Spiritual Dangers of the Bridegroom FastBy Patricia Backora

The Bridegroom Fast has infiltrated the church. Some think you aren’t very spiritual unless you torment your body…and enjoy it!

Our love for Jesus, the Bridegroom, Who is physically absent from us, should allegedly make us want to shut ourselves up in a tiny “prayer closet” and starve ourselves so we’re one step closer to death and His sweet embrace. We should feel only contempt for food and earthly comforts so we can concentrate ONLY on Jesus, Who by the way, was called a winebibber and a glutton (Luke 7:34). Jesus never committed sin of any kind, but this charge would have been ridiculous if Christ had habitually starved Himself to become more spiritual.

What if Bridegroom Fasters treated earthly marriage the same way?

* * * * * *

Celeste, a dreamy, misty-eyed woman, has just married Travis, the man she adores. As they set off on their honeymoon her bridegroom takes her out to a fine restaurant. As she looks longingly in Travis’ eyes, he asks what she’d like to eat.

“Nothing, darling,” she sighs. “You’re all I need. I don’t need food. Just take me to the motel room.”

“Have it your way, but I gotta eat first,” Travis shrugs. He orders a big bucket of garlic chicken but she won’t have any.

It’s one weird honeymoon. Day after day the bridegroom tries to have a good time, but he’s worried about his poor anorectic wife. All she does is nibble a few crackers in the motel while concentrating only on him.

“Just being with you is enough,” Celeste insists. “Nothing’s important to me but your sweet caresses. How can I eat at a time like this?”

Instead of going out with Travis to enjoy the beautiful beach front, Celeste hides herself away in their motel room, wringing her hands and crying about her faults and imperfections and how she doesn’t even deserve him. She kneels by the bed, beats her breast and wails, “Oh, how glorious to discover how ugly I am on the inside, and to bask in the heavenly splendor of this bed with you, humbled by the revelation of my disgusting imperfections. No, I will not eat tonight. How can I eat when you’re with me? Food has no meaning for me anymore. I’m so awful I don’t deserve the pleasure of eating. Oh, how blissful to wallow in the shame of it all! How sublime, to attain to this level of self-abasement! O my beloved, your love moves my rotten soul to tears.”

Travis shakes his head. What on earth is she driving at? “Huh?” he finally says. “What kinda fruitcake notions are goin’ through your head anyway? Who said you were too ugly for me to marry? Ain’t I the best judge of who’s fit to marry me? As for me, am I so ugly it makes you sick to look at me? You say my love makes you cry. Woman, don’t I do enough to keep you satisfied?”

“But I want more of you! I don’t need any food, honest!”

“If ya don’t wanna eat, suit yourself,” Travis shrugs. “There’ll just be more for me. Women, can’t never figure ‘em out!”

The bride decides to continue to “live the fasted life” after the honeymoon to show her love for the confused fellow. Travis thinks she’s flipped. Before they got married and he became “her beloved bridegroom”, she was okay. Maybe Celeste had been in some sort of cult and never told him about it, and now she’s suffering flashbacks. Something’s eating at Celeste, but whenever she tries to explain, he can’t make heads nor tails of it. So he decides to give her a week to pull herself together while he does all the chores. The poor gal, she’s so love-starved she’s too weak to get off the couch and take care of the house.

Finally he comes in from a day of harvesting corn. He’s pooped and decides he can’t carry the load all alone anymore. He takes one look at her and says, “You still layin’ on that couch?”

“Yes, Travis! I’m sick!”

He lays his hand on her forehead. “You’re cold as ice, no fever. Maybe we oughta call the doctor.”

“No doctor in the land can cure me of the love I have for you, Travis. I’m sick with a love that’s deeper than the deepest ocean and higher than the highest mountain. You don’t know how it makes me ache with longing for you while you’re out in that barn feeding the chickens. Kiss me, my beloved. I want more and more of you!” She reaches out to pull him closer.

He steps back and says, “We done enough huggin’ and kissin’. Now git up, Celeste. It’s time to come down to earth and pull your weight around here. Stop all that moonin’ over me and act like you got some marbles. Git in that kitchen right now and fix me some supper.”

