Should Christians Fast During Ramadan With Muslims?

There is a debate among evangelicals as to whether Christians should fast with Muslims during Ramadan. At Christianity Today Ruth Moon asked 10 church leaders to comment on the debate, and their different responses are…not sure what word to use here…unbelievable? I’m still looking for the right word. Several said it was fine as long as it was done appropriately, but Doug Wilson, in his typical style, gets to the heart of the issue:

“It is not appropriate to fast alongside Muslims. I wouldn’t make a point, if I were in a heavily Muslim state where everybody is fasting during the day, of fixing a hot dog and walking outside and eating it … but to observe Ramadan along with your Muslim neighbors and friends, letting them know that you’re observing Ramadan as an act of some sort of religious or spiritual solidarity, is simply a fundamental compromise. They’re observing Ramadan in the service of a false God and a false gospel, and we shouldn’t be trying to express our solidarity with that.”

You know, there is nothing like putting a matter in perspective. Some things that we come up with in the American church just wouldn’t go over very well in the Middle East, or for that matter, when you are surrounded by those who worship Baal, or those who burn incense to Caesar.