Lent is coming- The fasting discipline of the Church

Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church ^ | Met. Kallistos Ware

[NRx]

Today marks the beginning of the week of meatfare, the last week where meat may be eaten before the Great Fast is broken on Easter Sunday (Pascha).

[Sacajaweau]

IIRC, The British Government aka the Anglican Church designated Fish days to support the fishing industry.

[Larry Lucido]

“Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church”

I believe the Serbian Orthodox emphasize frequent showers, whereas the Latvian Orthodox place more emphasis on solemn hats. That’s just what I’ve heard.

[MomwithHope]

Thanks for posting this. My Dad (RIP) was Serbian Orthodox. The discipline of fasting is a good practice.

[smvoice]

It’s when it’s practiced for “Righteousness” that is so wrong. God is NOT impressed. He is impressed with ONE thing; the FINISHED work of Christ for our salvation.

[JungleGoat77]

Fasting is not simply for God, it is a spiritual discipline for our growth so we may strengthen our will not to simply follow any passion that arises, but to follow the revealed will of God, sometimes called ‘natural law.’ Performing spiritual disciplines together develops community bonds that further give us strength, and hopefully enable us to further avoid the temptations that destroy civil bonds that are necessary for living in a free republic.

[smvoice]

So, is fasting God ordained? And what if you don’t fast?

[ebb tide]

So, is fasting God ordained?

"But this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting."
[Matthew 17:20]

"And as they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them."
[Acts of Apostles 13:2]

"And when they had ordained to them priests in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed."
[Acts of Apostles 14:22]

[JungleGoat77]

Different groups or individuals have differing spiritually-supportive disciplines, there are lists and entire books on them. Who you are and where you belong are the clue to what may be best for your situation.

[smvoice]

Col.2:16: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of an Holy day, or if a new moon, or of the Sabbath days:”

And:

Col.2:20-23: “Wherefore if he be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are he subject to ordinances, (touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a SHOW of wisdom in WILL WORSHIP, and HUMILITY, and NEGLECTING OF THE BODY; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”

[smvoice]

AND BTW: Acts 14:23 SAYS “And when they had ordained them ELDERS in the church..”. NOT “PRIESTS” in the church.

[Conservative4Life]

bookmarked

[Campion]

"Elder" and "priest" are the same thing. Elder in Gk is "presbyteros", which came in English as "priest" through German. "Overseer" is "episkopos," through which we get -- some what indirectly -- "bishop". Words like "episcopal" are more obviously derived from "episkopos".

There is another Gk word for "priest", "hiereus," which is the word more typically translated "priest" in the English NT.

More here: What is a Greek priest?

[smvoice]

1 Peter 5:1. “The elders which are among you I exhort, WHO AM ALSO AN ELDER,...”

So..Peter was just an elder/priest and not a pope. Or the “elders which are among you” are all priests/elders/popes?

[ebb tide]

So I see you’re a cherry-picker of the Bible. I’m not surprised.

[smvoice]

I’m not cherry picking anything FRiend. I am giving you God’s word. Are you calling Him a liar?

[ebb tide]

I gave you scriptural references of fasting. So if anybody is calling God a liar, it’s you.

Either that, or you’re a cherry-picker.

[Salvation]

Are you forgetting that the Catholic Bible including the Old Testament and New Testament came long before what you are quoting? What Bible are you quoting from?

[smvoice]

And i’M giving YOU scriptures about NOT being subject to what to eat and when and how and why
If you don’t like that, take it up with God. Of course if you followed GOD’S way of STUDYING HIS word, RIGHTLY DIVIDED, you would not be confused and lost in the LAW, ebb.

So I’m guessing you probably fast for RIGHTEOUSNESS. You will never be able to fast enough to satisfy God. Only His Son’s FINISHED WORK for you will satisfy a Holy RIGHTEOUS God.

[smvoice]

I am not forgetting that is what the RCC teaches. My Bible has the GREEK New Testament, not the Latin, as your’s. I do believe the Greek was changed INTO Latin for a group of people who believe Peter was their first pope. Or is he an elder? Or is he a priest? Only YOUR Bible is seemingly confused over that. Along with every other doctrine we disagree over. Think about that