“But I can’t! When I try to stand up my head starts spinning. See how love for you affects me? Why, things on earth don’t matter anymore. I’m starting to see the glories of the world beyond, and your face is growing brighter and brighter.”

“That’s just the western sun shinin’ through them curtains.” Her eyes glisten with worshipful tears. “Oh, honey, it’s sheer bliss just lying here and beholding your lovely face.”

The man knows she’s not all there. “What’s up with you anyhow? You act like it’s a sin to eat. You barely nibble enough to hold body and soul together. Let’s go rustle up some grub so you can get strong enough to get off that couch and do something useful around here. I’ll do the cookin’ tonight. I’ll fix us both a nice big steak.”

“No, really, my love, I don’t need food. All I need is you. I’m afraid if I eat a good meal, you’ll think I don’t love you enough and I won’t feel you here with me anymore.”

He looks at her real funny. “What are you on, anyway? That’s crazy! Hey, I know why you’re actin’ this way. You’re on some crazy diet to stay skinny for me, ‘cause you worry I’ll run off with a skinnier gal if you eat. Why do you feel so insecure in my love? I hate seein’ you like this. You look like you’re half dead.”

“But that makes no difference to our love.”

“Well, it does make a difference to me! You’re so moonstruck you’re useless! Nothing’s getting done around here. I’ve been eatin’ my own lousy cookin’ every single day and you ain’t had the strength to get up off of that couch and wash them dirty dishes pilin’ up in the sink. There’s too

much work around here for one man. There’s clothes to wash, butter to churn, bread to bake, hogs to slop. Now go in that kitchen right now and put some of that lovin’ in your cookin’ or I’ll bed down in the barn tonight.”

* * * * * *That brings the woman back down to earth. Some well-meaning “marriage expert” had told this woman that eating is an act of guilt and shame, and to keep her husband’s love she has to act as if all she needs is the air that she breathes and his sweet love. But her spiritualized, romanticized eating disorder didn’t sweeten her romance with her bridegroom. He never demanded that she torture herself to keep his love. He was there to nourish and cherish her, not to starve her. His love is a practical love, played out in real life, not in Cloud Koo koo Land. The bridegroom wants to fellowship with his bride at the kitchen table, not just in the bedroom (prayer room for the Christian seeking closeness with Christ).

Song of Solomon, penned by a rich king with lots of leisure time to spend in his garden of love, is considered by many to be a picture of how Christians should relate to a practical Savior, Who provided real wine for a wedding feast instead of ordering the guests to fast. Song of Solomon, objectively read, is a spicy romance. But the lover in the Song of Solomon told the bride they must go and check on how the crops were coming along. They could find love even in the business of daily living (Song 7:12).

Christ didn’t just feed the five thousand a bunch of uplifting words. He fed them real bread and fish. Even after He rose from the dead He provided literal fish for His disciples. He even cooked their breakfast (John 21:1-13). Viewing food and the act of eating as sinful, or a necessary evil, springs from Gnosticism, a pagan philosophy which declares all matter to be evil and only spiritual things to be good. Anything can be abused through excess, but throughout the Bible food is repeatedly declared to be God’s blessing.

Failure to rightly divide the Word of Truth brings Christians under unnecessary religious bondages. For example, when Jesus commented on the Pharisees’ tithing practices in Matt.23:23 , He was addressing JEWS UNDER THE LAW, not Gentiles. And when He preached on fasting in Matt.6:16-18, likewise He was addressing JEWS UNDER THE LAW. Christ did not come to teach the Gentiles how to keep Jewish traditions correctly (including fasting). In fact, Christ rebuffed one desperate Gentile woman who pleaded for Him to heal her daughter. Jesus did heal the child because of the woman’s faith. But He said that He hadn’t even been sent to anybody but the lost sheep of the House of Israel (Matt.15:24).

If Jesus’ teaching on fasting binds fasting on non-Jewish believers under the post-cross New Covenant, then we must also literally obey His instructions on keeping other Jewish customs.

