Fasting to save my life (Part I) Non-Apostolic versus Apostolic view

When you think of the concept of “fasting” some may envision juice fasts and detox fasts that are becoming more popular these days for being proven to help people lose weight and save lives by healing the body from disease and even some cancers! On the other hand, the concept of “fasting” for some may automatically bring to mind the Church and their faith in Christ.

The current world-Christian view on the relevance of fasting hit me rather ironically the other night when I was watching the concluding part of a documentary called “Juicing to save my life.” Quite literally, a man undertook a juice fast for 2 months and it helped save his life. This non-Christian man, with a new outlook on life actually stated, “THE BIBLE says that Jesus fasted, so we should do it too!” Such a clear and simple message to even non-Christians, so why has this matter become such a controversial subject among people who claim to be Christians who stand by the ‘Bible’s teachings alone’?

Fasting is not a commonly discussed topic among western Christian circles. It is hard to come by literature, books, devotionals and media that mention our need to fast as Christians. In fact, most western versions of the Bible have actually omitted the word “fast” from some important verses of the translated text.

So as we enter into the time of our canonized Church fast; the 50 day Great Fast (Soma Raba) commencing 19^th February, I’d like to draw our attention to the reasons for spiritual fasting, and also investigate the belief of some Christians who feel there is no need to fast or hold to Church Calendar fasts at all!

Over the years of reading various Christ-centred literature, hearing sermons and having many conversations with leaders and lay-men from non-Apostolic Christian denominations, I have learned that the vast majority of them hold to the belief that Christians do not need to fast. They concede that this is a man-made “legalistic” tradition that should be abolished because we are now living in the grace of Christ. Unfortunately, like many other of their reformed doctrines, they stand with an ignorant view toward the necessity of fasting among many other Apostolic teachings and traditions we hold to.

Because of the widespread teachings of these reformed beliefs through international media, and a well-structured evangelical system, some members of our own Holy and Apostolic Church have become confused or ignorantly wandered away from the Orthodox (original) faith, doctrines and traditions which are founded on Christ’s teachings and have been passed down through the generations from Christ Himself and His Apostles.

Now, these non-Apostolic friends of ours who preach ‘Sola Scriptura’, (BIBLE ONLY), are either too ignorant to see what the BIBLE truly teaches about fasting, or their ironically “man-made” reformed teachings which have been passed down from their Church founders since the 16^th Century have clearly misinterpreted the Bible.

If in fact we look to the Bible alone, starting from the Old Testament, the very first fast that God enforced was on the first man. He commanded Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden saying "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17). Of course we see man here sin against God by disobeying His command after giving in to the temptations of satan.


In the New Testament, it was the Lord Jesus who set the law of fasting in Christianity when He fasted forty days and forty nights (Matthew. 4:2). "He did eat nothing, and when they were ended, he afterward hungered." (Luke 4:2). The Lord Jesus was not in need of fasting but fasted as an example for us. He imposed fasting to show us its powerful spiritual impact especially when coupled with prayer.


Our Lord’s authoritive words again deemed fasting necessary when He replied to the question of John's disciples, who wondered why His disciples did not fast. Our Lord said, "Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them and then shall they fast in those days." (Matthew 9:14-15 &; Luke 5:35)

Again we see Our Lord clearly command His followers to fast during His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus Himself commands them, WHEN you fast, you should do it in this way. (Matthew 6:16) He doesn’t say, if you feel like it, or if you think it’s right… But Christ teaches us how to fast because it is for the good of our salvation.

Among the many verses in the Bible which directly address salvation, one in particular is often drawn out by Reformists and magnified out of its Biblical context to speak against Apostolic traditions; Ephesians 2:8-9. Their interpretation is we are saved or justified by grace through faith alone and works are not necessary. Through these and similar verses, both Apostolic and non- Apostolic believers can come to a unified agreement that we are indeed living in the grace of Christ now. But we come to a difference of opinion when our Apostolic faith teaches us that to live in the grace of Christ we are justified through our faith and works such as partaking in the Church Sacraments and adhering to the canon laws of the Church (Fasting is one of them).

As St. James clearly states in James 2:26, faith and works are equally important for our salvation. Namely, the acceptance of God’s grace in our lives through faith and works together, help us to continue to work out our salvation (Philippians2:12) as we  hold to and grow in our faith in Jesus Christ through His Church and Church teachings which encourage faithful and edifying deeds among her members.

The simple truth is God’s inspired word and the true interpretation of the original meaning is unchangeable. His Word should be applied to everybody and every era without being superseded, maligned or taken out of its context. God taught His people to fast and God’s people fasted. Jesus taught His Apostles and His followers to fast, and Jesus and His followers fasted. Some of our early church history books which were written before the Bible was even put together, also teach of how our blessed saints and Church forefathers fasted regularly and as a result of their great faith performed amazing miracles. The Church has subsequently set canon laws for us their children to continue to do the same.

As members of this Holy and blessed Church, we must hold to its teachings, practise them, teach them and always remember that our teachings and traditions are instated by Christ Himself and His Apostles; as stated in our Church Catechism:

The Apostle St Paul writes, “ . . . therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or our epistle ...”(II Thes 2:15)

We have been taught to reject those who teach to the contrary, or they are outside that of the Apostles teachings. ¹

So let us look to Our Lord Jesus, His Holy Church, The Apostle’s teachings and the Bible which are all very clear in stipulating the need for God’s people to fast.  Let us imitate Christ, the Prophets, Apostles and saints who taught us by way of example. If we long to unworthily follow in their faithful footsteps, we must stand fast in our faith and traditions and endeavour to do the same.

Part II continued next week…  How do we fast and what does fasting achieve?

1         A Catechism of the Assyrian Church of the East, the Revd. C H Klutz, B.A., B.Th., M.Th. and the Revd. George Toma, B.A., M.A., D.Min,P.p. 116 (2006)

This week’s song: Orthodox Psalm 104 (English)