The lack of observance of the Lord's day in our secular culture

[evangelist6589]

If anyone has followed the Barna stats or what not they will see that there is a growing trend of "christians" or better defined as "false converts" whom do not care nor treat the Lord's day as sacred. I have read several chapters on this topic by authors Kent Hughes & David Jeremiah whom argue for the practice of the first century church whom met together on the 1st day of the week.

Obviously there are essential services that need to operate on the Lord's Day and people need to work. However there are plenty of services that do not need to work on sunday. If I were working for the police, a hospital, a gas station, a grocery store, or what not then I would need to work on sundays sometimes. However there are plenty of jobs that do not need to operate on sunday, and Christians should observe the day as sacred.

The Pilgrims held strongly to a non-desecrated Lord’s Day and consequently were exiled for over ten years in Holland. The Pilgrims fought hard for the Lord's Day and its observance. Some of the fruits of their labor exists in the “blue laws” that are still observed in some counties in the United States. The blue laws were meant to protect the Christian from working on Sunday and being amused by the many distractions of this world.

I think we should model the Pilgrims, at least this is what author Kent Hughes argues. But the problem with many Christians and why they do not feel the need to observe the Lord's day is because many of them are "false converts." With that its no wonder so few care about the Lord's Day, about evangelism, and what not. Refer to the book God has a wonderful plan for your life by Ray Comfort.


John

 

[Tom Bryant]

What do you mean by treating it as sacred?

How do you know that if someone doesn't treat Sunday as "sacred" that they are a false convert?

I preach 3 times on Sunday, then I relax on Sunday afternoon. Is this treating Sunday more sacredly than a person who worships the Lord on Sunday and then mows his lawn on Sunday afternoon because his kids were involved in sports all day Saturday and he works during the rest of the week?

I think you have set up a new standard for legalism for believers by acting as if they are not true believers because they do something besides pray, read the Bible and go to church on Sunday.

 

[mont974x4]

Rom 14:4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Rom 14:5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. (NASB)



Now, if the OP would have avoided the legalistic track and just commented on the lack of reverence for God....well, I couldn't agree more.

 

[Iconoclast]

The ten commandments are still in effect.
We get to have one day in 7 to just delight in the
Lord. Yes we delight in Him always.....but God has given 6 days to work and do our own pleasure.... One day is set apart:thumbsup::wavey:

 

[mont974x4]

Unlike the other 9 there is no NT command of the Sabbath. The teachings of Christ and the writings of Paul help us understand the end of the Law, and that the Sabbath was just a shadow of our rest in Christ.

Col 2:16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
Col 2:17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
Col 2:18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
Col 2:19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
Col 2:20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations--
Col 2:21 "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch"
Col 2:22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)--according to human precepts and teachings?
Col 2:23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (NASB)

Now, is it good to have a day of rest? For sure. Does it have to be a set day? Not at all. Do you have to spend it "in church"? Not really, but this depends a bit on how we define this.

 

[Iconoclast]

Unlike the other 9 there is no NT command of the Sabbath. The teachings of Christ and the writings of Paul help us understand the end of the Law, and that the Sabbath was just a shadow of our rest in Christ.

All ten commandments are in effect; There is a command....

heb4:9
9there doth remain, then, a sabbatic rest to the people of God

1And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre,

The teachings of Christ and the writings of Paul help us understand the end of the Law

The law as expressed in the decalogue was not abolished...but fulfilled...carried out By Jesus.
The penalty of the broken law was paid in full for believers;
Christ is the end of the ...law,,,for righteousness......he puts the law in our hearts now in the new covenant....

The cermonial laws given to Ot Israel were completed and done away...by the sacrifice on the cross,and we now have a new priesthood,and no more ceremonial shadows.
The decalogue existed before they were written on stone....and are still in effect today.....love is the fulfilling of the law.

 

[Tom Bryant]

So how do we keep Saturday as our day to delight in the Lord. Or do we change it to Sunday?

Iconoclast,
Are you saying that the rest in Hebrews 4 is the rest of 1 day in 7 and not about resting from our works because Christ already did everything?

 

[Scarlett O.]

Exodus 31:15-17 = "Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." ​

Saturday, the Sabbath, has nothing to do with anyone but God and the children of Israel. Sunday, the Lord's Day, is not a Christian substitute for a Jewish Sabbath.

Church attendance is not a sacrament nor one of the Ten Commandments.

Jesus Christ is our Sabbath rest. We should be "at rest" in Him (obedient to Him, loving Him, revering Him as Lord) every single day - not just one.

With that being said, I am at church every time the doors are open. Not because I have to but because I want to.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

What do you mean by treating it as sacred?

How do you know that if someone doesn't treat Sunday as "sacred" that they are a false convert?

