Keeping the Sabbath

Scott1 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

London Baptist Confession of Faith
Chapter XXII

The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.

Quote:

Scripture proofs
( Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Matthew 12:1-13 )

The London Baptist Confession and Westminster Confession are identical in their summary of the doctrine of Scripture regarding the Fourth Commandment.

In light of this, what activities do you think the Commandment ordinarily requires one to abstain from on the Lord's Day? ("Ordinarily," not to include exceptional situations that might be works of necessity or mercy)

You may select as many items as you wish in the poll.

ColdSilverMoon · #2 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 09:51 PM

Haven't we had this thread and discussion before?

Pruned Sabbath Do's and Don'ts

Scott1 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-12-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified?
A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days;[145] and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God’s worship,[146] except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.[147]

Q. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission, or careless performance, of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing that which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our worldly employments or recreations.[148]

Q. 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments,[149] his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day.[150]

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Scripture Proofs
[146] Exodus 20:8. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Leviticus 23:3. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. Luke 4:16. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. Acts 20:7. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

[147] Matthew 12:1-13. At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

[148] Nehemiah 13:15-22. In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. Isaiah 58:13-14. 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. Amos 8:4-6. Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?

[149] Exodus 20:9. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: Exodus 31:15. 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. Leviticus 23:3. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

[150] Genesis 2:2-3. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Exodus 20:11. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 31:17. 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.

Westminster Shorter Catechism and Scripture Proofs.

satz · #4 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 05:35 AM

I looked at the poll results and noted that most of those who voted felt that the last option “Working on Sunday if you are in a sales job and nobody else will work Sunday for you” was something that a christian should ordinarily abstain from.

I had already raised the issue in another thread, I am still questioning if it would be inappropriate, under the Sabbath laws, for a Christian to work a Sunday shift if his employment required him to.

If a Christian man was required by his employer to work, would not that fall under the category of a work of necessity for that man, as there is an external force compelling that man to work. In the OT a man was stoned for picking up sticks on the Sabbath, but Jesus allowed his disciples to pick corn to eat on the Sabbath because they were hungry. Why wouldn’t the same principle of necessity allow a man whose job required him to work a Sunday shift?

I am not saying a Christian should take a job that will regularly require them to work on Sundays (except maybe those jobs involved in works of mercy). However, even if a boss requires Sunday work for a frivolous or greedy reason, would not the requirement still be a necessity from the perspective of the worker himself? Again, from what I see in the NT, Jesus Christ did not set the bar for necessity or mercy execessively high – the fact that his disciples were hungry was enough for him.

Thoughts?

Scott1 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 06:12 AM

Quote:

satz

I am still questioning if it would be inappropriate, under the Sabbath laws, for a Christian to work a Sunday shift if his employment required him to.

Quote:

"The Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes," GI Williamson, p224

The meaning of "necessity" is frequently misinterpreted in dealing with this commandment. Works of necessity are not such as are required only by our convenience. For example, what should a Christian do if his employer requires him to work on the Lord's Day? Some would say, "I will have to work, or else I will be demoted to a much lower salary." But such a reason does not make the work itself a necessity. If a physician says "I must operate on this man today or he will die," he speaks of a work of necessity. But if a carpenter says, "I must report on construction job or I will endanger my position," he is still faced with the fact that the work itself is not necessary. One could just as well argue that it is legitmate to steal (I must steal because my family needs more money) as to argue that a work is necessary on the Sabbath merely because personal inconvenience or hardship is involved.

GI Williamson, Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes

Scott1 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 06:23 AM

The poll is closed.

From a Confessional standpoint, 16 of 18 voters, 89%, say the Fourth Commandment requires ordinarily abstaining on the Sabbath from:

eating out at restaurants (while not travelling)
watching sports on tv or internet
working a sales job

83% say abstaining from

heavy recreation

Every other activity listed received at least a majority vote for abstention except posting on Puritan Board, which received an 11% vote and taking a nap, which received 0% (no votes).

Pergamum · #7 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

I looked at the poll results and noted that most of those who voted felt that the last option “Working on Sunday if you are in a sales job and nobody else will work Sunday for you” was something that a christian should ordinarily abstain from.

I had already raised the issue in another thread, I am still questioning if it would be inappropriate, under the Sabbath laws, for a Christian to work a Sunday shift if his employment required him to.

