christians and fasting?

Question

are there any christians who fast out there?

the bible says
1 corinthians 8:8
8But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

what is the point in fasting if it doesnt do anything for you. and moreso- could be more harmful to you then not? (bible says treat your body as a temple, would you deprive your "temple" of "nutrients" ?

Answer 1

As a Catholic, I could never make it through a whole day. I always broke down and had a roll or a cookie or something.

Answer 2

Fasting scriptures: Psalms 35:13, 69:10, 2 Samuel 12:16-23, Matthew 4;1-11, 1 Corinthians 7:5, Matthew 6:16-18, 9:15, Luke 5:33, Matthew 17:14-21, Acts 13:1-5, 1 Kings 21:27, Ezra 8:21, Esther 4, Daniel 6:18, Acts 27:9 and 33, Acts 9 (whole chapter). dont forget Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness and being a christian means to be Christ-like. Hope these help

Answer 3

) Matthew 9:15 does not command Christians to fast. While Christ was on earth it was not proper for them to do so. When he died they did mourn and fast, but they did not so mourn after his resurrection and especially after the outpouring of holy spirit. (Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35) However, the early Christians did fast on special occasions. When Barnabas and Paul were sent on a special missionary assignment into Asia Minor there was fasting and praying. Also it was done when servants were appointed for a new congregation. (Acts 13:2, 3; 14:23) Divine direction was specially needed. Fasting was appropriate to those occasions. Nevertheless, Christians are not under command to fast.—Rom. 14:5, 6.

Answer 4

There are two kinds of fasting I observe during Lent - physical and spiritual. I do follow the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent and Ash Wednesday, and I do "fast" (meaning, eat only 3 meals, one average and two small with nothing but water in between) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday; it is mostly out of respect for the tradition. It doesn't hurt anything and it makes me go off auto-pilot, which is good for me since I'm a hurry-hurry gal. (btw, the Catholic Church's guidelines on fasting excuse people who are old, young, sick, etc. Health is priority #1.)

The more important fasting during Lent for me is the spiritual kind. When I was a kid, my parents made me give something up for Lent, usually candy or chocolate or something. As an adult, I give up or fast from something that isn't beneficial to my life - something like swearing, passing judgement on others (yeah, I'm guilty of that at times), or even being an angry driver. The point of all this is to get back to basics and turn my heart ever again to God.

The scripture passage you are quoting means to tell people that not eating just to look pious is pointless. WHY you do what you do is as important as the action itself.

Answer 5

Scripture does not command Christians to fast. It is not something that God requires or demands of Christians. At the same time, the Bible presents fasting as something that is good, profitable, and expected. The Book of Acts records believers fasting before they made important decisions (Acts 13:4; 14:23). Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33). Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world, and instead focus on God. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God, and to yourself, that you are serious about your relationship with Him. Fasting helps you to gain a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God.

Although fasting in Scripture is almost always a fasting from food, there are other ways to fast. Anything you can temporarily give up in order to better focus on God can be considered a fast (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Fasting should be limited to a set time, especially when the fasting is from food. Extended periods of time without eating are harmful to the body. Fasting is not intended to punish your flesh, but to focus on God. Fasting should not be considered a “dieting method” either. Do not fast to lose weight, but rather to gain deeper fellowship with God. Yes, anyone can fast. Some may not be able to fast from food (diabetics for example), but everyone can temporarily give up something in order to focus on God.

By taking our eyes off the things of this world, we can focus better on Christ. Fasting is not a way to get God to do what we want. Fasting changes us, not God. Fasting is not a way to appear more spiritual than others. Fasting is to be done in a spirit of humility and a joyful attitude. Matthew 6:16-18 declares, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, 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 men 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.”

Answer 6

Fasting like anything else is to say i am giving up this to give my time to God.I fasted for 2 weeks one time with only water and what a blessing i received and the closeness i felt to God was UN real.It is hard to do for allot of people but so worth the rewards.I know My brother was healed of lung & liver cancer with no kemo at all,They had given him less than a year to live.But God showed us all who was in control.

Answer 7

I do fast on occasion, but only when I have a situation where I am trying to focus on hearing what God is saying to me. I always replace what would normally be my meal time with prayer. It is more about drawing closer to Him and relying on Him for all things. Even Jesus had a time of prayer and fasting.

Also, fasting doesn't necessarily have to mean to do completely with out food, but it could mean giving up one type of food, one meal on a certain day, or just for a day. It really all depends on each person and what God is leading them to do.

Answer 8

Fasting is supposed to be a sacrifice to the Lord. However, if you have a medical condition, then don't fast. Also, don't fast for more then a day. Drinking water is permitted and so is food as long as the sum of what you eat through the day doesn't equal one meal.

Answer 9

Matt. 9:15; Mark 2:20; Luke 5:35 - many non-Catholics frown upon the Church's pious practice of fasting, and say that fasting went away after the resurrection of Christ. But Jesus Himself says that His followers will fast once He is gone and does not object.

Matt. 6:16-18 - in fact, Jesus even gives instructions on how to fast. Jesus says, "Do not look dismal like the hypocrites, but look clean and refreshed."

Matt. 17-21; Mark 9:29 - Jesus teaches that only prayer and fasting had special power to cure a man possessed by a demon. Jesus teaches about the efficacy of fasting and how fasting, coupled with prayer, is acceptable and pleasing to God.

Luke 2:37 - Anna the widow worshiped God with fasting and prayer night and day. The Church has always taught that, by virtue of our priesthood conferred in baptism, our fasting participates in the priesthood of Christ by atoning for the temporal punishments due to our and other people’s sins.

Acts 13:2-3; 14:23 - the apostles engaged in prayer and fasting in connection with ordaining leaders of the Church. Prayer and fasting have always been the practice of the Church.

1 Tim. 4:3 - when Paul refers to doctrines that require abstinence from foods, some Protestants refer to this verse to condemn the Catholic Church's practice of fasting. But Paul is referring to abstinence and any other practice that is performed apart from Christ's teachings. Fasting, on the other hand, is done in obedience to Christ's teachings of taking up our cross and following Him, by participating in His sufferings so we can share in His glory. When citing this verse, these Protestants do not explain why Jesus prophesied that his followers would fast and why Jesus gave instructions on how to fast.

Answer 10

I tried to when i was a young Mormon, but always ended up eating something after church services. To this day I fast when I need an answer from God (most would find that weird) and try doing it a lot more often, but some times find it difficult

Answer 11

I'm LDS, and we are incouraged to fast on day (24 hours) a month. Fasting is more than simply going without food. If all your doing is going without food, then your not getting any closer to God than if you were eating. Fasting does involve going without food and drink, but it also involves prayer, and humility and your whole mindset is focused not on the world, but on God.

As my Bishop once said, If all your doing on Fast Sunday is going with out food and drink, then all your doing is going hungry for 24 hours.