A
ahs
Guest
I’m writing an article about Lent, fasting, and abstinence. I start by asking why Christians would do these in light of 1Tim 4:3, and then I go through what these are and the Biblical support, and then summarize by finally addessing 1Tim 4:3. Here is the summary that I would like feedback on:
"So, what about 1Tim 4:1-3? Doesn’t Paul condemn these practices? No, not hardly. First of all, Paul would not contradict Scripture, nor would he contradict Christ who expected us to fast and instructed us on how to properly do it. Paul taught, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that the old law is but a foreshadowing of the new, and that ALL Scripture is useful for teaching and learning the faith (Hb 10:1, 2Tim 3:16). What Paul is talking about there are people who forbid the eating of certain foods that God declared to be good…because they still considered those foods unclean or ungodly. You see, the Juda-izers, during this time, were still forbidding the consumption of certain meats, not for the purpose of fasting, but because they were still holding onto the old law which Christ fulfilled. Catholics don’t abstain from meat because we think it is wrong to eat it or that we shouldn’t eat it with thanksgiving. In fact, we believe the exact opposite…that it is a wonderful and good food from God and we LOVE to eat it…which is exactly why we consider it an act of penance to abstain from meat during Lent, to prepare our hearts to more fully receive Christ when we celebrate His Resurrection. "
"So, what about 1Tim 4:1-3? Doesn’t Paul condemn these practices? No, not hardly. First of all, Paul would not contradict Scripture, nor would he contradict Christ who expected us to fast and instructed us on how to properly do it. Paul taught, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that the old law is but a foreshadowing of the new, and that ALL Scripture is useful for teaching and learning the faith (Hb 10:1, 2Tim 3:16). What Paul is talking about there are people who forbid the eating of certain foods that God declared to be good…because they still considered those foods unclean or ungodly. You see, the Juda-izers, during this time, were still forbidding the consumption of certain meats, not for the purpose of fasting, but because they were still holding onto the old law which Christ fulfilled. Catholics don’t abstain from meat because we think it is wrong to eat it or that we shouldn’t eat it with thanksgiving. In fact, we believe the exact opposite…that it is a wonderful and good food from God and we LOVE to eat it…which is exactly why we consider it an act of penance to abstain from meat during Lent, to prepare our hearts to more fully receive Christ when we celebrate His Resurrection. "
