Are we as Christians ever commanded to fast in the Bible?
As far as Christians being commanded to fast, interestingly, the only command to fast in all the Bible was given not to Christians, but to Israel in the Old Testament. (See Leviticus 16:29-31) No where do we find a “post-cross” command from God to fast.
Let's just look briefly at the OT text in which God commands Israel to fast. It's found in Leviticus 16, verses 29-31, and in these verses God commands the people of Israel to “afflict themselves,” or “humble themselves,” which in the Hebrew text implies the act of abstaining from food. God commands this to be done once a year in observance of the day of atonement, a day in which the high priest would go into the temple of Israel and enter the “holy of holies” (a place that was only entered once a year on this day).
The priest would enter and then slaughter an animal to make atonement on behalf of the nation's sins against the Lord. The priest would intercede on behalf of Israel and ask the Lord to grant all the people forgiveness, himself included. And the people would fast, as they prayed to the Lord, mourning over their sin.
The day of atonement is now a thing of the past for Israel because of Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, and there's no actual command to observe a “post-cross” day where a high-priest intercedes on Israel's behalf. The book of Hebrews says Christ is our great high-priest, interceding on behalf of his people, and that He has already paid and atoned for the sins of His children, namely, everyone and anyone who repents and believes the gospel. (See Hebrews 7:23-27. Hebrews 10:1-2). The book of Hebrews, by the way, is all about how Christ is the superior prophet, the superior sacrifice, the superior high-priest, the superior intercessor etc. Sorry, I know this may be a whole lot to swallow, but I just want to be thorough.
So the Israelites would fast and repent during this day and would remember all the Lord had done for them. Taking it back to Christians fasting now: if Christ has already atoned for our sins, should we still fast? And if we're never actually commanded to fast in the New Testament, then should we do it?
Well, just because the Bible only commanded fasting before the Messiah had purchased his children by dying on the cross, that doesn't mean we as New Testament saints shouldn't fast. In fact, fasting is a wonderful discipline that every Christian should engage in! One source I read said, “The Bible presents fasting as something that is good, profitable, and beneficial... The book of Acts records believers fasting before they made important decisions (Acts 13:2, 14:23.)”
Fasting is basically assumed in the life of the believer. As we wait for Christ to come back, we mourn, we repent, and we seek the Lord earnestly for guidance before He returns. Jesus Himself even assumes that times will come when those who follow him will engage in fasting. (See Matthew 6:18-22)
When should I fast? This is probably the most interesting study I've encountered related to fasting. Fasting is arguably always a spontaneous act in the scriptures, meaning it isn't planned. It's usually done in response to something life-altering. For example:
• Paul fasted for three days after he saw the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus.
• Moses ends up staying on Mount Sinai for forty days when he met with the Lord. During this time he ate and drank nothing.
• Esther tells the people to fast for three days and three nights, unplanned mind you, and to pray on her behalf.
• Jehoshaphat spontaneously calls all the people of the land to fast upon learning of an invasion against Judah.
• The King of Nineveh proclaimed a national fast to be taken by all the people in immediate response to the preaching of Jonah.
• David fasted without planning upon learning his child, born of Bathsheba, had been struck ill by the Lord. The Bible says that plead with God on behalf of the child, and spent the whole night laying face down on the ground. He didn't eat anything.
• Nehemiah, in Nehemiah 1, learns that there is a remnant remaining in Jerusalem, but that they are in great distress, and the walls of the city are broken down. The text says that "when hearing these words", Nehemiah wept for days, prayed, and fasted.
• King Darius fasts after Daniel is thrown into the Lions den. Daniel 6:18 says, "Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him." Darius was so overwhelmed by his own foolish leadership, that he couldn't even eat, nor could he sleep.
• There was only one fast I had trouble classifying as spontaneous; the 40 day fast of Jesus Christ. It's doesn't roll of my tongue well to say God does anything spontaneously, whereas man doesn't know his left foot from his right in terms of where he's heading. So I would classify this fast as an exception, only because Jesus is God, and He knows everything that's going to happen before it happens! Still, one could argue His fast is immediate and unplanned in that immediately after He's baptized He's simply led by the Spirit into the wilderness, and begins to fast. (See Matthew 4:1-2)
• There was only one fast I had trouble classifying as spontaneous; the 40 day fast of Jesus Christ. It's doesn't roll of my tongue well to say God does anything spontaneously, whereas man doesn't know his left foot from his right in terms of where he's heading. So I would classify this fast as an exception, only because Jesus is God, and He knows everything that's going to happen before it happens! Still, one could argue His fast is immediate and unplanned in that immediately after He's baptized He's simply led by the Spirit into the wilderness, and begins to fast. (See Matthew 4:1-2)
It's definitely a very interesting phenomenom that the body naturally responds to the heart of an individual. Have you ever heard that someone you loved had just died, and afterward had absolutely no desire to eat? That was a type of fasting, my friend. Your body and heart were saying that it wasn't the time to eat, but to mourn. By the way, I use the word, "type," because Biblical fasting should always involve prayer and seeking God. In essence, though, even non-believers at times will engage in this most basic form of fasting.
