We value asking questions to better understand how to live life in a God-centered, Christ-exalting way. Let’s face it, life is tough and trying to find your way on your own just makes things more difficult. But where can you go to find biblical answers to life issues? We believe that church should be THAT place. So, we have a “GraceTALK” every quarter in which some of our pastors answers questions that you have submitted.
Q1 (2:21). Is fasting for us today and, if yes, for what reason should a Christian fast and for how long?
Q2 (11:58). How do I help a brother in Christ who doesn’t seem to want to repent of a known sin in his life? We have spoken about it and it seems as if he does realize that his actions are wrong, but he almost seems to be content to just see this as part of “not being perfect” or “everyone struggles.” While this is certainly true, where is the line between “everyone sins” and “I want to ight against sin”?
Q3 (21:38). I enjoy reading from the Living Bible but there are some people who don’t like it. Should be wary of this Bible and is there a Bible that GF would recommend?
Q4 (28:57). I have heard that if you commit suicide, you automatically go to hell. But of course God says that if we are Christians, no sin can make us go to hell. Does that count for suicide?
Submit a future GraceTALK question.
Hello,
I have had the same question on fasting and have done some research on it. Besides the one passage in Matthew 6 (which seems less like a new testament command to fast, but instruction on how the Jews present are to fast) the only other explicit teaching on fasting is when the Pharisees ask Jesus why his followers are not fasting in the synoptic gospels. His response is that now is a time of celebration, and that his followers would fast later. He goes on to tell the parable of the wine skins and the patches.
There are 2 instances in Acts where Fasting was combined with prayer and they were both upon the installation of elders. But besides these fasting seems to be lacking from the new testament. Even in the pastorals, Paul does not instruct the elders to fast for the installation of another elder.
Colossians 2:16 ff Seem to indicate that fasting is not something that is to done compulsively. If your conscience is moved to do so, fine; if not, fine too.
So I just wonder how valuable fasting is as a spiritual discipline. Biblically, it doesn’t seem to be important to the New Testament writers or an important discipline in the life of the church.