Why is it that very few Christians observe fast but a great majority of Muslims and Jews do?

Answer 1

Christianity is not a religion of 'do this ritual and you will be saved'. It is about having a close relationship with God through Jesus Christ and what he did for us at the Cross and the empty tomb in restoring a broken relationshipp between God and humankind. So, unlike in Islam and Judaism, fasting is not a requirement for salvation. Nor is eating (or not being allowed to eat) specific foods or drink. In Acts 10 Peter has a vision of a sheet descending from the sky containing all sorts of previous 'unclean' animas when he was told by God that they were now acceptable in the new covenant. Consequently Christians, unlike Jews and Moslems, eat pork and other supposed 'unclean' foods, for as Jesus said, "It is not what goes into the mouth that makes a person unclean. It is what comes out of the mouth that makes a person unclean..... Don't you know that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and then is expelled as waste? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and it is those things that make a person unclean." (Matthew 15:11-18). So Christians believe that any food and drink are acceptable. Similarly they believe that what comes from the heart is the most important - not religious ceremony and ritual that is deemed necessary for salvation. Obviously gluttonly and drunkenness are not acceptable, but everything in moderation is acceptable wiith regard to food and drink. However, within the Christian church, fasting of a sort does take place, but not in any 'official' capacity. As an example, during Lent, traditionally the season of self reflection and penance before Easter, some Christians fast by not having luxuries (like alcohol, chocolate, fresh meat etc) and the money they save by not buying these given to charity. Also in Lent, 'hunger lunches' are sometimes held where church members pay a restaurant price for a lunch, but, instead of a large meal, receive bread and cheese and water to drink - the profits being donated to charities - especially those dealing with hunger in the poorest countries of the world. Similarly some fast for a short while especially during times of penance, as hunger often focusses the mind on more important things. Some denominations - as an example the Salvation Army - abstain totally from alcohol. Not for 'religious' reasons, but as their work takes them among many people whose lives, dependent on alcohol, have taken a turn for the worse because of that very addiction, they feel it hypocritical helping those people whilst they may be drinkers themselves. Roman Catholics often do not eat meat on Fridays (only fish) as Friday is the day on which Jesus was crucified, and, not eating meat on this day focusses the mind on God and his sacrifice for us, making our relationship closer with him. So most Christians fast in a way, but the reasons for that fasting is not out of religious 'duty'. Instead Christians fast as a means to an end - to help prayer and hence develop their relationship with God, and to help others who are less fortunate than ourselves - in other words they try to fulfil Jesus' two great commandments given in Matthew 22: 37 - 40 :- " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." And that sentiment is far more important to the Chriistian than any religious ritual.