A New Perspective on Fasting

Once upon a time it was my ritual to fast on Wednesdays. Instead of bringing a lunch to work I would simply bring a book to the lunchroom and read. Soon, however, my behaviors began to be noticed by my co-workers who wondered at my abstinence. They questioned me in spite of my intentions to keep my fasting unnoticed. Of course, I responded truthfully. My answer though was met most often with confusion and sometimes admonishment (I’m a thinner guy and they feared for my physical well-being). Week after week they would comment on my choice, not in a mean-spirited way, but rather with incredulity. They seemed somewhat unable to comprehend why I would voluntarily abstain from food. The fact was, I couldn’t really explain it myself either. I lacked the language to form a comprehensive answer.

I had taken fasting for granted (not that I actually did it that often). It was something I just inherently understood at least in theory. It was what “good” Christians did (or were supposed to do). The concept of fasting is so ubiquitous in Scripture that it can almost seem an abstract notion that is never fully addressed or expounded upon. Most of the attention given to it is either matter-of-fact mentions:

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting,” Acts 13:2

 or warnings about abuses:

“’Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.” Isaiah 58:3,4

Generally, Scripture seems to use fasting in six primary contexts: seeking wisdom, mourning, worship, repentance, commissioning, and preparation. Fasting though is always seen as a further expression of these purposes and not a purpose in itself. Fasting, as a practice, seems to be something like a punctuation mark. If you are asking the Lord for something in prayer --- you fast. If you are mourning a great loss --- you fast. It is never seen as some way to blackmail or manipulate the Lord into something. David’s prayer and fasting for his critically ill son (who later dies) proves a good example of this.

How are we then to think of habitual fasting, something that we build into our lives and participate in regularly? For Jesus clearly assumed that His followers would 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.” Matthew 6:16 [emphasis mine]

[It must be noted here that Jesus’ assumptions about his follower’s disciplines (fasting, prayer, loving others, tithing) seem to be that they would be motivated by devotion and not by mere ritual alone.]

What attitude should we take as we attempt to make the discipline normative to our experience? How do we communicate it to others?

I recently found an interesting analogy from an unlikely source. While reading the book of Leviticus I endeavored to understand better the types of sacrifices outlined in the Law of Moses. In doing so, I came across the Peace Offering. In contrast to what its name might imply, the Peace Offering was not a means of making peace with the Lord or appeasing for some disobedience. It was not a way to make up for some mistake or misdeed. It was not buying flowers for an upset spouse.

“And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the Lord. If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour well mixed with oil. With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread.” Leviticus 7:11-13 [emphasis mine]

Rather, the peace offering was a voluntary sacrifice offered to God. Unlike burnt offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, or guilt offerings, the peace offering was not mandatory. It was designed to be a heartfelt sacrifice out of abundance or thanksgiving to the Lord. It was offered in three circumstances: 1) giving thanks to God 2) alongside a fulfilled vow or 3) offering God thanksgiving for some deliverance. With all of the multitudes of situations and sins in which the people of Israel were obligated to offer sacrifice to the Lord through the Law, this was one way in which they could give back out of the overflow of their own hearts. Now I’m sure that, at times, the peace offering was abused and instead of being a heartfelt offering it became a way for the wealthy to show how wealthy they truly were (they could afford to offer out of their abundance after all). Judging by the admonishments of the prophets and eventual condemnation of the nation I would bet on it. Still, this offering provided an avenue for the people of the Lord to voluntarily offer their thanksgivings and to show that the Lord has always been a God of grace. It was a kind of natural overflow of blessings, lavishly given and flowing back to the Giver.

With all this in mind, how do we view or explain the discipline of fasting? As with the Peace Offering, fasting establishes that we are willingly submitting our will to the Lord not out of guilt or some obligation. When we choose to abstain from something, food or otherwise, we are telling the Lord that He is enough for us, that He is what matters most to us. As the Peace Offering allowed the opportunity for the worshipper to voluntarily give, fasting offers the chance to offer our meager frames, so fleeting, fragile, and wavering, back to the Lord. Though our act of sacrifice is laughable compared to that of Christ, I believe the Lord honors the effort and intention just as Jesus honored the widow who give to the temple out of her poverty. So, we too give out of our poverty. There are of course, many times in which we fast out of desperation whether in mourning, repentance, or out of some other deep need. ‘Ordinary’ fasting forces us to ruminate on the act of putting Christ first in our lives. It is more than routine. It is more than even the act of abstaining. It is offering our very selves back to our Creator and Father. In this, we “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is [our] spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)

VII.

Hewen’s - January

Gnarled roots, ancient, uphold

the banks--- muddy islands

wet with the slushy snow.

The drip of collapsing

ice crystals, always, in

the warming air. Fog lay

enthralled above the ice

---entropic illusion.

From the culvert, the rush

of lake fleeing southward

---persistent, eclipsing

flow; patient erosion

of wood and soil and stone;

enduring image of

inviolable love.

VI.

