A nice article on John Wesley's thoughts on the spiritual discipline of fasting is provided by Heather Hahn. So what do you think? Does giving up chocolate or coffee or whatever, trivialize the purpose behind fasting? Here is a portion of her article.
Wesley endorses fasts
Methodism founder John Wesley wasn’t content to limit fasting only to Lent. He fasted twice a week — on Wednesday and Friday — said the Rev. John Farthing, retired Hendrix College professor and now senior pastor of Greenbrier First United Methodist Church.
“His fast did not involve abstinence from food altogether, but allowed for limited consumption of food and drink,” Farthing said.
Wesley also advised moderation because he didn’t want Christians to fast so severely that they damaged their health.
Still, Farthing points out that Wesley’s idea of moderation would seem quite ascetic by today’s U.S. standards. Wesley was adamantly opposed to overindulgence. He also criticized the common Lenten practice in 18th century England of abstaining from pleasant food. In short, Wesley — like Ditmer — was not a big fan of giving up chocolate for Lent.
“I take that to mean that Wesley sees such minimal fasting as a trivializing of something important,” Farthing said. “I think the absence of an emphasis on Lenten fasting reflects Wesley’s desire for fasting to be an integral part of the Methodist lifestyle rather than just an annual observance.”
Methodism founder John Wesley wasn’t content to limit fasting only to Lent. He fasted twice a week — on Wednesday and Friday — said the Rev. John Farthing, retired Hendrix College professor and now senior pastor of Greenbrier First United Methodist Church.
“His fast did not involve abstinence from food altogether, but allowed for limited consumption of food and drink,” Farthing said.
Wesley also advised moderation because he didn’t want Christians to fast so severely that they damaged their health.
Still, Farthing points out that Wesley’s idea of moderation would seem quite ascetic by today’s U.S. standards. Wesley was adamantly opposed to overindulgence. He also criticized the common Lenten practice in 18th century England of abstaining from pleasant food. In short, Wesley — like Ditmer — was not a big fan of giving up chocolate for Lent.
“I take that to mean that Wesley sees such minimal fasting as a trivializing of something important,” Farthing said. “I think the absence of an emphasis on Lenten fasting reflects Wesley’s desire for fasting to be an integral part of the Methodist lifestyle rather than just an annual observance.”
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