Fasting

 

Have you stopped and thought about the meaning of fasting? I am sure that we all have “unfortunately, fasting is the most misunderstood spiritual discipline”  in the Christian faith. In Scot McKnight’s book, Fasting, he looks at the many facets of fasting but always brings it back to three important things: sacred moment, which leads to fasting, with the end being the results. In this book review we will be looking the strengths, weaknesses and how fasting is to be implemented into the everyday pastor and churches life. 

Every fast that was seen in the Older Testaments was a response to a sacred moment. When fasting was requested or done it was out of a need, death, sin, or fear. McKnight brings out that if fasting is done looking for only a result then fasting has “become a manipulative device instead of a Christian discipline.”  There is a fine line of a true fast and not one that is just to get what we as an individual want. Fasting should be focused more on the sacred moment. 

Looking at the strengths of the book as a reader was the many was the author broke down how fasting was to be used but always bringing back to the sacred moment, leading to fasting, which in turn brought a God result. One big area that sums up the majority of the book when it comes to fasting is when the author made the point, “fasting along with prayer is not some kind of magic bullet.”  The church today is looking for that silver bullet something that is fast and easy. It is almost as if the church is screaming out to the leadership, “don’t make me do anything, you do it for me.” This is a struggle that all leaders face, and the author brings out many ways to help people understand that there is going to be something that you are going to need to do in order to see the results that you are longing for. This thought brings us back to the sacred moment, that brings us to the place of fasting, and because of the connection with God may lead to the desired results. 

Another strength was the easy understanding and new way of looking fasting. Even though it has been misunderstood for many years the book helped break down the barriers and misunderstandings from what a fast really is not what man has made fasting out to be. The book was practical, and the author was straight forward in his approach that made it challenging but insightful. A bonus to the book is that added study guide at the end that can help with personal and corporate growth along with accountability.

Something that stuck out to the reader was all the history used to bring clarity and understanding to what fasting really means. With fasting being a trendy topic today, having a firm biblical understanding the why of fasting through quotes, biblical references, and other fasting believers helped make the book more interesting. 

Looking at the weaknesses of the book the author could have spent a little more time sharing on what fasting is rather than what fasting is not. Many of the books that he referenced speak more to what fasting is rather than what it is not. Though a weakness to the reader, it was also to his benefit. The reader found it to be helpful but to the average person may find the book to be rather dry or hard to understand because the author shares more of the history of fasting. Another aspect of weakness was that the author at times was repetitive and seemed as if he just wanted to hear his voice. 

Looking at this book from a pastoral perspective and how it can be used in the church I find that it would be a great book to have as a launching point for discussion in a Life Group or even for a teaching series or stand-alone message. No matter where one stands on fasting this book is one to have on the shelf and gives great perspective to a misunderstood topic. Something that I have given much thought after reading this book is how much do we as believers understand the different aspects of fasting from a theological perspective and do, we understand what fasting really is from a practical sense? I don’t know that we as the Western church that we truly do. I would even fall into this category before reading this book. I greatly appreciated the questions at the end of the book for further discussion and also the list of recommended reading. On a personal level, I did find McKnight’s book to give me a good foundation and launching point in my own understanding of fasting. 

        I felt that the book overall brought clarity to the topic of fasting, theologically had a solid biblical structure, and even touching on the health aspects was good for all who want to know that health benefits or lack of from again a biblical perspective. May we as followers of Christ fast not so we can get something but because we sense “God’s response to the very conditions around us, and may it lead us to join in the good work of God.”  As believers “fasting is being with God and on God’s side in the midst of life’s grievous sacred moments.”  

Bibliography:

McKnight, Scot. Fasting. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009.