If a Christian man was required by his employer to work, would not that fall under the category of a work of necessity for that man, as there is an external force compelling that man to work. In the OT a man was stoned for picking up sticks on the Sabbath, but Jesus allowed his disciples to pick corn to eat on the Sabbath because they were hungry. Why wouldn’t the same principle of necessity allow a man whose job required him to work a Sunday shift?

I am not saying a Christian should take a job that will regularly require them to work on Sundays (except maybe those jobs involved in works of mercy). However, even if a boss requires Sunday work for a frivolous or greedy reason, would not the requirement still be a necessity from the perspective of the worker himself? Again, from what I see in the NT, Jesus Christ did not set the bar for necessity or mercy execessively high – the fact that his disciples were hungry was enough for him.

Thoughts?

I wonder how hungry those disciples were (noontime ready-for-lunch-hungry or about-to-pass-out-hungry). They were still travelling and seemed healthy, so it seemed not to be a medical emergency.

I, too, believe that if a man has a job that deals with gov't, infrastucture or emergencies that one does not sin if they do not "honor the Sabbath" if there is a need at work.

Soldiers, nurses, EMTS of course do not dishonor the Sabbath when they take their usually mandatory every 3rd weekend.

I was a soldier and a nurse and worked 12 hours every other Sunday.

I would also broaden the work situations to farmer (gotta milk those cows), light house watcher, nuclear power plant worker, some forms of night watchman-cop-security, pilots (especially those who cross intntl date lines, "No I can only go as far as San Francisco, but not Hawaii due to the Sabbath...", Scientists working on a big breakthrough, sea-captains (AAARGGH), meteorologists ("your coverage of Hurricane Ike will resume Monday morning"), news reporters covering a big story (especially if human rights are involved...."massacre in Darfur onging, no pics available due top the Sabbath).

In fact, I have met people who have been unemployed for years (3 years in one case) that could have landed 3 different jobs but would have had to work one Sunday per month (on night shift so as to be able to go to morning church) and he refused these jobs due to his Sabbath convictions. I think he was wrong and ended up just looking lazy and idle for fear of actually working one day too many.

satz · #8 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott1

Quote:

satz

I am still questioning if it would be inappropriate, under the Sabbath laws, for a Christian to work a Sunday shift if his employment required him to.

Quote:

"The Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes," GI Williamson, p224

The meaning of "necessity" is frequently misinterpreted in dealing with this commandment. Works of necessity are not such as are required only by our convenience. For example, what should a Christian do if his employer requires him to work on the Lord's Day? Some would say, "I will have to work, or else I will be demoted to a much lower salary." But such a reason does not make the work itself a necessity. If a physician says "I must operate on this man today or he will die," he speaks of a work of necessity. But if a carpenter says, "I must report on construction job or I will endanger my position," he is still faced with the fact that the work itself is not necessary. One could just as well argue that it is legitmate to steal (I must steal because my family needs more money) as to argue that a work is necessary on the Sabbath merely because personal inconvenience or hardship is involved.

GI Williamson, Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes

Scott,

I appreciate the response.

I would reply though, that I don’t see that Williamson supports his statements from the bible. Jesus Christ could have told his disciples to not pick the corn, one day of fasting was unlikely to endanger them – but he didn’t. Likewise, Jesus could have agreed with the Pharisees that he should wait one day to heal after the Sabbath. A man with a withered hand is in no danger from having to wait one more day to have his hand healed. But Jesus healed him there and then.

When the Pharisees confronted Jesus about his disciples picking corn on the Sabbath he told them the story of David and told them that the Sabbath is made to help man, not harm him – to justify his disciples not having to go hungry for just one day.

I am not seeing that the bible defines ‘necessity’ as in the same way Williamson is doing in his quote.

Pergamum · #9 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 01:10 PM

Was Jesus being a provacoteur then here, trying to play with current false views of the Sabbath, when He could have merely left well enough alone....?

Scott1 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

satz

I would reply though, that I don’t see that Williamson supports his statements from the bible.

The quoted section is a commentary on the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 21,paragraphs 7 and 8.

As you are aware, every statement and proposition of the Westminster Confession is footnoted by Scripture proofs.

The entire commentary, in context runs from page 220-225, too long to post here.

The poll question was given in light of the Confessions on this topic.

I'm not sure which Confession you subscribe to by being part of Puritan Board but the London Baptist Confession and Westminster Confession are identical on this point. That means that they are taken to be a faithful summary of the doctrine contained in Scripture.

If you disagree with your Confession, you need to be specific about which statement or proposition you disagree with.

