January, the start of the New Year, will herald for many believers a time when they engage in 21 days of fasting. For some, it will be “no meat, no sugar,” while for others it will be the very strict “Daniel’s Fast.”

However, for both, it is the belief that wives must have a discussion with their husbands to get their approval to embark on such a fast, as it will mean being denied intimate time with them.

Some, however, take a different approach, believing that it is a time for denying the body certain foods or not eating within a specific time frame while continuing with all other activities.

Freedom Come Rain reached out to Rev. Garry Knowles of the Toll Gate Circuit of Baptist Churches, who shared that in almost all religions, people in both Judaism and Christianity have viewed fasting as an “ascetic exercise” that serves to purify oneself and bring one closer to God. Closely related to this, he said, is the fact that many view fasting as a way to make their prayers more effective.

FASTING IS A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE

“Fasting is a spiritual discipline, abstaining from food, drink, or other “creaturely comforts” in order to focus on prayer and seeking God’s will. Fasting in the Old Testament demonstrates its widest purpose. Nations or individuals fasted to avert or terminate a calamity by eliciting God’s compassion. When calamity struck, a fast was proclaimed. It was a spontaneous reaction to emergencies,” he notes.

In the Old Testament, a fast was a means of demonstrating a humble heart and a repentant spirit. A fast without true humility and repentance was “valueless and senseless,” Rev. Knowles explained.

According to him, the subject of fasting was not a central issue in the teachings of Jesus. He never commanded fasting or propounded any detailed regulations concerning the practice. Beyond question, however, he points out that Christ radically changed the way fasting was to be carried out, as well as the relative importance of the practice.

When Jesus addressed the subject, it was usually in response to Jewish practice, as in Matthew 6:16-18, Rev. Knowles explained, sharing some general understandings of fasting compiled by Pastor Lance Witt (Saddle Back Church):

Fasting is not so much about food as it is about focus.

Fasting is not so much about saying no to the body as it is about saying yes to the Spirit.

Fasting is not about doing without; it is about looking within.

Fasting is an outward response to an inward attitude and cry of the soul.

Fasting is not a means of seeking God’s blessings, as much as it is a means of seeking God.

Fasting is not a test for super saints, it is not a means of twisting God’s arm, and it is not a magical formula for getting through to God.

Fasting is feasting on the Lord. Looking to him for comfort, power, strength, and guidance

Addressing the beliefs of some Christians regarding whether or not married Believers should abstain from intercourse during fasting and if that stance is supported in the Bible, Rev. Knowles said 1 Corinthians 7:1–6 (NIV) remotely suggests the notion.

“Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfil his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.”

CONTEXT OF PAUL’S LETTER

Examining the context of Paul’s letter, Rev. Knowles observes that it seems that for some Believers, spirituality is a pretext for sexual immorality, while for others, spirituality means abstaining from sex altogether.

In chapter seven, he notes that Paul turns his attention to those who seem to regard all sex as dirty and who therefore advocate celibacy. For those who are single, he points out that it means staying single and, unlike today, celibate as well. For those who are married, he said, it seems to mean that these couples should also refrain from sexual relations.

“The beliefs and practises of the Corinthian saints seem to vary greatly when it comes to matters of sexual values and conduct. In chapter 5, Paul rebukes the church at Corinth for failing to exercise church discipline on a man living in an incestuous relationship with his father’s wife. In the second half of chapter 6 (verses 12–20), Paul confronts those who feel that having sex with a prostitute is not contrary or detrimental to one’s spiritual life. There are those in Corinth whose sexual values are shocking, even to the pagan Corinthians,” he states.

Commenting on Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7:1–7, he said they are in response to a question asked by some of the Corinthian saints who were corresponding with him. He notes that Paul was required to address a group of Corinthian saints who had adopted an extreme view of sex and marriage. With this in mind, Rev. Knowles emphasised that Paul’s words in the first seven verses of Chapter 7 should be understood in the context of the Bible’s broader teaching on sex and marriage, rather than fasting.

STOP SINNING BY DENYING…

Stressing further, he said both husband and wife should not only give themselves for sex, but each should seek to produce the ultimate pleasure for their partner.

“Neither the husband nor the wife has the authority to deprive their partner sexually. Those Christians who have been forcibly making a celibate of their mate by withholding sex are commanded to stop sinning in this fashion,” Rev. Knowles shared.

Sexual abstinence is to be a rare and temporary exception to the norm of regular sexual union, he informs adding that first, the decision to abstain from sex must be mutually reached by the husband and the wife and that there must not be a unilateral decision made by one spouse. Second, a cessation of normal sexual relations should only take place for matters of great urgency. Third, normal sexual relations should be quickly resumed so that Satan may not take advantage of their lack of self-control.

In conclusion, he said abstaining from sexual intercourse during periods of fasting should not be the norm but the exception. The act of fasting is not made more real because we abstain from sex, just as how taking communion is not a sign that one is without sin.”

“Sexual intercourse in marriage is not just for pleasure or procreation, but first and foremost, it is an act of worship to God. Paul, in his letter to the church, referenced fasting only as a suggestion as he spoke to a certain person who believed that sexual intercourse, even in the union of marriage, was a sin.

Married couples need to remember that it is a sin to avoid sexual relations, except for a short time to devote yourselves to prayer.”