Obligatory Fasting

[giuseppe96]

A Protestant friend asked me why the Church “imposes” these obligatory fasts when fasting should be a voluntary act of love for God. I’m not contradicting the Church, but how would I go about explaining the fasting laws of the Church?

 

[1ke]

when fasting should be a voluntary act of love for God

That’s an opinion. It’s not a fact.

In fact, in the bible we hear it said “proclaim a fast” and that everyone fasted during certain times in the Jewish culture. Jesus did not contravene this in any way. See Joel 1:14. Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly.

So, while fasting certainly can be a personal devotion, it can also be a corporate devotion of the church as a whole.

 

[giuseppe96]

I wasn’t planning on denying the fast. On the contrary, I plan to fast all days of Lent this year. I’m just trying to explain that declaring a fast doesn’t mean that the Church is legalistic and impersonal.

 

[JohnnySav]

Can we eat fish today if not meat? Anyone know? Lol

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Consider how parents teach their children. Certain things (sharing, being polite, thinking of others’ needs and feelings, etc) should be done out of love and decency toward our fellow man, but children often need to be made to do these things until they learn and understand well enough to want to do them freely. We’d like to think we’re adults, but…