January Church
Flying in from the USA I had a discussion with my pastor about the usual January fast which has become common in the body of Christ today. As you know Christ believers over and above new year resolutions, declarations etc. now begin the year with a fast – which ranges from 7-30 days others have made it 40 days. Notice I say Christ Believers, I am including myself. But what got me thinking as you might have noticed that I have a strange mind, was the reasons why people fast during this time. From my couple of vocal friends I got answers like prayer, dedication, shedding of the fat generated during the festive season. I love scrutiny and critical thinking. So I went back to the scriptures to check a couple of things. Before I share that my pastor said to me “I am not necessarily concerned with people quitting food but my major concern is them praying”. In my mind I added – not just praying – but prayer that reaches the heart of God, answered prayer that moves God to action.
If you read Isaiah 58 you will note that Israel says we fasted …and you have not seen…its literally saying Lord we have fasted but you still don’t answer our prayers? Sounds like the church today…we have loved, served, given offering and brought in the tithe and prayed but still you don’t respond to our prayers. Think about it, how many times have you used prayer and fasting as an arm twister? Where you have found yourself demanding because you felt he owed you something because you have afflicted yourself during a fast. If you read further down in the same chapter you will realize that these people’s fasts were need based “actually selfish needs”. It has ceased to be about a time of seeking and dedicating self to God.
Have you ever thought about the time King David was in sackcloth and ashes during the sickness of his son, what do you think he was fasting and praying for – I am convinced he wanted forgiveness and healing for his son – but the Lord didn’t heal him – he died. So does it mean you can fast or pray and sometimes not get the desired results? This David story confirms that to me. What I am illustrating here is that fasting should not be a January religious act, but should be a time of worship to God…my KJV titles Isaiah 58 “Blessings of True Worship” and that made me think. So fasting is a worship rather than an arm twister. It is also true that fasting is a personal and heart issue more than what we exhibit or is exhibited in the physical. I cannot deny that weight loss can be a value add to the one fasting…but it should not be the reason we do it if we are Christ Believers.
It is just the way I look at things, I don’t like to do something religiously especially something as sacred as fasting. Unfortunately, we have defined fasting as “quitting food for religious purposes”, and that is the very misleading ideology. If we took fasting as worship, we were going to stop thinking our God is moved by our fast. What moves God to action is the state and position of the heart of the believer. If he looks for you and finds you where you need to be – no matter how empty or full your stomach is – he will move on your behalf. During my visit to the US during the festive season I realized no matter the feelings of remorse, sorrow, disappointment you feel – God is moved by faith and the confidence you have in him that he will do what he promised. I mean people, even if he does not do as you have asked it doesn’t change the fact that he is God seated on the throne ruler of the heavens and the earth.
And then Jesus throws an interesting statement, “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:17-18 (NIV). Today for the first time I read this scripture together with Isaiah 58 and figured the importance of the heart of the believer to be in line with the act of fasting. Jesus’s emphasis I believe was “avoid hypocrisy” and “don’t show it off” because it is a private matter. How relevant is this to you? It is to me because I keep hearing some of my friends telling me at work “this week we are in church fasting program”. I obviously wince at that because sometimes I really think we purposely want to announce that we are fasting so everyone can know.
From the text quoted it is clear that coercing God with your religious fictitious fast and crocodile tears does not change his stance about your destiny. God loves us so much that he had to let go of his son to die for our sins. The church can do better. We cannot afford just to be a January Church blinded by religiosity but we should strive to worship him in the fullness of his glory.
Reference Isaiah 58 (ESV):
“Cry aloud; do not hold back;
lift up your voice like a trumpet;
declare to my people their transgression,
to the house of Jacob their sins.
Yet they seek me daily
and delight to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that did righteousness
and did not forsake the judgment of their God;
they ask of me righteous judgments;
they delight to draw near to God.
‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not?
Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,
and oppress all your workers.
Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
and to hit with a wicked fist.
Fasting like yours this day
will not make your voice to be heard on high.
Is such the fast that I choose,
a day for a person to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a reed,
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast,
and a day acceptable to the LORD?
“Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
And the LORD will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to dwell in.
“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,
from doing your pleasure on my holy day,
and call the Sabbath a delight
and the holy day of the LORD honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways,
or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;
then you shall take delight in the LORD,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
