Fasting Shall Cease ?
I Corinthians 13:8 predicted “tongues shall cease” at some point in the first century timeframe, but many Christians act like the same is said about fasting. However, nowhere does the Bible teach fasting has ceased.Should Christians fast today?:· Matt 6:16-18 yes, because we will be rewarded by God if we do· Matt 6:16-17 Jesus assumed his disciples would fast (it says “when” not “if”)· Matt 9:14-15 disciples should fast after the bridegroom (Jesus) was gone, which is true today· Phil 4:9, I Cor 11:1, I Pet 2:21 yes, because approved examples are binding:· Matt 4:2 Jesus fasted· Acts 13:1-3, 14:23 groups of Christians fasted· II Cor 11:27, 6:5 Paul fasted· I Cor 7:3-5 fasting must be important today as it is the only reason (accompanied by prayer) for which God allows married couples to suspend sexual relations(caveat – there is some question about whether the Greek word for “fasting” is in the original text of I Cor 7:5 – I will let the reader investigate that at his discretion)I am told there is more teaching in the New Testament on fasting than repentance and confession, and that Jesus taught more on fasting than on baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Many correctly understand that Acts 20:7 teaches by example that we should eat the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week. But we have many more approved examples of Christians fasting than we do of the first day of the week Lord’s Supper. Isn’t it inconsistent to uphold the latter, but not the former?