This topic has come up with many friends within the last few weeks.
We as Christians are commanded to "honor the Sabbath to keep it holy." Growing up (until my teen years, that is) I thought that meant going to church. After all, isn't that what we did on Sunday? But then I discovered the little verse in under Exodus 20:8 and discovered that this commandment actually means to REST one day a week.
I'm not sure we obey that command very well.
Now, compared to the other six days, my Sundays are restful. I do minimal chores, there's no work, and we often have 2-3 hours spursed throughout the day to rest, read, or whatever. But that's not an entire day of rest. And when you work 5 days, spend 1 day on housework, then are at church most of the time the 7th day...where's the rest?
When we first got married, we debated whether or not to eat out on Sundays. My senior year of high school, the grocery store where I worked started opening on Sunday afternoons. I'd leave church during the invitation, wolf down a sandwich, and make it to work only a few minutes late. Then I'd go straight from work to church on Sunday nights. 95% of our customers on Sunday afternoons were church people. Had they stayed home, the store would eventually have stopped opening on Sundays due to no business. In college I worked in the school cafeteria, and Sundays were always my worst days. The students had to eat, but it always rubbed me the wrong way that everyone else at Bible College could go take a Sunday afternoon nap while 4-5 of us scrubbed pots and pans or worked in the dish room for 2 hours. My senior year I upgraded from the school cafeteria to Taco Bell, and I had Sundays off. But it was a privilege I had to constantly fight for, specifically since my manager recognized many of my classmates and found it stupid that they would come through the drive-through (and for the record, that was forbidden by the school), but then I wasn't able to work on one of the busiest days. I totally understood his point of view, and I worked many 12 hour shifts on Saturdays to have the privilege of Sundays off. So I feel guilty whenever I go to a restaurant on Sunday and see someone working because of me. Yet if we don't eat out, that means cooking and clean-up for me. It's almost a no win situation.
I firmly believe church is important. You know, the "don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together" verse. I can think of very little our church does on Sundays that isn't important, but I must admit there are days I'm very jealous of non-Christians who get a two-day weekend, allowing them one day of rest. It strikes me as odd that a non-believer can actually follow that commandment much better than I can.
So meanwhile, I've started resting more on Saturdays. If everything doesn't get done, so be it. It will still be there tomorrow. And until I find an acceptable, balanced resolution to this catch 22, I guess we'll keep things the way they are.
We as Christians are commanded to "honor the Sabbath to keep it holy." Growing up (until my teen years, that is) I thought that meant going to church. After all, isn't that what we did on Sunday? But then I discovered the little verse in under Exodus 20:8 and discovered that this commandment actually means to REST one day a week.
I'm not sure we obey that command very well.
Now, compared to the other six days, my Sundays are restful. I do minimal chores, there's no work, and we often have 2-3 hours spursed throughout the day to rest, read, or whatever. But that's not an entire day of rest. And when you work 5 days, spend 1 day on housework, then are at church most of the time the 7th day...where's the rest?
When we first got married, we debated whether or not to eat out on Sundays. My senior year of high school, the grocery store where I worked started opening on Sunday afternoons. I'd leave church during the invitation, wolf down a sandwich, and make it to work only a few minutes late. Then I'd go straight from work to church on Sunday nights. 95% of our customers on Sunday afternoons were church people. Had they stayed home, the store would eventually have stopped opening on Sundays due to no business. In college I worked in the school cafeteria, and Sundays were always my worst days. The students had to eat, but it always rubbed me the wrong way that everyone else at Bible College could go take a Sunday afternoon nap while 4-5 of us scrubbed pots and pans or worked in the dish room for 2 hours. My senior year I upgraded from the school cafeteria to Taco Bell, and I had Sundays off. But it was a privilege I had to constantly fight for, specifically since my manager recognized many of my classmates and found it stupid that they would come through the drive-through (and for the record, that was forbidden by the school), but then I wasn't able to work on one of the busiest days. I totally understood his point of view, and I worked many 12 hour shifts on Saturdays to have the privilege of Sundays off. So I feel guilty whenever I go to a restaurant on Sunday and see someone working because of me. Yet if we don't eat out, that means cooking and clean-up for me. It's almost a no win situation.
I firmly believe church is important. You know, the "don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together" verse. I can think of very little our church does on Sundays that isn't important, but I must admit there are days I'm very jealous of non-Christians who get a two-day weekend, allowing them one day of rest. It strikes me as odd that a non-believer can actually follow that commandment much better than I can.
So meanwhile, I've started resting more on Saturdays. If everything doesn't get done, so be it. It will still be there tomorrow. And until I find an acceptable, balanced resolution to this catch 22, I guess we'll keep things the way they are.
Comments
(If you want something more "theological", I'd suggest checking out this entry on MacArthur's church's blog:
Christians and the Sabbath)
I agree with your statement, Rich but I also believe Matthew 5:17,18 does not eradicate/destroy the law. It just fulfills it so we don't have to keep it to meet the requirements for salvation. But that's a topic for another time. :O)
So, #1, to make Sunday the Sabbath is a stretch. Some would argue you to death that it should be Saturday and that brings up a whole other round of debate and bit of legalistic tendencies there as well.
#2 Any attempt to define what "work" is so that you are sure not to do it on the "Sabbath" is trying to rely on a set of legalistic pratices (which the Pharisees were experts at). God wants your heart and your life, not a set of rules and regulations which are as sure to be as prone to error as the fallen human being that makes them.
#3 I say enjoy Sunday as a day of worship with your fellow saints and except for using it as a day of rest, don't worry about the "work" thing.
That's just me, so to speak.
Soli Deo Gloria!