LOL.........who knew?
Scripture counsels against false asceticism. That asceticism which was practiced by certain Jews of the Pharisaical persuasion. However, as the verses which I posted indicate, fasting and self denial are very much a part of the Christian Gospel.
Lest you mistakenly think that this implies some sort of deficiency in the sacrifice of Jesus, it doesn't. This is about imitating Jesus as He Himself counseled us to do in taking up our crosses. What is the cross but a symbol of suffering?
"For this is thankworthy, if for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully"
1 Peter 2:19
marshmallow:
Setting aside this thread, don’t you love how some folks think that when they post scripture texts, they are posting them in context, but of course when somenone else posts them, and they contradict what was posted earlier, they then tell you you are posting out of context.
Of course, fasting and Leten disciplines go back to the early Church and clearly supported in Sacred Scripture. St. Ireneaus of Lyon clearly notes [circa 180 AD] of a “Fast that is to be kept” before the celebration of Pascha [Easter] although the length of the Fast was debated.
By the time of the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, the Church Canons defined the Lenten Discipline of the 40 Day Lenten period which mandated Prayer, Fasting and Alms.
If one reads the FR Religion forum one might gather that American Fundie Protestants founded Christianity, LOL.