instead of just fasting, isn't it more important to just strenghten our spiritual beliefs than showing the whole world we are fasting?\n\nmeaning: a person who reflects on his acts and helps but eats meat is justifiably more accepted in heaven than a person who fasts... right
137269
:}\nFor Christians this is truly a time to contemplate the unbelievable gift\nthe great sacrifice the creator of the universe made on our behalf\nwhether we do it through secret fast or reading scripture prayer attending passion week events or just by meditating on our salvation and its cost.
442467
You mean become anorexic? Sure, lots of people have lost weight that way but, died.\n\nNo matter how you put it, fasting, not eating, etc, you are not eating and that is very bad because your body isn't getting the right amount of neutrients. Fasting should only be for religious reasons.
638577
We've been taught by Jesus that God listens to us through "Prayer AND Fasting." Try that sometime. \n\nFasting is merely a discipline that one observes in consecrating one's self to God. You can easily get by with a liquid diet [water, soda, etc.] for one day. Then work your way gradually to extra days the next attempts you make.\n\nAnd make sure when you do pray and fast, always do it in your own privacy or in secret, i.e., without telling others at all.\n\nPeace be with you!
544725
You are absolutely correct! This is an issue, not just on yahoo answers, but  within the Christian faith PERIOD. \n"We" tend to forget that we are human and "ALL" fall short of His glory, but not of His grace." Therefore, our opinions, based off our experiences and education are not always the final say; the WORD OF GOD is the only thing that is without error and considered the TRUTH.\n\nFurthermore, some opinions are on the tippy toes of judgement and we all know what the bible says about that; \n\nMatthew 7:3\n"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?\n\nBottom line, this is an area that ALL Christians need to mature in. Because, when you get on a roll with a bunch of Jesus jargon, catchy christian cliches, and holy-rolly talk; that you can't back up with scripture, you "weaken your witness" and do the opposite of what God intends for you to do, by way of his word;\n\n                                     Galatians 6\n\n"Doing Good to All" \n\n 1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load. \n 6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. \n\n 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.\n\n\nNow THAT is the word, from the bible, WITHOUT my opinion or any alterations! :   )  be blessed!
318847
ok \nRomans12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
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How about Bible Leviticus Chapter 11 : 7-8?\n\nHmm...\n\nBelievers, eat from the good things that We have given you and give thanks to God if you worship only Him (2:172). \n\nGod has forbidden you to eat that which has not been properly slaughtered, blood, pork, and the flesh of any animal which has not been consecrated with a mention of the Name of God. However, in an emergency, without the intention of transgression or repeating transgression, one will not be considered to have committed a sin. God is All-forgiving and All-merciful. (2:173)
665426
It's still against tradition to eat red meat on Fridays during Lent.\n\nI doubt something that small would doom anyone to hell. I don't think God really cares about the small things, but about the goodness of your soul.
652717
Intellectual surrender. Good phrase! I (as you may gather) am a member of the second group. I feel that some people cling to the Word or God and the word of God only idea because they are lazy. If everything I need to know is already written down and needs no interpretations then I don't have to think for myself. It gives them an out and makes the spiritual life a no brainer with no work required.\nIt's just "here are the rules, go live by the rules" They have no need to pray or listen to God speak to them. They never have to wonder about anything. They never have to do any of the work of being human. Like cattle. Just follow the rules and then die. Easy instructions.\nThis is why I belong to a church that values education and thought.
473229
Isolation. I don't know what to believe, so this isolates me. People are telling me left and right that I need to believe in something, and that I don't have much time to choose. 'Choosing.' It's such a strange term for such a thing as spirituality. They make it seem like you're at a fast-food drive-thru. Like you're picking an item off of a menu.\n\nThis is something I take seriously, just to let you know. One shouldn't 'choose' religion in haste. A person should make an educated decision based on where s/he is in life. Does this decision make you comfortable? Will you be more isolated? Rejected? Hated? Will you be satisfied with your decision later on in life on your deathbed? Will you regret everything you know?\n\nIt hurts. You don't know what path you should go down. You never know if you can travel back, or if the path will be covered by leaves, or if there's a big gaping hole where there was once your path. It's up to a person to responsibly walk down whatever path they 'choose.' Choose wisely. Or be your own person. That would be better...
272522
do what you feel convicted to do. fasting is between you and God. if you feel convicted to not eat  a veggie burger, dont.
91315
Jesus himself said "You must eat my flesh and drink my blood to enter the kingdom of heaven" It is a spiritial food, not a food to curve our hunger. Only the devil himself would ask a deceiving question like that.
55864
depends what type of fast.  to fast is to deprive the flesh of something it wants in order to better hear God's voice.  a way of putting the body under.  i fast from TV, and eat three meals a day. still a fast.\nfasting is on a personal level.  nowhere are we commanded to fast, and anyuone who tells you that you must is wrong in doing so. (suggesting it is another story)  \nand dont make a big deal about being hungry if you decide to go that way.\n\nmake sure you drink water, too.  you dont want to go without that unless you hear from God specifically to go without it.  (this is very rare, and i would pray very hard just on this subject if you feel so led)
215303
That's a very good point. In the early days of Christian religion, Christians were also required to fast (not eat from sunrise to sunset) in certain times of the year. This is similar to what Muslims do. But Christians have given up this tradition just because the early practioners chose what to carry out and the bible was written a long time after Jesus's death. That's why so many things have been lost or modified. In Islam, the Quran was written at the time the Prophet Muhammed  (sm) was still alive. So, there was no chance of it being changed or modified later.
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Foremost, quote the book and scripture from which you are referring.  There are a myraid of things that may be wrong with your argument that may not come to light unless you are honest in asking a question.  Honesty in asking includes citing your source.\n\nSecondly, this was a question proposed by Saint Augustine during the Fall of the Roman Empire.\n\nThe real question is - "So, we know the right way to live.  Great!  Why don't we do it?"\n\nThe answer is that we still have sin on our souls.  As sinners, we are given over to minor bouts of gluttony where we wish to eat things that taste good rather that what is best for our body.\n\nIt is not easy for anyone, let alone the whole of the Christain world (read Western Society), to break completely from this sin.\n\nIf you are so enlightened as to what Christains should eat, tell me, how do you purge your soul of minor bouts of gluttony?\n\nIt seems you ask your questions more to discredit Christains than to help them.
227097
Well I guess free thinking in  it simplicity isn't the sin, yet God knew when Eve ate the forbidden fruit, her free thinking would allow humankind to sin. He realized it was inevitable, that's why it's seen as sin-like. As for healing and medicine...we were meant to heal. It's our way of correcting the sin our "free thinking" caused.
666563
Many religions have the concept of proselytising, which means it is their religious duty to 'save' or convert others to their faith. It doesn't matter if outside people are interested in their beliefs or not, or if in fact, they have their own code of morals or ethics. It's just part of the faitholder's religious duties. It does tend to numb the brain though, doesn't it?
364157
Do you know what I find helpful?  Remembering that our lives do not necessarily have to be divided up into "secular" and "sacred" things.  Everything we do can be an act of worship to the Lord.  Whether it be washing the dishes, typing a report, cleaning a bathroom ... whatever ...  doing it with the motivation being an act of worship, doing it for the love of God (not to *get* His love [you already have it] but rather *because* of it, in celebration of it) can transform the mundane to into the maaahvelous.  I even noticed that I had more energy physically at the end of the days where I focused on doing everything for the love of God.  It's almost as though He blesses the motivation for doing things when it's done expressly for Him as opposed to doing them simply because we "hafta".  :)