how do SDA "observe the Sabbath"?

[christianmomof3]

I understand that ya'll have your church meeting on Sat. instead of on Sun. But, how else do ya'll observe the Sabbath? What do you do that is any different other than have a church meeting on Sat. instead of on Sun.? I don't think ya'll walk and not drive like the orthodox Jews do, do you?
So, what do you do that makes ya'll any different other than have your main church meeting on Sat. instead of Sun.?
What do you do on Sat. that is different than on other days?
Thank you for your answers in advance.

 

[mva1985]

First Sabbath is observed from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday.

Church is usually held on Saturday morning.

But the whole 24 hours is observed as a special time reserved for God.

How do you observe your day of rest?

 

[christianmomof3]

I understand that the Sabbath is from sundown to sundown. I was raised Jewish.
What do ya'll do or not do on the Sabbath as your observance of it?
Do you have any rules related to it like the Jews do?
Or is it up to the individual?
Don't SDA think that Sabbath observance is required for salvation?
If so, then what do you do to observe the Sabbath?

I was raised in Reform Judaism and we did not do anything differently on the Sabbath other than services were held on Friday night and Sat. morning. We did not attend services regularly though - just for special events like bar mitzvahs or yahrtzeits or holidays.

Now I am a born again Christian. I meet with a church that has a big meeting on Sunday morning with the table meeting at that time with the bread and wine. But, we also have other smaller church meetings throughout the week. I meet with some sisters for prayer on Tues. or Thurs. morning depending on my work schedule. I also meet with a home meeting group on Friday night and on Sat. night is our church young people's meeting and I serve with the high school sisters so I am at that meeting once or twice a month. We also have a sister's meeting about once a month or so on a Sunday evening.

I believe that Christ Himself is our Sabbath rest and that we are to rest in Him at all times.

 

[AndrewK788]

I understand that the Sabbath is from sundown to sundown. I was raised Jewish.
What do ya'll do or not do on the Sabbath as your observance of it?
Do you have any rules related to it like the Jews do?
Or is it up to the individual?
Don't SDA think that Sabbath observance is required for salvation?
If so, then what do you do to observe the Sabbath?

I was raised in Reform Judaism and we did not do anything differently on the Sabbath other than services were held on Friday night and Sat. morning. We did not attend services regularly though - just for special events like bar mitzvahs or yahrtzeits or holidays.

Now I am a born again Christian. I meet with a church that has a big meeting on Sunday morning with the table meeting at that time with the bread and wine. But, we also have other smaller church meetings throughout the week. I meet with some sisters for prayer on Tues. or Thurs. morning depending on my work schedule. I also meet with a home meeting group on Friday night and on Sat. night is our church young people's meeting and I serve with the high school sisters so I am at that meeting once or twice a month. We also have a sister's meeting about once a month or so on a Sunday evening.

I believe that Christ Himself is our Sabbath rest and that we are to rest in Him at all times.

You may recieve a variety of answers on this, but I'll do my best to give you my opinion as well as the beliefs of the SDA church as a church. To first address the Sabbath as a salvation requirement, I first give you my opinion.

The only salvation requirement is this: accept Christ as your savior. Works do not save anyone, for if they did, Christ's death was pointless. There will be those saved who did not keep Sabbath. Now with that said, I'll say this: if you've been convicted that the Sabbath does indeed matter, but you decide to ignore it anyway, then I would say that would be sin. But if you have not yet been convicted of it by the Holy Spirit, then no it isn't an issue for you. And who are we to judge what one person to the next has or hasn't been convicted of? I'm not God, so I don't worry myself with those arguments.

I, personally, have been convicted of the Sabbath truth, thus I keep it. But I do not see the Sabbath as a requirement for salvation, but as evidence of my love for God.

As far as what we do or don't do on Sabbath, no, there aren't strict guidelines or any written code. It honestly varies from person to person. The most agreeable points would be not working, not shopping (buying/selling), and possibly not watching TV and such on the Sabbath. But it does vary, as I said.

Wlll, I don't want to be too long-winded, but I hope this helps.

your brother in Christ,
Andrew

 

[mva1985]

You may recieve a variety of answers on this, but I'll do my best to give you my opinion as well as the beliefs of the SDA church as a church. To first address the Sabbath as a salvation requirement, I first give you my opinion.

