Fasting Shall Cease?by Patrick T. Donahue
In I Corinthians 13:8 we can read, "whether there be tongues, they shall cease." Notice that this passage says that tongues shall cease, but it says nothing like "fasting shall cease." However, the majority of Christians act as if the Bible says somewhere that fasting shall cease. It doesn't.I Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 4:9, and I Peter 2:21 are all passages that teach that we should follow the example of Jesus and his disciples as set forth in the New Testament. The New Testament is full of approved examples of these characters fasting. Should we follow their example or not?
Matthew 4:2 shows that Jesus fasted. Luke 2:36-37 is an example of how other righteous people in Jesus' day fasted. Jesus taught in Mark 2:18-20 that His disciples would fast in the days after Jesus is taken away from them, and we are certainly in those days. Jesus regulated fasting in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:16-18). Paul fasted (II Corinthians 6:5, 11:27). The Bible records with approval other Christians fasting (Acts 13:2-3, 14:23). Why are these examples in God's word? Certainly for our benefit and our learning.
God, through Paul in I Corinthians 7:2-5, teaches very strongly that husband and wife are not to defraud one another of sexual benevolence except for a time for "fasting and prayer" (so that they will not be tempted to commit fornication, v.5). The fact that God makes fasting and prayer the one and only reason husband and wife can suspend sexual relations shows how important fasting is to God.
The simple fact is, is that fasting is in the Bible; it is part of the New Testament law. It was definitely approved of God. We are taught to do it by example. There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that it is not for us to do today. The Bible does not say fasting shall cease.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Patrick Donahue for the article! He can be reached at: 4607 Old Railroad Bed Road, Harvest, AL 35749, (256) 721-0726, PatDonahue@mail.com .
Email the Editor at markjward@yahoo.com
| CURRENT ISSUE | MAIN PAGE | BACK ISSUES | DISCUSSION PAGE |
| SPECIAL STUDIES | SERMON OUTLINES |