In the last few days, Ramadan has gotten underway. In a community like mine, being full of South Asian Muslims, this is a significant time of year. Not only is Ramadan commanded of Muslims, it is deemed a very special time in which Allah’s blessings are particularly available and accessible. For those whose righteousness depends on their own performance, the opportunity is one that cannot easily be missed.
It is usually around this time of year that we begin to compare and contrast Christian approaches to fasting with that demanded by Islam. Many years ago, I wrote an article outlining my particular views on Christian fasting. I think it is particularly appropriate to consider it – especially if you live in an area with a significant Muslim population – in light of Ramadan.
Our view on this (if we live in such areas) does matter. What we convey about the demands of Christ will be noticed by our Muslim neighbours. How we portray the gospel, particularly in light of the burdensome law-keeping which dominates the lives of committed Muslim people, does matter. If we talk about grace but then hit them with a switcheroo – it’s law all the way after conversion – we ultimately offer no more grace nor any lighter burden than the Islam they are currently embroiled in. Indeed, we offer them more of the same but without the community benefits they currently enjoy which is, frankly, the very best element of Islamic culture!
If we are going to present the genuine freedom of the gospel to those entrapped by legalism, we do well to live in light of the freedom of the gospel in full view of our Muslim friends. A comparison of the fruit of our respective religions will work best when the fruit of Christianity is lived out publicly and the freedom in Christ that we have is seen for what it is. To that end, whilst I am quite happy to voice my respect for the determination and endurance of my Muslim friends during Ramadan, I do not want to fast with them because I am able to convey more helpfully and directly that such things do absolutely nothing for my standing with God. Whilst Allah asks his people to deprive themselves and deigns to possibly bless them as a result, Jesus prefers to deprive himself of his rights in order to bless us unilaterally entirely apart from anything we might do for him.
But I don’t think these things are limited to Ramadan, even if they are more pointed at this particular time of year. I think it is important to be clear on this issue – and I know I stand against a big chunk of Christian tradition here – but there is no biblical warrant for us to fast. I believe the biblical grounds for fasting are decidedly weak and the explanation of how and why the practice is spiritually beneficial are scripturally baseless. As we enter Ramadan, I am reposting (below) my specific reasons for this position. I am yet to hear the case that undercuts the points made.
One may believe this doesn’t matter. But in an area like mine, it really does. For what good is it if, in seeking to save Muslims from one form of errant legalism, we ultimately win them to an altogether different one? Pragmatically, it seems unlikely to work anyway. After all, if it’s ‘you show me your legalism and I’ll show you mine’, what purpose is there in swapping one for the other? But spiritually, we do not serve people well by leading them from one form of legalism to another. If my case below is right, to make much of fasting – albeit re-purposed in a Christian way and within a Christian framework – is spiritually damaging. It encourages the very forms of ascetism and apparently spiritual wisdom that is of no actual benefit that Paul explicitly tells us are unhelpful and ought not to pursued in Colossians 2:16-23.
Without specific biblical warrant, and without any evident teaching in scripture on its particular benefits, we do well to avoid (at least) mandating fasting for believers, if not even doing it ourselves. See the case made in the posted article here and decide for yourself.