Despairing soul the morning brings

though sunlight comes with dawn’s crowning.

I ply the darkest hours alone

and in the shadow make my home

but like the sun departs the dew

Your voice my wav’ring heart renews.

I utter feeble prayers to Thee

that You my rock would ever be.

The lures that lead me to betray

to venture from the narrow way

come issuing from hell’s dark halls

to bid me to a thousand falls.

Though barbs my fragile soul endures

Your Word my trembling heart assures.

When blackest guilt and shame assail

I know thy Spirit will prevail.

Though with the Truth my praise resound

still with these doubts my faith is found.

Fears speak of what the heart believes,

of what no shallow faith shall ease.

If doubt negates what I profess

my warring mind I do confess.

When reason fails to satisfy

still to your waiting arms I fly.

Grow

This article was originally written for my church, Ypsilanti Free Methodist Church

We’d all like to believe that we’re growing. None of us wants to look back after twenty, thirty, or forty years only to realize that we’re the same person we were at eighteen; acting the same way, making the same decisions. Most of us tend to equate change with growth. When life circumstances change we assume we’re growing and maturing alongside. While change is inevitable and happens to everyone, growth--- real growth requires concerted effort.

As followers of Christ, too often we mistake our tenure as believers for Christian maturity. We are fooled into believing that changes to life situations, whether it is in ministry, career or family mean that we have learned to more closely emulate Jesus. This is simply not true.

Rather, Christian maturity comes with active cooperation with the Spirit of God as it produces fruit in our life while we respond to its leading and properly apply Scripture. We do not grow by osmosis or by sleeping with a Bible under our pillows (or sleeping through a sermon! No! We’d never do that!)

More than that, since the Lord designed us for community, we grow best when we are engaged with other believers. We grow when we come to view the church less as a social institution and more as an opportunity to learn, apply, and see the example of Christ modeled by others. This is the type of environment we see demonstrated by the first Christians who “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

The Christian life, rather than being a momentary acknowledgement of Christ, is a persistent obedience motivated by love and gratitude to our Savior. It is progressive conformity to the image of Christ. That progress occurs most often when we partner with the Spirit and other believers. One day, Lord-willing, we will look back upon our years and praise the Lord at how he has grown and developed us.

III.

Born on an altar of frigid stone

far from the halls of a royal home

at the mouth of roaring Terriand

where waters meet; river, sea, and sand

where the currents churn the sea foam green

and sea birds cry but are never seen

whirling high in zephyrs bold, they rise

to soar above sallow, fog-laced skies.

Here encamped beside the rushing waves

sits the hero of the ‘Thousand Days’.

Here the champion has tarried long

far from the cheers of adoring throng

farther still from love of kith and kin

long since there were battles yet to win.

Palomar Feri was his name of old

when fortune favored warriors bold.

Long have been the nights since elder days

longer still since triumph the banners raised.

Dark have been the troubled thoughts of men

and darker still have been deeds since then.

Here, he alone the dire watches keeps

while in the black, lonely hours weeps

for the glories of Lord Antrop’s hall

before shadow cast its ghastly pall.

Oh! The riches of such splendid feasts

where larders bulged with riches replete.

There sang the bards the songs of old

and children were awed at tales retold.

But here upon the forsaken beach

where wood and bone lie forever bleached

by that vengeful, unrelenting sun

there stood alone the oft-herald’d one

and at his feet lay Turcien bound

that beast of such monstrous renown.

Even in death was its fury seen

Though his eye now stared with glassy sheen.

Roughhewn flesh caked each tremendous paw

and still venom dripped from gaping maw.

For years untold the most craven spawn

did with spite and malice prey upon

the hearts and fears of all Eastenwell

with such grievous threats and deeds most fell.

From the falls of River Errantry

to the pale shores of the Endless Sea

the shadow of the villain grew long

til no maid alone should dare a song

for fear her dreams would with howling fill.

Though in recent years so few could tell

of a time when Turcien was seen

or mark the place he had truly been.

Perhaps, they mused, he had simply fled

and in some lithesome hovel to bed.

So his horrid legend slept, but grew

til all men had passed and time renewed.

All but Palomar who did endure

bound to his heroic fate and moored,

suffering silent indignity

as men forsook bonds of loyalty

and fled, in turn, each man to pride.

Then the hero sought again a prize

worthy of forsaken memories

---a tale to echo beyond the seas.

So early one spring morning he crept

beyond the gates where the drunkards slept

and found himself on familiar roads

though forgotten now and overgrown

ever southward under Dormane’s leaves

sleeping beneath its shimmering eaves,

following the foothills of Lorment

slightly east, the rugged trail there met

the headwaters of sylvan Ennule

where moonlight danced ‘cross her silver pools.

Yet ever he found the stain of men

men who lost still more honor since when

he had left, now dwelt in shadow it seemed

and faded along with deferred dreams.

So he was led yet farther afield

by a spirit that would not yield

seeking for himself a nobler end

and to revive flagging hearts of men.

