sabbath observance rules...

[StormyOne]

In another thread Tall suggested the following:

If it brings you closer to God do it. If it takes you further from God, don't do it.

When I read that as well as some of the other comments, I thought to myself aren't we suppose to do that everyday?

Thoughts?

 

[woobadooba]

In another thread Tall suggested the following:
When I read that as well as some of the other comments, I thought to myself aren't we suppose to do that everyday?

Thoughts?

True. So this tells us that the Sabbath has far more meaning than this. I think the idea of 'corporate worship' tells us a lot.

 

[StormyOne]

True. So this tells us that the Sabbath has far more meaning than this. I think the idea of 'corporate worship' tells us a lot.

because? could it be that we have no clue as to what true sabbath observance is.... ancient Israel with its numerous laws had no idea....

 

[woobadooba]

because? could it be that we have no clue as to what true sabbath observance is.... ancient Israel with its numerous laws had no idea....

Maybe you have no clue as to what it really means, but I wouldn't say that that means no one else does.

I think I have a very good idea of what it means. My problem is that I often fall short in making it more meaningful by acting according to such beliefs.

 

[StormyOne]

Maybe you have no clue as to what it really means, but I wouldn't say that that means no one else does.

I think I have a very good idea of what it means. My problem is that I often fall short in making it more meaningful by acting according to such beliefs.

thank you for sharing your opinion.... take care...

 

[tall73]

In another thread Tall suggested the following:
When I read that as well as some of the other comments, I thought to myself aren't we suppose to do that everyday?

Thoughts?

Yes and no.

There are some things that do not necessarily bring me closer to God on other days but that have to be done due to practical reality. Laundry, etc. doesn't really do much for me spiritually.

But on the Sabbath we have the privilege of cutting those things out and just doing what brings us closer to God.

 

[StormyOne]

Yes and no.

There are some things that do not necessarily bring me closer to God on other days but that have to be done due to practical reality. Laundry, etc. doesn't really do much for me spiritually.

But on the Sabbath we have the privilege of cutting those things out and just doing what brings us closer to God.

hmmmm of course accounting for individual differences, I rather like doing laundry and can glean a spiritual object lesson or two from sorting, washing, drying and folding clothes... is it possible though that those things we think are bringing us closer aren't? I am thinking about those folks I see in church sound asleep waiting for the closing hymn... for them perhaps staying at home would have been better...

 

[woobadooba]

I am thinking about those folks I see in church sound asleep waiting for the closing hymn... for them perhaps staying at home would have been better...

But why waste the blessing away by concerning yourself with what they should be doing? It is better to look solely to Christ, and focus on doing what he expects you to do, right?

 

[StormyOne]

But why waste the blessing away by concerning yourself with what they should be doing? It is better to look solely to Christ, and focus on doing what he expects you to do, right?

Woob, I did not say that I was not blessed, nor did I say I was concerned with what they were doing. However in the process of the worship experience it is possible to observe the behavior of others, and I simply shared that observation. It is possible to observe and remain focused on the reason why one is sitting in church on sabbath....

 

[JonMiller]

I don't think all of us are called to be monks doing nothing but preaching, praying, studying and teaching.

I don't think this is how it is described in the Bible, and I don't think that is how we are called to live now.

I could be wrong though.

JM

 

[StormyOne]

I don't think all of us are called to be monks doing nothing but preaching, praying, studying and teaching.

I don't think this is how it is described in the Bible, and I don't think that is how we are called to live now.

I could be wrong though.

JM

though you could be correct....

 

[NightEternal]

Only Jesus Christ kept the Sabbath perfectly in letter and in spirit.

 

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

In another thread Tall suggested the following:
When I read that as well as some of the other comments, I thought to myself aren't we suppose to do that everyday?

Thoughts?

Yes, I agree..we should. However, I find it can be a struggle to keep God-Focussed most days. Distractions abound. Having a designated day that I put all of my effort into actually focussing on God is what sets the Sabbath apart. I try my best not to let things that I find as a distraction be a part of that time.

For example, I'll sit outside if the weather is nice and read one of my various God-related books and or the Bible for most of the afternoon. (Otherwise I do this inside). I also will set time aside to listen to praise music and sermons. In most cases I find very little time during the week to do these things, so having a full day of time is wonderful.

My favorite part is waking up on a Sabbath and actually knowing I can spend it with God without outside chores and such. Does this mean I don't talk to God while cleaning? Nah, not at all. But I must prefer sitting there reading a book with Him or praying to it.

hmmmm of course accounting for individual differences, I rather like doing laundry and can glean a spiritual object lesson or two from sorting, washing, drying and folding clothes... is it possible though that those things we think are bringing us closer aren't? I am thinking about those folks I see in church sound asleep waiting for the closing hymn... for them perhaps staying at home would have been better...