Matt.8:4: And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Jesus commanded the healed leper to go to the priest for ceremonial cleansing. This wasn’t a quickie procedure. The complicated, drawn-out ritual involved several days of washings, shavings, pigeon offerings, etc. If we must follow examples like this whenever we’re healed, there’s a problem. There’s no Levitical priesthood around, and Christians aren’t supposed to offer animal sacrifices.

In Paul’s day, the infrastructure for keeping that particular command of Christ was still in place, even though the New Covenant had just come into effect. The Temple was still standing, and the Levitical priesthood was still functioning in Jerusalem. Apparently it took Paul awhile to realize that Christ no longer expected His people to follow Mosaic rituals He had fulfilled in Himself.

Paul told Christians to follow his own example (I Cor.4:16; 11:1). In Acts chapter 21 Paul got a visit from some legalistic Jewish Christians who were still hanging onto the Old Law. They insisted that Paul join them in making an Old Testament-style vow. These Judaizers were real kill-joys who went around making sure nobody stayed free in Christ for very long if they ever did get free. They wanted reassurance that Paul still kept the Law of Moses and all its rituals. To keep the peace, Paul shaved his head and offered an animal sacrifice in the Temple, even after his own conversion. Is that an example we Gentiles should follow today?

Acts 21:23: Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. . . . Verse 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

Peace gained by compromising God’s truth isn’t worth the price. Not long after that, Paul was captured and spent years in prison. Legalism always brings bondage.

Interestingly, verse 25 of that same chapter reads: AS TOUCHING THE GENTILES WHICH BELIEVE, WE HAVE WRITTEN AND CONCLUDED THAT THEY OBSERVE NO SUCH THING, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.* * * *Paul, who offered up an animal sacrifice in the Temple,

exempted Gentile believers from Jewish customs. That would include religious fasting.

Some say since Daniel fasted we have to fast too. But Daniel also kept kosher food laws and prayed three times a day facing Jerusalem. What Christian does these things today?

What about two fasts the apostles held? They are found in Acts 13:2-3 and Acts 14:23. These JEWISH disciples, who had always fasted as part of their religion, were transitioning from the Old Covenant to the New. Paul’s freedom manifesto, the book of Galatians, hadn’t even been written yet. No mention of religious fasting after Acts, only periods of hunger Paul suffered due to poverty. The most reliable Greek manuscripts do not even contain the word “fasting” in I Cor.7:5, where husbands and wives are not to withhold sex from each other unless they agree to do so during fasting and prayer. Even if “fasting” is in the original Greek. It can’t be construed as a command to fast, unless you also maintain that Paul was commanding the couple to abstain from sex, which he definitely wasn’t doing.

Acts 15:7: And when there had been much disputing (argument), Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH* * * * * (not fasting). 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WE SHALL BE SAVED, EVEN AS THEY. Verse 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that WE TROUBLE NOT THEM, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. Verse 28 FOR IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY GHOST, AND TO US, TO LAY UPON YOU NO GREATER BURDEN THAN THESE NECESSARY THINGS; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

I find it significant that the Holy Spirit REPEATS this information at least three times, to emphasize that Gentile believers are NOT under Jewish Laws and customs. So why do Christian leaders contradict the Holy Ghost Who said NO SUCH THING (Jewish religious traditions) should be practiced by Gentile converts, and NO GREATER BURDEN than those four necessary things is to be laid upon them? Being expected to torment your own body (or tithe) IS a greater burden than those four necessary things. Because

fasting didn’t make the Holy Spirit’s short list of NECESSARY things, fasting must be UN-necessary. Otherwise, He would have had the apostles teach converted Gentiles about it, who may never have practiced it before coming to Christ. This apostolic conference would have been the perfect time and place to bind fasting on Gentile believers.

Throughout Paul’s ministry the Judaizers (“Christian” enforcers of Jewish laws and traditions) were a thorn in his side. Paul circumcised Timothy to keep them happy. But he later stood his ground and refused to also circumcise Titus.

