www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology thought on fasting

Perhaps one of the things to be learned from the abstinence from certain foods during the Great Fast is that everything God supplies is good. Some foods that we wouldn't normally reach for except when abstaining can be quite tasty. When I train myself to eat more healthfully, whole grains, vegies, etc. I develop more of a taste for those foods.
I suspect it is also good to be reminded of the Hebrew people in the desert, complaining about manna. A fast seems to be pretty similar to an Exodus experience, which I think has been pointed out here before, and is a rich source of spiritual food.
Finally, it might be good when fasting to remember a statement and response that is common in Evangelical circles: 1st person: God is good. 2nd person: All the time! :-)

Dear Michele,

You make some very good points about fasting. Thank you for your input.

I understand that Evangelical Christians also fast, but not according to the food rules we have, yet sometimes more stringently. Could you elaborate?

Thanks!

In Christ,
Alice

Alice:

Today in my carpool one of the guys said that he and his wife (they are Methodists) were going to abstain from one meal a week during Lent. In addition, they were going to take the money they would have spent on the meal and add it to their regular Sunday donation. He didn't indicate whether this was to be denomination or congregation wide or just something he and his wife decided to do.

CIX!

P.S. Not quite food oriented, but way back when in my youth, my church, which was a member of the United Church of Christ denomination had these cardboard lenten folders. I can't remember if it was a dime or quarter you put in one of the slots in the card on each day of the 40 days of Lent, plus a final donation (no indicated amount) at the end of Lent. My parents always had their card sitting on the counter above the kitchen sink.

Dear Moncobyz,

All the children in Sunday School in the Greek Orthodox churches in the U.S. also receive a little cardboard box like a piggy bank. We put the box on the kitchen counter and all spare change and/or dollars go into it as a Lenten donation for charities and is then returned to church after Lent.

Even though my children are way past the Sunday School years, my husband and I still seek out the little boxes because it is such a great idea!

In Christ,
Alice

This is also done in all RC Churches in Scotland

SCIAF [ Scottish International Aid Fund ] issue them with flat pack boxes and one is taken by each family to fill during Lent.