Interview with Matthew Porter
In his new book The Art of Fasting, Matthew Porter unpacks how fasting brings us closer to God in an accessible and practical way. Drawing from personal experience and biblical teaching, Matthew includes practical pointers and exercises to encourage us to mature in our faith.
Bishop Matthew, can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a follower of Jesus, and a bishop in God’s church. I’ve been leading churches in the North of England for about 30 years, first in Sheffield and then in York. I’m presently one of 3 Anglican bishops in the Greater Manchester area and I serve as Bishop of Bolton. I’m married to Sam and we have 5 grown-up sons. I support Manchester United and enjoy a bacon sandwich (with ketchup, not brown sauce) along with a flat white coffee.
The Art of Fasting is the third book in The Art of … series. Can you tell us why and who you have written this series for?
The Art of… series is a set of six books for anyone who wants to grow in character. This happens as we develop good virtues, like kindness, patience and generosity. But how do these virtues develop? Thomas Aquinas rightly taught that they come from habits. These habits are at the heart of The Art of… series, which is particularly designed especially for followers of Jesus, but should also be relevant even for those who aren’t believers. So the first book in the series, The Art of Giving is about how to become a more generous person. The second, The Art of Journalling is about how to become a more reflective person. This third, The Art of Fasting is subtitled: how to become a more prayerful person.
Why did you want to add a book on fasting to this series?
When Jesus gave his basic discipleship teaching to his followers in what we call The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) he specifically named three habits that help all disciples: giving, praying and fasting. He assumes his followers will practice these disciplines, saying: ‘when you give/pray/fast’ – not ‘if.’ Given this, it’s surprising that fasting is a neglected discipline for many, especially as those who’ve practiced it normally speak of its immense benefits. I know something of this, having fasted intermittently for over twenty years – although I’ve still much to learn and discover! So I thought it would be good to include fasting in this series. It’s also timely as I recognise there’s now a growing interest in it, but few authors, especially in the UK church, are writing about it.
Fasting is perhaps the one discipline that Christians struggle with the most. Why do you think this is and what one key bit of advice can you give to anyone who wants to give it a try?
In the book I define fasting as ‘choosing not to eat food.’ There are of course other types of fast, some of which I explore in the book, but the main emphasis in the book is not eating food, which of course is highly counter-intuitive. That’s one reason why we struggle with it, because when we get hungry, the desire to eat is strong; our bodies say ‘feed me,’ but when we fast, we say ‘no, not now.’ This is hard. Also many think they’ll get ill if they fast, but for most people (unless you have a medical condition which means you shouldn’t fast), you won’t get poorly and you won’t die; you’ll just be hungry! And that’s the point, for God has much to teach us and show us when we’re hungry. In particular he wants us to hunger for him in prayer, allowing our hungry bodies to become part of our praying. This means fasting is a very holistic way of praying, as we literally embody our prayers. As we do this, lots of good things can happen. But the only way to find out is to start. So if you’ve never started, have a go. Miss a meal, and use it for prayer. The book explains how you can do this, particularly in chapter 3 which is all about the practicalities of fasting.
You make an interesting point in the book that we need to ‘observe and learn from people in poverty.’ Why do you think this and why is it so integral to your thinking about fasting?
In recent years I’ve seen more clearly, both from reading the Scriptures and from observation, that we have much to learn from people in poverty. Most of us think we have nothing to learn from those who are poor, but the Bible, and Jesus in particular, disagree. Not only does God have a special care for those who are struggling, but those in poverty also understand what it is to be dependent, especially on God. When we see this, and observe those in poverty living generously and praying expectantly, they are examples for us to follow. Wealth often reduces our dependence on God, giving us a false sense that we can manage without him. But if we’re really honest, we are all weak. You soon discover this as you get old, or ill, or when life falls apart. Or you can learn it before, by deliberately starving your body, discovering human frailty and learning to be dependent on God. All this causes us to pray, which is at the heart of all good fasting.
You also talk about how fasting allows our ‘bodies to pray.’ Can you explain a little more what you mean by this and how you used this as a framework for the book?
