Esther asked: “Is there an appropriate way/time to approach fasting? What was it traditionally for? What is it for in the modern day?”

Nine days. That’s how long it takes me to think of what I’d like to say in response to Esther’s excellent questions.

I found myself starting by thinking to myself what fasting is not. It is not a way to control God. That is, people (rightly) think of fasting in times of trouble. What would not be right is to imagine that if we fast long and hard enough that this will convince God to do what we want him to do. Rather, I think fasting in this sort of situation is a way to express that we are concerned beyond the normal concerns of life, so much so that we are forgoing the normal activity of life, even eating! It’s a way of expressing that normal human action is not going to suffice to deal with whatever the situation is, that the situation so has our attention and focus that eating isn’t in the picture. Ideally, we’d be using our extra focus to reach out to God and ask him to intervene. We might be showing our contrition or helplessness or need. For example, in biblical times, people fasted when a massive army was on the way to attack. Or when some other calamity was coming – particularly when the calamity was prophesied as the consequence of sin. The repentant or righteous would fast and pray for forgiveness, agreeing with God in his view of the sin. So fasting in the face of dire circumstances or in repentance from sin is a normal biblical phenomenon.

Another thing that fasting is not is a way to impress onlookers as to one’s religiosity. Jesus was pretty harsh on this tendency that we have to do things like fasting in order to impress others and appear to be holy. His counsel? Don’t do it. When you fast, do it in secret and dress nice so others can’t tell you are fasting. And more to the point, fasting is no substitute for obedience. Fasting will not make one right with God when one remains in sin.

So much for the via negativa. What is the right time and way to approach fasting today? (I mean, besides when the Assyrians are on the horizon.) Consider this. In our times, I think busyness is one of the most damaging enemies of spirituality. It may be that we are caught up in the mundane or even the profane. Or it may be that we are so caught up in ministry that we have little time to focus on God. Either way, praying and fasting can be a way to restore proper focus on our Lord. It’s not magic. It is a discipline that even Jesus undertook at the beginning of his ministry (see Matthew 4). I get the sense that Jesus knew that his life was about to change, and that he wanted to make sure that he was close to his Father in advance of that change. There was focus, and devotion, and probably more than that. Similarly, Paul and Barnabas were set aside as missionaries during a period of prayer and fasting (Acts 13:2). I’m not sure if they were making themselves available to focus on God without a sense of the import of the moment or if they had some idea that something was coming up and sought God for direction. Either way, the praying and fasting is a way of bringing focus away from the every day stuff of life and onto our father God.

Then, it says that after they prayed and fasted (Acts 13:3), the others laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. I get the impression that the time of prayer and fasting was to confirm God’s call on Paul and Barnabas. Again, the others were making themselves available to God – focus – and God confirmed his direction. Later, as they appoint elders, Paul and Barnabas pray and fast (Acts 14:23). So it seems like there is something about prayer and fasting before God in order to make good decisions.

Wrapping it up, it seems to me that fasting is a way of humbling oneself. I don’t think it is really different in modern times than ancient times other than perhaps we are less in tune these days with what we lack in a time of material wealth and distraction. Fasting is not celebration; Jesus said his disciples wouldn’t be fasting while he was with them – they’d be fasting later when he was gone. (See Matthew 9:14-15.) There’s a time for partying and a time for mourning. Fasting is more associated with the mourning that comes from being in that now-but-not-yet time before Jesus returns and sets everything right. I’m thinking there won’t be much fasting in the new heaven and new earth after the resurrection, because the occasion for fasting will be long gone. There are times in this age that are shadows of the celebration time to come, and times that are clearly associated with the not yet. Fasting is an acknowledgment of what is not yet, but should be and will be. It’s us groaning with creation in anticipation of what we hope for. (…which brings me to Esther’s first question, but that’s another response.)