We Need to Fast

Fasting is a required condition for salvation. It’s not optional.

Now that may offend some people, especially those who hold to the doctrine of Faith Alone, but it is true. Fasting is a required part of the Christian life and is part of the narrow path to Heaven. It cannot be avoided or excused away.

For those whose first thought upon reading this is to respond with “Ackshually…”, you can just stop that. Argumentation by exception is a logical fallacy. Trying to find the exceptions to a rule does not invalidate the rule. It just means there are a few exceptions to the rule, yet the rule remains. In our modern age, the prevailing method of argumentation has relied upon finding exceptions to the rule, so that the rule can be thrown away. That’s not how any of this works. Those who have dietary reasons for being unable to fast from food already have those exceptions spelled out by the Church. They still must fast from other things they enjoy that don’t involve food.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s discuss fasting. Fasting was not a suggestion from Our Lord. It was a command:

Matthew 6:16 And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.

Notice how Our Lord says this. He does not say “if you fast” but instead He says “when you fast”. This is a command and it isn’t something you get to choose whether you will follow and obey.

For those who think we are saved by Faith Alone, let me assure you that you are simply wrong. Commands of Jesus are not optional. You cannot be saved if you refuse to obey Him. Jesus even says that if you love Him, keep His commands. You have no hope for salvation if you refuse to love Him. And you cannot love Him without obeying His commands.

During Lent it is traditional to give something up for the 40 days. Recently there have been some who have promoted the idea of doing something extra, some good works, rather than giving something up. There’s nothing wrong with the idea of doing charitable acts during Lent. That is laudable. But it cannot replace actually giving something up.

One of the ways of giving something up is through fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Depriving yourself of food, one of the greatest blessings that God has given us, is tough to do. That’s because we were designed to enjoy eating and we need to do so to survive. That’s why fasting from food is important. We always must remind ourselves of who is most important above everything else, including food and our own lives. Controlling ourselves to abstain from food is an important way of bringing back into focus that God is still more important that everything.

Another way to fast during Lent is to deprive yourself of something you love. Some people say they are going to give up a particular vice or sin for Lent. This is wrong on many levels. We must give up all sins and vice at all times. We must forsake all sin and cannot embrace it anymore. Claiming you are giving up a sin for Lent is implicitly claiming that you are free to embrace that sin after Easter. That is a monstrously evil view and contrary to the entire Gospel. The first words that Christ says in His public ministry is to repent. Repentance means to turn away from sin entirely and forever. You cannot have Christ and have sin. You must choose only one.

So during Lent, you should think about and decide upon something that is good (or morally neutral but you enjoy) and give that up for Christ. Deprive yourself of something you truly enjoy so that you can focus on Him even better. Those pains of withdrawal should give you an indication of how much you have embraced that particular thing. You always want to keep it in lower priority to God.

One other spiritual good that comes from fasting is to show mastery of our own bodies. It strengthens the mind and will and once again places you in control of your body rather than the other way around. There is a reason that “the flesh” in Scripture so often refers to sinful behavior. Our bodily passions drive much of our sinful behavior.

So for this Lent, you are encouraged to decide upon something you truly like or enjoy (that is good or morally neutral) and give it up for these 40 days. Show yourself and Christ that you are able to control yourself and can control your bodily desires. If you falter and imbibe that particular thing, do not fret. Just get back on your fasting schedule and finish out your Lent as best you can.