Fasting is the most misunderstood spritual discipline.

While it appears several times in Scripture, was practiced by David, Isaiah, John, Jesus, and Paul, its purpose is clothed in mystery and innuendo, rarely explained in ways that make sense to the modern Western mind.

That is, before Scot McKnight's new book 'Fasting' came across my desk.

McKnight defines fasting as, 'a natural response to a grievous, sacred moment.' In other words, it is what we naturally do in some instances - for example when a spouse dies, a child goes into the hospital, or we lose our jobs. These grievous, sacred moments frequently accompany a loss of appetite and/or attention to matters of such weight that we simply forget to eat. We already fast, we just don't call it that.

Compare this to what we often call fasting - giving up chocolate, coffee, or Facebook, and we realize abstaining may be a better term.  Abstention is not bad, it is also a spiritual discipline, but it is not fasting.

Now that Lent is upon us, and the challenge to partake in fasting (the Episcopal Church recommends members fast on this day and on Good Friday) McKnight has provided a good blueprint to challenge myself to fast not for myself, but for others for whom I am more deeply paying attention, ie Libyans being slaughtered, Haitians dying from curable diseases, and inner city kids joining gangs because there's no other family around. These are deeply grievous events, and our invitation to take on the burdens of those suffering during Lent couldn't be more helpful.

Yes, I am a member of Booksneeze and have been compensated to review McKnight's book, but as many of you know that does not influence my review. What has influenced it is McKnight's clarity. While many people fast to get - a word from the Lord, direction, or a deeper sense of connection with Jesus - we cannot fast to get. We fast to give, by taking on the burdens of others and looking to improve their lot, not our own.

If you are curious about fasting and are longing to understand it in a 20th century context, McKnight's book is an easy read, practical (there's a study guide in the back), and just may be what you've been looking for to help you redeem this ancient discipline for yourself.