Galatians 2:3: But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily (in a sneaky way) to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Galatians 6:12: As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.* * * *There’s fleshly satisfaction in keeping religious rituals. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.* * * *Your spiritual life becomes a tangled mess when you dilute the grace of God with works. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.* * * *Religious works can cause a believer to stop relying on Christ alone for justification before a Holy God.3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.* * * *Observe one Jewish law or ritual, you’re obligated to keep them ALL!4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.* * * *Reliance upon religious works of any kind to keep God happy can make you fall out of the grace of God and imperil salvation.5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.* * * *Nowhere does Paul ever recommend fasting as a way to melt the heart of God. NOWHERE!

If fasting’s so vital, why didn’t the apostles warn believers not to neglect a practice which prioritizes your prayers on God’s “to do” list? Where in scripture does Paul teach on fasting and its merits? Did Paul ever say that

you have to starve your body to prove how hungry you are for Jesus? How many miracles does this apostle attribute to fasting? Not one! And that goes for all the writings of Peter, John, James, and Jude. Never do they prescribe fasting as a way to recharge your prayer batteries or zap demons. Satan is more frightened of a heart full of faith than an empty stomach. One preacher racked up 100 fasting days in one particular year, but he didn’t see satan tuck tail and run.

No apostle ever tells you to fast to spank yourself for sin. If fasting’s so all-fired important, why are the epistles so silent on it? Fasting, like tithing, has been imposed on God’s people without authorization from the apostles, builders of Christ’s church. How can fasting bring you closer to any Jesus, if He already dwells in your heart by faith, and you are actually one spirit with Him (Eph.3:17; I Cor.6:17)? Even pagans starve their bodies in order to detach themselves from the things of this world and contact the spirit realm. Fasting to weaken the body’s grip on the soul so you can soar up into the heavenlies is a pagan doctrine of devils. The apostles NEVER taught this!

Col.2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) AFTER THE COMMANDMENTS AND DOCTRINES OF MEN? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Only the Word of God, RIGHTLY DIVIDED and applicable to New Covenant believers, is binding on us today. Religious fasting to rack up Brownie points with God is a deception of satan, although it may sometimes be necessary to postpone a meal to get urgent praying done.

Immediately after asking the confused Colossians why they’re still observing carnal ordinances (touch not, TASTE NOT, handle not) Paul asks them why they are conforming to the commandments and doctrines of men. Commandments not to touch or taste food came not from God, but men, the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Some say since many early Christians fasted, we have to fast too. But many early believers came from Jewish homes and had always fasted. Anyway, an example is not a command.

Jesus makes it clear the Book of Revelation is written only TO THE CHURCHES. In fact, He repeats “TO THE CHURCHES” seven times so they’ll get the point (Rev.2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). During His earthly ministry Jesus ministered to Jews who still did religious things like tithing, fasting and animal sacrifice. He wasn’t binding these practices on the church, which didn’t even exist yet. But the Holy Spirit addresses Revelation to the church and no other group.

Jesus sternly rebukes several churches in Revelation chapters 1-3. For laziness , fornication, adultery, idolatry, lukewarmness, you name it, they’ve done it. But NOT ONE REBUKE FOR FAILURE TO FAST! Jesus commands backsliders to “be zealous and repent”. In the Old Testament, God sometimes commands backsliders to rend their hearts with sorrow and fast. But Jesus does not command these believers to go without food, just repent.

Some maintain that because our Heavenly Bridegroom is not visibly with us, we must fast, based on Christ’s own words.

Matt.9:14: Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Jesus immediately links fasting with mourning. He never associates it with rejoicing. Drummed-up depression is out of sync with the joy of the Holy Spirit. The disciples mourned after Jesus was killed. But after Jesus’ Resurrection His disciples REJOICED, even after He ascended back to the Father (Luke 24:52). They didn’t fast and cry when He went home. At Pentecost, Christ came in His fullness of His Spirit to dwell in the hearts of His people. He is with us always (Matt.28:20). Fasting “because the Bridegroom is not with us” is denying what Jesus said about ALWAYS being with us.

