a lost art?

So...Question: why is fasting not a thing anymore?
Is it because it's antiquated?
Is it because it makes us uncomfortable?
Is it because we weren't taught to fast growing up?
Is it because we don't know how?
Is it because it's not a priority?
Is it because we are afraid of thinking we are righteous and becoming puffed up in pride?
Is it because it's weird?

It is probably a number of things.  I read some of "The Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster about a year or more ago.  [It takes things a while to sink in for me.  It's a dense book, and I like to chew on stuff. I also got distracted with other books and kept having to come back to it.]  If we claim to follow Christ, we should follow His teachings, and if we claim to love God we should follow His commands.

("In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands.  And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5: 3 & 4)

 But perhaps you say, "Jesus never commanded us to fast!" That would be correct.  To my knowledge, there is nowhere in scripture where Christ says, "You MUST fast!"  However, in Matthew, Jesus does say "when you fast."

("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." Matthew 6:16-19)

This passage is placed right after the passages on giving to the needy and praying.  We know how important both of those things are in regards to the ministry of Christ, and in result leading a Christian life.  A few chapters later in Matthew 9,  Jesus speaks to the Pharisees on fasting.

("Then John’s disciples came and asked him, 'How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?'

Jesus answered, 'How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.'" Matthew 9: 14 & 15)

We are modern day disciples, and we are the church, the bride of Christ.  He is our bridegroom; though He is indeed with us in spirit, materially, we are separated for a time.  Now is the time for fasting as we long for His return and live actively loving others with the love He gives until the return of our sweet Savior.  

I pour out these examples not to condemn or scold the church and my fellow Christians, but I am just saying that maybe we have been missing an opportunity.  I have come to believe that fasting is as integral to a healthy faith as prayer, reading the Bible, worshipping, fellowshipping with other believers, loving justice and mercy, and helping those around us who are suffering.  Fasting can be from food, media, social interaction, video games, candy, or anything that we are tempted to think sustains us or that draws our attention away from God.

I believe that by depriving ourselves from something that "feeds" us for a time, we will stem the spiritual starvation that so frequently leaves our spiritual selves emaciated.

I am not claiming to say something new, but I was recently gently convicted of this.  I hope to engage in this ancient practice more often, and I hope that you will too. 

I am no pro, so I say do exactly what Jesus says.  Be private about your fast.  Ask The Lord how He wants you to fast, and I pray that you will be filled "with the knowledge of God's will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives." (Colossians 1:9)

awkwardness

This is the first of what I'm sure will be many "married" life posts.  Married life, as I had anticipated in quite an adventure.  It's fun; it's easier than dating in some ways and harder in others.

Anyway, apartment living is a new aspect of life for me.  I like it though.  It's cozy and has just what we need for this stage.  It is even better now that the smoke smell is gone.  However, dealing with multiple families around us is interesting.  A couple days ago we were witnesses of a domestic dispute.  A woman near us and her significant other really got into it.  There was a lot of yelling, and Ben and I were temporarily trapped in our apartment.  (Our's is the apartment right beside the stairs, which is where the dispute was going on, loudly.)  As annoying and awkward as that whole situation was, I felt compassion toward this woman.  The human part of me was 100% annoyed.  The compassion is solely from Christ.  I've often heard it said to be polite yet distant from your neighbors.  Common sense tells me to do that as well, and left to my own devices, it is exactly what I prefer to do.

BUT of course, The Holy Spirit will tug at you about stuff.  I feel the tug to move past simple polite smiles and courteous "How are you's?"  Those things are comfortable, and Jesus calls us to more. I'm convinced that every aspect of life is fertile ground for "mission work."  We like to put "mission work" into a nice neat category, and it is usually a category that doesn't infringe on our every day comings and goings. Therefore, I know that this apartment situation is not accidental. If I want to be a missionary in my career one day, I need to practice and be missional now. In the struggle I see around me how can I even begin to dare to hoard the hope I have found.

This is going to be awkward. I know it will be. Sometimes I think Jesus thrives on awkward.  I mean think how awkward He made the pharisees feel.  And He definitely made his disciples feel awkward...He washed their feet. That was so weird. It is so weird.  And He said walk the extra mile.  What do you even talk about for that long?!

It is time to take this step though, no matter how awkward it is.  It is time to take this bigger step because I believe in a Christ that is bigger than nice smiles and positive attitudes.  I believe in a Christ who destroys darkness, shatters chains of hopelessness, and stomps the ploys of the enemy.