Many people try to downplay the importance of fasting by posing several arguments that it is not necessary. However, it is important that we know the reason behind fasting as St. Peter instructs us to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
In Christianity, we define fasting as the abstinence from something for a greater purpose. This can mean fasting from the Tree of Knowledge (Genesis 2-3), fasting from talking (Joshua 6, James 1), fasting from animal-based products (Daniel 6), and more.
Reason 1: Fasting was the first commandment to humankind
The importance of fasting is demonstrated in the story of the fall of Adam and Eve. In the garden of Eden God gave Adam and Eve “every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food” (Genesis 1:29), even the animals ate only fruits and vegetables (Genesis 1:30).
St. Basil of Caesarea (379 AD) summarizes this idea saying: “Fasting was ordained in paradise. The first injunction was delivered to Adam, ‘Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat.’ ‘You shall not eat’ is a law of fasting and abstinence.” The general argument is rather against excess than in support of ceremonial abstinence. In paradise, there was no wine, no butchery of beasts, no eating of flesh. Esau was defiled, and made his brother’s slave, for the sake of a single meal. It was fasting and prayer which gave Samuel to Hannah. Fasting brought forth Samson. Fasting begets prophets and strengthens strong men. Fasting makes lawgivers wise, is the soul’s safeguard, the body’s trusty comrade, the armour of the champion, the training of the athlete”.
Reason 2: Fasting supports spiritual growth
St. Matthew mentioned how Christ healed a demon-possessed boy. The apostles were not able to heal him, after which Christ rebuked the demon and healed the boy. When asked by the apostles why they were unable to heal the boy themselves, Christ highlighted the reason as being the necessity of prayer and fasting as He revealed that “this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting”.
Without praying and fasting we are more susceptible to demonic influences, with all the consequences that entail. St. John Chrysostom (407 AD) explained this idea saying: “For he who fasts, is light and active, and prays wakefully, and quenches his evil lusts, makes God propitious, and humbles his proud stomach. And he who prays with his fasting has two wings, lighter than the winds themselves. For he is not heavy and wandering in his prayers, (as is the case with many,) but his zeal is as the warmth of fire, and his constancy as the firmness of the earth. Such one is most able to contend with demons, for there is nothing more powerful than a man who prays properly.”
A warning by St. Peter conveys the same message as he taught us to “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Cyprian of Carthage (258 AD) commented on this verse saying: “Therefore, beloved brethren, we must be on our guard, and strive with all our powers to repel, with solicitous and full watchfulness, the enemy, raging and aiming his darts against every part of our body in which we can be stricken and wounded, following what the Apostle Peter, in his epistle, forewarns and teaches”.
Explanation by Example
If we combine the words of Christ with those of St. Peter, we will find out that we have an active role in our susceptibility towards demonic influences. This can be explained using the following example:
A small village hears on television that there is a heavy tornado coming up in the next two days. The people are all advised to stay at home and to secure their belongings (e.g. their cars, bikes, things in their backyard) to minimize the damage that the tornado could do. Some people will take this advice seriously, start securing their belongings, and start putting their bikes in the garage or equipping their houses from the inside and outside. Others, however, will not take this advice seriously and think to themselves “It’s not that serious, it is just some wind and rain so there will be no harm”.
The ones who took the advice seriously will try to advise those who did not take it seriously but without success. Then the tornado comes, and everyone will be affected by it. There is a difference in damage that is done though. The ones who took the advice seriously suffered significantly less damage than those who did not take it seriously. In hindsight, the ones who did not take the advice seriously are wondering why they did not take it seriously, as it could have prevented significant damage.
The advice here symbolises the Word of God, which commands us to combine prayer and fasting. The ones who listen to the advice are the ones who take prayer and fasting seriously, and the ones who do not take the advice seriously are the ones who do not take prayer and fasting seriously. Both groups will suffer damage from the tornado, which symbolises that both groups will suffer from temptations and hardships. Yet the ones that do pray and fast will be more able to combat temptations and hardships as they are rooted in Christ (John 15:5; Colossians 2:7). Everyone will face temptations and hardships, however, not everyone is as susceptible to temptations with the same degree.
Reason 3: Christ Himself fasted
Christ Himself fasted for forty days (Matthew 4:2). But why did Christ fast? St. John Chrysostom explained that Christ fasted, not requiring fasting, but rather to give us an example of how great a weapon fasting is against the devil. He said: “The children of the Devil go not out to the Devil that they may be tempted. For what need that he should seek the strife who desires not victory? But the sons of God having more confidence and desirous of victory, go forth against him beyond the boundaries of the flesh.
For this cause then Christ also went out to the Devil, that He might be tempted by him. But that you may learn how great a reason is fasting, and what a mighty shield against the Devil, and that after baptism you ought to give attention to fasting and not to lusts, therefore Christ fasted, not Himself needing it, but teaching us by His example”.
If the One who was in no need for fasting fasted, and gave us an example of the true power of fasting, how can we not fast? If He who triumphed over the devil and death taught us the way to follow His steps, how can we not use the tools He gave us? Gregory the Dialogist (604 AD) explained how we ought to imitate Christ during Lent and make our utmost effort to fast. He said: “The Creator of all things took no food during forty days.
We also, at the season of Lent as much as in us lies afflict our flesh by abstinence. The number forty is preserved, because the virtue of the Decalogue is fulfilled in the books of the holy Gospel, and ten taken four times amounts to forty. Or, because in this mortal body, we consist of four elements by the delights of which we go against the Lord’s precepts received by the Decalogue. And as we transgress the decalogue through the lusts of this flesh, we should afflict the flesh forty-fold”.