When Jesus returns to rule Planet Earth, He will have many glorified saints stationed on the other side of the globe carrying out various assignments for Him. Then, as now, Christ will be constantly with them in Spirit. But it will be impossible for Jesus to physically be everywhere at once with everybody at the same time. So the argument that we must fast because the Bridegroom isn’t physically with us doesn’t hold water. If we have to fast just because Christ isn’t physically by our side, that would also apply to this Millennial scenario: If Simon Peter were ministering in San Francisco while Jesus was in Jerusalem, he would have to fast because at that moment in time his Heavenly Bridegroom wasn’t physically in California!

Paul said it was possible to be present somewhere in spirit while being physically absent:

Col.2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I WITH YOU IN THE SPIRIT, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

Paul even tried, convicted, and sentenced one Christian criminal when He was physically absent from the “courtroom”:

I Cor.5:3:For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Paul didn’t say he wasn’t with them, just because his body was far away. His spirit was there. How can this be so? The Spirit of God within us is not limited to time and space, as our bodies are. At conversion, we dwell in Christ and He dwells in us (John 14:20; 2 Cor.5:17). That Mind of Christ within us knows all things, even if our natural intellect falls short (I John 2:20). Sometimes Spirit-filled believers pray in the Spirit for unknown people and situations in far-off lands, as the omnipresent Holy Spirit detects their needs. If we are actually spiritually united with Christ the Lord, how then can we say Jesus (the Bridegroom) is not with us? If you confess that Christ is the Son of God, God dwells in you and you in Him, and in Christ is the FULNESS OF GOD (I John 4:15; Col.1:19; 2:9). To take the point to its logical conclusion: If we are filled with ALL the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19) and ALL the Spirit of Christ dwells within us, then so does His nature as Bridegroom of the Church! Obviously if the Bridegroom aspect of Christ is missing from us, then He does NOT dwell in us in all His fullness. Old Testament saints were not spiritually united with Christ during their mortal lifetimes. They could easily lose their salvation (Psalms 51: 11-12). In fear and desperation they fasted to reach out to a God far away in heaven, although they were aware that He made Himself known in the earth (Psalms 73:25). Our experience of God is different from theirs.

Why is it that legalists give lip service to founding all church doctrine on “grace through faith alone”, but then they burden the people of God with “spiritual disciplines” never taught in any New Testament epistle? To bind fasting on New Covenant Christians, you must do the same as you do with tithing: Import it from the Old Testament or the Gospels. Technically speaking, the Gospels (the earthly ministry of Jesus) transpired during the closing days of the Old Covenant, when Jews lived under the Law and non-Jews were the odd men out. Why do I believe Jesus lived during the Old Testament? Because the New Covenant didn’t take effect until after Jesus died on the Cross and rose again. Because animal sacrifices were still required of believers and Jesus Himself told a healed leper to offer the sacrifice for healing required by Moses (Matt.8:4). Jesus never commands believers to offer animal sacrifices today. So why would He order Christians to fast, when He didn’t even make His own disciples fast during the closing days of the Old Testament (Matt.9:14; Mark 2:18)?

Scripture places Jesus’ earthly ministry firmly under the Dispensation of Law, the Old Testament:

Galatians 4:4:  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, MADE UNDER THE LAW, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Mark 2:20 and Luke 5:35 are often used to prove that Church Age believers, who constitute the Bride of Christ, are required by Christ to fast. Again, a right division of Scripture is called for here. For centuries Jews awaited a Messiah. a mighty Deliverer, who not only would save them from foreign occupiers but Who would be the Bridegroom of the Nation of Israel. When John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of the Bridegroom to the people (Jews) they knew what he was talking about because they’d been taught to pray for such a Deliverer. Those Jews weren’t hoping for the coming of a Bridegroom of the largely Gentile Church we have today. They didn’t even know there was going to be a Church Age standing between them and the Kingdom Age, where the Jewish Messiah would rule over all the earth. The people understood John to be talking about be the Bridegroom of Israel in the person of their long-awaited Messiah.

