Sabbath Poll Now a Forum
This week's user poll - extended here, so you can register your vote - about working on the sabbath was kind of interesting. If you've already voted, you can see quite a range of opinions out there about what is expected of the modern Christian on the day of rest.
So, what do you say we expand the conversation a bit and try out the discussion forum feature this site offers? The difference between a regular entry and a forum is simply that your comments are threaded.
That said, fire away. What is your practical theology of the Sabbath for the modern Christian? Further, to what degree of consistency do you live that out in your own life? Login or register to participate.
Remember, "your father sees what you do in secret," so there's really no such thing as internet anonymity for believers. I.E., keep it polite, thanks.
I'll begin. I selected "ministry work allowed," on the sabbath and meant that to include any form of work required by caretakers. Caretakers include firemen, network administrators (I hope!), public utilities staff, and the like along with ministers of the church. My view is those folks should should by all means do what is necessary to preserve and protect God's people. Mommies and daddies work on the sabbath, for instance and are included in that group.
That doesn't mean an alternative day of proper rest shouldn't be afforded to those caretakers. In fact, I believe it's mandated by scripture. Many priests, for instance, take a Monday or Friday off. That alternative sabbath should be taken with the same reverence as the proper one. "Six days shall you work.." It seems clear that not everyone can take the same sabbath day, however.
As for my own personal discipline in these matters? I find it very difficult to rest - in body, mind, and spirit. It's much harder than I would have ever believed to set aside a day - sundown to sundown - and make room for spiritual renewal and refreshment where effort and striving typically reign.
How about you?
David Turney
Site Editor
Clearly all work is allowed on the Sabbath because who is in authority to determine what is and is not ministry work, and in the end isn’t this just another way of placing us under a law which Christ has freed us from? The truth is, no one is deemed righteous because they don’t do or only do ministry work on the Sabbath. We are simply deemed righteous because of Jesus Christ and his work imputed to us. Therefore Christ becomes our Sabbath because he has freed us from the need to do or not do anything. As Paul writes to the Galatians in 2:21, “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law then Christ died for no purpose.” As St. Augustine would respond to this question, love God and do what you want on the Sabbath!
Welcome Rev. Jacob. Thanks for your comment. I just wrote out a truly amazing and eloquent reply but accidentally deleted it. Easy come, easy go.
Good point. "Allowed" really isn't the right word to use, given the Christian's state of grace. The law, however, doesn't just disappear from our lives as Christians - only its power is destroyed, not its message. When I see in scripture God infusing the concept of "sabbath" into very creation, writing it into the ten commandments, and then Christ echoing it again for the disciples, we have to take that seriously (not to imply you don't take it seriously). When Christ says, "sabbath is for man, not man for the sabbath," he's putting the law into perspective - the perspective an author has on his own writings. The interesting thing in his discussion with the disciples is that the concept of sabbath stays in the equation.
In order to love God and then do what I want on the sabbath, I first have to know God. I get the feeling from scripture he wants us to keep the sabbath holy, just like he wants us to honor our father and mother and go into all the world.
David Turney
Site Editor
See article and join discussion on topic of sabbath posted on T19 today:
http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/3673/
David Turney
Site Editor
I think you should have a poll on the function of the law. I am confused on your distinction between the laws power and message. The reality is no one keeps the Sabbath holy, not a one. "You shall keep the Sabbath day Holy" (end of story!) And this idea of what is allowed and what is not allowed reminds me of when I was Youth Minister and kids would ask me in regards to sex, "how far is too far?" It is a dangerous question and leads to our own self-justification.
No one keeps the Sabbath, and we should be punished justly for breaking it, even in regards to ministry. Luckily the Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath and he desires mercy and not sacrifice.
It's a good analogy. I'm dying to know what you told those kids (sparing us any too-specific terms, if you don't mind...). I remember asking my youth pastor that. Of course, nobody is pure, not a one. None of us will ever achieve that on our own. Is it something God wants us to work toward or not? The law is a gift of revelation to us from our father. It perfects the soul and makes wise the simple. Since it has been fulfilled (not destroyed) by Christ, we can enjoy it like the Psalmist instead of fearing it.
As for the question at hand, what is your practical theology of the sabbath? Do you take one? Do you recommend it to your parishioners?
I'd be open to starting another forum or poll on the topic of law, as long as the subject isn't too broadly written. Feel free to propose a specific question(s) here or via contact form.
I would write more, but I only allow myself so many keystrokes on the sabbath... ; - ) Any more than that, and it's work. - Peace.
David Turney
Site Editor
What a great and funny way to end our blogersation. Enjoy the rest of your stay in England. Love the blog and find it deeply encouraging to see all the new things happening in SoCal, while I am away.
Peace,
jacob
Unsolicited comment spam deleted by admin. I am restoring comment barriers to prevent future occurrences.
David Turney
Site Editor
Many people on both sides of the split with TEC and most observers believe the split is over the consecration of a partnered Gay Bishop, Gene Robinson. Wrong! The split came because TEC rejects the authority of the Bible.
Having said that, one must ask oneself if I accept the authority of the Bible. Of course, I answer affirmatively- YES, YES, YES! If I were to probe a little deeper I would ask if I believe the Ten Commandments reflect God's will for his creatures. Again, I would answer affirmatively, but much less enthusiastically because we are now getting specific.
"Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy." Setting aside the issue of which day is or should be the Sabbath, it is clear that God wants us to set aside one day a week for him. We could do it like the Jews by having hundreds of rules detailing things that we must do and must not do on the Sabbath. That is "legalism" and is to be deplored. The other extreme is where most (if not all) Christians live. We don't even think about what it might mean to "keep it Holy." We go to church on Sunday; well, some of us do. Some argue "I can worship God from the beach, or the mountains or the Golf Course or wherever."
The early Jewish Christians, we are told, observed the Sabbath and worshipped at the Synagogue and then met with other Christians to worship on "the Lord's Day" to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. When I was a boy in Pennsylvania the State had "Blue Laws" which made almost any activity illegal on Sunday. As our culture pushed God out of its way, those laws were repealed and we are left with a culture that says any legal activity is acceptable on Sunday or any other day. Christians, being immersed in our culture, essentially see little, if any, reason to observe the 4th Commandment. Yet we say we accept the authority of the Bible!
Really, do we?
In Christ Jesus,
Ed+ VIOC
Secretary, AAC/SD
Associate - St. John’s – Fallbrook
Diocese of Luwero, Province of Uganda