Worship Food and Fasting LO: To be able to explain the role of (and give examples of) food and fasting in the Christian church

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: Are there any food laws in Christianity? Think carefully?

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 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

Food and Fasting Some Christians are vegetarians for non-religious reasons, but most are not. 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. 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)

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 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 11:23-25 The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Food and Fasting Other 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

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.

Most Christians do not regard fasting as very important, but some people 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 the things they have done wrong

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

Monks and nuns often eat a very simple diet, as a way of showing that they have given their lives to God. Q – How would that show they have given their lives to God?

(3) Fasting/Lent (p.46-48) ‘man does not live on bread alone, but from every word that comes from god’ (Mathew 4:4) What? When? Why? Bible quote

(3) Love Life Live Lent What would you give up? - 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 -

(4) Food Referring to page 48, write down 2-3 bible quotes which give reason to the fact that Christians eat all fruit, vegetables and meat.

How well did you do today? L/O: To be able to explain the role of and give examples of food and fasting in the Christian church

Homework: Explain Christian beliefs about the use of food and fasting (6 marks) - 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 Christ Conclusion, 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 other religions, they can eat what they like and when they like with one or two exceptions. 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). Some Christian foods are symbolic eg. in the Eucharist (Holy Communion) 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 even drink. 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)