Reverend Joseph John Hayab, Chairman of the Northern Christians Association, has urged Christians and the wider public to rethink what fasting should look like for believers.
Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP, on Sunday March 29 2026, John warned that some people treat fasting as a physical or social trend and behave in ways that contradict the spiritual purpose of the practice.
Reverend Hayab explained that Christian fasting is not the same as other kinds of fasting.
He pointed out that some people who say they are fasting become easily irritated or angry during the period, reacting sharply to small annoyances.
He said that this kind of behaviour goes against the spirit of Christian fasting.
According to him, true Christian fasting is a voluntary giving up of food or other comforts for a clear spiritual reason, to pray more, to seek God, to repent, or to grow in self-discipline, and not for health, weight loss, or social attention.
He said,
“You can see someone fasting, and that is the period he is exhibiting anger. At any little provocation, he is angry. In a Christian fast, you don’t do that.”
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