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EPISODE 118: Q&A

Date: 6/8/2022

Questions

We know God loves us all equally, God does not show favoritism, and God does not take bribes. But yet we know the power in fasting and the importance of fasting. How is fasting not considered a bribe?

  1. Feasting and Fasting sermon on Mark 2:18-22 (3/29/18)
    1. A basic definition of fasting is “to go without food as a sign of repentance, grief, or devotion to God.” And it’s usually done in connection with prayer.
    2. The only mention of Jesus fasting is in the story of him being tested in the wilderness by Satan. Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days — there wasn’t any food around for him to eat — so he fasted while he prayed in the wilderness — in preparation for his encounter with Satan.
    3. Matthew 6:16-18 ESV – And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
      1. With these words Jesus implies that his followers will fast even if it’s not commanded of them.
    4. But nowhere do we find — in Scripture — that fasting is any sort of bribery. Where — if we fast — then God owes us something.
      1. Even when Jesus tells his disciples that they couldn’t remove the demon because it could only be removed through prayer (“and fasting” isn’t found in most English translations nor most reliable manuscripts; Matthew 17; Mark 9) — this is simply a description of a particular situation. Not a prescription of “every time you pray (and fast) you’re guaranteed to be able to remove a demon from someone.”

    Could you please expand upon 1 John 5:16-17. What is meant by sin that leads to death versus sin that does not lead to death? And is the author saying that we should not ask God to help those who are committing the sin that leads to death?

    1. The letter of 1st John has a lot about community in it.
    2. One of John’s points — in the letter — is that a Christian community is one that has a deep concern for each other.
      1. Thus “if anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life…” (1 John 5:16a ESV)
      2. So there’s an observation of sin in someone else’s life. Prayer for that person and this particular sin. And an answer to the prayer.
      3. But before we focus on the “sin that leads to death” let’s talk about all of the other sin in our faith community and if all of this other sin is affecting our prayers for one another?
        1. The type of congregation that John says is spiritually healthy is a community of believers who have deep concern for one another. So much so, that they spend time praying for each other’s sin struggles. 
        2. Who knows your sin struggles in this congregation? Who’s pleading on your behalf to God so that you don’t get caught up in a particular sin? Who in this congregation are you so deeply concerned for that you regularly lift them up to God, asking him to protect them from sins that may lure their heart away from God?
        3. There’s a mutual responsibility on our part to watch out for one another, to admonish one another, to warn one another, and to pray for one another. These are all benefits of being a member in a local church. Others are watching out for you and you’re watching out for others. 
      4. Now what about the “sin that leads to death”?
        1. Not one Bible commentary is confident that they know exactly what John means by “the sin that leads to death.” So if you happen to know exactly what sin John’s referring to, you need to write a commentary on this verse — or — acknowledge that you don’t know for certain what the sin is either.
        2. And since we can’t say for certain what the sin is — that leads to death — guess what you should do for anyone you know who’s struggling with sin? Pray for them! Pray that they would repent of their sin. You don’t know what is the “sin that leads to death” but you do know what you’re supposed to do in response to the sin of others — pray for them!
          1. And the only way we’ll pray for others to repent of sin is if we have great hope in the power of the gospel to change lives. We must see their sin through God’s love as poured out on the cross. In doing so — you’ll see them and their struggle with sin — not as something to be judged — but as a person to be loved.