god for.

confused on the topic of

fasting.

two of my close friends are fasting for a duration of 40 days. long time without food. crazy. they are doing it for god. awesome, way to go.

however. it is hard for me to wrap my head around this concept. i, who grew up at church, studied the bible and learned all the lessons, cannot understand why god would want his children to starve for a period of time.

logically:

if i cease to eat for a time, i would generally be labeled as anorexic. but if i say it is for god, then i am regarded on a level of holiness. is that then to say that if i slit my wrists "for god" or jump off a bridge "for god" or stop brushing my teeth "for god" i should be regarded with the same mentality?

medically:

i can tell you first hand - not eating for more than a few days can do remarkable damage to your body, not only temporarily, but also in the long term.

biblically:

while there are numerous verses on the law/tradition of fasting, i have found 2 to complete my case.

1. 1 Cor 6:19 "Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? ..."

2. Mark 2:18-19 "John's disciples and the Pharisees sometimes fasted. One day some people came to Jesus and asked, 'Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?' Jesus replied, 'Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can't fast while they are with the groom."

if our body is a temple to the Holy Spirit - is it not our duty to care for it? keep it in good health, mentally, spiritually, and physically? Jesus' disciples were not required to fast while with Him: do we not consider ourselves disciples of Christ and therefore follow this same guideline?

i would like to make it perfectly clear - in no way am i attempting to prove fasting as wrong. i simply don't believe it is always the appropriate response or course of action.

chances are you, also,

have an opinion.