One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" And he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."
(Mar 2:23-28 ESV)
Growing up in a conservative Baptist community, a great deal of contention surrounded Sabbath observance. Many in our fellowship were staunch Sabbath observers who believed, among other things, that one shouldn't eat at a restaurant, do housework or homework, play games or watch television on the Sabbath. In contrast, am now part of a community 35 years later where very few give a second thought to changing anything about there lives because it is Sunday. So what is the answer?
Firstly, let me say that we do not keep the Sabbath. The Commandment to keep the Sabbath was observed by the Jews from sunset Friday evening to sunset Saturday evening. Based on Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2, we meet on the first day of the week, not the seventh day. We believe that this is the Lord's day that the apostle John mentions in Revelation 1:10. In addition, the history of the early church makes it clear that believers met on Sunday not Saturday in order to commemorate each and every week the resurrection of Jesus.
So if we do not keep the Sabbath, what kind of observance should we make for the Lord's Day? Is it simply the Sabbath by another name? As we seek to answer this question, let's remember the passage in Mark 2. In the passage, the Pharisees have added the tradition of men to the original Sabbath Law. What Jesus' disciples were doing was forbidden by tradition, not the actual Law of Moses. Jesus reminds them that God's intention for the Sabbath was as a benefit not a burden to mankind. That is a worthy thought to keep in mind as we proceed. Let's make sure that however one chooses to observe the Lord's day that it be a benefit not a legalistic burden. With that in mind - some thoughts.
(Mar 2:23-28 ESV)
Growing up in a conservative Baptist community, a great deal of contention surrounded Sabbath observance. Many in our fellowship were staunch Sabbath observers who believed, among other things, that one shouldn't eat at a restaurant, do housework or homework, play games or watch television on the Sabbath. In contrast, am now part of a community 35 years later where very few give a second thought to changing anything about there lives because it is Sunday. So what is the answer?
Firstly, let me say that we do not keep the Sabbath. The Commandment to keep the Sabbath was observed by the Jews from sunset Friday evening to sunset Saturday evening. Based on Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2, we meet on the first day of the week, not the seventh day. We believe that this is the Lord's day that the apostle John mentions in Revelation 1:10. In addition, the history of the early church makes it clear that believers met on Sunday not Saturday in order to commemorate each and every week the resurrection of Jesus.
So if we do not keep the Sabbath, what kind of observance should we make for the Lord's Day? Is it simply the Sabbath by another name? As we seek to answer this question, let's remember the passage in Mark 2. In the passage, the Pharisees have added the tradition of men to the original Sabbath Law. What Jesus' disciples were doing was forbidden by tradition, not the actual Law of Moses. Jesus reminds them that God's intention for the Sabbath was as a benefit not a burden to mankind. That is a worthy thought to keep in mind as we proceed. Let's make sure that however one chooses to observe the Lord's day that it be a benefit not a legalistic burden. With that in mind - some thoughts.
- Don't forsake the assembling of the body (Hebrews 10:25). In both the Old and New Testaments, corporate worship was part of the celebration of the Sabbath/Lord's Day. For too many this has become an optional aspect of Sunday observance. I understand that we are living in an increasingly secular culture and that results in more of our people being required to work on Sunday. That is unfortunate, but in many cases unavoidable. That is not what I am lamenting. For many in our assemblies, Sunday worship has no priority. Sports, recreation, family time, etc. all come before worship. We must again make worship the priority of our Sunday observance.
- We still need rest (Exodus 20:11). Genesis 1 tells us that God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Obviously, God did not need rest. Exodus tells us that He created in this fashion to set a pattern for mankind. Man was to labour six days and then rest on the seventh. Many have forgotten what a remarkable gift this is. Our world calls us to unrelenting labour. It seeks to intrude upon and gobble up every available moment. God in His mercy instead offers us a break from all of the grind of life. Further, this rest is a picture of the eternal rest that is ours in Jesus Christ (Matt. 11:28-29, Hebrews 4:9-11). May I suggest, that whatever your pattern is for regular daily life, you break that pattern on the Lord's Day. Coming apart from the routine allows us to enter that rest that God intends.
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