What is the Justice Fast?
The Justice Fast is an effort to provide a contemporary, communal embodiment of ancient practices: fasting, prayer and giving for the work of justice, righteousness, and acts of mercy.
(Isaiah 58; Micah 6:8; Matthew 6:1-18)
How to Participate
Fasting: Fasting at its most basic is going without food for a certain period of time.
Prayer: Fasting has always been combined with prayer. Prayers of repentance for injustice and prayers of lamentation asking God to intervene on behalf of those who are oppressed and marginalized.
Giving: What is not as well known is that by Jesus’ day giving or literally “acts of mercy,” was closely connected to times of fasting and prayer. Almsgiving or acts of mercy and justice had become equated with sacrifice. “Prayer with fasting is good, but better than both is almsgiving with righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than wealth with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold” (Tobit 12:8-9).
The early church continued this practice of fasting combined with generosity for the poor.
Why the Justice Fast?
Justice Fast seeks to be one way believers can respond to Jesus’
prayer for his future followers in John 17:20-23.
Jesus prayed for tangible, embodied expressions of loving unity that would serve as an apologetic proof that the gospel is true!
“I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who will believe in me
through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you,
may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The
glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are
one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world
may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
(John 17:20-23)
How is a contemporary embodiment of the Justice Fast practiced?
DISCERN
Beginning with Ash Wednesday and continuing for the period of Lent (40 days) each individual, or perhaps family unit chooses what they will fast from. Most choose to fast from a meal or meals, special drinks or snacks, or going out to eat.
PRAY
During the 40 day fast we also commit to praying for the work of justice in our community. We facilitate the fasting period with a 40 day devotional and prayer guide that can be sent via a daily email.
COLLECT FUNDS
The email also includes a giving link that is specifically designated to receive justice fast donations. During the fast individuals or family units take the funds they would have spent on themselves and contribute them to the justice fast fund. This can be done several times throughout the fast or at its conclusion. If churches choose to participate they may opt to collect justice fast funds through their own giving platform.
GIVE
A trusted and diverse group of leaders will have selected which organizations doing the local work of reconciliation, repair, and justice will receive that year’s justice fast funds. It may also be desirable for churches and individuals who participate to plan some sort of collective meal to celebrate the conclusion of the Justice Fast.