The only salvation requirement is this: accept Christ as your savior. Works do not save anyone, for if they did, Christ's death was pointless. There will be those saved who did not keep Sabbath. Now with that said, I'll say this: if you've been convicted that the Sabbath does indeed matter, but you decide to ignore it anyway, then I would say that would be sin. But if you have not yet been convicted of it by the Holy Spirit, then no it isn't an issue for you. And who are we to judge what one person to the next has or hasn't been convicted of? I'm not God, so I don't worry myself with those arguments.

I, personally, have been convicted of the Sabbath truth, thus I keep it. But I do not see the Sabbath as a requirement for salvation, but as evidence of my love for God.

As far as what we do or don't do on Sabbath, no, there aren't strict guidelines or any written code. It honestly varies from person to person. The most agreeable points would be not working, not shopping (buying/selling), and possibly not watching TV and such on the Sabbath. But it does vary, as I said.

Wlll, I don't want to be too long-winded, but I hope this helps.

your brother in Christ,
Andrew

+1 IMHO

 

[Jon0388g]

I understand that ya'll have your church meeting on Sat. instead of on Sun. But, how else do ya'll observe the Sabbath? What do you do that is any different other than have a church meeting on Sat. instead of on Sun.? I don't think ya'll walk and not drive like the orthodox Jews do, do you?
So, what do you do that makes ya'll any different other than have your main church meeting on Sat. instead of Sun.?
What do you do on Sat. that is different than on other days?
Thank you for your answers in advance.

Good question


My answer would be: how did Jesus keep the Sabbath?


I find that Christ said the Sabbath was made for man. That is, it's meant to be a blessing. He also says in Isaiah that we should refrain from "our own pleasure" on His holy day, and call it a delight! Here's the passage:



"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." Isaiah 58:13-14



So, while there are guidelines given in Scripture, I feel whatever we do or think, we should do all to the glory of God! So, I will not take part in unnecessary secular work on the Sabbath, or take part in "my own pleasure" which God allows me to pursue for 6 whole days out of 7. I generally see it as a special time with God, a time of refreshing and rest from the world.






Jon

 

[christianmomof3]

So, do ya'll not do halloween? Or if you do, are you skipping it this year since it is on the Sabbath?

 

[RND]

So, do ya'll not do halloween? Or if you do, are you skipping it this year since it is on the Sabbath?

I can't speak for every Adventist out there but I personally do not recognize nor celebrate the pagan rituals of Halloween, Christmas or Easter. I do however recognize Yom Kippur, Passover and the other festivals that pointed to the coming Messiah, Christ Jesus.

I do know that there are indeed Adventist's that do recognize the pagan festivals but hopefully one day that will change.

 

[BobRyan]

So, do ya'll not do halloween? Or if you do, are you skipping it this year since it is on the Sabbath?

Many Christians do not choose to celebrate Halloween -- though when our children were young we did dress them up as Bible characters and go with them to collect candy. My family also gives out candy to the children on Halloween even though we have no children at home these days.

All other celebrations, Christmass, Easter (Resurrection Sunday), Thanksgiving - on an individual basis -- with most Adventists celebrating them in some way.

in Christ,

Bob

 

[BobRyan]

I understand that ya'll have your church meeting on Sat. instead of on Sun. But, how else do ya'll observe the Sabbath? What do you do that is any different other than have a church meeting on Sat. instead of on Sun.? I don't think ya'll walk and not drive like the orthodox Jews do, do you?
So, what do you do that makes ya'll any different other than have your main church meeting on Sat. instead of Sun.?
What do you do on Sat. that is different than on other days?
Thank you for your answers in advance.

Good questions.

We have no seculare TV or Radio - no secular parties or games. Many SDAs (like my family) will not go to the store or eat out on Sabbath.

We try to observe the practice listed at the end of Isaiah 58 about not doing your own thing on Sabbath - but rather honoring it as a day of worship and song - family day to celebrate the gospel and particularly to speak of God's work in a literal 7 day creation week about 6,000 years ago.

in Christ,

Bob