"I believe that fasting is a normal and essential part of the spiritual discipline of every Christian"

Matthew 6:16
"And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do - When you go without food , wash your face and comb your hair, so that others cannot know that you are fasting - only your Father, who is unseen will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you."

The Bishop writes....

FASTING - AN ESSENTIAL PART OF DISCIPLINE

I was enjoying a meal with friends recently when the discussion came round to the question of fasting, and one of the ordained ministers at the table said, "I don't fast and I have never felt convicted about the need to fast". How would you respond to a statement like that being made by a Christian?

I must say that I was really taken aback and I do hope that none of our people would agree with that statement. The reason for my saying that is because I believe that fasting is a normal and essential part of the spiritual discipline of every Christian, and so one can't get out of the Lord's injunction to His disciples to fast simply by saying, "I have never been convicted of the need to fast". It would almost be like saying as a Christian, "I don't pray or I don't give to God because I have never felt convicted about the need to pray or to give to God". You will recall that in Matthew 6:16, in the context of speaking to His disciples about giving praying, Jesus goes on to say "......when you fast". It seems to me that Jesus was assuming His disciples would fast, being a case of "when" not "if". There is also the reference in Matthew 9:15 where Jesus seems to indicate that after His death, resurrection and ascension, we would enter into a time when fasting would be a natural part of Christian discipleship. While these two references relate to fasting as part of the Christian's individual response to the love of God, there are , of course, many other references where corporate or community fasts are called for, such as in 2 Chronicles 20:1-4, where we read of Jehoshaphat calling the whole nation of Israel to fast. However, it is not to corporate fasts, but to the injunction laid upon us as individuals to fast, that I want to draw attention this month as Lent approaches.

CHURCH TRADITION

We have this wonderful tradition in the Church of setting aside 40 days before Easter as a time of special devotion and recollection before God, that our lives will be more open and available to Him and will grow and respond more deeply to His initiatives. I want, therefore, to urge you to include fasting (unless of course you cannot for medical reasons do so) in your Lenten discipline. You decide prayerfully how you are going to set about fasting and then offer your decision to God and then ask Him to give you the grace to persevere in your decision. You may decide to fast for a day each week or for two meals a day once a week, or even to fast from certain luxuries for the duration of Lent, but, whatever you do, make a decision and offer it to God in the understanding that you are fasting, not so you can notch up fasting on a spiritual score sheet, but that through linking fasting with prayer you will grow in grace and in the love of God. I am sensing a great move of heightened awareness in the church of the need to pray and to fast and while I praise God for that initiative of His Spirit, I do want to urge you, the people of this diocese, to take seriously this Lent the Lord Jesus' expectation of His disciples that they include fasting in their walk with God.

Have a blessed Lent,
Yours in Christ, Eric

(Bishop Eric Pike, extract from Indaba - Feb 2000)
frankies@iafrica.com
posted 29 March 2000

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