Lent may expiate the soul for those who find it beneficial but it is a token fast

James Hardy (February 26) is entirely correct in saying that fasting is consistent with the practice cited in the New Testament and even quotes verses from the Old Testament, (not ‘old’ for Jewish people), to give further precedent.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Feb 2020, 12:00 BST
Lent is a 'token' fast, often giving up chocolate or alcohol, as opposed to the Biblical examples of abstaining completely from food and water for an extended time. Leviticus 16:29 says to 'afflict your souls'Lent is a 'token' fast, often giving up chocolate or alcohol, as opposed to the Biblical examples of abstaining completely from food and water for an extended time. Leviticus 16:29 says to 'afflict your souls'
Lent is a 'token' fast, often giving up chocolate or alcohol, as opposed to the Biblical examples of abstaining completely from food and water for an extended time. Leviticus 16:29 says to 'afflict your souls'

(James Hardy’s letter can be read here: ‘It is clear that Jesus commended fasting when speaking to the disciples’)

I would never discourage fasting, but only the religious concepts applied to it, such as the ‘Lenten denial’ that Mr Hardy says is a feature of Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant groups and traditions.

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It is still man made traditions that Jesus said make the Word of God of none effect.

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It is the purpose behind fasting and the motive within one’s heart that Jesus linked into when He referred to it.

In Matthew 16 He warns not to ‘be like the hypocrites ... but when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to be fasting, but to your Father’.

In the Land of Israel there is a national annual fast for 24 hours on the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, where the whole country comes to a standstill, with no shops or restaurants open, television and radio not broadcast, and even no cars on any roads.

This is one example of ‘when’ people fast, and not ‘if’.

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Lent, despite the fact that Jesus never instructed us to copy His suffering and temptation, is much more a ‘token’ fast, often with skipping a meal, giving up chocolate, cigarettes or alcohol, as opposed to the Biblical examples of abstaining completely from food and water for an extended time. Leviticus 16:29 says to ‘afflict your souls’.

What other nation on earth, other than Israel, honours God on such a national scale, or on an annual basis, unless they are going through some major crisis, such as was the case of national prayer in the UK during WWII?

There were still cars on the road however!

Lent may expiate the soul for those who find it beneficial, but unlike in Leviticus, we are not commanded to keep ‘Lent’ by God or Jesus.

In the case of the epileptic boy’s healing in Matthew 17 Jesus informs the disciples that their lack of a result was because “this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting,” which demonstrates that there often has to be a practical reason for fasting and not just by habit.

Colin Nevin, Bangor

Related topics:Protestant