Master Cleanse
Aaron's Day 7
I am contemplating the extension of my juice fast from ten days onward. Seven was simple, ten will be a cinch. David Wolfe's words haunt me: "Go as long as you can". I've hardly noticed I've started. I did weigh in this morning: 191.2 pounds. A few weeks ago I was around 210 pounds. I will require more lemons... By the way, I am fascinated that today I had a bit of solid excreta, after 7 days of no solid food. Mysterious!
Why am I fasting?
Within the Torah and the New Testament fasting is a discipline practiced before an important decision. Also it is very much connected with prayer. Isaiah tells us that fasting encourages humility, breaks the chains of injustice, unties the chords of the yoke, frees the oppressed, feeds the hungry, provides for the poor and clothes the naked. All that you ask? The church fathers expound:
The Shepherd of Hermas, Didache, Tertullian, Saint Basil the Great, Saint John of Chrysostom, and Jerome all recognize fasting as an integral part of connecting with God. It is a turning to God and a turning away from evil. In other words, not only the stomach fasts - all the flesh fasts. Too, these church fathers put emphasis on helping others in need in your time of fasting. The Shepherd of Hermas suggests taking the food you intended to eat on the day you come off of your fast and giving it to the poor. Didache suggests fasting for two to three days before water baptism, and to not let your fast be the fast of the hypocrites. All warn to not be prideful in fasting. Fasting is simply a tool, an aide in drawing nigh unto God. It is more than anything a lifestyle. All Christians should in essence be ascetics.
Why am I fasting?
Within the Torah and the New Testament fasting is a discipline practiced before an important decision. Also it is very much connected with prayer. Isaiah tells us that fasting encourages humility, breaks the chains of injustice, unties the chords of the yoke, frees the oppressed, feeds the hungry, provides for the poor and clothes the naked. All that you ask? The church fathers expound:
The Shepherd of Hermas, Didache, Tertullian, Saint Basil the Great, Saint John of Chrysostom, and Jerome all recognize fasting as an integral part of connecting with God. It is a turning to God and a turning away from evil. In other words, not only the stomach fasts - all the flesh fasts. Too, these church fathers put emphasis on helping others in need in your time of fasting. The Shepherd of Hermas suggests taking the food you intended to eat on the day you come off of your fast and giving it to the poor. Didache suggests fasting for two to three days before water baptism, and to not let your fast be the fast of the hypocrites. All warn to not be prideful in fasting. Fasting is simply a tool, an aide in drawing nigh unto God. It is more than anything a lifestyle. All Christians should in essence be ascetics.
Saint Augustine recognizes that fasting is not only spiritually beneficial but is also beneficial to the body and mind. Pope Leo the Great too recognized that fasting is not simply mortification of the flesh, but purification. Is mortification scriptural? Of course! It literally means "putting to death the flesh". Here we step into a theological chasm on who is doing what work. I will easily bridge it with the words of Saint Paul: "...but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live". Let me point out that those who practice a form of mortification which inflicts harm upon the body are tragically doctrinally confused.
Losing weight and cleansing the waste from one's body are not a negative effects in that they are physical effects - they are an additional benefit. Part of being Holy is being healthy - being whole. I wonder about obese preachers... Gluttony is a forgotten word, a forgotten sin. I once heard a preacher say in regards to fasting that sacrifice is not as important as obedience. I say there!, does not obedience call for sacrifice? Of course, that preacher in the past had done much fasting of the stomach, and had felt that his time of doing so was no longer required. I speak to a more generalized asceticism, which should in the least keep one trim, as well as sanctified. Here you may ask if it is possible for an obese person to be sanctified, viz., separated, dedicated, purified, consecrated, and a servant. That's nonsense you over-analyzers. I give you Hebrews 10:10. It can be said that sin's wages are death. Heart disease, diabetes, stroke, clogged circulatory systems... Is or is not gluttony a sin, i.e., sin literally meaning "missing the mark"? Is gluttony's antonym - anorexia - a sin? Of course it is! Both are harmful, both bring demise, as can perpetuated fasting. Temperance in all things... Certainly obesity is a sign of indulgence rather than temperance. The fat are not in danger hell fire, are they? Of course not! No more than the saved tobacco smoker. No more than the saved winebibber. No more than the saved coke head. No more than the saved gay. I'm too tired to think this out any further presently. I freaking digress...
It is from the historic saintly men within the Body, labeled as extremist ascetics, that I conclude fasting and asceticism are not only an acceptable practice for the believer, but in essence, a required practice. Remember that fasting is not conclusive to the stomach; yet from the evidence of the Word, it should certainly - if one is serious in their relationship with God - include the stomach.
Losing weight and cleansing the waste from one's body are not a negative effects in that they are physical effects - they are an additional benefit. Part of being Holy is being healthy - being whole. I wonder about obese preachers... Gluttony is a forgotten word, a forgotten sin. I once heard a preacher say in regards to fasting that sacrifice is not as important as obedience. I say there!, does not obedience call for sacrifice? Of course, that preacher in the past had done much fasting of the stomach, and had felt that his time of doing so was no longer required. I speak to a more generalized asceticism, which should in the least keep one trim, as well as sanctified. Here you may ask if it is possible for an obese person to be sanctified, viz., separated, dedicated, purified, consecrated, and a servant. That's nonsense you over-analyzers. I give you Hebrews 10:10. It can be said that sin's wages are death. Heart disease, diabetes, stroke, clogged circulatory systems... Is or is not gluttony a sin, i.e., sin literally meaning "missing the mark"? Is gluttony's antonym - anorexia - a sin? Of course it is! Both are harmful, both bring demise, as can perpetuated fasting. Temperance in all things... Certainly obesity is a sign of indulgence rather than temperance. The fat are not in danger hell fire, are they? Of course not! No more than the saved tobacco smoker. No more than the saved winebibber. No more than the saved coke head. No more than the saved gay. I'm too tired to think this out any further presently. I freaking digress...
It is from the historic saintly men within the Body, labeled as extremist ascetics, that I conclude fasting and asceticism are not only an acceptable practice for the believer, but in essence, a required practice. Remember that fasting is not conclusive to the stomach; yet from the evidence of the Word, it should certainly - if one is serious in their relationship with God - include the stomach.
0 comments:
Post a Comment