God said to celebrate! 

Fast or feast? Which is for when? Are religions today more ascetic and into fasts than the Jews of the Old Testament? Is there a bit of 'Chicken Little: the-world-is-going-to-hell-in-a-handbasket-run-and-hide' or 'read-it-and-weep' mentality in our religious communities?

I think so. Now, that's just my unresearched opinion. I base that upon my observations of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists either on television news or around here locally.

Very, very few of them seem to be happy and celebratory. It appears that many have adopted the gloom and doom and general negativity of a 'prophet' outlook on society.

It also appears that most religious groups now have a cloistered society - 'us...and then there's the rest of the world' mentality.

Honestly, there is little in any of these aforementioned groups locally present that appeal to me. If I were a non-believer in anything, I would be hard-pressed to want to join any religious group as they all seem to be real 'downers.'

Since I'm not qualified to address any group other than Christians, let me narrow my focus.

Was Jesus a doomsdayer critic of secular society? Not hardly! He was quite a critic of the local religious scene of his day, but he didn't address the ills and problems of the Roman Empire - abortion, euthanasia, perversion and gross immorality, great social and economic and racial disparity, genocide, etc.

He preferred to spend his time among the hurting, the outcasts, the impoverished, the tax collectors and bureaucrats, the 'loose' women and others of ill-repute. He preferred parties to the gatherings of the religious leaders.

He ate too much and drank too much and consorted with the 'fast' crowd. He encouraged extravagance and largess.

He decried those who were intent upon separating "weeds from the wheat" and encouraged everyone to practice love, grace, generosity and forgiveness.

Indeed, he said, "By this one thing shall everybody know that you are my followers - that you love one another."

So, what about the Jews of the Old Testament? They had several 'fast' days scheduled throughout the year, but they had many more 'feast' days of celebration. Some of their celebrations (feasts) were multi-day observances. 

In the New Testament we find Jesus being chastised because his disciples were eating on an occasion when Jews weren't supposed to be eating ("you don't fast when the bridegroom is present..."). We also find Jesus joining with his friends and celebrating the feast days.

While there are times when we should "weep with those who mourn," I believe that most of the time God is calling us to celebrate because He has given us newness of life.

"I am come that you might have life and that more abundantly." John 10:10