Fasting From Division, Feasting on Inclusion

Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that you break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

That you bring the poor and homeless into your house;

When you see the naked, that you cover them,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

 -- Isaiah 58:6-7

Super challenging passage from Isaiah. 

Can we fast from injustices?

Can we fast from the pleasures that come at someone else's expense? Some of those things may be enjoyable or simply things we think we need to do for our own protection.

Such as:

Our pride which maintains divisions, hatred...? "My church is better than your church."

Our hurt and anger left unaddressed which lead to walls between people and ultimately to wars? "I only take care of those inside my walls."

Our consumerism and greed which scorches the earth...? Our consumer engine which produces abundance but yet leaves far too many with nothing.

Our fears which compel us to justify anything and everything, no matter how sinister, in the name of revenge or self-preservation....? After all, so much evil (if not all of it) is done by people thinking they are defending themselves. Someone else is considered a threat that must be controlled or neutralized, so we tell ourselves that gives us license to jettison all our ethics and morals in order to neutralize this perceived threat. "Be not afraid."

So let's fast from pride, from hurt, from greed, from fear.... let's stop constantly gorging ourselves on the buffet of these negative conditions, emotions, thoughts and orientations... THIS is the fast that God calls for here in this beautiful passage! Let's fast from these things which are not of God so that we can feast on the goodness, mercy, and love that IS of God! It takes true bravery to do that after being cloaked in fear, anger and all the trappings of this world all our lives.

Let's fast from lust which distorts true beauty and desire. It obscures our ability to see the full dignity of each other by reducing people to objects to be consumed.

Let's fast from apathy, sloth and sadness... justifiable feelings, no doubt, but they can be a trap leading us into inaction.

Let's fast from the gluttony which compels our rabid consumption, always seeking a high and never being satisfied.

Ultimately let's seek out, heal and fast from whatever is behind all of these feelings... whatever pain, trauma, fear, self-doubt is driving all of these unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Saying we ought to fast from these things is one of the most profound passages in Scripture. It is clearly articulating that we are tied in to systems of power, privilege and injustice. We are tied into these systems every day and bear responsibility even when we are not directly or consciously perpetuating injustice. It is part of the fallen condition of the world that we are stewing in this sin.

It also means by consequence we are inherently connected to everyone and everything--we are all part of the same human family, the same biological family of plants and animals, and the same cosmos. It is our "same flesh" after all, as the passage states. There is a oneness to all. That's why the things which promote division are sinful--division is not of God. It is imaginary but consequential. It causes us to miss seeing the Kingdom of justice, mercy and wholeness which is right here, right now... to miss seeing God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, who are always right with us, permeating everyone and everything.

I've heard of churches talk about the "sacrifice of praise" or the "sacrifice of worship." I'm not suggesting those are in any way bad. Others fast from food or various vices from time to time. But at least in this passage, God is clearly saying that's not the sacrifice wanted by God. The message is pretty clear and doesn't give us much wiggle room to try to make it say something else.

This passage urges us to increase our inner circle to include more. Destroy that which separate and limits and increase that which welcomes and invites. Let's challenge ourselves to consider whatever limits or separates us from others and reflect on that in light of this passage.

***

This is the first part in a series on the seven deadly sins.