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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 1963)
SECTION D ,f All PAGES 1 to MEDF0RD4SWTRIBUNB PAGES 1 to 8 MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28. 1963 CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY - Barbara Bird Woodward (right) helps Gov. John Connally celebrate his 46th birthday Wednes day while she celebrates her fourth birthday. They both sample the birthday cake icing in the governor's mansion after Barbara brought the cake to the Governor, who is still recovering from a hernia operation and has to stay at home in the mansion. (UPI) Ancient Practice of Fasting Is Re-Examined as Lent Starts Br LOUIS CASSELS United Press International In the Bible, prayer and fasting are mentioned repeat edly in the same phrase, as if they were twin features of a devout life. This Biblical habit of speech has a quaint , ring to many modern Christians. They recognize the import ance of prayer. But they look upon fasting as an outworn custom. With Lent under way, this is an appropriate time to re examine the ancient practice of fasting. What is it? What does the Bible say about It? What are its benefits and pitfalls? Fasting is defined in Web ster's unabridged dictionary as "voluntary abstinence from food., or from certain types of food, for a space of time as a spiritual discipline." The most rigorous kind of fasting is to take no nourish ment whatever. But the per son who "gives up candy for Lent" is also fasting, after a fashion. From a religious viewpoint, the significant thing about any fact is that it is a voluntary act of self denial. Old Teitament References There are many references to fasting in the Old Testa ment. From the time of Mo ses, Jews fasted on special occasions as an expression of humility, repentance or sorrow. At the start of the New Testament era, fasting had become a prescribed ritual, bound up like other religious duties in an intricate system of laws. The Pharisees fasted every Monday and Thursday, and made sure that everyone knew it. Many Christians today seem to have the impression that Jesus criticized the Pharisees for fasting. But this is a serious misreading of the Scripture. His criticism was aimed at the ostentatious way in which the Pharisees paraded the piety. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told His dis ciples: "When you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men . . . but anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in heaven ti Expects Disciples To Fast These words clearly imply that Jesus expected His dis ciples to fast. They also seem to say that fasting, when done as a secret act of devotion is pleasing to God. The New Testament re cords that Jesus Himself fast ed, at the start of His minis try, when He was wrestling with the temptation to win men to His side the easy way. The early Christian church followed His example. Pas sages in the Book of Acts and St. Paul's Letters indicate that fasts were observed especially in times of crisis, when the apostles felt a parti cular need of divine guidance. No one could be more arti culate than Paul in asserting that Christian living is a mat ter of responding to God's love, rather than merely keeping the law. But it was also Paul who insisted on the need for "bringing the body under subjection" by delib erate acts of self-discipline, such as fasting. The apostle warned that men and women who are slaves to their own appetites are not free to hear and obey the voice of God. Has Pitfalls Fasting has its pitfalls. The main one, as Jesus pointed out, is pride. It can take the crude form of bragging about what you've given up for Lent. Or it can take the sub tler and more dangerous form of secretly feeling superior to those who aren't fasting. But non-fasting can equally be an occasion of spiritual pride. The person who says that he doesn't need to fast during a special period like Lent because "I practice Christian self-denial all year round" is not far from the Pharisees. Fasting can also do more spiritual harm than good if it is undertaken in the belief that its main purpose is to "strengthen will power." This may indeed be a by product of fasting, but the person who makes it his chief objective is apt to forget that Christians rely not on their own strength, but on the grace of God. To God's Control "The purpose of Lent is not self control," says Peter Day, editor of the Living Church Magazine, "but the giving over to the control of God. Fasting Is not so much for the growth of strength of character as It Is a getting out of the way of those things which though good in them selves, obscure the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives." 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