Sabbath Do's and Dont's, do we have any?

[reddogs]

I might go worship the Lord by seeing my mother in her last days before she sleeps, or I might just visit some who are in jail and share God's love with them, or I may simply sit with others in the shade of a palm and share Gods truth.......

What is it that says we have to spend Sabbath inside a concrete box in order to worship the Creator.....

When people see Sabbath in terms of what they can and cannot do, does it wind up being a burden, rather than the delight that God had hoped for us......

 

[JonMiller]

Working on the Sabbath I avoid if at all possible. Sometimes I place myself in situations where I have to becuas eI didn't do my work when I should have (during the week). This is very very rarely though, because I would prefer in general to just not do it rather then work.

JM

 

[honorthesabbath]

Jesus is our example in all things. Observe how HE kept the Sabbath and you can't go wrong.

 

[moicherie]

Jesus is our example in all things. Observe how HE kept the Sabbath and you can't go wrong.

Amen! He spent more time doing good and less time in a buliding listening to 2 hour sermons, special items, announcements and other church formalities (nothing wrong with those tho)

 

[freeindeed2]

I might go worship the Lord by seeing my mother in her last days before she sleeps, or I might just visit some who are in jail and share God's love with them, or I may simply sit with others in the shade of a palm and share Gods truth.......

What is it that says we have to spend Sabbath inside a concrete box in order to worship the Creator.....

When people see Sabbath in terms of what they can and cannot do, does it wind up being a burden, rather than the delight that God had hoped for us......

Here's the thing red. In Adventism the Sabbath is called the 'Seal of God', the 'separating wall' between the lost and the saved, and the 'final test of loyalty to God'. How can one be certain that they pass this 'test' and are on the correct side of the 'separating wall'?

It's really hard to get a straight answer from anyone on this, and everything including the kitchen sink is used to try and answer. If we go by the actual command given to Israel and the other commands in the law regarding it, we realize pretty quickly that we aren't keeping it exactly how it was commanded, and the way EGW said we must.

OTOH, we say "it's lawful to do good on the Sabbath", or "follow Jesus' example", in which case ANYTHING good we can do, and Jesus' example is pretty vague for something that's claimed to be the 'finial test of loyalty'. And as far as something being 'good' or not, is it 'good' to provide for my family? Is it 'good' to take my kids to a ballgame? Is it 'good' to mow my yard, and my neighbor's? Etc.

It seems like those answers are given any time someone tries to pin down what is and what isn't allowed on the Sabbath. That's looked at as being legalistic about it. But then, when we operate on the 'lawful to do good' principle alone, inevitably some will flee back to the law and guidelines as given to Israel, and we've gone full-circle. But you can't have it both ways and the question of how it is to be kept HOLY still has not been answered.

 

[mva1985]

Red, good thread.

I definitely believe spending time in church is good. Also, a day to spend with family, friends, visiting shut-ins, anyone remember Sunshine Bands?

As for doing community service work on Sabbath IMHO I would say no to most things. Most of the time people do not want to take time out of their week to perform the community service so they use the Sabbath as a good excuse to perform it on that day - total cop-out in my opinion.

Some one broken down by the side of the road - help them.
Taking care of the sick
Someone's donkey falls in a ditch - help get it out
Spending time in nature
Helping to make the Sabbath a delight for your kids
etc.

 

[OntheDL]

I might go worship the Lord by seeing my mother in her last days before she sleeps, or I might just visit some who are in jail and share God's love with them, or I may simply sit with others in the shade of a palm and share Gods truth.......

What is it that says we have to spend Sabbath inside a concrete box in order to worship the Creator.....

When people see Sabbath in terms of what they can and cannot do, does it wind up being a burden, rather than the delight that God had hoped for us......

There is a time for everything. Can you visit your mother during Sabbath afternoon, or do prison visit during Sabbath afternoon or share the truth?

The answer addresses your question.

Congregation, H4150: appointed time, appointed place, assembly...

