated passages of scripture.

[Caver]

I do believe fasting is both expected of us and of much value to us. I have heard many experienced pastors teach that nothing moves the Hand of God faster than fasting.

Personal experience mirrors that reported by far more experienced Brothers that have fasted far longer than I. After a while prayers seem to be deeper and more intense and periods of meditation on Gods will and scripture more productive.

So, yes, I believe fasting should be part of every Christians life.

[Neanias]

I answered "just for the really hungry for God"... I'll add a twist: let me explain.

If one isn't hungry for God, then he shouldn't be fasting; it wouldn't be honest.

It's a catch 22, see if you get it ...

[Longsufferer]

Seeing that fasting means "going without", which is not exclusive to eating only, but to any thing which would distract us from having God in our thoughts; which things are many in this present time. It is when we fast (go without) is when our prayer returns into our bosom, which is the rioght frme of mind.

[Firstfruits]

I believe that fasting is about patience, which is how we apply the following scripture.

1 Cor 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Mt 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Mk 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Firstfruits

[Servant89]

In Matthew 6, he was addressing people that used "fasting" as a way of proving how "holy" they were. He was condemning their religious pride, not the act of fasting. But it is certainly not a mandate to fast.

I simply don't find anything in the NT that would be considered a mandate to fast.

Slowly for surely, I am becoming a fan.

Yes indeed. We do not have to do it. That is what is called .... freedom.

But some of us should do it. (By the way, I do not do it, but I think I should)

Not all are called to be pastors, but some should do it.

Not all are called with the gift of administration, but some are.

Here is a good reason why we SHOULD (I did not say HAVE TO) do it.

Mt 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Mk 2:19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Lk 5:34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

The Scripture quoted by Firstfruits is another good one. Those in the ministry dealing with demons should be aware of the extra power inherently given through fasting.

Jesus was taken to the desert by the Spirit to fast 40 days. This is how he returned from fasting 40 days.

Lk 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

Shalom