Still the call of glory pressed him on

til the lands of his youth were far gone,

where foreign tongues bespoke foreign shores

into this scene the Terriand poured.

Wandered he over emerald glen

beyond the curve of the river bend

til a thrilling rumor reached his ears,

a dark rumor of some latent fear.

Of mighty Turcien it was said

he had to this fertile land been led

and did besiege, fostering alarm.

At this Palomar sprung up to arms

and set out at once to slay the fiend

seeking a sign of where he had been.

Pursuing for years specter and shade

Rushing headlong from glade to glade.

Relentlessly he sought out the beast

whose reign of terror seemed to have ceased

for peace had fallen in spite of fright

much to the dismay of the questing knight.

Still with fervor did the champion

assail with such reckless abandon.

Til on that fated high summer’s day

Palomar heard the hound loudly bray

and for the hilt of his sword he did reach

charging forth onto that forsaken beach.

There upon the sand Turcien lay

(though what he perceived no may could say)

in such a state of aged repose

its eyes bleary from a morning doze.

It rose with great labor to its feet

the encroaching champion to meet.

There the titanic battle occurred

though time and motion seemed strangely blurred.

The beast then rose up to meet the man

who fought with fury in his cold hands.

Though dulled by age the hound savagely

swiped massive claws belying infirmity.

Fresh blood it drew from the hero’s flesh

while singing sword hew a gaping cleft.

The air boiled with hatred’s vicious heat

as the monsters mercilessly beat

and landed such cruel rending blows

though locked they were as in lover’s throes.

Palomar felt the cur’s limbs quiv’ring

though in its heart vengeance simmering.

Its breathing slowed and its strength was stayed

as good vitality’s years betrayed.

Its noble muzzle dipped and light fled

from its ancient eyes and timeless dread

passed away. The knight drew now his sword

and looked the ever-conquering lord,

and into its breast did plunge the blade.

Uttering a mighty sigh it laid

down, its struggle lost, to rise no more.

Thus pass baleful wolf on dismal shore.

Then upon the day fell weary calm

as if some languishing spirit’s song

had swift and suddenly come upon

the now nigh-exhausted champion.

A silent spell cast by solemn breeze

did his melancholy spirit seize.

Where joy should flourish, only regret

only tears for years and dreams misspent.

No stories penned nor ballads were sung

Though before his feet the beast was slung.

What strength took it? What fortitude

to slay a beast in decrepitude?

Now the gathering wind grew quite loud

as the cur’s poison his flesh befouled.

He knelt down before his vanquished foe

grotesque castles grew where blood was sowed.

Its listless eyes mirrored his deep grief

as time stole in upon as a thief.

Distantly, he heard, as on the wind

the adoring throng he sought to win

the voices of crowds so long ago

lost friends and lovers he had once known.

Then, like a wisp; like a passing mist

gone were the dreams of a lasting bliss,

only then as sickness veiled his eyes

did he see great Turcien beside

and in his defeated presence found

a monster to whom his fate was bound.

Wind-whipped salt spray stung his distant eyes

as whitecaps rode the incoming tide.

Ever stretched the undulating sea

as velvet sunset loomed plaintively.

Fiery orange and lavender hues

did the fading summer's eve imbue

and from the deep gibbous moon arose

to claim vanishing sky unopposed.

Parched lips uttered silent prayer as day

fell behind the greedy, violet shade

and now eternity's lot was cast

beyond the veil the two monsters passed.

Gather

This article was originally written for my church Ypsilanti Free Methodist Church in December (yep, I missed posting it on here)

For many, gathering together is the most recognizable element of church involvement. After all, attendance is the most visible sign of association. However, mere proximity is not the extent of community that the Lord intended when He established the Church. While there are certainly social benefits to the church community, these are not the totality of God’s vision for us.

To press on with the metaphor Paul presents in Scripture, it is not only for personal expediency that the ‘organs’ of the church body come together. Rather, all of the body’s organs work together for a single purpose. In the case of the Church, those purposes are growing in the likeness of Christ and going out into the world as His witnesses.

Gathering together purposefully for those aims is the natural prerequisite. We can do neither alone. Nor were we meant to.

What this vision of the Church requires of us is purposeful engagement. This means (especially for those inclined toward introversion) a deliberate and conscious effort to both attend and build relationships with other believers. The earliest Christians called each other brothers and sisters in Christ, and family we are. Perhaps we are even deeper than family if we live out our purposes by being united in love and united in our shared mission as witnesses of Jesus.

Gathering together means more than simply being in the same place at the same time. It means sinking deep into the notion that we are more than acquaintances but co-laborers and siblings. It also means living out the love of Christ in relationships by bearing each other’s burdens, encouraging each other, confessing to each other, and speaking the gospel to one another. This happens not only in a Sunday service but as we meet in one another’s homes, sit around campfires, babysit someone’s children, go for a hike together, or sit together at the lunch table at school. If we are intentional, Church happens at all these times for wherever we are gathered together for His purposes, His Spirit is with us.