Last Sunday I took a friend who can no longer drive, to her home church. She was showered with greetings from long time friends, the worship was wonderful, the sermon was excellent.  In closing, the preacher announced that the season of Lent begins on February 18^th.  He reminded us that fasting for those forty days is a tradition (not a law) in which we deprive ourselves of something, usually food, for the purpose of drawing closer to God. He suggested that we consider fasting something digital for the forty days. Then he gave us a short time to think about it before taking communion.  

There are 77 mentions of fasting in the Bible, 30 in the New Testament.  Jesus spoke of fasting, implying that it is an expected spiritual discipline, and necessary for certain works, such as casting out some types of demons.  Moses, Elijah, and Jesus each fasted for 40 days straight. Moses fasted on Mt. Sinai, in God’s presence and received from Him the Ten Commandments. Elijah fasted while on a 40-day journey to Mt. Horeb to overcome “spiritual burn out,” and to hear God’s voice again.  Jesus fasted in the wilderness prior to beginning His ministry, during which He resisted three temptations from the devil.  Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, is the only time fasting all food is commanded for God’s people, in order to afflict their souls and repent of sins. All other times, it is a choice. 

Fasting from work, specifically on the Sabbath, is one of the Ten Commandments.  It is also commanded in seven Old Testament feasts, that one or more days, the people are to do no work.  Jesus and His followers, of course observed these.  Taking a vacation from work for a spiritual retreat could be a great idea, but 40 days might just cause you to lose your job.  However, the practice of observing regular and special occasions to celebrate the LORD’s goodness with feasting and fellowship and without the distractions of work is significant.

Karl Marx is famous for saying “Religion is the opium of the people.” I don’t agree with that, but TV, social media, cell phones, video games, and other media may be. They can be used to learn, to connect with people, to accomplish certain types of work, and other good things, but they are addictive forms of distraction.  Using the media is not a sin, but it is a doorway to become a chronic observer of sin. How many murders and sexual acts have we all witnessed?  Sadly, that can go further into online gambling, pornography, or engaging in violence and filming it to share with others.  

Consider the lesser sins we can encounter online and how they affect our own behavior.  Social media traffics in lies, slander, and gossip, that we partake of, even spread to others.  It is a public platform for venting our angry opinions, and for showcasing our perfect lives. Others feeding off those posts can be deeply affected.  Some people become offended; others take up our offenses. Some become envious and covetous of the beauty, wealth and social status of others.  People unfriend one another.  Family members declare “no contact” with each other.  For some, video games, TV and social media become a phantom zone where they live in an alternate reality, escaping the one they should be living and neglecting the ones they live with.   

When I was a child, I would give up donuts or chocolate for Lent, something that wasn’t much of a sacrifice.  I confess that fasting is something I haven’t practiced much lately, and when I do, I have been known to cave early.  I also am likely to work all day while fasting to distract myself from hunger rather than engaging in prayer.  You would think that a command to do no work would be easy to obey, but I find it almost impossible to get through a Sunday (or Saturday) without working. When I have succeeded, it is probably because I watched TV all day.

Lent is a preparation for Easter or Pesach, a time to remember the sacrifice Jesus made so that we could be purified and redeemed from our sin and restored to God.  To make a sacrifice is worthwhile.  In past years I have selected four or five food that I felt were not healthy for me and fasted from those. Other years I have fasted from alcohol.  This year, I think I will take the preacher up on his challenge.  Forty days of fasting from TV to spend more time thinking for myself, talking with my family members, serving others, communing with Elohim (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).  Join me.