You may have had that experience when confronting individuals over sin, or even when being confronted yourself. Perhaps you wanted to help restore another brother or sister by telling them them to turn from their sin and return to Christ. But the conversation wasn't seeming to go well, because they were making it clear to you that they didn't want to let go of their sin.
You may have had that experience when confronting individuals over sin, or even when being confronted yourself. Perhaps you wanted to help restore another brother or sister by telling them them to turn from their sin and return to Christ. But the conversation wasn't seeming to go well, because they were making it clear to you that they didn't want to let go of their sin.
It's in those moments that the food on our plates seems just completely undesirable to us. You don't want to eat your burrito (as much as you like burritos), and you don't want to drink your soda. It all just seemed pointless. It's as if the food has suddenly become diseased, decayed, or dirty. It goes from a plate of something delicious, to a plate of dirt. There's no way you could possibly enjoy it, because at that moment all you want really is to cry. You feel mournful, wanting to be alone, away from people and from food, and to spend time simply weeping while crying out to the Lord. Have you ever felt that way? That was fasting, my friend.
When should you fast, then? These may be perhaps the most mystical words you'll ever hear come out of my mouth, but here we go: when should I fast, you ask? My answer: you'll know when the time comes. You just will. None of the examples listed above planned to fast, they just knew it was time to fast when whatever the circumstances were had arisen. I don't think I'm shooting in the dark here. And I don't believe I'm stepping into the left-field of "theological liberalism." (It'd be hard to do that with just a minority view on fasting, but you get my point) From what I've honestly deduced from scripture, the season to fast will be simply be impressed upon believers by the Holy Spirit. He will simply lead us to fast. You're welcome to disagree, but if you do please share. I would like to hear your response, provided it contains Biblical support. I just want to know and understand what God's Word has to say. That's all.
The obvious question then arises regarding planned fasts. Is it ok for me to plan a one day fast once a month, and to hold myself to keeping to that goal? Or is it alright for my Church to plan a corporate fast once a year as an entire body? Can I set aside a time during the year specifically for fasting? Yes, you can. All those things are good and completely fine. While planned fasts are not the norm, I don't think there is anything anti-biblical about them. It's always good to seek the Lord through prayer and through fasting. The real question, however, isn't whether or not you should do these things, but why you do them. How does your fasting relate your motives in the first place? Why are you planning to fast? Do you fast once a month because it makes you feel like God sees that practice and now owes you something? Is the attitude at your Church, "Look at how holy we are!", because they do a fast together once a year? Do you fast every now and then to "shed a few pounds and, oh yeah, because I can seek God, but the weight loss thing is cool too?" The answers to questions like these will determine whether you should follow through with the fast or not. And loved ones, be honest. Please be honest. God is not a fool, that He should be deceived. You can fool everyone else but you can't fool God who searches the heart. Be honest, beloved.
In closing, allow me to provide for you a brief caveat in relation to all these things. Remember this, beloved: following Christ is never something that should become routine and mechanical. Do that and you'll just be another Tin Man from "The Wizard of Oz"--all machine, but no heart. I think we have too many "Tin Man Christians" filling our Churches today. Loving Christ isn't a chore, beloved, it's a delight. The same should be true of our disciplines. We don't pray for the sake of prayer, but rather for communion with the Lord. We don't fast for the sake of simply fasting, but to draw near to God. Examine your motives in all of your disciplines, beloved, and ask yourself, "Do I desire the nearness of the Lord in my heart?" "Do I long for the Creator's guidance as I strive to honor and obey Him?" God doesn't want your worthless sacrafices, beloved, He wants your heart. Give your time, life, and worship to the Lord, not so He'll do something for you, but because of all He's already done at the cross. In Christ alone, loved ones.
In closing, allow me to provide for you a brief caveat in relation to all these things. Remember this, beloved: following Christ is never something that should become routine and mechanical. Do that and you'll just be another Tin Man from "The Wizard of Oz"--all machine, but no heart. I think we have too many "Tin Man Christians" filling our Churches today. Loving Christ isn't a chore, beloved, it's a delight. The same should be true of our disciplines. We don't pray for the sake of prayer, but rather for communion with the Lord. We don't fast for the sake of simply fasting, but to draw near to God. Examine your motives in all of your disciplines, beloved, and ask yourself, "Do I desire the nearness of the Lord in my heart?" "Do I long for the Creator's guidance as I strive to honor and obey Him?" God doesn't want your worthless sacrafices, beloved, He wants your heart. Give your time, life, and worship to the Lord, not so He'll do something for you, but because of all He's already done at the cross. In Christ alone, loved ones.
zach
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