Overview
At the time of Isaiah's prophetic ministry, the community of God was known for its intense spirituality. This personal, self-centered faith neglected the kind of just community that God was looking for. Isaiah confronts the faith community about "fasting" to remind Israel of their identity and vocation. In some ways, Isaiah redefined fasting with his words: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and shelter the poor wanderer— when you see the naked, to clothe them and not to turn away from your flesh and blood?" (Isaiah 58v6-7)
Isaiah presents another dimension of fasting as a spiritual practice: fasting as standing in solidarity with the poor. When we choose this fast, we allow our bodies to feel hunger, which becomes an act of solidarity with those hungry by no choice of their own. We align our bodies to connect with those suffering. We unite our hearts with those experiencing injustice of all kinds: systemic poverty, slavery, hunger, homelessness, racism, debt, etc.
This fast becomes a practice that trains our hearts in compassion and unites us with our brothers and sisters worldwide. When we as a community are moved with compassion and work to alleviate the injustices within our city, we reflect God's heart and character to the world. This kind of fast is straightforward and has been a practice of Jesus' followers for thousands of years within the Christian tradition. Caesarius of Arles, in the 6th century, says, "Let us fast in such a way that we lavish our lunches upon the poor, so that we may not store up in our purses what we intended to eat, but rather in the stomachs of the poor." With this fast, the invitation is not only to give up a meal but to use the money you would typically spend on feeding yourselves to feed those around you.
Here's The Practice
First, mark out a time to fast. We recommend that you fast somewhere between 12 and 24 hours – but it’s up to you.
Set this fast as a time to “cry out in prayer” for those suffering and experiencing injustice in Southeast Iowa and worldwide. Perhaps choose to do a prayer walk in your area, going to the places within it you feel led to pray for and walk around, asking God for his kingdom to come and will be done in our city as it is in heaven.
Calculate the money you would have spent on food, coffee, excess consumption, etc., and give that money to those in need. Perhaps calculate what you’d spend on yourself and give that money to someone in need that you encounter during your day. This fast will train you to give quickly and trust the Lord; it teaches you to give without strings attached. Scot McKnight says, “What we give up in food when we fast can be converted to gifts to the poor; what we give up in time not spent eating can be converted into time spent relieving injustices.”
* If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than yourself, we invite you to give to our Missions efforts through our Legacy fund. Your donation makes a difference in people’s lives in Southeast Iowa, the US, and the world.
Questions To Think Through
1. Fasting as a response to local, national, or global issues can bind us as a faith community. What justice or social concern issues move you so you can respond with a personal fast?
2. Are there ways that this concern could be spread into community solidarity?
3. As you see it, what are Fort Madison and Southeast Iowa’s most significant justice issues?
4. How might our church begin to pray and work towards undoing injustices in our community?
Prayer
If you’re not eating this evening, you will have much more time to pray. Take as long as you want. Perhaps start by reading a Psalm and then ask Jesus to turn your affections to him. Ask him to reveal the areas in your community that need justice and begin praying into those.