Can Christians profit from their own self-made regulations to abstain from certain foods and recreation? Can Christians act in self-denial for spiritual awareness? Christians should abstain from some things as to keep themselves pure from sin. This is in accordance with God’s instruction. The Spirit of Christ said, “make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:14), and “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22).
Yet, many believers have been turning to traditions of men in neglecting their bodies. Fasting with prayer is practiced by individuals and sometimes by small groups in the New Testament. Scriptural fasting is the refraining from eating of food and it is always done in prayer showing one’s humble reliance on God.
Many claiming Christ have turned fasting into the abstaining of life’s blessings like watching television, using a phone, listening to music, driving a car, playing computer games, and so on. The fact is that Scriptural fasting is refraining from food and done while praying. Isn’t it strange that rather than praying more, reading the Scriptures, or even recognizing God’s eternal power and divinity in His Creation, many think that refraining from life’s blessings is better for “spiritual awareness” and “enlightenment”?
Let’s remember the extent of the benefits of asceticism as is presented by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. The Spirit of Christ said in Colossians 2:20-23,
“If you died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances, Handle not, nor taste, nor touch (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in self-made religion, and humility, and asceticism to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.”
Many Christians actually believe that dying to the rudiments of the world involves adopting man-made ordinances of self-denial, but the Holy Spirit teaches the opposite. Paul by the Spirit actually teaches that since we have died to the world, then we should not use the ordinances of men for self-denial. Paul presents exactly what the Spirit is referring to the regulations to neither handle this, taste that, nor not touch this. These things are after the doctrines of men. God has told Christians everything that they should refrain from in the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17). In fact, these instructions of men are a show of wisdom of self-made religion.
Now, the Holy Spirit also reveals in these Scriptures that doing such ordinances is a neglect to the body, which are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. The point of refraining from something to man is to either practice self-made worship, to make a show of asceticism and, or to treat the body with severity for some value against of the indulgence of the flesh trying to make oneself more aware and to teach oneself something. As is clear, this thinking stands in contrast to the Word. Ascetic practices “are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh”. Now, if one were to choose to do more spiritual things rather than what they usually do, then this is great. Giving up time spent on pleasure to do good is great. The issue is the adding to God’s Will, so that one is more spiritually aware.
It should concern Christians to notice the rise of ascetic practices among Christians. Asceticism is practicing strict self-denial or abuse as a measure of personal and, or spiritual discipline.
People naturally refrain from somethings at specific parts of their life. When we are poor, we eat less in quality and quantity, because we have little. People also refrain from things because those things are against God’s will, like listening to blasphemous and sinful music. Refraining from sin is not asceticism. These principles that are used are not made by man but by God. The things made up by men are things like not watching television because it is a blessing, a pleasure, or there are some bad programs on it. If everything on television is evil or television is an open door to sin, then a Christian should have already destroyed his or her TV, but to refrain from something just because it is a blessing or something you enjoy is of no value and is man-made religion. Cars and phones are not evil and neither is the Internet, and yet these have become something to “fast” from. There are many evil things that are done by using these things, but these aids and recreations are in themselves not evil. Let’s try to obey God’s commands before the commands of men.
There are so many double standards among Christians as will probably always be on earth. Many “progressive” Christians label “traditional” Christians, who believe in not going beyond what is written, as “legalists” and “Pharisees”, while those same Christians make ordinances of men and urge others to do likewise. Then they lead and urge congregations to participate in such things like Lent. They err when they again label Christians as “weak” and “immature”, who do not refrain from certain things in “fasting”. Christians must refrain from sinful things. These “progressive” Christians are like the Pharisees. They make up their own ascetic ordinances and ignore the commands of God in regards to marriage, worship, assembly, church, and entering into salvation (Mark 7).
Also note Romans 14. Here it is clear Christians are not to judge one another in matters of opinion. There must be no condemning of the person who chooses to eat meat by one who only eats vegetables. The one eating everything should not look down on another for only eating vegetables. Romans 14:17 says,
“for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
This same must apply to Christians today. No one should condemn the person who watches TV or uses the Internet, and neither should anyone who does participate look down on the ones who do not.
Christians also must remember that the traditions and commandments of men are a far second to God’s commands and traditions, and the person who places such traditions and commands of men upon on the shoulders of everyone else while leaving the traditions and commands of God is committing a great sin. Jesus said in Mark 7:7-8,
“But in vain do they venerate me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.”
In all of this, the truth is that there is very little profit if any to denying things to oneself that are not forbidden by God as Colossians 2:20-23 reveals.
Seeing God's Breath 
well then what we have here is a big misunderstanding. sorry about that.
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I find that strange. I do not remember reading any posts about this before writing this. My wife, Rachael, asked me to write on this about two weeks before. Also, one of the youths at the church building asked if we should be eating meat because of Lent, then I get e-mails from Wineskins, a “progressive”/”liberal” publication, about “fasting” from T.V., internet, cars, etc. I also heard about this “fasting” from some of the “progressive” congregations in Alabama specifically the one congregation right next to the High School that I worked for about a year ago. This has been on my mind for over a year. I don’t remember reading Kyle’s article or yours.
My examples are just the typical examples of the so-called “fasting” done by those who ignore the authority of Scripture and reach for mad-made religious ordinances. Then they give smug criticism about how the Church is a big sick denomination and needs to wake up.