Even during Christ’s earthly ministry He said He was sent only to Israel (Matt.15:24). The Church, the Bride of Christ, was a Hidden Mystery which did not come into being until after His death (Col.1:27). Christ was not ordering His Bride the Church to go on a fast to show her joy in being spiritually with her Bridegroom (the Bridegroom Fast heresy). That’s nothing but New Age religion sneaking into the church. Even pagan religions believe in the Bridegroom Fast, though they call it something else. It’s weird and unnatural to fast out of a joyful heart, and there is no precedent for this type of “joyful” fast in scripture. Jesus Himself said it was unfitting to fast at a wedding celebration (Matt.9:15; Mark 2:19; Luke 5:34).. This pretty much contradicts the Bridegroom Fast heresy, which teaches believers to fast to celebrate intimacy with the Lord.

The ONLY regular fast day required in scripture was commanded to ISRAEL ONLY (see Lev.23:27, 29). Fasting isn’t specifically mentioned even here. But the Jews understood it to mean you could not eat on that particular day. There are other examples where God commands the Jews to tear their garments and fast in penitence for sin. Some Christians insist that we should feel continuing humiliation over sin, even if God removed those sins as far as the east is from the west. But if you’re going to keep the fasting part, why not tear your clothes also? Other fasts were added by Jewish leaders who wanted to improve on God’s requirements, to make themselves seem holier. Fasting was the traditional JEWISH way of expressing sorrow for sin, deep desire for divine guidance, fear, or any perceived need to humble oneself before God in a way that’s harsh on the body.

I counted just 20 usages of the word “bridegroom” in scripture, covering both Old and New Testaments. In every case that word was associated with great joy. Except for times where God was judging Israel for sin and He said He’d take away the joyful voice of the bride and bridegroom, among other judgments. Another case is in Joel chapter 2 where God commands everyone, including newlyweds, to gather to fast and pray to avert a locust plague. Unless you’ve backslidden so bad you feel like you’ve come out from under the covering of the Blood of Jesus or you feel threatened with other calamity and you lose your appetite, I see no case at all for fasting, and no need to fast at all in conjunction with our Heavenly Bridegroom.

Isa. 61:5: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Ancient Israel pictured God as being their nation’s Bridegroom. This gave rise to rejoicing, not the sadness of fasting. Jesus, Who habitually associated fasting with mourning instead of joy, and was accused of not doing much of it Himself, said it would be more advantageous for the disciples if He went back to heaven because He would send the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). Jesus said He would not leave His people feeling like orphans. The Holy Spirit can be with every believer at the same time ALL the time, whereas Jesus in His physical body couldn’t.

Even after Jesus went back up to heaven there was great rejoicing among the disciples.

Luke 24:51: And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Jesus was not physically present with them when the disciples DAILY went from house to house, not only fellowshipping and praying, but eating together (Acts 2:42-47).

Oddly enough, there is NO mention of fasting in the daily routine of these early disciples. They were so happy they knew no better than to rejoice and to eat their food (not fast from it) with gladness.

In Mark 2:20 and Luke 5:35 the key crucial question is: WHO is expected to fast when Christ is NOT with them? THE CHILDREN (Gk. huios, sons) OF THE BRIDECHAMBER! Remember the context. In most Gospel passages Jesus is addressing Jews under the Law. With the sole exception of preaching to some Samaritans after meeting the Woman at the Well, Jesus never preached to crowds of non-Jews. Only a few times do you read of Him helping some Gentile individual, and even then only on account of

their great faith. Jesus is answering a pointed question put to him by the JEWISH scribes and Pharisees: Why do John the Baptist’s disciples fast often, but your disciples eat and drink freely?

Jesus (Who enjoyed eating Himself, as Luke 7:34 and Matt.11:19 strongly implies) replied that you can’t expect the children (sons) of the bridechamber to fast while the Bridegroom is with them. The phrase “son of” was a common Hebrew idiom. To be a son of something was to possess the characteristics of that particular thing. Examples: “the son of peace” (Luke 10:6), “son” of consolation (Acts 4:36), “son” of perdition (John 17:12). “Sons of the bridechamber” are wedding guests. The guests and the bride are not one and the same! John the Baptist will be “friend of the bridegroom” (best man) at Christ’s wedding to the Church (John 3:29). John will be there as an honored guest, but John will not be part of the Bride. All the Old Testament saints and the Tribulation martyrs will be among the guests. Most believers will be killed during the Tribulation Period. While they’re on earth suffering under the Antichrist, it will be a time of deep sorrow and trial. Gross darkness will cover the earth, and there will be NO brightness in it because Christ, the Light of the World, will be absent during that time (Isa.60:2; Amos 5:18, 20).

