Not exactly sure what to write. Last night I went to that Bible study again. It was fine, I suppose… I was a little bothered by one girl who kinda poo-poo’ed something I said, but there were at least a couple of other girls who I think “got it”.
I’m still a bit hung up on this fasting issue. It’s not that I’m against fasting or that I think fasting is a bad thing- quite the opposite. But, I’m not sure that these people understand that fasting means different things to different people.
Fasting is traditionally associated with abstaining from a particular food or drink- such as fasting from dairy or meat- for a period of time, anything from a single meal to a day, a week, or a month. In a spiritual context, a fast is performed to encourage prayer or to enable a believer to draw closer to their God. However, while a food fast can certainly be effective, there are other types of “fasts” that are equally effective, such as abstaining from television, video games, or even just a morning newspaper. The point of a fast is to deny oneself the pleasurable desires of the flesh. Many people (myself included) are prohibited from doing extensive food fasts for medical reasons. For people like us, these non food fasts are our way to draw closer to God.
But fasting is different for everyone, especially when you get into the non-food options. For me, a video game fast would be easy, because I don’t play video games very often. However, a television fast would be much more challenging. Fasts are different for everyone, and only the individual can determine what kind of fast would be best for them.
Last Sunday, this church group was preparing for a fast. It was the first I’d heard of this fast, but they looked at me and just expected me to fast with them. No one asked me if I was interested in fasting, or even gave me the reason for this fast. And that bothers me a lot.
It’s not that I’m against their fasting, but they made such a big deal out of it… It reminds me of Matthew 6:16-18, where Jesus says, When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
I don’t think Jesus is saying necessarily that we shouldn’t tell anyone about our fasts, or that we cannot fast together. And, it was brought up in a church setting, where presumably the majority of the people present would understand or perhaps also be participating in the fast. But, they made such a big deal out of it- in some cases, one-up’ing each other (“I’m fasting from xyz” “oh yea? well i’m also fasting from abc!”)… it makes me wonder why they are fasting. Are they fasting to seek spiritual enlightenment? or are they fasting so that they will look good in front of other people?
I don’t know. I just have too many questions right now. The answers will come in time.