When Rick Perry asked Texans to join him in prayer and fasting he added the words “like Jesus did.” The implication is “if Jesus were in our situation he would and pray and fast.”
Perhaps that is true. Jesus was a Jew and prayer and fasting was a historically accurate response to calamity.
The problem is that Perry claimed that his rally was to pray and fast like Jesus did.
So how did Jesus pray and fast? Well he doesn’t have much to say about it, except in Matthew:
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
So, if Jesus didn’t want people to show off their religiousness by fasting, would he record a video about fasting and put it on Vimeo for the world to see?
Would Jesus rent out an arena for thousands to join in a fasting event?
What do you think Jesus would say to Rick Perry about this event?
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