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fasting = to abstain from food – Webster says that. what doesn’t it say? anything about religion. is it really so wrong to expand that idea to things other than religious issues? I truly don’t think so.
second, the “asceticism” thing… I don’t really get it. I mean, I know what it means, but can you simplify this point of view of yours?
third, you’re right about keeping it secret. but that is talking about when you are currently fasting, not simply stating that you intend to fast.
forth, you said:
I violated nothing.
next:
again, I think you read into this too much, but that’s just my opinion
sixth, I’m not whiping myself for Christ. I’m not. So don’t compare an innocent idea to something irrelevant and ridiculous, please.
about the Pharisee thing… they got up-in-arms too often and for the wrong reasons, right? Now, I’m NOT saying that you’re being ostentatious about this, but I am saying that this was taken the wrong way.
This is all.
In Him,
Gordy
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“First, I did not write this to you or about you. It seems as though you barely read the article…”
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— This is the e-mail that I wrote to Gordy after his 1st comment above. Please, forgive the fact that it is not well written. —
Hey Brother,
I admit one error. I should not have used the word “ridiculous”, but “of no value”, which I will change. I should not have used this word not fully understanding the meaning.
First, I did not write this to you or about you. It seems as though you barely read the article especially when you took the quote out of context and there is no satire in this unless you think that I expressed by Webster’s definition as “holding up human vices…to scorn” which Paul does in Colossians 2 and the Holy Spirit does throughout all the Scriptures. Read the article again without fault-finding.
Second, I did not read asceticism into the verse. It is clearly there. Webster’s definition of asceticism is: “practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline”. The question is: Are you or I doing this?
Third, fasting is keeping from food. If you keep from the internet, then you are keeping away from the internet and you are not fasting, which if you were fasting then you should keep it secret (Matt. 6:17-18). Fasting from something other than food changes the Scriptural definition of fasting. It would be better to refer to the assembly as “the worship service” at least this can be defended. Keeping from the internet is not Scriptural fasting, so please change your vocabulary and not the meaning of words in Scripture. Christians have a hard enough time with people altering other definitions and doctrines.
Fourth, you can keep from some things just don’t be like others who look down on others for not doing the same in some form as immature or anything else. Also, know that if it is asceticism then know that this is “not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh”.
Fifth, know that asceticism is addressed in Colossians 2. Also know that a married couple can agree to take time apart for prayer (1 Cor. 7:5). This is not a contradiction. If you said, “I’m going to read my Bible more”, then evidently you would be giving something up on your regular schedule. Certainly, this is not asceticism. Just say what you mean, and everyone knows you’ll be changing your habits to exclude something. Jordan, there are people out there whipping themselves “for Christ”, and living on the street, not listening to the news, and not using computers with the Scriptures on it “for Christ”. Why be hard on oneself by excluding needs and blessings? It is hard enough being a Christian rather than adding precepts and ordinances. Many people like you think that “Dungeons and Dragons” is a blessing, but I don’t. All because I do not play, this does not mean that I am practicing asceticism.
Sixth, I don’t know what you were saying about Pharisees except that I talk like one. Why would you write this about a friend without proof?
Grace & peace to you in Christ,
Scott
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Well I was pointing to the fact that when we fast we are denying one of the things that we need to sustain us physically, which is food. Denying ourselves from XBOX, Sweet Tea, or Paintball is far from the same thing. But we need food to live. Denying that to concentrate on things we need more (like God) could possibly help us spiritually. Almost as if we’re saying “I know I need food to live, but I need God to live physically and spiritually much much more.”
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I could understand it as our need for God, but I guess you would need to be more specific. We could just about point to everything, like worship, nature, and our own act of walking, and see our need for God, so I’m curious exactly what you’re thinking about.
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I like this a lot. Good points all around. I’m not sure if you touched on this directly, but it’s interesting to note that fasting, which is denying food, is denying a necessity, not a pleasure or luxury. I think in a way, fasting is acknowledging a need for God above everything else we need for our own human existence. Does that make any sense? Let me know what you think.
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It is very clear that I am referring to religion specifically man-made religion. The above comment has been addressed by e-mail. This may be made public later.
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Scott, I love you, but you just dissected this idea WAY TOO FAR. Tell me, are you implying that fasting from something other than food is unscriptural? If you are, then your not being right about this; and if you aren’t, then what exactly are you trying to say?
In a few weeks, I plan to fast from the internet for one week’s time (as well as anything manufactured bt Apple). I’m not going to do this because I think they’re evil… because they’re not. I’m not even going to do it only for religious reasons, either. I’m goin to do it some for the experience of “unplugging” for a while and doing something else… like READING MY BIBLE MORE. See? Something good will probably come out of it. That’s not the entire reasoning behind it, but it will definitely be a great “side effect” if you will.
Earlier you said “…to refrain from it just because it is a blessing or something you enjoy is ridiculous.” No. This blog post is almost as such. Pharisees talked just this way about irrelevant things, also.
Again, I’m not fasting from evil. That is not even the point so stop making a big deal about it.
With much love,
Gordy
P.S. I wrote this way satirically. I was mirroring the attitude I heard in your post. You’ll probably get fired up. Just don’t flip to far by reading between the lines too much.
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