Voluntary abstinence, whether total or partial, from food for religious purposes. The principle behind fasting is that, when conducted judiciously, it contributes to good health and can increase spiritual sensitivity. In addition, it is an act of worship, a special outward and wholistic expression of the person’s dependence on God’s grace, power, and presence when confronting real or potential challenges and/or problems.
While there seems to be no divine command to fast ( see SDADic 344, 345), the Bible gives many examples of individuals and groups who fasted for various reasons: Moses ( Ex. 34:28 ), David ( 2 Sam. 12:21–23 ), Elijah ( 1 Kings 19:8 ), Daniel ( Dan. 9:3 ), Nehemiah ( Neh. 1:4 ), Esther ( Esther 4:16 ), God’s people ( Esther 4:3 , 16 ), Jesus ( Matt. 4:2 ), Peter ( Acts 10:30 ), the leaders at Antioch ( Acts 13:2 ), and Paul and Barnabas ( Acts 14:23 ).
Fasting has been practiced in a limited way by Seventh-day Adventists. Special days of fasting and prayer have been observed in the SDA Church since early in its history. Following are examples of announcements of days of fasting in the church paper:
A general call for such a day was signed by James White and M. E. Cornell: “We have consulted with brethren with whom we have recently associated, in regard to a day of fasting and prayer, in view of the want of faithful laborers in the wide harvest field; and also the feeble state of health of several who are now engaged in the work; and the suggestion meets the approbation of all. . . . By advice of brethren we appoint the first Sabbath in June as a day of fasting and prayer. . . . We recommend that all the churches be united in fasting and prayer on the day named, for the above object” ( Review and Herald 6:228, May 15, 1855).
A fast day was recommended by the Battle Creek, Michigan, church: “We have submitted the subject of a day of fasting, humiliation, self-examination, confession and prayer to the Battle Creek church, who are unanimous in recommending Sabbath, August 3, 1861. . . .
“The Bible, especially the New Testament, is not very definite on the subject of fasting, whether we should entirely abstain from food, and how long. Feeble persons are generally very dependent on the small quantity of plain food which they take. These may have no duty in point of abstinence. We would recommend to all to abstain from their noon meal if consistent, and let the other two meals, if eaten, be plain” ( ibid. . 18:60, July 23, 1861).
In 1877 a fast day was appointed by the New York and Pennsylvania Conference and another in the same year by the Vermont Conference ( ibid. 49:101, Mar. 29, 1877; 50:67, Aug. 23, 1877), but in general such a day is set by the General Conference. In 1866 the General Conference announced a four-day fast, and in 1882 a three-day one. (For descriptions of these as observed in local churches, see Review and Herald 28:5, June 5, 1866; 59:784, Dec. 12, 1882). However, fasts of such duration were unusual.
A modern example of collective fasting is the day of fasting appointed for the delegates of the General Conference session in 1954 ( ibid. 131:16, May 25, 1954) and in 1958 (GCC [1958], p. 1137). The General Conference has occasionally invited the world church to fast and pray for specific purposes, e.g. for the work in China ( ibid. [1959], pp. 229, 234), and for world peace ( ibid. [1991], p. 8).