|
Fasting
Jul 21, 2011 12:42:00 GMT -5
Post by Kerrick on Jul 21, 2011 12:42:00 GMT -5
There may be another thread on this but nothing came up in the search... Anyways, my church and Bible study group have been going through the Spiritual Disciplines and this week we delved into the discipline of fasting. It's pretty clear in the Bible that fasting is expected of us and there are many examples as to why we might choose to fast. But my questions is, what is fasting? It seems these days the term "fasting" is used to describe basically temporarily ceasing from an activity/indulgence/whatever that might get in between you and God. I hear people say they're going to "fast from facebook" or TV or music or something in the likes. Is that really fasting though? Now please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm only aware of fasting from food (and sometimes water), Biblically speaking. Food/water is something we need to survive, the other stuff isn't. I think there's a difference from abstaining from a need and abstaining from a comfort or habit or addiction. We live in a very relativistic society/culture and I wonder if that has bled into the modern church in that respect? Obviously it's generally a good thing to abstain from something which is harmful, but is that truly fasting? Perhaps it's just a difference of definition? Does "fasting" from facebook carry the same weight as from food? Of course, just as with any Spiritual Discipline, it is a matter of the heart and not the action itself, but what I wonder is if one can "fast" from something other than sustenance? God created the Sabbath which I believe is separate from fasting. One does not "fast" from work on the Sabbath. Anyways, before I ramble on too much, I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts and get some input from those that are wiser or more knowledgeable than I. Thanks!
|
|
|
Fasting
Jul 21, 2011 15:21:04 GMT -5
Post by Maarten on Jul 21, 2011 15:21:04 GMT -5
Hmmm I'm not too sure on this matter, but I'll share my thoughts with you.
I've never done a bible study or anything on fasting, but I think in the bible fasting is often associated with prayer. People in the bible, when they go fast, don't just abstain from food, but they humble themselves before God and plead with Him, like king David pleading with God for mercy (2 Samuel 12), or Paul and Barnabas when they appoint elders 'with fasting and prayer' (Acts 14:23). When I see people 'fast' from TV or something like that, it doesn't really seem to fit that biblical pattern. Even when people fast from food, sometimes they will just go on with their daily business as usual, only they'll very hungry. If it turns out to be like it, it seems to be nothing more than a useless religious ritual to me, rather than a biblically ordained way of humbling yourself before, dedicating yourself to, and pleading with God.
|
|
|
Fasting
Jul 21, 2011 20:11:38 GMT -5
Post by Jeremy on Jul 21, 2011 20:11:38 GMT -5
I've never heard of anyone "fasting from facebook." That's pretty ridiculous.
I only think about food when I hear the word "fasting."
Yup, people often fast in hopes of having some sort of spiritual experience or vision. Not sure my stance on this. You can make your own decision.
One time I fasted so long I threw up.
|
|
|
Fasting
Jul 22, 2011 6:47:20 GMT -5
Post by Radiant Magnificence Alastair on Jul 22, 2011 6:47:20 GMT -5
I haven't tried it, but other people say they're reminded to pray more etc. during fasting.
|
|
|
Fasting
Jul 22, 2011 13:56:52 GMT -5
Post by Kerrick on Jul 22, 2011 13:56:52 GMT -5
I'm in total agreement with what Maarten said. We actually read a really good excerpt from a book (I'll have to figure out where it originally came from) in which the author looked into every time someone in the Bible fasted, how they did so, and their reasoning behind it. Prayer always went hand-in-hand with fasting. He listed 10 reasons why someone might fast, including what Maarten said (humbling, pleading, etc.). I'll try to see if I can find out what book that came from and if it's available to read online anywhere.
I don't think fasting is so one can experience some sort of vision or whatever, but it's rather a means to help you humble yourself before God and to make it easier for you to hear/seek His guidance and will, similar to how some people choose to kneel before God during prayer. As Alastair said, fasting can also help you to remain mindful of God as you are constantly reminded of your hunger.
I've only fasted once in recent times, but definitely experienced God's movement because of it. I'll have to share that story when I have a little more time to write out what happened (basically my small group chose to fast because of a dream one of the members had in which God told her to do so for her drug-addicted brother and some amazing healing came of it).
|
|
|
Fasting
Jul 24, 2011 14:42:09 GMT -5
Post by Maarten on Jul 24, 2011 14:42:09 GMT -5
We actually read a really good excerpt from a book (I'll have to figure out where it originally came from) in which the author looked into every time someone in the Bible fasted, how they did so, and their reasoning behind it. Prayer always went hand-in-hand with fasting. He listed 10 reasons why someone might fast, including what Maarten said (humbling, pleading, etc.). I'll try to see if I can find out what book that came from and if it's available to read online anywhere. Yeah, post it here if you find it please, because I'd be interested ;D
|
|
|
Fasting
Jul 25, 2011 9:50:32 GMT -5
Post by Kerrick on Jul 25, 2011 9:50:32 GMT -5
|
|
|
Fasting
Jul 25, 2011 21:09:10 GMT -5
Post by Azrael on Jul 25, 2011 21:09:10 GMT -5
There may be another thread on this but nothing came up in the search... Anyways, my church and Bible study group have been going through the Spiritual Disciplines and this week we delved into the discipline of fasting. It's pretty clear in the Bible that fasting is expected of us and there are many examples as to why we might choose to fast. But my questions is, what is fasting? It seems these days the term "fasting" is used to describe basically temporarily ceasing from an activity/indulgence/whatever that might get in between you and God. I hear people say they're going to "fast from facebook" or TV or music or something in the likes. Is that really fasting though? Now please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm only aware of fasting from food (and sometimes water), Biblically speaking. Food/water is something we need to survive, the other stuff isn't. I think there's a difference from abstaining from a need and abstaining from a comfort or habit or addiction. We live in a very relativistic society/culture and I wonder if that has bled into the modern church in that respect? Obviously it's generally a good thing to abstain from something which is harmful, but is that truly fasting? Perhaps it's just a difference of definition? Does "fasting" from facebook carry the same weight as from food? Of course, just as with any Spiritual Discipline, it is a matter of the heart and not the action itself, but what I wonder is if one can "fast" from something other than sustenance? God created the Sabbath which I believe is separate from fasting. One does not "fast" from work on the Sabbath. Anyways, before I ramble on too much, I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts and get some input from those that are wiser or more knowledgeable than I. Thanks! Be like the Paulener monks. They fasted for extended periods and invented the dopplebock lager in order to get around the lack of caloric intake that comes with avoiding solid food. They opted to take their calories in liquid form. In other words, these monks got blasted on empty stomachs for weeks on end and lived off ridiculously strong beer.
|
|
|
Fasting
Jul 29, 2011 8:37:39 GMT -5
Post by Maarten on Jul 29, 2011 8:37:39 GMT -5
I've only fasted once in recent times, but definitely experienced God's movement because of it. I'll have to share that story when I have a little more time to write out what happened (basically my small group chose to fast because of a dream one of the members had in which God told her to do so for her drug-addicted brother and some amazing healing came of it). Please do share the story if you find the time! Also, I came across some writing of a Dutch theologian/minister, named Wilhelmus à Brakel, on fasting. He defines fasting as I think Wilhelmus pretty much nailed it. I'm not sure if anybody really needed that, since it kind off says the same thing we al ready concluded in this thread, but since the original question was to define fasting, I figured I might as well post it.
|
|