Sabbath guidance

[GillDouglas]

Greetings brothers and sisters,

I'm looking for advice and recommendation for how my family should be spending our Sabbath day. I met a Christian family that literally starts Saturday evening with no tv, video games, or work until Sunday night. I felt convicted in how I spend my Sabbath day.

We attend an OPC church that has a morning and evening service which we go to and after morning service is fellowship lunch. Rarely do I have to work but sometimes I do, being military. My wife is a stay at home mom so her primary job is the home and kids. Her job is never ending. Between services and fellowship is a relaxing day, trying to rest and focus on God.

Is this sufficient? What else should we be doing? Do I hire help to relieve my wife from her work on Sunday?

 

[Sophrosyne]

Greetings brothers and sisters,

I'm looking for advice and recommendation for how my family should be spending our Sabbath day. I met a Christian family that literally starts Saturday evening with no tv, video games, or work until Sunday night. I felt convicted in how I spend my Sabbath day.

We attend an OPC church that has a morning and evening service which we go to and after morning service is fellowship lunch. Rarely do I have to work but sometimes I do, being military. My wife is a stay at home mom so her primary job is the home and kids. Her job is never ending. Between services and fellowship is a relaxing day, trying to rest and focus on God.

Is this sufficient? What else should we be doing? Do I hire help to relieve my wife from her work on Sunday?

Christians are not required to observe a Sabbath Day, it is part of a covenant given ONLY to Israel and one must become circumcised and submit to the levitical priesthood in order to rightfully participate in it. Our "Sabbath" rest is in Jesus 24/7 having complete ALL obligations to the Mosaic Law (fulfilling them) prior to (by keeping them perfectly) and on the cross by dying blamelessly on our behalf.
Simply put you should be resting when you need to but every minute of every day we should live our lives for Christ.... not wait and do it only on Saturdays. Simply put we are under no constraints to set aside a "day" for God, but it is a good idea to take a day a week to gather with a group of believers in worship if you think it is for you to do then choose one that fits. I sometimes go to church on Wednesday evenings, sometimes Saturday afternoon, and sometimes Sunday morning or afternoon and sometimes I skip church but I still talk to God doing things throughout the day pray to him and worship him whenever.

 

[Open Heart]

Greetings brothers and sisters,

I'm looking for advice and recommendation for how my family should be spending our Sabbath day. I met a Christian family that literally starts Saturday evening with no tv, video games, or work until Sunday night. I felt convicted in how I spend my Sabbath day.

We attend an OPC church that has a morning and evening service which we go to and after morning service is fellowship lunch. Rarely do I have to work but sometimes I do, being military. My wife is a stay at home mom so her primary job is the home and kids. Her job is never ending. Between services and fellowship is a relaxing day, trying to rest and focus on God.

Is this sufficient? What else should we be doing? Do I hire help to relieve my wife from her work on Sunday?

I'm curious why you keep Sabbath on Sunday when in fact it is the 7th day of the week? You can keep a seventh day Sabbath and still go to church on Sunday, that's what I do.

Don't hire anyone to do your wife's work. The bible states that you are also to allow your servants to rest, so any maid would not do hour wife's work either. Things like cooking, dishes, laundry, giving the kids a bath, should either be done before Sabbath or postponed until after. Help your wife with things that can't be avoided like changing diapers, since that is not your usual labor. I usually have a festive meal on Friday night that I cook before Sundown, and the rest of my meals are easy like sandwiches or cereal or cooled leftovers from the night before.

As you grow in your Sabbath observance, think about how the tabernacle building was halted on the sabbath and ask yourself what things were stopped. For example, there was no shewbread: anything to do with harvesting and making bread was halted. So for example you don't want to cut a bouquet of flowers or water your plants. But get into these things gradually.

Obviously its a good time for family activities, for studying Torah, theology, or church history, for reading uplifting books.... My father always spent the afternoon with us kids, playing monopoly, taking us to the park or going to feed the ducks at a local pond...

 

[BobRyan]

Greetings brothers and sisters,

I'm looking for advice and recommendation for how my family should be spending our Sabbath day. I met a Christian family that literally starts Saturday evening with no tv, video games, or work until Sunday night. I felt convicted in how I spend my Sabbath day.

We attend an OPC church that has a morning and evening service which we go to and after morning service is fellowship lunch. Rarely do I have to work but sometimes I do, being military. My wife is a stay at home mom so her primary job is the home and kids. Her job is never ending. Between services and fellowship is a relaxing day, trying to rest and focus on God.

Is this sufficient? What else should we be doing? Do I hire help to relieve my wife from her work on Sunday?