I preach 3 times on Sunday, then I relax on Sunday afternoon. Is this treating Sunday more sacredly than a person who worships the Lord on Sunday and then mows his lawn on Sunday afternoon because his kids were involved in sports all day Saturday and he works during the rest of the week?

I think you have set up a new standard for legalism for believers by acting as if they are not true believers because they do something besides pray, read the Bible and go to church on Sunday.

Well said brother:thumbs:

 

[Tom Butler]

Saturday, the Sabbath, has nothing to do with anyone but God and the children of Israel. Sunday, the Lord's Day, is not a Christian substitute for a Jewish Sabbath.

Church attendance is not a sacrament nor one of the Ten Commandments.

Jesus Christ is our Sabbath rest. We should be "at rest" in Him (obedient to Him, loving Him, revering Him as Lord) every single day - not just one.

With that being said, I am at church every time the doors are open. Not because I have to but because I want to.

This is the way I see it, too, Scarlett. We have numerous examples in the NT that believers met to worship on Sunday. But there are no specific commands that I know of that tell us what we are to do or not do. There are no rules or regulations for Sunday that are comparable to the Sabbath rules.

The sabbath instructions established a principle that one day a week should be set aside for rest. This is practical as much as religious.

One of my former pastors speculated that on Sunday, New Testament Christians met early for worship, and then went to work. In other words, the Sabbath was still the "day off" from work, but Sunday was a work day.

Do I have scripture for that? Naw.

 

[Tom Butler]

Since I'm one of the geezers on the BB, I can remember when most Baptists considered Sunday the "Christian Sabbath."

Basically, the idea was that the sabbath rules were simply transferred over to Sunday. We weren't supposed to work. (Of course we did like for the policemen firemen and hospitals to be on duty). In my home town in Tennessee, we even had laws requiring stores, restaurants and other businesses to close. They were called the "Blue Laws." Anybody remember them?

The preachers also railed against playing baseball on Sunday, going to watch a ball game on Sunday and going fishing on Sunday. I can't remember if they preached against watching a pro football game on TV on Sunday.

Even today, here in Kentucky, the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on Sunday.

I remember a big knock-down drag-out fight we had in my home town over whether to allow the movie houses to be open on Sunday. Outside the city, the drive-ins could operate on Sundays, and the city movie houses wanted the same privilege. It was a bitter campaign, but the Sunday-movie folks won the referendum.

I'm familiar with a family where the wife cooked the Sunday meals on Saturday, because cooking on Sunday was considered work. I think it was considered okay to wash the dishes, though. And the Sunday lunch leftovers were covered up with towels and finished off at supper.

This wasn't just unique to Baptists; this was the culture most evangelicals lived in back then. Our Catholic friends had different rules, but drinking, smoking and bingo were not covered.

Among us Baptists, the admonition most parents had for their sons: "Don't smoke, drink or chew or go with girls that do." Or something like that.

 

[Jerome]

watching a pro football game on TV on Sunday

I know of a 'Reformed Baptist' who records the games and watches them later LOL. Course, you didn't have that available way back when.

And how about that 'Puritan' site that has a popup warning, chiding you for reading their message board on The Sabbath!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Among us Baptists, the admonition most parents had for their sons: "Don't smoke, drink or chew or go with girls that do." Or something like that.


....Or you will end up with a grandson with a dog collar! Dont end up with a grandson with a dog collar.:smilewinkgrin:

Its a new commercial on TV I find particularly funny! I keep telling my 20 year old son now that I dont want to end up with a grandson with a dog collar. He gets the picture. :laugh:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I know of a 'Reformed Baptist' who records the games and watches them later LOL. Course, you didn't have that available way back when.

And how about that 'Puritan' site that has a popup warning, chiding you for reading their message board on The Sabbath!

Oye vey Bubbela! Jewish Wanna Be's.:laugh: Question, who lights their stoves on Sabbath? And do they call their church a "Shul"?

 

[Iconoclast]

So how do we keep Saturday as our day to delight in the Lord. Or do we change it to Sunday?

Iconoclast,
Are you saying that the rest in Hebrews 4 is the rest of 1 day in 7 and not about resting from our works because Christ already did everything?

Tom,
One day in seven was set aside from creation.God rested.

Israel observed a one day in 7 rest...it became a part of the ceremonial system..although it existed before Mosaic law.

first they were told it was creation rest

then they were told to remember the exodus....

the sabbath was made for man Jesos explained it when the legalistic Pharisees wanted to add to it and make it rigid,strict ,and oppresive.

Jesus has done away with the ceremonial laws...at the cross.

The one day in 7 principle is not done away...as the 10 commandments are still in effect as a creation ordinance. All men are bound by the 10 commands... Not in order to be saved..or to be kept saved...

But the duty given to the first Adam...is still binding on All men.
believers cannot keep the decalogue perfectly...but Jesus did on our behalf..so we are saved by law keeping...Jesus law keeping for us

Those outside of Christ...must keep the law perfectly.....remeber Jesus said ,,,be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is Perfect.

