Jimmy Swaggert and fasting

[randybako]

Jimmy Swaggart was telling a story about how fasting is useless because it puts emphasis on the act instead of on Christ. He went on to tell a story about how he kindly told a protestant minister that fasting for his ( the protestent minister’s) 3 days was not the way to go that fasting puts faith in the act and not on Christ.(The protestant minister told Swaggart that he overcomes sin-temptation etc, by fasitng for 3 straight days) Swaggart said the minister slammed his fist on the table and angrily said" well it works for me). Doesnt the bible say something about certain sins requriing fasting in order to get atonement or something. Also why are some protestants either naive or ignorant about the benefits of fasting. Swaggart says fasting puts the hope in the act- not in faith of Christ so therefore it is wrong.

 

[juliamajor]

Why anyone would you care what Swaggert says. He’s fraud and a phoney plus a hypocrite to boot.With his record of faults he’s got a heck of a nerve calling anybody out. Besides If Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days that’s the example we must follow not the slimy Mr.Swaggart.

 

[LilyM]

Jimmy Swaggart was telling a story about how fasting is useless because it puts emphasis on the act instead of on Christ. He went on to tell a story about how he kindly told a protestant minister that fasting for his ( the protestent minister’s) 3 days was not the way to go that fasting puts faith in the act and not on Christ.(The protestant minister told Swaggart that he overcomes sin-temptation etc, by fasitng for 3 straight days) Swaggart said the minister slammed his fist on the table and angrily said" well it works for me). Doesnt the bible say something about certain sins requriing fasting in order to get atonement or something. Also why are some protestants either naive or ignorant about the benefits of fasting. Swaggart says fasting puts the hope in the act- not in faith of Christ so therefore it is wrong.

Our Lord fasted Himself - if Swaggart thinks that fasting means nothing, then maybe He can explain why Christ did such a useless act?

And you’re close - Our Lord said that certain demons could only be driven out by prayer AND fasting.

 

[fhansen]

Swaggert’s a man who’s demonstrated virtually no control over his own passions. It’s obvious by his actions what happens to one who shuns discipline.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Jesus fasted. Matthew 4:2.
Jesus gave instructions on fasting. Matthew 6:16-18.
The early Christians fasted. Acts 13:2; 13:3; 14:23

 

[Nita]

Jesus fasted. Matthew 4:2.
Jesus gave instructions on fasting. Matthew 6:16-18.
The early Christians fasted. Acts 13:2; 13:3; 14:23

Matthew 9:15 also:
And Jesus said to 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.

It appears it’s the “wedding guests” who will be the ones fasting. Isn’t it great to be a member of that group?

 

[Crimson_Seraph]

Fasting is good if you’re doing it for the right reasons. When I fast I do so not to punish myself or do penance. Rather, I fast as a sort of sacrifice and spend the time that I would spend eating, praying and reading God’s Word instead. I think Fasting is certainly good and useful. Just don’t go bragging to others that you fast x-amount of time though, Jesus didn’t like that

 

[Mintaka]

Well, it’s superstitious to believe that something “works” in and of itself.

But OTOH, when most people say, “Fasting really works against temptation!” or “X prayer really works if you’re in trouble!”, they’re just using shorthand for something like “God has used fasting and X prayer to send me many graces and help me grow spiritually. Therefore, I advocate that you also humbly beg God for such graces, showing your willingness to respond to Him through fasting and saying X prayer.”

But everybody assumes the shorthand when you say, “Peeling an onion under running water really works to stop the onion making me cry!” Nobody objects that you are vainly putting faith in running water or the water works or the plumber, rather than in God’s divine plan as represented in the chemistry, physics, and biology of running water and onions.

 

[tobinatorstark]

Jimmy Swaggart was telling a story about how fasting is useless because it puts emphasis on the act instead of on Christ. He went on to tell a story about how he kindly told a protestant minister that fasting for his ( the protestent minister’s) 3 days was not the way to go that fasting puts faith in the act and not on Christ.(The protestant minister told Swaggart that he overcomes sin-temptation etc, by fasitng for 3 straight days) Swaggart said the minister slammed his fist on the table and angrily said" well it works for me). Doesnt the bible say something about certain sins requriing fasting in order to get atonement or something. Also why are some protestants either naive or ignorant about the benefits of fasting. Swaggart says fasting puts the hope in the act- not in faith of Christ so therefore it is wrong.

I wouldn’t buy into any of Jimmy Swaggart’s garbage. He is a false prophet. My grandfather bought into his filth. He says one thing and does the opposite (his affiliations with 2 different prostitutes). The man confessed his sin on national TV back in the 80’s when I was very young. Ironically he condemn such actions and committed them himself. Not only did he get caught with a prostitute in the 80’s, but the 90’s as well. He got caught again in 1991.

 

[adowcday]

Swaggert’s comments are based on the faith vs. works problem taken to a ridiculous extreme. By his logic, one would do absolutely nothing to grow in virtue or to help others – no prayer, no fasting, no almsgiving, no church attendance, no contributing to Jimmy Swaggert’s ministry, etc. – because that would be a reliance on a good work. Pshaw…what foolishness.

 

[adowcday]

Correction: the part about not contributing to Jimmy Swaggert’s ministry makes perfect sense.

 

[1edyson]

Our Lord fasted Himself - if Swaggart thinks that fasting means nothing, then maybe He can explain why Christ did such a useless act?

.

If it was good enough for Christ, then it is good enough for me.

 

[losh14]

Jimmy Swaggart was telling a story about how fasting is useless because it puts emphasis on the act instead of on Christ. He went on to tell a story about how he kindly told a protestant minister that fasting for his ( the protestent minister’s) 3 days was not the way to go that fasting puts faith in the act and not on Christ

That’s a fundamentalist foil, to disagree with something by saying “it puts the focus on you, not on Christ”. It’s an unproven rhetoric that I’ve heard from ICC, WotM and other evangelical groups. Unproven, because you can’t say it doesn’t lead someone closer to Christ. Rhetoric, because it is not an argument in itself, but rather a statement.

I could say “reading the Bible puts the focus on you, because you’re the reader, and even when you read Jesus’ words, you’re putting them in your mind in your own image of Jesus, and so you’re building a false Jesus for yourself. So you shouldn’t read the Bible.” But I wouldn’t do that.

You should strive to do whatever leads you closer to Christ, and avoid with the utmost severity whatever leads you away from Christ.

 

[Cracker_Mom]

Sounds like Jimmy should have tried the fasting thing to avoid temptation a little longer.