Like Old Testament saints, Tribulation saints will have to endure to the end to be saved (Matt.10:21-22). Their salvation will hinge on their own WORK of faithfulness in time of terrible trial, rather than “grace through faith” as we know it today. While salvation is not gained through human works in the present age (Eph.2:8-9), Christ will only grant survivors of the Tribulation entry into His earthly Kingdom IF they’ve performed specific good works (Matt.25:31-46). ). In that sense they’ll be earning their salvation, though everyone gets into heaven only through the Blood of Jesus (Rev.7:14). In that day God will once again emphasize the distinction between Jews and Gentiles, as evidenced by Christ’s referral to “all nations” (Gentiles). God says that today there is NO difference in His dealings with people of different nationalities (Rom.10:12).

The Bridegroom will, in a very real sense, be absent from those believers on earth. While they’re suffering privation and persecution on earth, He will be in heaven enjoying the Marriage Supper of the Lamb with the Church, His Bride. Living Tribulation saints will not be in heaven for the festivities. The Bridegroom will not fill Tribulation saints with the spiritual refreshing of “Christ in you, the Hope of Glory”. These saints will not overflow with the joy of the Lord. Their earthly life will be a precarious one.

Salvation through grace by faith alone was not experienced by Old Covenant saints who had to win eternal salvation through faithfulness to God’s commandments, rather than being sealed in assurance of salvation. Further proof that the Tribulation saints will live in a different dispensation is this: Christ prophesied that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against

His church (Matt.16:18). Notice in the same verse Christ says He WILL BUILD (future tense) His Church. It did not exist before the Cross. Daniel prophesied that the Antichrist would “wear out” the Tribulation saints and defeat them (Dan.7:21, 25). Here you see a great dispensational difference: Embattled, overpowered saints populate the Tribulation Period, not the victorious church, the Bride of Christ. Contrast the miserable condition of the overpowered Tribulation saints with the way the apostle Paul speaks repeatedly of “the church” sitting in heavenly places with Christ Jesus (Eph.1:3; 2:6), and the way God ALWAYS causes us to triumph (2 Cor.2:14). If we’re ALREADY seated with Christ in heavenly places, why is it necessary to fast to achieve such a blessing? NOWHERE does Paul or any other apostle teach that fasting will exalt you to heavenly places or bring you closer to Jesus. If you’re a Christian you’re already spiritually united to Him.

Jesus also warns in John 9:4 that the night will come during which time no one can work (at bringing in the harvest). This must speak of the Tribulation Period, when angels will be given the authority to preach the everlasting gospel (Rev.14:6). Angels aren’t working as evangelists today, during the Church Age.

In both Mark 2:20 and Luke 5:35 Jesus says that in THOSE DAYS they (the wedding guests) would fast. People must assume He’s talking about the Church Age, the present day. But which other days might He be talking about? Here is another context where Jesus speaks of THOSE DAYS:

Mark 13:17 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: 15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: 16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. 17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in THOSE DAYS! 18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. 19 For in THOSE DAYS shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.* * * *Here, Jesus echoes Daniel’s prophecy in Dan.12:1 about the coming time of unprecedented trouble.20 And except that the Lord had shortened THOSE DAYS, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

Repeatedly Jesus speaks of the days just preceding His Coming. His Second Coming is different and distinct from the Rapture, where He comes FOR His saints before returning WITH His saints to rule over this

planet. Jesus prophesied a terrible time of trouble that would be worse than ever before, to hit this earth during THOSE DAYS. I believe Jesus’ use of the term THOSE DAYS also refers to the time Tribulation converts to Christ will not feel any inner assurance of victory and just might afflict their souls in fasting to try to get God to take pity on them. Possibly they will see frightened Jews fasting, who have historically done this in time of great danger, and Gentile believers in Christ will also fast. Also, believers won’t be allowed to buy and sell without the Mark of the Beast and will, most likely, go on FORCED fasts like Paul did when he had nothing to eat.

