Fasting is a practice that has been observed since the beginning of recorded history. One of the places where we find records of the fasting of the first peoples is in the Christian Bible. In fact, one of the earliest recorded occurrences of a fast can be found in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. Here it is recorded that while Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God, he fasted for 40 days.
While there are many Biblical references to Christian fasting, Christians do not have set rules or schedules for fasting as Muslims do. Probably the most structured fasting time is found in religions, such as Catholicism, where Lent is observed. During this time, worshipers choose one thing in their lives to fast from. It can be a type of food, like coffee or chocolate, or an activity, like watching television. This act of giving up a favorite thing is supposed to remind the worshiper of Christ’s sacrifice. Participation in Lent, however, is not mandatory for any member of the Christian religion.
Since there are no Christian fasting rules set in stone, we can only follow the examples of fasting that Jesus gave us in the Bible:
“When you fast, do not be gloomy like hypocrites, because they disfigure their faces to show men that they are fasting … But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it is not obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is invisible, and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you “. Matthew 6: 16-18 NIV
Since Jesus makes this mention of fasting in His Sermon on the Mount, it is clear that fasting is an accepted practice. In fact, there is a record that Jesus himself fasted for 40 days in the desert before beginning his public ministry. From the above passage, Christians also infer that God does not respect fasting done only as a show. To fast properly and in a way that brings glory to God and not to ourselves, we must not demonstrate our fasting.
In his article “Is Fasting a Christian Duty?” W. Frank Walton argues that Christian fasting occurred in much the same way as the practices of foot washing and holy kissing. “All (these practices) originated from culture, not divine revelation, as a cultural way of expressing an underlying principle,” says Walton. He goes on to add that fasting is not commanded on Christians as a binding obligation, but rather as a way of expressing their grief over mistakes made and the depth of their repentance.
Another way that Christians use fasting is in connection with prayer to deepen their relationship with God. Many people find that they can use the time they spent preparing and eating their food in prayer. They also believe that this time of fasting increases awareness of their spiritual self and makes them more in tune with the Holy Spirit.
Unlike the Muslim fast, there are no set rules for Christian fasting. Christians infer from the Scriptures that fasting is an accepted practice and that it should not be done in the form of an exhibition, but with a true desire to grow spiritually.