Eating was never prohibited on the Sabbath, and Jesus clarified that necessary food preparation is not a violation of the Sabbath.

Jesus was able to do miracles on the Sabbath because He is Lord of the Sabbath and he was clarifying that we can do works of mercy and not violate the Sabbath.

Neither of these situations were against God's Law, even in the Old Testament, they were the teachings of men (Pharisees) who made up their own regulations.

Neither of these situations have anything to do with ordinarily earning ones's living at a sales job.

You may also find the Westminster Larger Catechism helpful on summarizing the doctrine on this point, questions 115 to 121 and the attending Scripture proofs. These flush out working on the Sabbath and the exceptions for necessity and mercy well.

gene_mingo · #11 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott1

Quote:

satz

I would reply though, that I don’t see that Williamson supports his statements from the bible.

The quoted section is a commentary on the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 21,paragraphs 7 and 8.

As you are aware, every statement and proposition of the Westminster Confession is footnoted by Scripture proofs.

The entire commentary, in context runs from page 220-225, too long to post here.

The poll question was given in light of the Confessions on this topic.

I'm not sure which Confession you subscribe to by being part of Puritan Board but the London Baptist Confession and Westminster Confession are identical on this point. That means that they are taken to be a faithful summary of the doctrine contained in Scripture.

If you disagree with your Confession, you need to be specific about which statement or proposition you disagree with.

Eating was never prohibited on the Sabbath, and Jesus clarified that necessary food preparation is not a violation of the Sabbath.

Jesus was able to do miracles on the Sabbath because He is Lord of the Sabbath and he was clarifying that we can do works of mercy and not violate the Sabbath.

Neither of these situations have anything to do with ordinarily earning ones's living at a sales job.

I think picking the corn goes beyond food prep and into harvesting. Harvesting is working. If I don't work on sunday then I don't earn money then I can't eat. How is it more important for a farmer to work on sunday than a salesmen, if either of them don't work then both might suffer the loss of food.

Work for me would fall under a duty of necessity.

Scott1 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 03:36 PM

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gene_mingo

I think picking the corn goes beyond food prep and into harvesting.

Quote:

Matthew 12:1

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn: and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

As I read this passage, the disciples were hungry and they picked the corn to eat right then, not an ordinary work of harvesting crops.

Also, when Jesus refers to King David in v. 3 he speaks of David eating the shewbread because David was hungry.

Yes, a farmer should ordinarily rest from his labor on the Lord's Day by the Fourth Commandment too.

gene_mingo · #13 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 03:39 PM

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Originally Posted by Scott1

Quote:

gene_mingo

I think picking the corn goes beyond food prep and into harvesting.

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Matthew 11:27

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn: and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

As I read this passage, the disciples were hungry and they picked the corn to eat right then, not an ordinary work of harvesting crops.

Also, when Jesus refers to King David in v. 3 he speaks of David eating the shewbread because David was hungry.

i still cant agree, picking corn is the regular/ordinary method of harvesting. When they ate it is a different matter. Food preparation would deal on how they cooked or served it. Not how they gathered it.

gene_mingo · #14 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Yes, a farmer should ordinarily rest from his labor on the Lord's Day by the Fourth Commandment too.

But they can't. Again works of necessity are permitted. Have you ever seen what happens to a dairy cow if you don't milk them? I have, it is pretty gross. You have to feed any animals you have daily again it is necessary. Depending on the type of crop you are growing then watering could also be necessary on a daily basis.

Working a regular job is no different if you are living within a tight budget. If I don't work then my choices are skip buying groceries for my family or pick a utility bill not to pay. Feeding my family is necessary. So is paying my utility bills.

Scott1 · #15 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 03:52 PM

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Working a regular job is no different if you are living within a tight budget.

So are saying you disagree with your Confession (Westminster Confession) on this?

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VIII. This Sabbath is to be kept holy unto the Lord when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their wordly employments and recreations,[38] but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.[39]

gene_mingo · #16 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 03:55 PM

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Originally Posted by Scott1

Quote:

Working a regular job is no different if you are living within a tight budget.

So are saying you disagree with your Confession (Westminster Confession) on this?

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VIII. This Sabbath is to be kept holy unto the Lord when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their wordly employments and recreations,[38] but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.[39]

Absolutely not.