I don't get to go to church often. There are problems in my personal life which prohibit it about 90% of the time. I've only been maybe 10 times since I first attended a year and a half ago, and probably wont be able to again untill next spring or summer.

Thusly, no matter how tired I am..when I am there I'm almost falling off the seat because I'm so intently listening to the Pastor speak. I appreciate it to the fullest. Even still, I do find my Sabbaths more relaxing if I stay home. That's circumstancial, though. Haven't had to wake up before 9 am in many years, and since my ride unlocks the church..they pick me up at 9am. Needless to say, it's a stressful rush in the morning.

Anyway, rambled a bit there.

Point being, do what is right in your own heart on the Sabbath. Read His word on the matter, and do what He convicts you to do. I believe the only true sin on the Sabbath is if you go against what you personally feel is what God wants.

Example: Many people will do things like clean the dishes on the Sabbath. My own feeling is that I could be better spending my time with God by doing them before and after the Sabbath instead. Would I condemn another for cleaning their dishes? Nope. Would I condemn myself if I had the choice? Yes, because I will feel guilty for not doing everything I could to do what I felt I needed to in my own relationship with God.

Only Jesus Christ kept the Sabbath perfectly in letter and in spirit.

Jesus is the only one who did a lot of things perfectly.

 

[StormyOne]

the explanations though don't make sense from this standpoint. If you are in a relationship with someone, are you in that relationship with them all the time or just once a week? Do you spend time with them regularly or just once a week? If in our human relationships we only set aside one 24 hour period once a week, that relationship would be in trouble IMO....

 

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

the explanations though don't make sense from this standpoint. If you are in a relationship with someone, are you in that relationship with them all the time or just once a week? Do you spend time with them regularly or just once a week? If in our human relationships we only set aside one 24 hour period once a week, that relationship would be in trouble IMO....

Very true. However, if you're living together things still often get in the way from 'quality time'. I've seen some of the most successful relationships (my friend's parents, in this case) who would actually take a certain day every month (they had 3 kids and both worked, so it wasn't easy) to spend alone together. Hire a babysitter and everything.

I see the Sabbath as this.

 

[StormyOne]

if things "get in the way" does that say something about how we view that relationship? Example, we let very few things get "in the way" of us going to work. Work is a high priority.... perhaps relationships are not?

 

[thecountrydoc]

Hello Stormy,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are't we speaking about our relationship with God? If that is true, then how can you say:

if things "get in the way" does that say something about how we view that relationship? Example, we let very few things get "in the way" of us going to work. Work is a high priority.... perhaps relationships are not?

It would seam that perhaps your priorities are wrong or at the leat need rearanging.

Respectfully,
Doc

 

[StormyOne]

Hello Stormy,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are't we speaking about our relationship with God? If that is true, then how can you say:It would seam that perhaps your priorities are wrong or at the leat need rearanging.

Respectfully,
Doc

ummm no, you did not read what I said.... my point is simple. In our human relationships we would not tolerate once a week quality time, or if that was all there was that relationship would be in trouble. Thus when people say they spend time with God on sabbath, my question is what happens the other 6 days? I used as an example our relationship with our jobs, in which we allow almost nothing to interfere with that.... should not our relationship with God have the same priority?

 

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

ummm no, you did not read what I said.... my point is simple. In our human relationships we would not tolerate once a week quality time, or if that was all there was that relationship would be in trouble. Thus when people say they spend time with God on sabbath, my question is what happens the other 6 days? I used as an example our relationship with our jobs, in which we allow almost nothing to interfere with that.... should not our relationship with God have the same priority?

Of course it should, but I'm wondering if we're considering what "quality time" is to be different things.

For example, as you stated..we put work as a high priority. Thusly, many of us are at work more than half of their waking time. During this time we are distracted from spending alone time with God, because there are things to do and people to talk to and such.

So, yes, maybe we could put a few hours aside around our work schedule, or even breaks and such..but it's not going to be as benefitial as the whole Sabbath day. That's not to say that we should only spend time on the Sabbath, we should take any chance we can get to do this (noting that I currently could have been reading my Bible, but came on here for mod training. *lol*). It still doesn't hurt to have a full day of this time, though.

 

[StormyOne]

Of course it should, but I'm wondering if we're considering what "quality time" is to be different things.

For example, as you stated..we put work as a high priority. Thusly, many of us are at work more than half of their waking time. During this time we are distracted from spending alone time with God, because there are things to do and people to talk to and such.

So, yes, maybe we could put a few hours aside around our work schedule, or even breaks and such..but it's not going to be as benefitial as the whole Sabbath day. That's not to say that we should only spend time on the Sabbath, we should take any chance we can get to do this (noting that I currently could have been reading my Bible, but came on here for mod training. *lol*). It still doesn't hurt to have a full day of this time, though.

so then, describe "quality time" and how much "quality time" does a relationship need to be a strong relationship?