Introduction
In Mark 2:18-22, Jesus challenges the religious police of his day and offers a refreshing perspective on spiritual practices. He contrasts toxic religion, which uses spiritual practices as a litmus test to police the spiritual life of others, with dynamic faith, which sees these practices as opportunities to express your heart towards God. In this post, we’ll explore Jesus’ teachings on the dynamic relationship between faith and spiritual practices, including fasting. We’ll also discuss how these practices can express our hearts towards God and strengthen our relationship with Him.
Toxic Religion vs. Dynamic Faith
Toxic religion treats spiritual practices like requirements on a checklist, focusing on the external form rather than the internal reality. It judges others based on their adherence to these practices and creates a culture of legalism and judgment. On the other hand, dynamic faith sees spiritual practices as opportunities to express your heart towards God, and focuses on the internal reality rather than the external form. It creates a culture of grace and love, where people are encouraged to grow in their relationship with God.
The Significance of Fasting
In Mark 2:18, we see that the religious leaders were questioning why Jesus’ disciples weren’t fasting. Jesus responded by using a wedding feast as an illustration, saying that it doesn’t make sense to fast at a party. He was making the point that there are times and seasons for different spiritual practices, and that they should be motivated by a heart that desires to draw closer to God, rather than a legalistic adherence to tradition.
Putting New Wine into Old Wineskins
Jesus expands on this principle in Mark 2:21-22, using the metaphor of putting new wine into old wineskins. He says that new wine needs to be put into new wineskins, because the old wineskins have become rigid and inflexible. In the same way, dynamic faith requires a flexible and open heart, which is receptive to the work of the Holy Spirit. Legalistic adherence to tradition can create a rigid and inflexible heart, which is resistant to change and growth.
The Power of Dynamic Faith
Dynamic faith is not about following a set of rules or rituals, but about cultivating a deep and transformative relationship with God. It’s about expressing our hearts towards God in a way that is authentic and meaningful, rather than just going through the motions. Spiritual practices like fasting, prayer, and Bible study can be powerful tools for cultivating this relationship, but they should never become ends in themselves. Instead, they should be motivated by a desire to draw closer to God and to express our love and devotion to Him.
Conclusion
Jesus’ challenge to toxic religion and his call to dynamic faith is as relevant today as it was in his time. We live in a world where legalism and judgment can easily take hold, but Jesus offers us a better way. By focusing on the internal reality of our relationship with God, and by cultivating a heart that is flexible and open to the work of the Holy Spirit, we can experience the transformative power of dynamic faith. So let us embrace this way of life, and let us draw closer to God through authentic and meaningful expressions of our hearts towards Him.
