In my dozen years or so as a Christ follower, I have had very little experience with the discipline of fasting. My sole experience has been tied up in the idea of “giving something up” for Lent.
I think this must be true for many Protestant Christians, since when I tell people I’m fasting for Advent, I get responses such as:
“What? It’s Advent, not Lent!”
and
“Interesting… a Lenten approach to Advent…”
However, it seemed to me that Advent is a perfect time to consider fasting. It’s a time in the Christian calendar when we are awaiting and looking forward to the arrival of our Lord and Savior.
What better way to celebrate and remember that than to set aside something else that we normally await and look forward to?
So I’m fasting from coffee for Advent.
And, as it turns out, I’m not entirely crazy. Here are some interesting articles on fasting and Advent:
- Christianity Today | Happy(?) Advent
- intermirifica.org | The History of Advent
- orthodoxwiki.org | Nativity
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2 comments on "Fasting: It's not just for Lent anymore"
1
I think fasting is a good thing to do during advent. I have always not drunk alcohol during the advent period since I was 18 (legal age for drinking in the UK). Hope you enjoy that hit of caffeine!
MA
2
I thought I would be fiending for coffee by the time the new year rolled around, but turns out it wasn’t a big deal. It’s so easy to get caught up in the “need my caffeine” mentality, but truth is… I really don’t need it.
Still… coffee is dang good and I enjoyed my 3 cups this morning!