Ex 20:8-11 says the 7th day is a day of rest.
Lev 23:1-4 says it is reserved as a day of worship and is kept from sunset Friday to sundown Saturday evening.
Is 66:23 says it is to be a day of worship for "All mankind to come before Me and worship".
Mark 2:27 says it was 'made for mankind'
Rev 14:7 says to "WORSHIP Him who MADE the heavens and the earth the seas and all that is in them"
Rev 14:12 says the saints "keep the Commandments of God and their faith in Jesus"

So it is possible that you want to keep Sabbath because you know you are part of "mankind"

 

[BobRyan]

Or maybe your affirmation of the TEN Commandments stems from accepting the Westminster Confession of Faith --


Here we have section 19 of the Westminster - and of course you already have a few posts of mine quoting the "Baptist Confession of Faith"

Westminster Confession of Faith Section 19

"Westminster Confession of Faith"

Chapter XIX
Of the Law of God​

I. God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which He bound him and all his posterity, to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.

II. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables: the first four commandments containing our duty towards God; and the other six, our duty to man.
III. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits;l and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties. All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the New Testament

IV. To them also, as a body politic, He gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the State of that people; not obliging under any now, further than the general equity thereof may require.

V. The moral law does forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof; and that, not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it. Neither does Christ, in the Gospel, any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.
VI. Although true believers be not under the law, as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified, or condemned; yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life informing them of the will of God, and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts and lives; so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin, together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of His obedience It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin: and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve; and what afflictions, in this life, they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law The promises of it, in like manner, show them God's approbation of obedience,and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof: although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works. So as, a man's doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law: and not under grace

VII. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it; the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely, and cheerfully, which the will of God, revealed in the law, requires to be done.

​

Section 21 of the Westminster and Section 22 of the Baptist both address point 7 "the change" the edit of the Sabbath commandment from the 7th day starting from creation and all through the OT and NT Gospel until the cross where it is "changed" in their mind -- to point to week-day-1

 

[BobRyan]

Obviously its a good time for family activities, for studying Torah, theology, or church history, for reading uplifting books.... My father always spent the afternoon with us kids, playing monopoly,

Playing monopoly on Sabbath was not considered a form of worship in my family when growing up as a kid

 

[Open Heart]

Ex 20:8-11 says the 7th day is a day of rest.
Lev 23:1-4 says it is reserved as a day of worship and is kept from sunset Friday to sundown Saturday evening.
Is 66:23 says it is to be a day of worship for "All mankind to come before Me and worship".
Mark 2:27 says it was 'made for mankind'
Rev 14:7 says to "WORSHIP Him who MADE the heavens and the earth the seas and all that is in them"
Rev 14:12 says the saints "keep the Commandments of God and their faith in Jesus"

So it is possible that you want to keep Sabbath because you know you are part of "mankind"

I think he is looking for PRACTICAL advice. HOW do you keep the shabbat holy? HOW do you rest? WHAT exactly is work?

 

[Open Heart]

Playing monopoly on Sabbath was not considered a form of worship in my family when growing up as a kid

Not everything on Sabbath has to be worship. Good family activities are fine.

 

[BobRyan]

Not everything on Sabbath has to be worship. Good family activities are fine.

The Bible says it is for rest and worship.

It can be reading the Bible, it can be seeing God's work in nature.

But monopoly seems to be a bit of a non-worship activity. IMHO.

 

[BobRyan]

I think he is looking for PRACTICAL advice. HOW do you keep the shabbat holy? HOW do you rest? WHAT exactly is work?

True - I was addressing your question "why would you want to keep Sabbath"

 

[Open Heart]

The Bible says it is for rest and worship.

Sure. That doesn't mean that everything you do is worship.

 

[Open Heart]

True - I was addressing your question "why would you want to keep Sabbath"

No, you quoted HIS post and addressed it.

 

[BABerean2]

Greetings brothers and sisters,

I'm looking for advice and recommendation for how my family should be spending our Sabbath day. I met a Christian family that literally starts Saturday evening with no tv, video games, or work until Sunday night. I felt convicted in how I spend my Sabbath day.

We attend an OPC church that has a morning and evening service which we go to and after morning service is fellowship lunch. Rarely do I have to work but sometimes I do, being military. My wife is a stay at home mom so her primary job is the home and kids. Her job is never ending. Between services and fellowship is a relaxing day, trying to rest and focus on God.

Is this sufficient? What else should we be doing? Do I hire help to relieve my wife from her work on Sunday?

Why don't you follow the advice that comes straight from God's Word?


