40 day fasting season ‘Lent’, begins today(wednesday).
Happy Fasting for all of you:flower2:
Can anyone explain the details of fasting and how much Lent is observed by Christians now a days ?
Moved. Some Christian friends here can explain the question better.
Hi Code_Red,
Thanks for your question. I believe the practice of giving up something for Lent is primarily practiced by Catholics. But there are others who might do so. I'm not an expert.
As for fasting our Lord Jesus, admonishes us to not make it obvious when we pray or fast so that it remains a personal sacrifice between our God and us. He got really mad at those who whaled loudly in the streets to show how pious they were. He says not to distort your face so that it is obvious that you are fasting.
I personaly have fasted to show my sacrifice to the Lord, not during lent but other times when I fealt called to do so. I hope my telling you this is not from pride and he understands why I am telling you.
I am glad you ask this question. It reminds me that I should be more humble and in prayer more often. And I want to show my sacrifice to my Lord, who paid the ultimate cost for my sins.
God Bless
lyrix- thank you for the info but can you please clear up some things for me
Your fasting is different than the fasting that we Muslims partake in during Ramadan. We keep from eating, drinking, etc. from dawn till dusk for the month. From what I know, the fasting during Lent encompasses staying away from a chosen substance or act for the entire forty days. Is there any specific way of deciding what you must give up? I had a friend who told me that it was supposed to be something important to you (she gave up chocolate). And what happens if you accidentally or purposefully for that matter break the fast? How do you repent?
we have family friends who r strict christians anbd they often discuss lent nd i don't even think it is fasting, normally u guys give up a particular item like chocolate/a specific soft drink et cetera and that's fasting, NOT!!!!!!!!! one must abstain totally from nourishment then its fasting!
Thank you for the explaination 
I may be wrong but I dont think christians follow what jesus :as: ordered. Like jesus never allowed eating pork.
These days catholics give up something for Lent.
Or at least are supposed to.
For example give up eating bread, drinking soda..eating sweets are simple things to do.
Such is a simple fast.
Fridays... no meat allowed. Only fish.
Some catholics eat poor mans supper all during lent. Simple foods and give the money usually spent to charity.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by #let uz chat#: *
we have family friends who r strict christians anbd they often discuss lent nd i don't even think it is fasting, normally u guys give up a particular item like chocolate/a specific soft drink et cetera and that's fasting, NOT!!!!!!!!! one must abstain totally from nourishment then its fasting!
[/QUOTE]
You seem to have a very narrow definition of "fasting", and you definition is totally formed based on muslim fasting. Fasting is of many types, and the kind of fasting practiced by muslims is just one of those.
Some hindu sadhus fast for days and days and just keep themselves on a diet of water or other drinks. Muslims fast by totally abstaining from all kinds of food and drinks for one day at a time. Christians fast by giving up a particular type of food for 40 days.
All of these are covered under the definition of 'fasting' when talking in terms of dietary restrictions, mostly under various religions.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
Christians fast by giving up a particular type of food for 40 days.
All of these are covered under the definition of 'fasting' when talking in terms of dietary restrictions, mostly under various religions.
[/QUOTE]
Actually, giving up something for lent doesn't necessarily mean a type of food.........
One could forgo T.V., or internet, alcohol. Take a bus to work rather than drive... Anything that one would concider a sacrafice.
For example: One who never or rarely drinks alcohol wouldn't really be giving up much of they decided to abstain from alcohol during lent.
Same deal if one gives up sweets, not really a sacrafice if one rarely indulges.
The idea is to make a sacrafice in memory of Jesus' sacrafice for the sins of man.
< I know many don't believe that Jesus sacraficed himself for the forgiveness of sins>
.... but this is reason why catholics do this.
In olden times I think meat was forbidden during the whole of Lent, instead of just on Fridays.
In older times one fasted from midnight until after mass, and for many this was daily. Now the rule is not eating for 1 hour before.
I suppose if one lived in a society where one rarely ate beef and eating fish was the norm the Catholic tradition of forgoing meat on Fridays and only allowing fish probobly would seem strange way of fasting.
^ Interesting
Abstaining from Sex will also count as sacrifice For a married person ?
And smoking too I guess
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*Originally posted by Code_Red: *
^ Interesting
Abstaining from Sex will also count as sacrifice For a married person ?
And smoking too I guess
[/QUOTE]
IMHO,I suppose so. Is a personal choice. Abstaining from sex would indeed be a sacrafice for some. Depends on ones libido I guess.
Smoking also might be a sacrifice for some.
Depends on the difficulty one has in giving up a thing of importance.
Or the importance one holds for a given blessing or vice.