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and in the duties of necessity

I thought I made my position clear by showing how they are "duties of necessity".

satz · #17 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 12:50 AM

Hi apologize for this delayed response!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott1

I'm not sure which Confession you subscribe to by being part of Puritan Board but the London Baptist Confession and Westminster Confession are identical on this point. That means that they are taken to be a faithful summary of the doctrine contained in Scripture.

If you disagree with your Confession, you need to be specific about which statement or proposition you disagree with.

It was not my intention with my post to call into the question the WCF or LBC’s position on the Sabbath day. I was asking what is the definition of a work of necessity or mercy, which the confessions themselves specifically allow.

I do not think the scripture proofs from either the WCF or the Catechisms really settle the issue. They do speak of not trading and doing business, but I was not arguing that a Christian should ordinarily decide to go to work or attend to his business on the Sabbath day.

What I was asking was if a man was required by an employer to work on a Sunday due to special circumstances, why wouldn’t that count as a work of necessity under the Sabbath law? Williamson’s commentary states that a man working so as to avoid losing his employment position or risking a demotion is not a work of necessity. But under this criteria, surely going hungry for a while, or waiting one day to be healed of a withered hand do not qualify as works of necessity either. But that is not how Jesus Christ operated. The commentary gives an example of a doctor operating of a man who would otherwise die as an example of something that does qualify as a work of necessity. By this criteria, should not Jesus have waited a day before healing the man with a withered hand, since this man was not going to die if he was not healed there and then on the Sabbath?

Quote:

Eating was never prohibited on the Sabbath, and Jesus clarified that necessary food preparation is not a violation of the Sabbath.

Jesus was able to do miracles on the Sabbath because He is Lord of the Sabbath and he was clarifying that we can do works of mercy and not violate the Sabbath.

Neither of these situations were against God's Law, even in the Old Testament, they were the teachings of men (Pharisees) who made up their own regulations.

Neither of these situations have anything to do with ordinarily earning ones's living at a sales job.

Again, I was not saying that a Christian ought to take a job, or organize his business such that it ‘ordinarily’ requires him to work on the Sabbath. However if special circumstances, including the whim of his master, require him to work on the Sabbath, such a situation does seem to me to fall within the criteria of a work of necessity, as set out in the gospels.

Regarding the disciples picking corn, I do not think I implied that the Pharisees were suggesting that eating was a violation of the Sabbath. From my understanding, it was the act of picking the grains that they objected to. Again, remember that God had a man stoned for picking up sticks on the Sabbath, yet here Jesus allowed his disciples to pick corn to eat simply because they were hungry.

Is the bible position such that it is ok to ‘work’ to avoid a few hours of hunger, but it is not ok to work to preserve one’s source of livelihood?

Quote:

You may also find the Westminster Larger Catechism helpful on summarizing the doctrine on this point, questions 115 to 121 and the attending Scripture proofs. These flush out working on the Sabbath and the exceptions for necessity and mercy well.

Christusregnat · #18 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

Regarding the disciples picking corn, I do not think I implied that the Pharisees were suggesting that eating was a violation of the Sabbath. From my understanding, it was the act of picking the grains that they objected to. Again, remember that God had a man stoned for picking up sticks on the Sabbath, yet here Jesus allowed his disciples to pick corn to eat simply because they were hungry.

Is the bible position such that it is ok to ‘work’ to avoid a few hours of hunger, but it is not ok to work to preserve one’s source of livelihood?

Satz,

The notion that Jesus contradicts Moses on the sabbath would require some explanation, since Jesus repeatedly denied such a conclusion, and the Pharisees unsuccessfully accused Him of it. If you are saying that Jesus contradicts Moses on this point, you are in the wrong crowd.

That said, is there a difference between gathering food and gathering wood? The answer is too simple to require refutation. Could the wood be gathered the day before? Could the food? I think the wood could have, but was not. The food seems not to have been available for gathering the day before. The gospels tell us of Jesus on the move, and the disciples with Him. He had no permanent dwelling, unlike the birds who have nests, etc.

The question about working when required by a boss appears to be a false dilemma. If God is the source of our daily bread, do we need to worry? Isn't the whole point of the sabbath that God provides for all of our needs, and therefore, we are to rest from our worries and toils, and rest on His holy day? Would not our livelihood be one of those worries? The sabbath was made to bless us so that we wouldn't have to think of these things, and you seem to suggest that we should be so worried that we do not rest. This makes no sense. Is not God able to provide for us if we refuse to submit to an ungodly demand that we work on a day of rest? He is more than able, and if we do not trust Him to do so, we have missed the heart of the sabbath.

Cheers,