Only in Christ can we be found perfect because of His...active obedience in keeping the law;
he heareth not.

21The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.



When romas 10 says Christ is.....the end of the law...for righteousness

it does not mean that Christ is the end of all law! it means the righteousness of the law is only found in Him...the law as a schoolmaster leads us to Christ.....Christ puts His law in our heart by the Spirit...we are law keepers,because we are restored Image bearers...let him who stole,,,steal no more///speak truth everyman with his brother...

Now the one day in 7 we remeber the new creation rest...the new Exodus..in Jesus....we see the apostles gathering on the first day of the week...John in the Spirit on the LORDS DAY...what is that???
in mt 28 towards the dawning of the new sabbaths....pentecost on the first day of the week...apostles meeting on the eight day sabbath

39Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.

in heb 4 ...we rest with Jesus from all our works in heaven...but there is a different word used for the keeping of a sabbath now...here is a helpful article;
http://www.albatrus.org/english/festivals/sabbath/new_testament_sabbath-day.htm

In a positive way...we get to delight in the Lord to have a day set aside with the things of the kingdom in view.....we have 6 days to mow the lawn, and go shopping, work at jobs,,,entertain ourselves, run the household...

We can use the day to visit shut ins, open our homes in hospitality, extending grace to others.....discussing the things of God..instead of the bills, and whats on sale, and what is on TV.

Instead of seeing the day as a burden,with a heavy yoke of legalism ...pray about sanctifying our time in a focused way on spiritual things.

 

[Luke2427]

If anyone has followed the Barna stats or what not they will see that there is a growing trend of "christians" or better defined as "false converts" whom do not care nor treat the Lord's day as sacred. I have read several chapters on this topic by authors Kent Hughes & David Jeremiah whom argue for the practice of the first century church whom met together on the 1st day of the week.

Obviously there are essential services that need to operate on the Lord's Day and people need to work. However there are plenty of services that do not need to work on sunday. If I were working for the police, a hospital, a gas station, a grocery store, or what not then I would need to work on sundays sometimes. However there are plenty of jobs that do not need to operate on sunday, and Christians should observe the day as sacred.

The Pilgrims held strongly to a non-desecrated Lord’s Day and consequently were exiled for over ten years in Holland. The Pilgrims fought hard for the Lord's Day and its observance. Some of the fruits of their labor exists in the “blue laws” that are still observed in some counties in the United States. The blue laws were meant to protect the Christian from working on Sunday and being amused by the many distractions of this world.

I think we should model the Pilgrims, at least this is what author Kent Hughes argues. But the problem with many Christians and why they do not feel the need to observe the Lord's day is because many of them are "false converts." With that its no wonder so few care about the Lord's Day, about evangelism, and what not. Refer to the book God has a wonderful plan for your life by Ray Comfort.


John

Which culture out there observes the Sabbath better than ours?

Is there a nation where more people go to church on Sunday than ours?

 

[Tom Bryant]

Thanks for answering my question. I disagree about most of it, but I understand what you are saying.

But your answer is not the legalism that I saw in the OP.

 

[Iconoclast]

Thanks for answering my question. I disagree about most of it, but I understand what you are saying.

But your answer is not the legalism that I saw in the OP.

Tom,
legalism is deadly evil.....I look at the Lords day as a positive day...not a burden..or chore.....If i know what passage is going to be preached i will read it and study a day or two before...so I am prepared for it.

most times the legalistic feeling people express can be avoided ...by preparing for the day in advance.....doing all the running around...putting gas in the car, shopping, doing laundry...a day or two in advance...

we are not saying to do it...in order to become saved, or stay saved...but because as sons we desire to seek God's face and obey what he has said to do.

 

[agedman]

Exodus 31:15-17 = "Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." ​

Saturday, the Sabbath, has nothing to do with anyone but God and the children of Israel. Sunday, the Lord's Day, is not a Christian substitute for a Jewish Sabbath.

Church attendance is not a sacrament nor one of the Ten Commandments.

Jesus Christ is our Sabbath rest. We should be "at rest" in Him (obedient to Him, loving Him, revering Him as Lord) every single day - not just one.

With that being said, I am at church every time the doors are open. Not because I have to but because I want to.

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Tom,
legalism is deadly evil.....I look at the Lords day as a positive day...not a burden..or chore.....If i know what passage is going to be preached i will read it and study a day or two before...so I am prepared for it.

most times the legalistic feeling people express can be avoided ...by preparing for the day in advance.....doing all the running around...putting gas in the car, shopping, doing laundry...a day or two in advance...

we are not saying to do it...in order to become saved, or stay saved...but because as sons we desire to seek God's face and obey what he has said to do.

Oh please Icono....this all reminds me of exactly what the Orthodox Jews do....next you will be keeping kosher.