United Church of God

A Churchwide Fast

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A Congregation of the United Church of God

A Churchwide Fast

As you are aware, a few weeks ago, we were asked to set aside the Sabbath of April 22nd as a day of fasting, churchwide. This fast comes two weeks prior to the General Conference of Elders (which takes place May 5-8), and the Council of Elders meetings (which follow on May 9-12). The fast was not requested because of some “problem” in the church, or because of a specific trial the church is facing. While fasting is often done in connection with a problem or trial, this shouldn’t be the only time we fast. We should fast often, as a means of humbling ourselves before God, in good times as well as in bad times. Fasting helps us understand that we depend on God for our daily sustenance, and on our own we would not survive.

We do not come before God in fasting, in order to get what we want. We don’t fast because we want God to notice us, or hear our special request to do something we want. That’s not the purpose. Isa. 55:8-9 tells us that God’s thoughts aren’t our thoughts. God’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and we should seek them rather than our own. Despite all we think we know, God sees the big picture, knows more than we do, and knows better than we do. Fasting helps us understand the need to depend on God, as we realize how inferior our own understanding really is.

When we all fast together, we come before God in a spirit of unity. Together we seek God’s guidance, leading us on the path we are to go. With the upcoming meetings just ahead of us, where many decisions will be made, it is a good time for us to collectively come before God with prayer and fasting. We need that guidance in order to do the work of God in an effective and dynamic way. We need to be seeking the will of God, while avoiding a decision based solely on our own will. For this reason, this date has been selected for a churchwide fast.

Some have asked why we are being asked to fast on the Sabbath. Usually the Sabbath is considered a “feast” day, and in years past, some ministers may have discouraged fasting on the Sabbath. But remember that even the Day of Atonement, which is the only commanded fast day, sometimes falls on the weekly Sabbath. There is nothing scriptural that identifies fasting on the Sabbath as wrong, or inappropriate. Granted, it may not be the best time, especially if we are fasting but other members of the congregation are not. But in this case, it is a churchwide fast. That means that the other members of the congregation will be fasting along with you. There won’t be any snacks at services, brought by others who aren’t fasting. No one is going to ask you about going out to lunch after services. We’re all fasting together.

The Sabbath is really the only logical day on which we can have a churchwide fast. If, for example, we were asked to fast on Sunday, there would be some members who have to work that day and would be unable to participate. Others may have prior commitments they can’t easily change, such as weddings or family events. Fewer members would be able to participate in a simultaneous fast on any day other than the Sabbath.

In the past we’ve been asked to pick a day to fast “sometime in the next two weeks”, or during some specific interval. This fast, however, was intended to be simultaneous, for a sense of unity and commonality among all members. When Esther proclaimed a fast (Est. 4:15-16), it was to be done simultaneously. But remember, the purpose is not to get God’s attention! It is to give us unity, as we seek God’s will concerning the commission we have been given to do.

As we come together on this Sabbath with fasting, let’s keep that commission in mind. Let’s seek divine guidance, asking that we be shown God’s will in the details of carrying out that commission. Pray for our efforts in doing the work, that they may be effective, as well as efficient, and that we use wisely the resources God has given us. And if we are truly seeking God’s will and not seeking to do things our own way, our efforts will be blessed, and the work will be accomplished! And God will be pleased!