Why do people fast when its against God to harm your body?

Question

Its clear there are dangers when not eating for an extended amount of time, so why would God want you to do it? It seems alittle hypocrytical to say its only ok to harm your body if its for God?? I mean does God want you to put the body he made for you at risk? And does it say anything in the bible that we should do it? if so please tell. And how long do people usually fast. I'm not saying are wrong for doing it, I just want there veiws, so thanks to the people who answer.

skipping a day doesnt sound so bad, when i say extended I mean to as long as it takes for it to be unhealthy. I hear people doing it for a week sometimes

Loco for u...... http://www.agale.com.au/FAST.htm

I'm not saying its right,,, but its what i read.

Answer 1

I am only going to give a few verse references because there are quite a few in the new and old testament.

Matthew 4:2
Matthew 6:16,18
Matthew 9:14
Mark 2:18
Luke 2:37

There are more, but wanted to give you some references. Fasting doesn't harm your body when you do it properly.

The early church would do it to grow, but would also fast when there wasn't enough food for everyone to eat a meal until there was enough food for everyone to eat because they shared everything common

The two types of fasts that I am aware of are spiritual and health fasts. I have done both. With health fasts, I usually do just fresh juice, (i.e. carrot juice, apple, etc) for a period of time to cleanse my body from all the toxins that had built up in it.

For the spiritual fasts that I have done, it was a time for me to grow closer to God and wanting to know is will for specific things in my life. In a spiritual fast, you take the time that you would normally eat and spend it reading God's word and praying. You may not understand this, but at points in a fast if I feel hungry and I do these things, I don't feel hungry afterwards. To me is give new meaning to when Jesus said, "I am the bread of life" John 6.

Within spiritual fasts, it is not just limited to food. Some people fast from television or internet and spend that time that they normally would spend with Jesus.

As far as how long it really depends. Whenever I have been led to fast, God always clearly gives me an answer as to how long. Usually through His word. I have done a fast for as little as 3 days to as long as a month. My husband did a 40 day juice fast. He was a little weakened, but he even said he never felt better than when he did that.

My mother in law did a 90 day juice fast for health reasons. After she was done, he health problems were gone. Dangers? Maybe if you are being stupid about it. But otherwise I and others have had nothing but benefits.

Answer 2

The concept of fasting is not to harm you body. to days life is much easier than many years ago. For us to prepare a meal is about as simple as you can get. Long ago, to prepare a meal might take 2, 3 or even longer in hours. gather the wood, prepare the bread, prepare the meat if there where meat. much time was involved. The ideal was to spend the time you would have spent preparing the food, in prayer, seeking the Lords will. Also the commitment to "give something up" for the Lord. And for the most part, most will not be harmed by skipping a meal or two. Seldom do you see where people went further than that. And in cases where they did, they gave us certain things, strong drink, rich meats, or breads.

Answer 3

Fasting is not wrong, but you have to check your motive when you do it. Some people do it out of Hypocrisy, but others do it with the intension of drawing closer to God. I would not advise you to fast when you truly understand the meaning and purpose around it. If you do that you will only go hungry and that would be harmfull to your body and mind. If you want an interesting Scripture to read about fasting read Isaiah 58:6-9 and Mathew 6:16-18. May the Lord bless you in your search for truth.

Answer 4

When someone fasts its not always where you don't eat anything at all. Sometimes when you fast you would fast not to eat chocolate or something like that.

Fasting is much more than just not eating something. Fasting is a spiritual connection with god. It involves massive amounts of praying and connection with god

Yes, fasting is all over in the bible. Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. And was tempted by the devil 3 times.

You can fast for different times. You could fast for a day or you could fast for a month or longer. Or you could fast and pray to god that you are fasting for something to happen in your life.

I hope that answered your question

Answer 5

Actually, a fast, done correctly, is good for you. Many cultures and religions participate in ritual fasts.

Poor nutrition is far more dangerous to our bodies than the occasional fast. The real danger is in dehydration. The body needs water daily. A healthy person, however, can go for a long time without food.

The most I have fasted is three days (water only). Others have done it for far longer. I think the longest I have heard of for spiritual and physical cleansing was 30 days...I afraid I am not that Holy!

Answer 6

Fasting helps us to move out of the physical realm and get in touch with the spiritual.

Fasting is only effective when it is done with prayer.

Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights. Elijah fasted 40 days and 40 nights, ate one meal provided by an angel, then kept going. Moses fasted 40 days and 40 nights, ate 1 meal, then fasted another 40 days and 40 nights. He got so close to God that his face glowed with the glory of God, and he lived to be 120 years old. When he died, his eyes were not dimmed, nor his strength (physical strength) was not diminished.

Answer 7

I think Lives4Glory's answer is informative and well-balanced.

I would add the consideration that fasting can be a ritual exercise, like a living outward symbol, of an inward intent or condition. Specifically, many kinds of prayerful meditation are like "fasts" ... looking to let go of our habitual or addictive "feeding" on distracting thoughts and mental preoccupations.

Getting quiet on the inside, in other words, can be ritually assisted by getting symbolically simple on the outside.
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Answer 8

I dont believe the bible meant for anyone to fast long enough to harm your body. Fasting is mentioned in at least 12 times in the bible (King James Version), if you will turn to your bible and go to the concordance section you can find the places you can go to find the books, chapter and verses where you can read about fasting.

Answer 9

Jehovah God for told to the israelites to fast for health reasons and to dedicate time for worshiping Him. But, now days, doing fasting for long periods of time, it can hurt your body. First of all, when you don't it, this can happens...you stomach, starts loosing an acid, that usually deteriorates or brakes in pieces the food you eat, but if you don't eat nothing guess what does that acid does to your stomach, starts making ulcers, blisters, because that acid is like the one the car batteries has, but more powerful. So it starts to destroy your stomach. Also, if you don't eat, your small and large intestine, starts to weaken, and starts to shrink and it makes itself smaller and smaller until it is close, like when you step on a water hose, something like that happens to your intestines..Another thing is that your blood starts loosing power, yes, energy. and you are going to feel weak, and deazy, just for not eating one day, imagine when you don't for a week or more....
Please, people, stop this nonsense attitude. If you want to loose, weight, then go and stay in a gym, and do strendous exercise, and remember, that no matter what others say about you or your body, you are being loved by others, like we, that want you to have a good health and taking care of your body....never mind those stupid comments others might say about your body, or whatever they might say...just take care and live happily...israel, me, loves you. bye. bye.

Answer 10

Why do christians go to places where they know they can be persecuted for spreading the word.

Fasting is not always a thing of food, you can fast from the media ( tv, internet,radio,movies) and that has health benefits and also spiritual benefits like he said, on getting you closer to him and by forsaking your food and everyday luxuries you are showing God you are sincere about what you are fasting for. the same way missionary christians risk their lives inspreading the word in places like China to save people.