New Nazirite Pursuing passion & purity in an age of complacency & compromise. A Note on Fasting

Fasting is removing a good thing for the sake of the greatest thing. It’s important to remember that the things we fast from aren’t evil or sinful or things God doesn’t want us to enjoy. Refraining from doing something you should not do is not fasting. Fasting is inten- tionally removing something good from your life for a set time, for the purpose of more of Jesus. In fasting we say no to good desires to remind us that our strongest, deepest desires can only be fulfilled in Christ. Fasting helps us focus our hunger on Him who can truly satisfy.

"How can people who are conditioned to a life of distraction and indulgence be moved to live at their best, to be artists of the everyday, to plunge into life and not loiter on the fringes?"

- Eugene H. Peterson, Run with the Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best Nazirite Vow

In our modern context, the Nazirite vow may seem strange. They did not cut their hair, drink wine, or defile themselves in any way. Their vow was both compelling and extreme. Samson, Samuel and John the Baptist lived as life long Nazirites. Their vow was a prophetic lifestyle—living daily as symbols of God’s covenant to his people. Their consecrated lifestyle was a symbol of their anointing and they woke people to their complacency and compromise.

Numbers 6: 1-8 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

“‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long. “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremo- nially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the Lord. The New Nazirites Living prophetic lives: a fast of symbolism, not legalism.

This is an ancient, biblical vow of fasting and consecration, updated for modern life in the modern world.

No Fruit of the Vine: An invitation to fast from alcohol and/or sugar No Razor to Your Head: An invitation to fast from consumption, pursuing simplicity No Contact with with Dead: An invitation to fast from media that numbs spiritual vitality

No Fruit of the Vine The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins. (Numbers 6: 1-4)

The Nazirites fasted from all fermented drink and the fruit of the grapevine. Essentially, this is a fast from dietary indulgences in order to acquire eternal taste buds. Alcohol is obviously an indul- gence both then and now. Grapes and raisins were the common ingredient in desserts and sweets. The Nazirites fasted both, and by resisting indulging their appetites for a set period of time, they acquired a taste for God in the absence of a glass of wine or scoop of ice cream. What This Means for us Today Perhaps you notice a pattern in your life, that food or drink can often be the first place you turn looking for indulgence, escape, or simply rest. By fasting from these surface cravings for a period of time, we invite God to satisfy deeper cravings in our lives.

No Razor to the Head During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long...the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the Lord. (Numbers 6: 5, 8)

The Nazirites wore their fast on their body. Rather than their bodies being an expression of their personal style, their bodies became an expression of their commitment to God. The long hair of a Nazirite made them walking symbols of God’s covenant presence to his people Israel. They were a symbolic representation that God had chosen Israel.

What This Means for us Today Perhaps you notice a pattern of over-consciousness or over-con- sumption related to your appearance. Choose to go 40 days without shopping, or limiting your wardrobe to a set number of items, or eliminating certain cosmetic products. In this way, you make your body an expression of your commitment to God and God’s presence with his people. No Contact with the Dead “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremo- nially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. (Numbers 6: 6, 7)

The Nazirites observed the ritual cleansing rites of the High Priest preparing to enter the Holy of Holies. They kept themselves unstained so that they were constantly living in God’s presence.

What This Means for us Today Perhaps you have noticed certain good things that, when engaged, numb your spiritual vitality. There may be certain habits you have that drain you of spiritual life. For many, this will relate to some form of media—be it social media, Netflix, or something else, many of us use media to escape reality and habitually stay distracted. Consider re-writing your habits by fasting from one or more forms of media, turning your attention to God instead of a device. In this way, you will become more aware of God’s constant presence with you.