StColette Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Before hand I apologize for the numerous Bible verses that had to be listed, but in order for you to understand how they fit in with fasting they needed to be typed out so that you are able to read them for yourselves. This also keeps you from having to look up all the verses while reading this tract Many Protestants misinterpret the meaning of fasting with their misinterpretation of Scripture. One of the most widely seen arguments is the use of Mt 6:16-18 [i]16 "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you. [/i] Protestants proceed to say that since the Catholic Church has set aside a certain Liturgical Season for fasting and certain Holy Days that this is consider a public display of fasting, like the Pharisees did. This conclusion is completely misconstrued. Since Catholics look as normal as any other person does how could they be separated in a crowd from other people in a restaurant during the Lenten Season does. The only way that it could be possibly known is if the person told them that they were fasting because it's the Lenten Season of the Church or because it's a Holy Day. Even telling someone that you are fasting is not necessarily meant to attract attention to oneself. If someone asked you during the Lenten Season if you fast on Fridays, are you supposed to hide the truth and keep it a secret? I say no, but acknowledging that you are fasting to someone and bragging that you are fasting are two completely different things. I've come across debates where Protestants use Acts 10:13-15 to say that Catholics or anyone for that matter should not fast. Acts 10:13-15 [i]13 A voice said to him, "Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat." 14 But Peter said, "Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane and unclean." 15 The voice spoke to him again, a second time, "What God has made clean, you are not to call profane." [/i] This is yet another misinterpretation of Scripture. God does not tell Peter not to fast but rather tells Peter that what He (God) has made clean should not be called profane, this can be clearly seen by reading the verses. Catholics do not say, by fasting, that the things they are fasting from are unclean. Another Protestant argument that I've come across is in regard to Jer 14:12. When taken out of context, as it often is, it can cause many to believe that God does not respond to the fasting of people. Jer 14:12 [i]12 If they fast, I will not listen to their supplication. If they offer holocausts or cereal offerings, I will not accept them. Rather, I will destroy them with the sword, famine, and pestilence. [/i] When taken in context, one is able to see that the "people" God is referring to are those of Jerusalem. The reason that God gives for not accepting their fasting is because they have sinned against Him. In order to take the entire passage in context one must read Jer 14:1-12. [i]1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: 2 Judah mourns, her gates are lifeless; Her people sink down in mourning: from Jerusalem ascends a cry of anguish.... 7 Even though our crimes bear witness against us, take action, O LORD, for the honor of your name--Even though our rebellions are many, though we have sinned against you... 10 Thus says the LORD of this people: They so love to wander that they do not spare their feet. The LORD has no pleasure in them; now he remembers their guilt, and will punish their sins. 11 Then the LORD said to me: Do not intercede for this people. 12 If they fast, I will not listen to their supplication. If they offer holocausts or cereal offerings, I will not accept them. Rather, I will destroy them with the sword, famine, and pestilence. Now after reading this entire passage, it makes it clear that God was not referring to "all people" but rather to those of Jerusalem, at this time, which had sinned against Him.[/i] In this next section I will provide instance of when fasting took place in the Bible. These instances will secure the Catholic Church's teachings on fasting. Old Testament Moses: Ex 34:27,28 [i]27 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with them I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." 28 So Moses stayed there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights, without eating any food or drinking any water, and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. [/i] Samuel: 1 Sm 7:5,6 [i]5 Samuel then gave orders, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, that I may pray to the LORD for you." 6 When they were gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out on the ground before the LORD, and they fasted that day, confessing, "We have sinned against the LORD." It was at Mizpah that Samuel began to judge the Israelites. [/i] David: 2 Sm 12:16,17 [i]16 David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth. 17 The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them. [/i] Nehemiah Neh 1:4 [i]4 When I heard this report, I began to weep and continued mourning for several days; I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.[/i] Daniel Dn 9:3 [i]3 I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. [/i] Ninevites Jon 3:5-8 [i]5 when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. 7 Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: "Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. 8 "Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. [/i] New Testament Jesus: Mt 4:1,2 [i]1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. John's disciple's[/i] Mt 9:14-15 [i]14 Then the disciples of John approached him and said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast (much), but your disciples do not fast?" 15 Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. [/i] Early Christians Acts 13:1-3 [i]1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. [/i] The Apostles 2 Cor 6:4,5 [i]4 on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts; ...[/i] Paul 2 Cor 11:25-28 [i]25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep; 26 on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure. 28 And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. [/i] The Bible also provides for us times in which fasting does or should occur Grief 2 Sm 13:15,16 [i]15 Then Nathan returned to his house. The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. 