Act 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
(These were the Judaizers. Some of them caused problems for the Galatian believers.)

Act 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
(In Galatians chapter 4 the Apostle Paul describes the Sinai Covenant as one of bondage, which is to be cast out.)

Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Act 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Act 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Act 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Act 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

Act 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Act 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Act 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Act 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Act 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

Act 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Act 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Act 15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Act 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.


The following video would be very helpful, based on your denomination.


What is New Covenant Theology? Part 1
(It is not Reformed Covenant Theology)

 

[Winken]

Greetings brothers and sisters,

I'm looking for advice and recommendation for how my family should be spending our Sabbath day. I met a Christian family that literally starts Saturday evening with no tv, video games, or work until Sunday night. I felt convicted in how I spend my Sabbath day.

We attend an OPC church that has a morning and evening service which we go to and after morning service is fellowship lunch. Rarely do I have to work but sometimes I do, being military. My wife is a stay at home mom so her primary job is the home and kids. Her job is never ending. Between services and fellowship is a relaxing day, trying to rest and focus on God.

Is this sufficient? What else should we be doing? Do I hire help to relieve my wife from her work on Sunday?

Relax. Go to the park on Saturday. Watch a family TV show, or video or disc that evening. Read the Bible to your children. You and your wife explain it in terms they will understand. Answer their questions, with smiles, joy, encouragement. Go to church Sunday morning. Don't go to a movie that afternoon or evening. Enjoy a family meal that you help prepare. Spend time together talking and playing inside the home. You and your wife tuck the kids in at night after telling them how much you love them. Teach them a short, loving prayer:

"I am still small (or young),
my life has just begun,
God loves me soooo much. Amen."

Thank you for your service.

 

[BobRyan]

All efforts to oppose the Commandments of God can be resolved by answering this simple question

===========================


If you oppose the Commandments of God in NT times - then answer this question -

In Eph 6:2 - "honor your father and mother for this is the first commandment with a promise" -- what Law - what unit of Law is it to be found that 'honor your father and mother" is the FIRST commandment with a promise??

First commandment where?

========================= next

having provided the obvious answer to that question - the next point is addressed by Mark 7 declaring that God's law cannot be edited/changed by church tradition.

Mark 7

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the Commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13 Making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

======================= hence the answer to the OP

Ex 20:8-11 says the 7th day is a day of rest.
Lev 23:1-4 says it is reserved as a day of worship and is kept from sunset Friday to sundown Saturday evening.
Is 66:23 says it is to be a day of worship for "All mankind to come before Me and worship".
Mark 2:27 says it was 'made for mankind'
Rev 14:7 says to "WORSHIP Him who MADE the heavens and the earth the seas and all that is in them"
Rev 14:12 says the saints "keep the Commandments of God and their faith in Jesus"

So it is possible that you want to keep Sabbath because you know you are part of "mankind"

 

[Open Heart]

All efforts to oppose the Commandments of God can be resolved by answering this simple question

Bob, you don't keep all the commandments. Aren't you being a bit unfair?

 

[BobRyan]

The Bible point made in my prior post - remains no matter false accusations added against it.

 

[GillDouglas]

The Bible point made in my prior post - remains no matter false accusations added against it.

It's ok Bob, Christ kept and fulfilled the laws because He knew we could not. We are no longer under the law, but under grace. His greatest commandment is the one I strive to keep, love God and love my neighbor.

 

[BABerean2]

It's ok Bob, Christ kept and fulfilled the laws because He knew we could not. We are no longer under the law, but under grace. His greatest commandment is the one I strive to keep, love God and love my neighbor.

 

[JackRT]

I met a Christian family that literally starts Saturday evening with no tv, video games, or work until Sunday night. I felt convicted in how I spend my Sabbath day.

Just a small quibble here. The above refers to the "Lord's Day" not the Sabbath Day.

The early Christian Church was originally no more than another branch of Judaism. They worshipped in temple and synagogue with their Jewish brothers and sisters. In some rare cases, they constituted the majority and were able to control the order of service, readings and such. However, in most cases they were a minority and could not insist on their own readings or rituals. The custom arose that these Jewish-Christians would meet again on the day (our Sunday) following the Sabbath for a service on their own. Tensions rose within the Jewish community until about AD90 when the rabbinical council of Jamniah decided upon the scriptures that would be permissible for use in synagogue services. This effectively ended Christian participation in Sabbath synagogue worship. They did however in most cases continue the tradition of the Sunday services. This eventually became the norm and was in fact made law by Constantine. In due course theology was invented to justify the change.