Remember when you were a tiny child and the electricity went out during a storm, and there you were standing in the dark, scared and trembling at the thunder and lightning? You didn’t see your mom anywhere. Then you saw her coming toward you with a candle telling you not to be afraid. You felt reassured not only by her presence but the light she was carrying in her hand. How scary it will be when all gladness and brightness, loving, caring and sharing is gone out of society and satan runs rampant in the earth! Only the saints’ faith in the promises of scripture will help them persevere in the face of brutal persecution and severe trial. The Light of God’s Word will be the only brightness in the awful dense darkness of the Tribulation Period. The lights won’t come back on in the earth till Christ, the Light of the World, comes back with His Bride the Church, who have Him dwelling in their hearts through faith.

If Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, and we are one spirit with Him, how can He be absent from us? Unless you ignore verses like I Cor.6:17 it’s impossible to say He is not with us. Matt.28:20 promises that Christ will ALWAYS be with us. It doesn’t say He would come and go and only come back to us if we starved our bodies. One blogger wrote that Christ’s promise to always be with us is the very reason Christians ought to fast, contradicting Christ’s own words that it’s improper to fast when the Bridegroom is with you. Jesus NEVER says you ought to fast to celebrate intimacy with Him. That’s unbiblical spiritual mysticism. Satan sneaks lies into Christ’s church by trying to improve on what Jesus has already done for us and given us. Far from being pleasing to God, such an attitude says Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself was inadequate and He didn’t give us enough blessings to get us spiritually high. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

One reason I believe that Christ the Bridegroom will be absent from the earth during the Tribulation Period is 2 Thes.2:7. He who prevents the Antichrist from coming on the world stage will be taken out of the way. Once the Spirit of Christ indwelling the Church is gone from the earth, Antichrist will make his appearance. Only in His office of bringing men to Christ will the Holy Spirit still be present in a grossly darkened earth. Persecuted, fearful, hungry Tribulation saints will feel like God Himself has withdrawn from earth to let the devil do his dirty work unhindered. After a long period of misery and mournful fasting, those who end up being killed by the Antichrist will go to heaven to join the other guests at the wedding feast.

I get the impression that many saints fast and do other unpleasant things to themselves mainly because they feel a lingering sense of shame for sin. Our sin has ALREADY been dealt with at Calvary. My Bible says we are actually made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor.5:21). How did God do this? By dumping ALL our sins on the Lord Jesus so He could bear them to the Cross. NOT by our fasting to earn this freedom!

Some object that Paul fasted so we must also. In 2 Cor.6:5 and 11:27 Paul lists his “fastings” (periods of hunger due to poverty) among many other miserable trials he suffered: shipwreck, beatings, character assassination, thirst, an unbearable workload, etc. Paul did not impose these sufferings on himself as a spiritual exercise. He went hungry because other Christians were either too poor or too stingy to take care of him. The Philippians were extremely poor. But the Corinthians failed to minister to Paul’s needs when they could easily have done so.

I Cor.4:8: Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

In this passage Paul contrasts the wealth of the Corinthians with the wretched conditions he and his co-workers suffer. These affluent, selfish Corinthians were just like the materialistic “King’s kids” of the modern Prosperity Movement who exalt the rich and vilify the poor as failures in the so-called School of Faith. Every man for himself!

Fasting to punish the body resembles various Roman Catholic penances practiced by those who try to earn heaven through personal suffering. It’s akin to whipping yourself in a monastery or crawling on gravel up the mountain as you count rosary beads. The false doctrine of finding joy in self-inflicted suffering has sneaked into the Charismatic church.

I Cor.5:7: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Jesus is the ONLY sacrifice we need! Christ died on the Cross long before you even thought of being born. In John 19:30 with His dying breath Jesus said: IT IS FINISHED!

Even the Book of Hebrews, which sternly warns Christians not to backslide or neglect spiritual duties, does not mention fasting. Instead, God’s

people are repeatedly urged to rest in Christ’s finished work (Heb. 3:11,18; 4:1-11).

Why won’t believers believe this and and let themselves ENJOY Jesus?