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In this blog post, we will discuss why and different methods we use when we fast during Lent which is the precursor of Eastern.
This article is, of course, focused on Christian fasting. We do know that fasting has been a method of worship in many other religions in the Ancient as well as the Modern World.
Fasting Brings Us Closer To God
We are fasting because it brings us closer to God and strengthens our faith. This is one way to look at why Christians should fast.
In the Old Testament, there are many occasions when you should fast: it can be an act of repentance (the Babylonians in Joel did) or of grief (as King David did when he was grieving, in fact, many times).
There is also a direct commandment from God to fast, i.e. abstaining from food before certain holidays.
Needless to say, God also commands us to do it.
We are doing it because Jesus himself was fasting for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert according to the Gospels (Matthew 4) where he was tempted by the devil.
Fasting is also a way to do just as Jesus says when he is tempted: “It is written: Man should not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth God“. (Matthew 4:4)
Since the 18th Century, there has been a trend not to fast within Western society, often driven by pure worldly values (factory owners, labor unions, and politicians).
Recently the trend has shifted. What certainly comes to mind is the popular 5:2-diet where you eat “normally” 5 days and eat less what is called, fasting the other 2 days.
Of course, you may just abstain from comfort foods like crisps or candy or cookies if you normally eat it on a weekly basis.
Abstaining from food is one way to fast of course but there are many other fasting methods.
Different Ways Of Fasting
There are many ways of fasting, not just abstaining food. If you have tips on how you fast, please share them in the comment field below.
Here are a few others:
- Abstaining from TV/Computers/Internet
You don’t have to abstain from it completely if you don’t want to. Limit it so you are spending less time talking with people online or watching TV or playing video games and actually talking with persons in real life.
- Abstaining from Sports
This is of course not just watching sports, this is just as much participating in sports as well. Of course, you do not have to abstain from all if you do not want to. It is totally up to you.
- Abstaining from Cultural Events
It can also be a way of fasting abstaining from cultural events, like watching a play in the theater, the opera house, a concert or watching a film at the cinema.
- Walking Instead of Driving a Car or Commuting
If you are living in the same city where you work you may walk, ride a bike or do something you are not normally doing in your daily life if you usually drive to work or commuting by subway, bus or train.
Conclusions About Fasting
There are many ways you can fast but you don’t have to abstain from it completely.
You decide what you want to abstain from and on what level. It is always about you.
Just remember that God has said that we should fast and this is both in the Old as well as the New Testament.
If you have any thoughts about fasting, please share them in the comment field below and they might be included in this blog post in the future.
Next Blog Post
Our next blog post will be published on Saturday the 14th of March 2014.
It will be about the readers of this blog.
Until then,
The Chi Rho Dating Group
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