RELIGIOUS SHOWMANSHIP OFFERS NO REWARD (PART 3)

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

RELIGIOUS SHOWMANSHIP OFFERS NO REWARD (PART 3)

THE FASTING OF THE PHARISEES

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting”… (Matthew 6:16-18).

INTRODUCTION:

Fasting is one of the tools recommended by Jesus for effective prayers, especially when demonic resistance is in focus, (Mark 9;29KJV). But, when the biblical principles establishing it are violated, it becomes an unprofitable exercise. To this end, Jesus says, “when you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting”…(Matthew 6:16). This cautions against making one’s fasting a public show, which in turn robs one the reward that goes with it. With this conspicuously written in the Bible, one wonders if today’s religious sects which adorn the radio-television air-waves with adverts of their fasting and praying devotions are aware or do consider the implications of their actions. If they do, why then, the constant media spotlight on such a consecration which is biblically designed to be held privately? By this therefore, please bear in mind that:

WRONG MOTIVE LEADS TO SHOWMANSHIP IN FASTING

Please notice that the Bible upholds the legality of public fast, but condemns the public show of it. In the Mosaic Law only the (public) fast of the Day of Atonement was required, (Leviticus 16:29-31). After the Babylonian exile four other yearly fasts were observed by the Jews, (Zechariah 7:5; 8:1a). In Jesus’ time the Pharisees fasted twice a week, (Luke 18:12), etc. However, Arthur Wallis in the International Edition of the Acts Magazine of March – April, 1992 notes that in the first statement on the subject of fasting in the New Testament, Jesus dealt with the question of motive, and points out that no aspect of the subject is more important than this. “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting…But when you fast, anoint your head…so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting…” (Matthew 6:16-18).

God is not merely concerned with what we do, but why we do it. A right act may be robbed of all its value in the sight of God if it is done with a wrong motive. The danger of this is acute in the realm of outward religious exercises. The perplexed religious Jews of Isaiah’s day asked God, “why have we fasted, and you did not acknowledge? In answer to the question, God said, “Behold in the day of your fast, you seek your own pleasure,” (Isaiah 58:3). The fasts they undertook, with all their show of piety were motivated by “self-interest and self-seeking. No wonder God asked angrily, “Is this the fast that I have chosen?” (verse 5). This same self-centeredness under the cloak of religious piety was seen in all its shameful hypocrisy in the fasting of the Pharisees. Similarly, if the ostentatious mode of fasting which religious groups are known for nowadays falls within the same consideration, then, such groups are guilty of the same offence. So, ensure that:

(1)      You don’t pollute your fasting with shameful religious hypocrisy, (Matthew 6:16):

(2)      Your motive is right each time you set out to fast, (verse 16);

(3)      Mere show of religious piety does not inform your fasting, (verse 16) etc.

PEOPLE WHO LOOK SOMBER DURING FASTING VIOLATE THE RULE

Arthur Wallis further remarks that the Pharisees paraded their piety for the applause of men by making sure that people knew they were fasting. Thus, they adopted, a somber looking approach, and so violated the rule of fasting. By so doing, they were not ministering to God, but to the religious vanity of their own hearts. Does this not speak volumes of the false consecration of some of the present day religious groups which often beam media light on their fasting activities for the admiration of the people, in the guise of propagating the gospel? The question remains what is the brain behind the radio – television announcements of 21 days, 30 days, 40 days, etc. fasting of some churches if not a display of false religious piety? Whatever may be the case, the writer is not here to judge anyone, but advises that fasting programmes be always designed to the glory of God and not to that of man, which carries a rewardless effect. (Matthew 6:16). Therefore, looking somber during fasting is:

(1)      A hypocritical way of fasting, (verse 16);

(2)      Doing anything to show people one is fasting, (verse 16);

(3)      Against the biblical principle of fasting, (verse 16), etc.

FASTING IS BIBLICALLY DESIGNED TO BE PRIVATE

“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting…” clearly upholds the fact that fasting should always be done privately, (Matthew 6:17-18). This extends to public fasts. In other words, public fasts should be private to the fasting public and not to the general public. For instance, if Nigeria is fasting, the fast should be private to the Nigerian public and not to that of any other country. Likewise, if a religious denomination is fasting, such a fast should equally be private to the public of that group. Where this is noised abroad to show their religiousness to the people and not to God alone, the reward of such an exercise becomes automatically hindered, (verse 16). Regrettably, at present, there are millions of banners, handbills, posters and fliers announcing the fasting programmes of various religious groups on the major streets of the cities and villages of most countries of the world, including Nigeria. If one may ask, who are these churches and their members trying to impress in their fasting devotions, men or God? Is this not a re-surfacing of the religious hypocrisy which Jesus condemned when He said, “when you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting?”… (verse 16). So, let it be remarked that:

(1)      Those who impress men in their fasting are hypocrites, (verse 16);

(2)      They are the modern Pharisees who risk losing their rewards, (verse 16);

(3)      The fasting of such individuals are mere waste of time, (verse 17), etc.

In conclusion, let the reader be aware that fasting is the most powerful spiritual weapon against the kingdom of darkness. Through fasting and praying warfare, the Holy Spirit transforms lives and solves heart breaking problems. But when the exercise is not done in line with the principles of God’s word, it becomes effort in futility, (Matthew 6:16) BE INFORMED