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How picky are Orthodox Christians supposed to be in regards to checking the ingredients in certain dishes. Further, as we sing during the first week of Great Lent, “while fasting from food, let us also fast from our passions.” We fast in order to get a grip on our lives and to regain control of those things that have gotten out of control. It is giving up candy, or it is done with the idea that we fast in order to suffer. Giving up candy-unless one is controlled by candy-is not fasting. We fast in order to gain control, to discipline ourselves, to gain control of those things that we have allowed to get out of control. We have eating disorders, diets galore, weight loss pills, liposuction treatments, stomach stapling-all sorts of things that proceed out of the fact that we often allow food, which in an of itself cannot possible control us, to control us.
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WHAT IS AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TV
We have an entire TV network devoted to food. In our culture especially, food dominates the lives of many people. The purpose of fasting is not to “give up” things, nor to do something “sacrificial.” The purpose of fasting is to learn discipline, to gain control of those things that are indeed within our control but that we so often allow to control us. Wouldn’t it be more sacrificial for someone to give up foods that they really loved such as candy rather than meat which they may not care for that much anyhow? In Matthew, Christ says, “When you fast do not be like the hypocrites,” which indicates that the Jews fasted-it also indicates that Christ assumes that one fasts, for He says “when you fast” not “if you fast.” Fasting is not something that only developed alongside Christianity rather, it is a practice that had been followed by the Jews, and even Scripture mentions that Christ fasted. This form of fasting was passed on in the early Church from Jewish practice. Who decided that Orthodox fasting must include abstaining from animal products? Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesday in remembrance of the betrayal of Christ and on Fridays in remembrance of His crucifixion and death. Why do Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays? I’ll respond to your question point by point. For example, before eating a package of wheat crackers, should they read the ingredients to make sure no egg or milk extracts were used? Also, doesn’t it defeat the purpose of fasting if products such as non-dairy milk or vegetable pepperoni or fake cheese are used in place of the real thing? Wouldn’t it be more sacrificial for someone to give up foods that they really loved such as candy rather than meat which they may not care for that much anyhow? How picky are Orthodox Christians supposed to be in regards to checking the ingredients in certain dishes. Why do Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays? Who decided that Orthodox fasting must include abstaining from animal products? Work of the Church Liturgical Music & Texts, News, Media, Reflections, Publications.Directories Dioceses, Parishes, Clergy, Monasteries, Seminaries.The Orthodox Faith Feasts & Saints, Readings, Q&A, Prayers.Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America.
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