During our Wednesday prayer service we had a discussion about how Christians are to honor the Sabbath Day. Following that discussion I'm interested in your opinion.
What activities are fitting for the Christian on the Lord's Day?
Drop a comment and let me know what you think. For those of you that are shy about public commenting please send an e-mail to my yahoo account.
Some scriptures to consider before you answer...
Exodus 20:8-11And here's what comes from Section VIII of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message from the Southern Baptist Convention:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Mark 2:23-28
Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: “how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?” And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. “Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
VIII. The Lord's DayFinally here's what comes from section VIII of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message from the Southern Baptist Convention:
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular employments, work of necessity and mercy only being excepted.
Ex. 20:8-11; Matt. 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Col. 2:16; 3:16; Rev. 1:10.
VIII. The Lord's DayI'll pull all of our thoughts together and follow up with a post on the whole topic soon. I'm looking forward to your input.
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10.
Grace and Peace to you all...
1 comment:
Holy actions of course :0)
I think St. Paul instructs us because of the gift of the Son, the propitiation for our guilt, the gift of the resurrection, we are no longer bound by the law. This does not promote lawlessness. Rather it promotes holiness. Holy defined as that set apart for God. So if the activity truthfully gives glory to God that is the activity for the Sabbath. It is not a list of dos and don’ts but the conscious truthful evaluation “does this bring God glory, is it following His will”. Examples that spring to my mind: Corporate worship, forgiving someone who hurt you and is seeking forgiveness, the boy scout pine wood derby, feeding your family a fine meal, spending time with your children, walking in a part or your own back yard, bird watching (tell me breathing in God’s nature doesn’t cause you to think on Him, how cool He is)………refraining from over indulging in any of God’s gifts – how would that bring Him glory? The refrain is a statement why you won’t engage in the activity.
Post a Comment