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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."
Each person must decide
for himself which bodily ap
petites and pet pleasures have
gained a hold on him that
they "obscure the leading of
the Holy Spirit." Sainta who
have already surrendered all
worldly affections perhaps
have no need to fast.
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