Types of fasting (ie "Juice fast")?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Stope

Puritan Board Sophomore
Is fasting (for the sake of freeing up time to seek God and make noticeable a dependency on Him) by definition from food only? Or, could it be beneficial to, for example, "fast" from all food but still have liquids (coffee, soda, water)? Or perhaps fasting in such a way that you ONLY consume juices (by "juices" I mean those things where its like an entire meal of kale and apples and carrots and beets all in a food processor and liquefied)?
 
From Thomas Boston (Works, Vol. 11, pp. 345-346):

The rule for abstinence from meat and dirnk, cannot be the same as to all; for fasting, not being a part of worship, but a means to dispose and fit us for extraordinary worshipping, is to be used only as helping thereto; but it is certain, that what measure of it would be helpful to some for that end, would be a great hindrance to others. Wherefore weakly persons, whom total abstinence would disfit and indispose for duty, are not called to fast at that rate; in their case, that saying takes place; Hos. 6.6 "I desired mercy and not sacrifice." Yet ought they not in that case to indulge themselves the use of meat and drink, with the same freedom as at other times; but to use a partial abstinence, altering the quantity or quality of them, or both, so as they may thereby be afflicted, as the Scripture expresseth it, Lev. 23.29. So Daniel in his mourning, Dan. 10.3, "Eat no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into his mouth."
The point being that it is modified according to fitness for the duty, not necessarily the thing from which one is abstaining. Fasting from water is not something much seen (nor expected regularly), however, fasting from food which is for sustenance is the more common example. But exceptions are made for the weak or infirmed, such that -while they do not eat food that is primarily for pleasure- they eat, for example, "no pleasant bread."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top