http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201:29-35&version=ESV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Genesis%202:15&version=ESV

Food and fasting…

By the end of the lesson…• explain what special foods Christians have• evaluate own views on Christian attitudes to

food

Can you know LOVE without HATE?

The use of food and fasting as a response to God

Many religions have food laws telling them what they must and must not eat.

Question:What are the food laws in Christianity?

Food and Fasting

No!There are no religious food laws in Christianity

It seems likely that Jesus ate meat and there are stories in the New Testament of Jesus performing miracles providing fish and bread for hungry crowds (Luke 5: 4-6)

Luke 5:4-6

When we had finished speaking, he said to Simon“Put out into deep water, and let down the net for a catch”

Simon answered“Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink

• http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10%3A9-16&version=KJV

Food and FastingSome Christians are vegetarians for non-religious reasons, but most are not (Stewardship).

Christians have no rules about not eating meat or about how to prepare foods in a particular way. When Christians visit non-Christian countries, there are no problems with what they may or may not eat (humanely).

In Acts of the Apostles, The story of the vision of Peter shows how Christians were given permission to eat all kinds of creatures (Acts 10:9-16)

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10%3A9-16&version=NKJV

Symbolic Foods

Some foods are used symbolically as part of worship. In the Eucharist, also known as Mass, Holy Communion or the Last Supper, bread and wine are ways of showing Jesus’ continued presence in the world.

This is blessed (consecrated) by the minister, vicar or priest as the body and blood of Christ and shared with the congregation. This reminds them of the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples before his crucifixion

1 Corinthians 11:23-25The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?

search=1%20Corinthians%2011:23-25&version=KJV

Food and FastingOther foods are traditionally eaten on Christian festivals, such as hot cross buns on Good Friday or mince pies at Christmas, but these are customs and not things that Christians are expected to do for religious reasons

In Britain, thanks have been given for successful harvests since pagan times.

Harvest festival: occurs closest to the autumn equinox (about Sept. 22).

Today - People bring in produce from the garden, the allotment or farm. The food is often given to the poor or senior citizens, or used to raise funds for the church, or charity.

Then - Farmers made loaves of bread from the fresh wheat crop. These were given to the local church as the Communion bread during a special service thanking God for the harvest.

Harvest festival

On the equinox, night and day are nearly exactly the same length – 12 hours – all over the world; derived from Latin, meaning "equal night".

Harvest Festival

“In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.” (Gen 4:3-4)

Harvest Festival began as a way of saying thank you.

God is the owner“The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1)

Trust God to Provide“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

Fasting

What is fasting?

Why do you think people fast?

What could it symbolise?

Do you know any examples of when people fast?

What is Lent in Christianity?

FASTING• Fasting is a time of choosing to go without food

and sometimes drink as well.

• Some people believe that times of fasting help religious faith, because fasting encourages self-discipline and it is a constant reminder of human dependence on God and the need to be less selfish (Think of others less well off).

• Devotion and commitment to their faith and God

Fasting

Jesus says that fasting is a private matter between God and the individual(Matt 6:18)

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt%206:18&version=KJV

Monks and nuns often eat a very simple diet, as a way of showing that they have given their lives to God.

Q – How does that show they have given their lives to God?

Most Christians do not regard fasting as very important, but many Christians choose to give up luxuries during Lent(40 days before Easter) to remind themselves of the suffering of Jesus and as a way of concentrating on things they may have done wrong.

Fasting/Lent • ‘man does not live on bread alone, but from every

word that comes from God’ (Mathew 4:4)What?

When?

Why?

Bible quote

Love life live Lent

What would you give up? (40 days and nights)

- In 2006 a multimedia campaign ‘Love Life Live Lent’ gave inspiration for simple things people could do to spread generosity/happiness

- Text to get suggestions

- http://www.livelent.net/index.html

And there’s homework!!!!

Homework:

Explain Christian beliefs about the use of food and fasting (6 marks) (Point and explain)

- Unlike other religions, there are no food laws in Christianity- No laws about what they can and cannot eat- Some Christians are vegetarians (non-religious reasons), most aren’t- Eucharist (Mass, Holy Communion, or Last Supper) – bread and wine symbolises the body and blood of Christ- Fasting – what is it? Why might some Christians fast? When (Lent) reminds them of the suffering of ChristConclusion, don’t have any strict rules to follow

Explain Christian beliefs about food and fasting (6 marks)

There are no laws in Christianity about food and fasting unlike in otherreligions, they can eat what they like and when they like with one or twoexceptions. In Acts of the Apostles, the story of the vision of Peter shows howChristians were given permission to eat all kinds of creatures (Acts 10:9-16). Some Christian foods are symbolic e.g. in the Eucharist (HolyCommunion) which reminds Christians of the Last Supper, bread symbolises the body of Christ and wine symbolises his blood. At church, this is blessed by the vicar and shared with the congregation to remind them of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples before his crucifixion. Fasting is a time of choosing to go without food and sometimes evendrink. It encourages self-discipline and reminds Christians of their dependence on God. Some Christians fast during Lent at Easter and some give up luxuries instead of food, to remember the suffering of Christ when he fasted for

40 days and 40 nights. Jesus says that fasting is a private matter between God and the individual (Matthew 6:18)

Make a quiz on this topic that includes 20 questions. Write down an answer sheet

(4) Food

• Write down 2-3 bible quotes which give reason to the fact that Christians eat all fruit, vegetables and meat.