The Sabbath existed before the law of Moses came, and has existed from the beginning of the world. Especially the devout, who have preserved the true faith, have met together and called upon God on this day.
When servants have worked six days, they should have the seventh day free. God says without distinction, 'Remember that you observe the seventh day'…Concerning Sunday it is known that men have instituted it …It is clear however, that you should celebrate the seventh day.
Indeed, if [Chancellor of Wittenberg University] Carlstadt were to write further about the Sabbath, Sunday would have to give way, and the Sabbath -- that is to say, Saturday -- must be kept holy.
They [Roman Catholics] refer to the Sabbath Day, as having been changed into the Lord's Day, contrary to the Decalogue, as it seems. Neither is there any example whereof they make more than concerning the changing of the Sabbath Day. Great, say they, is the power of the Church, since it has dispensed with one of the Ten Commandments!"
-Excerpts from the first Protestant church fathers and theologians: Martin Luther, Andres Carlstadt, Philipp Melanchthon
The Protestants restored a number of truths that were lost prior in the sea of Catholicism, including grace by faith. It is truly a shame that despite the efforts of many early Protestants, the truth of Sabbath remained stifled by the Roman Church. The Protestant failure to restore this truth has resulted in modern Protestants and Evangelicals who still cling to this millenia-old, un-Scriptural institution of Roman Catholic theology.
Shabbat shalom, fine blog readers.
Hi Judah,
ReplyDeleteMuch of the church has struggled to be free of Catholocism but it controled the church for so long that I doubt that the church will be purified from it before Jesus returns. Concerning the Sabbath, I think it is interesting how God honors the intent of the hearts of His children. Even though according to the calendar, the seventh day is on Saturday, most of us live our lives as if Sunday is the seventh day rather than the first day of the week. I think God outsmarted the Catholics and I also hear Jesus say that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a blessing to be received from God and even though much of the Gentile church has been ignorant of the correct day, He still blessed them with rest after six days of labor. God is good and is faithful even when man is not.
Happy Sabbath, Judah.
By the way, when do you cut your lawn? ;-}
Pam
judah
ReplyDeletegreat pt. but i have to agree with the first commmenter as well. as i have been struggling thru which day to keep(with my job-restaurant-i have to take either sunday or saturday off), i feel that for those who are unaware, God has still preserved a Sabbath rest (albeit on another day).
however, my wife and i finally decided that i would take saturday off. (because we go to a church which meets on sunday, i will have every other sunday off to maintain community with the body) this way, we feel called to keep the 7th day can keep it, but we will still have the opportunity to "not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing."
shabbat shalom
peter
@Pam,
ReplyDeleteInteresting thoughts. We must remember that whatever day we choose to worship God (whether every day, Sunday, or Saturday), the commandment about Sabbath is not worship, but simply, rest.
I cut my lawn today - Sunday! :-)
@Peter,
The Didache writings of the early apostles suggests you simply do as much as you can, and the Lord knows your heart:
If you are able to bear all the yoke of the Lord [i.e., Torah], you will be perfect; but if you are not able, do as much as you are able to do.
I don't condemn people for keeping Sunday, especially in this secular culture that makes it very difficult to refrain from work on any particular day of the week.
I do believe there is blessing and joy in keeping his Sabbath, however, so I encourage folks to do so if they are able.
Hey Judah,
ReplyDeleteActually, I've thought of Saturday as the true Sabbath for a long time. I often attend church on Saturday, as well. However, I also view the Sabbath as being much more than just a day to rest.
In Christ, I have all Ten Commandments perfectly fulfilled and that includes the commandment of the Sabbath. Jesus fulfilled this commandment perfectly every day because He didn't come to do His Will but His Father's. He was always about the Father's business. I believe, that this is the true rest of God that we who are in Jesus can partake of. No matter how active or inactive we are, we should be resting in Christ. We are bought with a price and we are not our own and in everything we do, even if it is only eating a drinking, all we do should be to bring glory to the Lord. This is what it means to abide. It is to cease from doing our own work in our own strength and instead relying on God. My work is no longer my work but that which God has given me to perform that will bring Him glory but only if I am trusting in Him to accomplish it and also have His purpose served in it. In Christ, I have the Sabbath rest continually, every day. This is the true rest for the people of God that the Sabbath Law is only a shadow of.
Happy Sunday, Judah and may all your days be Jesusful days!
@Pam,
ReplyDeleteSometimes Christians tell me that everyday is the Sabbath; everyday is the day to worship the Lord, everyday is rest. It doesn't sound like you quite subscribe to this idea, but I want to address it anyways.
While it is beneficial to continually rest in Messiah and not rely on our own works (which is what I hear you saying), there remains a physical Sabbath for the people of God.
God told us to make the Sabbath holy, for he made it holy. The exact commandment, in fact, is
"Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy."
In Hebrew, the word for holy is "kadosh", which means "set apart". If we make everyday the Sabbath, it's no longer set apart from the rest of the week, it's no longer holy. Instead, it becomes ordinary and common.
Physically resting (that is, completely refraining from work, buying, selling) every day is impossible and certainly contrary to God's commandment that we must work for our food.
The underlying reason for Sabbath is this: people cannot work 7 days a week. God knew this, and he gave us the Sabbath for a day of rest.
What a wonderful idea!
The fact that human beings need 1 day of rest per week is as applicable today as it was 3000 years ago when the commandment was given to Israel.
Anyways, that's my thoughts on it.
Hope you're enjoying your weekend.
Judah,
ReplyDeleteI believe it is both. Afterall, I can't say that spiritually, I don't want to commit murder any more and then go out and kill. I can't enter into God's rest if I am disobedient. Yes, we are to set a day aside for the Lord and God said to do so on the seventh day. To do this is not only beneficial to us but is an outward sign of our inward condition. It is a public statement of our faith. However, in Christ, I can partake of the Sabbath as through Him, I can enter the LORD's rest, spiritually. This I am able to do while doing most anything and it is between me and God. God can't do His Work through me if I am doing everything while relying on my own strength for nobody but me. If God is to use me then I must rest in Him. Even something as mundane as caring for my home can become ministry if I give it to God. Even the way you cut your grass can give glory to God if you are at rest in Christ.;-)
Yes, I'm enjoying my weekend.