If you have read many of the Ventures newsletter The Hidden Treasures of Messiah Jesus (or been exposed to much of Pastor McCarty’s teaching at all), then you know the heart of Ventures for Christ is to see followers of Jesus become “Cross Disciples,” those who live their lives in the shadow of the cross, taking up and carrying their cross. (And, if you’ve never read The Hidden Treasures of Messiah Jesus you can go here to read the latest issue and go HERE to sign up!).
Much of what passes for discipleship these days is, to quote Paul, “an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship [and] their false humility . . . but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (Col. 2:23). What many practice today is what we might call “self-denial.” Yet, what Jesus commands for His disciples is denial of self. Though they sound similar, they are worlds apart. Isaiah 58 gives a vivid example of the differences between the two ideas.
What Kind of Fast?
Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. “Why have we fasted,” they say, “and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?” Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? (Isa. 58:1–5)
In the first part of Isaiah 58, the Lord gives a exceptionally strong indictment against the people of Israel. He calls the prophet to “shout it aloud”; He wants everyone to know about it. The prophet is told to declare the people’s rebellion and sins. When we first begin reading this, we might be tempted to think, “Oh, it’s going to be about idolatry again, right?” Then we begin to read about fasting.
Fasting? What’s wrong with fasting? Isn’t that a good thing?
Yes, fasting is a very good thing. It’s something the Lord called Israel to do from time to time. The problem here was not the fast. The problem here was what went along with it. While they were fasting, “you do as you please and exploit all your workers . . . Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists” (vv. 3-4). Basically, people were abstaining from food and drink but practicing violence and wickedness against each other, particularly the vulnerable, while they fasted (see vv. 6-7, which implies this is what Israel was not doing).
This is self-denial. It is withholding something from oneself as a religious duty to gain favor with the Lord. Notice what the people say in verse 3: “Why have we fasted, and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed?” They were fasting in order to receive favor from the Lord. The Lord asks very pointedly, “Do you really think this is the kind of fast I want?” (v. 5, paraphrased).
Self-denial is still about self.
The Lord’s Fast
The Lord tells Israel (and us) what kind of “fast” he desires. It’s not the kind of fast we would automatically think of. He says:
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? . . . If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will . . . satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. (Isa. 58:6–7, 9b-12)
Here, the Lord is not talking about self-denial. He is talking about denial of self. Notice that the Lord uses the phrase “spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed” (v. 10, emphasis added). This is very similar to what Paul wrote to the Philippian church. He said, “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering . . .” (Phil. 2:17, emphasis added). He was spending his life, his very life energy, on behalf of those he served. Likewise, the Lord called Israel to spend their life energy in service to others.
That is exactly what Jesus did while on the earth. He not only gave up His life on the cross, but He poured out His life for the sake of those around Him. When He healed, “power went out from [Him]” (Luke 8:46). When He cast out demons, when He offers Himself to others, He is pouring out His very life for them. And of course that came to the ultimate climax on the cross. This is the kind of fast the Lord calls us to practice—the fast from self.
The fast from self means spending our life energy on others. It is wrestling with the very energy of Christ within us on their behalf in prayer (Col. 1:29; 4:12). It is giving to those in need and taking care of the hurting, weak, and vulnerable. This is what is mean by “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24). There can be no other way for the Cross Disciple to live than to take up the cross of Jesus.