 

[OntheDL]

Here's the thing red. In Adventism the Sabbath is called the 'Seal of God', the 'separating wall' between the lost and the saved, and the 'final test of loyalty to God'. How can one be certain that they pass this 'test' and are on the correct side of the 'separating wall'?

It's really hard to get a straight answer from anyone on this, and everything including the kitchen sink is used to try and answer. If we go by the actual command given to Israel and the other commands in the law regarding it, we realize pretty quickly that we aren't keeping it exactly how it was commanded, and the way EGW said we must.

OTOH, we say "it's lawful to do good on the Sabbath", or "follow Jesus' example", in which case ANYTHING good we can do, and Jesus' example is pretty vague for something that's claimed to be the 'finial test of loyalty'. And as far as something being 'good' or not, is it 'good' to provide for my family? Is it 'good' to take my kids to a ballgame? Is it 'good' to mow my yard, and my neighbor's? Etc.

It seems like those answers are given any time someone tries to pin down what is and what isn't allowed on the Sabbath. That's looked at as being legalistic about it. But then, when we operate on the 'lawful to do good' principle alone, inevitably some will flee back to the law and guidelines as given to Israel, and we've gone full-circle. But you can't have it both ways and the question of how it is to be kept HOLY still has not been answered.

The answer is very simple.

Sabbath is a day the Lord Himself set apart to be a special time (once a week) to cease from our own work and our own please, to learn to depend on Him and to have fellowship with Him.

Can it be done on another day? If the answer is yes, then it shouldn't be done on the sabbath.

 

[Sophia7]

The answer is very simple.

Sabbath is a day the Lord Himself set apart to be a special time (once a week) to cease from our own work and our own please, to learn to depend on Him and to have fellowship with Him.

Can it be done on another day? If the answer is yes, then it shouldn't be done on the sabbath.

According to that reasoning, we shouldn't depend on Him and have fellowship with Him and do good to others on Sabbath since we can do those on another day.

 

[reddogs]

Here's the thing red. In Adventism the Sabbath is called the 'Seal of God', the 'separating wall' between the lost and the saved, and the 'final test of loyalty to God'. How can one be certain that they pass this 'test' and are on the correct side of the 'separating wall'?

It's really hard to get a straight answer from anyone on this, and everything including the kitchen sink is used to try and answer. If we go by the actual command given to Israel and the other commands in the law regarding it, we realize pretty quickly that we aren't keeping it exactly how it was commanded, and the way EGW said we must.

OTOH, we say "it's lawful to do good on the Sabbath", or "follow Jesus' example", in which case ANYTHING good we can do, and Jesus' example is pretty vague for something that's claimed to be the 'finial test of loyalty'. And as far as something being 'good' or not, is it 'good' to provide for my family? Is it 'good' to take my kids to a ballgame? Is it 'good' to mow my yard, and my neighbor's? Etc.

It seems like those answers are given any time someone tries to pin down what is and what isn't allowed on the Sabbath. That's looked at as being legalistic about it. But then, when we operate on the 'lawful to do good' principle alone, inevitably some will flee back to the law and guidelines as given to Israel, and we've gone full-circle. But you can't have it both ways and the question of how it is to be kept HOLY still has not been answered.

Free, if we love God with all our might and strenght, keeping it HOLY isnt a problem. As for the 'Seal of God', the 'separating wall' between the lost and the saved, it will be made clear at the end, in a choice given to everyone like at Mt Carmel to choose what is of God or what is from the other....

 

[OntheDL]

We need to do good to others every day.

More along the line of what MVA said. If you do that once a week, schedule that bible study or that visit on the night when your favorite TV show is on.

 

[OntheDL]

According to that reasoning, we shouldn't depend on Him and have fellowship with Him and do good to others on Sabbath since we can do those on another day.

No you can't. That day is chosen by God. We are not at liberty to choose here.

 

[OntheDL]

According to that reasoning, we shouldn't depend on Him and have fellowship with Him and do good to others on Sabbath since we can do those on another day.

You know what I mean.

You can worship and commune with Him every day. But you can't keep every day holy, meaning no secular work.