16 David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth. [/i] Approaching Danger Est 4:16 [i]16 "Go and assemble all the Jews who are in Susa; fast on my behalf, all of you, not eating or drinking, night or day, for three days. I and my maids will also fast in the same way. Thus prepared, I will go to the king, contrary to the law. If I perish, I perish!" [/i] Repentance of a Nation 1 Sm 7:5,6 [i]5 Samuel then gave orders, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, that I may pray to the LORD for you." 6 When they were gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out on the ground before the LORD, and they fasted that day, confessing, "We have sinned against the LORD." It was at Mizpah that Samuel began to judge the Israelites. [/i] Sad News Neh 1:3,4 [i]3 and they answered me: "The survivors of the captivity there in the province are in great distress and under reproach. Also, the wall of Jerusalem lies breached, and its gates have been gutted with fire." 4 When I heard this report, I began to weep and continued mourning for several days; I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.[/i] Sacred ordination Acts 13:1-3 [i]1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. [/i] Many things also accompany the practice of fasting. The Bible makes reference to several things that are in the company of fasting. Confession and fasting: Neh 9:1,2 [i]1 On the twenty-fourth day of this month, the Israelites gathered together fasting and in sackcloth, their heads covered with dust. 2 Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all who were of foreign extraction, then stood forward and confessed their sins and the guilty deeds of their fathers. Fasting, weeping, and mourning[/i] Jl 2:12 [i]12 Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; [/i] Prayer and fasting: Lk 2:37 [i]37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. [/i] Fasting is never something that is done without reward. Through fasting we can receive things from God for example: Divine Guidance Jgs 20:26-28 [i]26 So the entire Israelite army went up to Bethel, where they wept and remained fasting before the LORD until evening of that day, besides offering holocausts and peace offerings before the LORD. 27 When the Israelites consulted the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 and Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, was ministering to him in those days), and asked, "Shall I go out again to battle with Benjamin, my brother, or shall I desist?" the LORD said, "Attack! for tomorrow I will deliver him into your power." [/i] Victory over temptation Mt 4:1-4 [i]1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. 3 The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." 4 He said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'" [/i] So that we do not fast for the wrong reason or so that we do not lose sight of why we are fasting; it is good to remember certain things that the Bible tells us to remember while fasting. Ps 35:13 [i]13 Yet I, when they were ill, put on sackcloth, afflicted myself with fasting, sobbed my prayers upon my bosom. [/i] This verse teaches us that we must humble our souls when fasting. Is 58:6-11 [i] 6 This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; 7 Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; 10 If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday; 11 Then the LORD will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails. [/i] This passage shows us the true meaning that should be behind fasting. Zec 7:5-7 [i]5 Say to all the people of the land and to the priests: When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month these seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? 6 And when you were eating and drinking, was it not for yourselves that you ate, and for yourselves that you drank? 7 Were not these the words which the LORD spoke through the former prophets, when Jerusalem and the surrounding cities were inhabited and at peace, when the Negeb and the foothills were inhabited? [/i] These verses remind us that we must keep our focus on God when we fast. Mt 6:16-18 [i]16 "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you. [/i] These verses teach us not to put our fasting on display. This passage was also talked about earlier in the tract, do to its use by Protestants to argue the Catholic Church's teachings on fasting. All of these verses that I have listed handle the food portion of fasting, but that is not all we, as Catholics, should fast from. It is helpful for us to seperate ourselves from material things that direct our attention away from God. As a result of fasting, the correct way, we return our focus away from all the material things back to the spiritual things. Okie Pokie The End ! Go mbeannaí Dia is Muire duit, Jennie Catherine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 this is probably the most comrehensive defense of fasting that i have ever read tiy;ew nt fuek xikwrrw~~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted August 20, 2004 Author Share Posted August 20, 2004 [quote name='phatcatholic' date='Aug 19 2004, 07:15 PM'] this is probably the most comrehensive defense of fasting that i have ever read tiy;ew nt fuek xikwrrw~~ [/quote] I'm glad ya liked it p.s. you got the code a lil backwards but it still got what you said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 [quote name='StColette' date='Aug 19 2004, 07:19 PM'] I'm glad ya liked it p.s. you got the code a lil backwards but it still got what you said [/quote] where did i mess up? it looks right to me, i double-checked it (yea, i'm anal) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted August 20, 2004 Author Share Posted August 20, 2004 you don't type one key to the left you type one key to the right to decode something " krmmor " you type one key to the left of those letters " jennie " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 [quote name='StColette' date='Aug 19 2004, 07:26 PM'] you don't type one key to the left you type one key to the right to decode something " krmmor " you type one key to the left of those letters " jennie " [/quote] ahh!! gotcha well, i did it right [i][b]my way[/b][/i], hehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted August 20, 2004 Author Share Posted August 20, 2004 lol yep you did it your way correctly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 Brilliant Stuff Angelies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted August 20, 2004 Author Share Posted August 20, 2004 ty Morph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 wow, you are a hard worker! Thanks for writing all that. upi str ,u gsbptoyr [jsy,sdd s[p;phody. :hearts: lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted August 20, 2004 Author Share Posted August 20, 2004 ty LD lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 Geez why dont you two get a room... Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 colette practically has her own fan club. i'm the president Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted August 20, 2004 Author Share Posted August 20, 2004 lol Morph and Phat lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted August 21, 2004 Share Posted August 21, 2004 U boyz are whipped big time!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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