Comments on: When You Fast…

By: If you can — fast « Churchmouse Campanologist

If you can — fast « Churchmouse Campanologist — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:25:07 +0000

[...] encouraging that the Revd Paul McCain of Cyberbrethren is promoting this spiritual discipline amongst his largely Lutheran (LCMS) readership. Would that more Catholic and Anglican [...]

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:37:15 +0000

I’ve only fasted once. It was for 30 Hour Famine: a Christian organization where you can raise money by pledging to people that you will fast for 30 hours if they raise money for starving people. The entire incident was bathed in prayer and believe it or not, God helped me. Normally when I don’t eat, I get really crabby, my stomach feels raw, and I just feel sick. But none of that happened. What God calls a person to do, He also equips them. God will strengthen us when we fast for Him.

Thank you for your post, Paul. It inspires me to fast this Lenten season because I know God will help me get through it, just as he did for 30 Hour Famine.

By: L P Cruz

L P Cruz — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:32:09 +0000

I think fasting and prayer are inevitable in Christian life. They will happen.

If you do not fast and pray, God will make you, crisis is just around the corner.

LPC

By: Terry Maher (Past Elder)

Terry Maher (Past Elder) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:29:28 +0000

Fasting lowers blood sugar and blood pressure, and those with issues in these areas should consult a physician, not a pastor, about it. Seriously.

By: Randy Keyes

Randy Keyes — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:11:06 +0000

Does anyone know of a good guide to fasting for those of us who have glucose issues?

Thank you,

Randy

By: When You Fast… » CyberBrethren-A Lutheran Blog | Outer Rim Territories

When You Fast… » CyberBrethren-A Lutheran Blog | Outer Rim Territories — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:05:25 +0000

[...] Read more via CyberBrethren-A Lutheran Blog » When You Fast…. [...]

By: ptmccain

ptmccain — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:32:27 +0000

I would simply say that the Our Father is not optional for Christians to use. Jesus said, flat out, “when you pray, say….” not, “When you pray, here is a suggestion of how you can pray” or “When you pray, here’s a model to consider.” Now, do we pray *only* the Our Father? No, of course not, but we do pray the Our Father. Is fasting the only kind of spiritual discipline and spiritual exercise in which we engage? I trust not, but I no longer view fasting as being optional for the Christian life, anymore than I view praying as optional.

By: Terry Maher (Past Elder)

Terry Maher (Past Elder) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:14:16 +0000

I completely agree that we have become masters at why we don’t do things, so afraid of confusing sanctification and justification that we ignore sanctification and good works altogether.

Re fasting though, I don’t see “when you fast” as an assumption that all Christians will fast any more than I see “when you pray” as an assumption that Christians shall only pray the Our Father.

By: ptmccain

ptmccain — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:36:28 +0000

Terry, I used to be among the “say nice things about fasting, but only to a point, then spend most of my time talking about how fasting is done wrong, for the wrong reasons” then I kind of just woke up one day to the reality that our Lord Christ simply assumes that His disciples fast just as much as He assumes they pray. Then I got over my fasting-phobia.

Fast when and how you wish, and no, you never make a “big deal” of it…just do it.

But we Lutherans have become masters of making excuses for why we don’t do something, and finding justification [pun intended] for neglecting that “fine outward bodily preparation” which God provides through fasting.

By: Terry Maher (Past Elder)

Terry Maher (Past Elder) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:13:19 +0000

I see no reason to mistake the predictable physical effects of early stage glucose denial for a spiritual phenomenon.

I’m a veteran of everything from fasting before midnight before Communion to Yom Kippur. I suggest the “when” is not by way of command or prescription, but that while the practice is not wrong per se nor forbidden, when you do it don’t make a big deal about it including to yourself.

Best directions ever on the fast God wants — Isaiah 58.