 

[mva1985]

I can see my post was misconstrued. So I will give an example.

Suppose you have a group of people that want to say rake leaves for an elderly couple in the community. Why in the world would you plan something like that to take place on Sabbath? When Sunday would be perfectly acceptable. EXCEPT people come up with excuses as to why they can't do it on Sunday, but they are available on Sabbath - that is a total cop-out in my opinion.

Is raking someones leaves an emergency? I don't think so! Picking up and paying for a needed prescription - I don't see a problem with.

There are plenty of examples we could come up with but I hope this relates my intentions a little better.

 

[thecountrydoc]

Thank you MVA for starting this thread.

The biggest single reason SDAs are called "legalest" about the Sabbath is because it seems that everyone want's a complete set of "dos" and don'ts, or "thus saith the Lord" type commands. What is seldom taught to new Christians is somthing about biblical principals. Yet without a proper understanding of biblical principals it becomes very hard, if not impossible, to apply biblical laws to everyday situations.

I don't have time right now to expound on this, but I'll come back later and see what you all think.

Respectfully, your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[freeindeed2]

The answer is very simple.

Sabbath is a day the Lord Himself set apart to be a special time (once a week) to cease from our own work and our own please, to learn to depend on Him and to have fellowship with Him.

Can it be done on another day? If the answer is yes, then it shouldn't be done on the sabbath.

Jesus could have healed those people any other day (at least 5 of them for sure). They had been ill for their whole lives. Yet he did on the Sabbath what could have been done on any other day, and the Gospel writers made it a point to record it.

By your reasoning Jesus shouldn't have done this.

 

[TrustAndObey]

Jesus could have healed those people any other day (at least 5 of them for sure). They had been ill for their whole lives. Yet he did on the Sabbath what could have been done on any other day, and the Gospel writers made it a point to record it.

By your reasoning Jesus shouldn't have done this.

Let me point out an obvious thing....DL was talking about secular work. Exhibiting a gift of the Spirit isn't somethng people get paid for ('cept Benny Hinn). And Jesus made it very clear that it was LAWFUL to do good on the Sabbath day, when the Pharisees accused Him of "working" when He healed.

He wasn't doing carpentry. He was exhibiting a gift of the Spirit, no?

How was it lawful exactly? If the only law is love, and people that don't try to honor the 10 commandments agree that it's the only law....why isn't their love strong enough to heal?

I didn't murder anyone today. That's day #171,185 that I've gone without murdering someone and I haven't even had to give it a lick of thought.

 

[freeindeed2]

Let me point out an obvious thing....DL was talking about secular work. Exhibiting a gift of the Spirit isn't somethng people get paid for ('cept Benny Hinn). And Jesus made it very clear that it was LAWFUL to do good on the Sabbath day, when the Pharisees accused Him of "working" when He healed.

That was my point. When having to answer the question of how it is to be kept holy in order to avoid failing the 'final test', people say 'it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath'. But when 'good' things are brought up, people say those things can't be done. By WHAT standard do we make that determination? If we really believe that 'it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath', then ANYTHING that is GOOD is lawful to do on the Sabbath! We can't swing both ways on this and there is a double standard that is being applied.

He wasn't doing carpentry. He was exhibiting a gift of the Spirit, no?

Had the Spirit been poured out yet? Do you KNOW that he never worked with wood on the Sabbath?

How was it lawful exactly? If the only law is love, and people that don't try to honor the 10 commandments agree that it's the only law....why isn't their love strong enough to heal?

What?

I didn't murder anyone today. That's day #171,185 that I've gone without murdering someone and I haven't even had to give it a lick of thought.

You do realize that this makes you the oldest living woman on the whole earth by a long shot!? Are you really 469 years old!!!!

 

[TrustAndObey]

Bwahahaha!! I am studying for mid-terms and WAY distracted...I took my months in age X 365 days instead of 30.

I'm on the phone, I'll brb to answer the rest of it.

I'm laughing my head off!!

 

[TrustAndObey]

13,950 haha