To fast or not to fast that is the question for Lent! Lent was traditionally a time to give things up (especially 'luxuries' like fat, eggs, meat and alcohol) but it has become more common in the past few decades to instead take something on (for example charitable works or spiritual exercises). Whilst these things that are taken on are good things to do, I think that we lose something important if we avoid the practice of giving things up for a period of time.
There is often criticism of Millennials, Zoomers and Gen Alphas that they display feelings of 'entitlement' – they want everything 'put on a plate' for them and like the worst of fussy eaters they demand what they want, when and how they want it, often regardless of how if affects other people. Whether or not that is more true of those generations, it is definitely true that entitlement is not exclusive to those generations. Entitlement is a human condition because humans are selfish by nature – it is one of the observations that reminds us of the truth of the Biblical narrative that human beings are 'fallen' beings. By giving things up at Lent (or at any time!) we are reminding ourselves that the world doesn't revolve around ourselves and our desires – and traditionally this giving up of things was linked with fasting.
Fasting is not unique to Christianity or even to religion, but there is something distinctive about Christian fasting. We see three types of fasting in the world: health, political and religious fasting. Some people fast as part of a health regime, which used correctly might be a benefit, but done badly can also lead to eating disorders. Political fasting is used by people, e.g. Gandhi, to put pressure on authorities to make certain decisions. Religious fasting can sometimes be similar to political fasting – trying to pressurise God into doing something we want him to do – or it can be a way of earning 'Brownie points' to 'get into heaven'.
One of the early sermons authorised for use in the Church of England was on the topic of true Christian fasting and it gave the following three aims which make fasting beneficial to us and acceptable to God. Firstly, to discipline and control our desires, especially those desires that are contrary to the way God wants us to live, not really in order to make ourselves more holy, but so that by refraining from things that give us worldly pleasure we can find contentment in the greater pleasure of a relationship with God. Secondly, that we may be more earnest and fervent in prayer, both by giving us time to pray and also by transforming a physical hunger into a hunger for God's kingdom to come. Finally, as a way of showing our repentance and sorrow for our sins so that when we say sorry for our sins it's not just a trite statement.
To give things up, even good things, for a period of time can help us to rely less on ourselves and more on God. It can also to help us to see how we make 'gods' out of the good things God gives us, so that by putting them aside we can re-discover the God who satisfies our deepest hunger and longings.
