Thread by @CAHutch1990

Hot takes from Luke 5:33-39.

The Christian life is primarily one of feasting, not fasting.

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Proofs:

1) The only *commandment to regularly fast* in the OT was for the Day of Atonement, once a year.

Jesus fulfills the Day of Atonement perfectly. The fast is fulfilled. The feast is here.

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2) There is no commandment to fast in the NT. None at all.

Jesus' instructions on fasting in the Sermon on the Mount are not a command. They are instructions that if we do fast to not advertise our piety.

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3) There are only two example of fasting in all of Acts, both surrounding important decisions (sending of missionaries and appointing of elders, Acts 13, 14).

4) The number of times fasting appears in the Epistles? Zero. That ought to tell us something.

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5) OTOH, there are strong warnings against asceticism as a form of religion in Colossians 2 and I Timothy 4.

Does that mean fasting is forbidden? Not at all. It may be useful in times of particular need, repentance or facing a major decision.

But it is nowhere commanded.

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More than that, in context, Luke 5:33-38 is about Jesus fulfilling the true fast that Isaiah 58:6-10 describes:

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?...

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... Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house?"

Just like Jesus said He came to do in Luke 4. And then Himself feasted with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 5:29-32).

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A true fast receives God's grace freely, and then turns outwardly towards the needs of others.

A true fast cares for the needy and shares food with them around common Table. It's about communion.

It's hard to do that if no one is eating.

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This is why potlucks are the best program the church has ever invented.

They are celebrations! The bridegroom is here!

This is why meals for the sick are also means of grace.

They are all extensions of the Lord's Supper, our feasting together with Christ (I Cor 11).

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But what of Luke 5:35, when Jesus says the day will come when He will be taken away.

Tricky for sure. And we might think that time of fasting is now, until the Wedding Feast of the Lamb is consummated (Rev 19).

And perhaps in part. Now is a time of waiting - and suffering.

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But too many Christians emphasize the "not yet," to the neglect of the "already."

These folks say if we do not repent more, or pray harder, or are not more sorrowful, God's blessings will escape us.

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For these Christians, it seems like it's always a time of fasting. No fun. But they're serious about their faith. Just ask them.

But what of grace?

Is Christ with us now, or not? I say that He is.

Already we are raised with Christ - even if we do not see it (Eph 2:6).

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No, the Christian life is one of feasting, not fasting.

Do we deserve that? We do not.

But Jesus came to fulfill the fast which we deserve.

There is nothing we must do to make ourselves more holy, more acceptable to God.

Jesus has done that for us.

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Do we need to repent? To sorrow over our sin? To pick up our crosses and follow Christ?

Absolutely. And that's hard. And may call for fasting.

But the purpose of a fast is always to break it.

The purpose of godly sorrow is always to enter into the joy of Christ.

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That's the context of Jesus' famous words in Revelation 3:20:

"Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

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The end of sorrow and repentance is: feasting!

Jesus Himself comes to sup with us.

So don't fast to make God hear you more. Or to show others how devoted you are.

Feast in grace. And then share your food with others.

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice!" FIN