While some today fast for its health benefits or for weight-loss, most people, across cultures and in history, have fasted as an aid to prayer. In fact this should be the main reason to fast. So why does fasting help prayer, and enable a greater prayerfulness? It’s because fasting is so closely linked to our bodies. To help consider this I pick up in the book an image used by theologian Scot McKnight and I call fasting ‘body prayer.’ When we fast our bodies become part of our praying, as the hunger we sense becomes channelled in prayer to God. This aids our communication with God, enabling us to pray with authenticity and often added clarity. Also when we’re hungry our desires are often exposed and sometimes are emotions are highlighted, all of which can be challenging and helpful! This is why I chose to structure the book around the body: with chapter 1 being about The Mouth (on hunger, as we restrict what we put in our mouths), chapter 2 on The Heart (on desire, as we seek to live holy lives), chapter 3 on The Hands (on practicalities, looking at 12 key fasting questions), chapter 4 on The Knees (on intercession, and how fasting aids prayer), and chapter 5 on The Feet (on mission, and how fasting is not just for us, but for the sake of the world).
Why do you believe that fasting can help lead to renewal?
Because the Scriptures, church history and experience show this. Fasting is not the silver bullet that solves all problems. It’s closely linked to prayer, which means it’s not mechanical but it is mysterious. All our problems don’t disappear when we fast, yet things do change. God’s power is released. In chapter 4 I say that fasting ‘is like yeast, activating dough and setting it growing. Fasting is like a catalyst, causing elements to react and releasing fresh energy. Fasting is like an accelerator, triggering an engine to advance at a faster pace.’ When we pray with fasting, God’s kingdom is released. That’s why, if we see this as a missional practice, and link it to sharing Christ’s love in word and action, it will bring transformation and renewal: both to us and others.
The book includes some of your personal experiences with fasting - can you just give us one example of how it has helped you in your faith journey?
Fasting has helped me in so many ways. In general when I fast I find I become more reliant on God and attentive to his presence as I recognise my weakness. But to get specific, as I write this I’m just coming out of a particular period of extended fasting, and during this time I have seen more healings than I have in recent months, and various things I’m involved with that felt ‘stuck’ have been released. I also expect there will be other, perhaps longer-term benefits that I might not see immediately. Of course these things that I have noticed might have happened even if I wasn’t fasting. I’ll never know. But it’s probably not coincidental that they’ve happened in a season of fasting.
What was the most challenging element of writing this book?
When you write a book you share your knowledge and experiences, but you also discover much as you research and read and prayerfully write. So I always learn a lot as I write, and I enjoy that. One of the things I especially realised when writing this book was that people in poverty understand hunger. Of course they do. That’s why if we want to learn dependency on God, it’s good to sit with those who have little. To listen. To love. We also want to help too, but in a caring, not patronising way. When researching I was greatly challenged by the example of the early Christians who when they fasted would share the money they would have spent on food, with those in need. If I and the church did this, what a difference this would make.
And what was the most rewarding element of writing this book?
The best thing about writing is the help it brings to others. That’s always my motivation for writing. So I’m always encouraged when people email me or tell me that my books have helped them. I’ve already heard from people who’ve pre-read this book that they’ve been stirred to fast, with some saying they’ve never done it but have now started. That’s great!
Have you learnt anything new/ been reminded afresh about your own personal journey with God while writing this book?
I fasted while writing the first draft of the book. Fasting is always a struggle, because I enjoy eating! I say in chapter 1 that for me, it’s rather like swimming in the sea. As someone who doesn’t like cold water, I normally take a while to get in and under, having to suppress my initial reluctance. But once I’m in I’m fine – and I know that what I’m doing is good. Fasting is rather like that. I often have to push myself to get started, but when I do and begin to feel hungry and call on God for strength, I find surprising resources, fortifying not just my body but my heart and mind and will.
What do you hope readers will most get out of reading this book?
The book is intended to help readers become more prayerful. I think it’s well-researched and so people will learn some things. Each chapter is linked to a particular stream in the church that has a rich heritage in a particular aspect of fasting (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Methodist and Pentecostal), so I hope it will also broaden readers’ appreciation of the breadth of wisdom across Christian traditions. But most of all I hope it will help people fast and pray, as they call on God and see some significant kingdom-of-God transformation.
In one sentence, how would you describe The Art of Fasting?
The Art of Fasting is written to help readers learn to practice the lost art of fasting, and in doing so become more effective missionary disciples of Jesus.
Is there anything we can pray for you?
Thank you for asking. Please pray that I will stay faithful to Christ. And that he will use my life and work and writing to make a real difference in the world.