I read a book on fasting. Do you have any ideas why the Church of Christ does not fast? Matthew recorded Jesus as saying, "When you fast," Earlier Jesus had said "When you give…" and "When you pray…" We take those as almost commands although he is not commanding either. He is just referencing a time when they will pray or give or fast. Similar to Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman at well when he presumed his followers would worship. For some reason we follow Jesus' example of praying and giving as well as take his comment as a command to worship but not fasting.
In 1756 the King of Britain called for a day of solemn prayer and fasting because of a threatened invasion by the French. John Wesley recorded in his journal for February 6th of that year: "The fast day was a glorious day, such as London has scarce seen since the Restoration. Every church in the city was more than full, and a solemn seriousness sat on every face. Surely God heareth prayer, and there will yet be a lengthening of our tranquility." In a footnote he wrote, "Humility was turned into national rejoicing for the threatened invasion by the French was averted."
In May 1774, a message from the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence informed Virginians of the closing of the port of Boston. The Virginia House of Burgesses set aside June 1, 1774, as a day of "Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer" in support of the citizens of Boston.
With Christian's concerns over the way our country is going we never hear a call for Christians to recognize a day of fasting and prayer. I don't remember Billy Graham ever calling for believers to fast or Max Lucado, Rubel Shelly or further back to Batsell Barrett Baxter.
Some things we do and some things we do not do and never give either a thought. Do you suppose we should at least consider why we don't or do?
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Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
Veni Vidi Wiki: I came. I saw. I edited collaboratively.
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