How does the idea of vacations tie in with the observance of the Lord's Day? Should they be planned so as to never coincide? Is it sufficient for the vacationing family to attend another church in the area? Engage in private family worship?

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Mark
Independent baptist
Singapore

We've always planned our vacations around the Lord's Day. If it's for a week, we're always back by Saturday at the latest. If we're going to be away over the weekend, it has to be where there is a church that we would be comfortable attending, or we don't go there.

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~Jay~
Husband of ENS, father of J II. | Indian Trail, NC
Substitute Teacher
Communicant Member, Precentor | Presbyterian Reformed Church of Charlotte, NC | Presbyterian Reformed Church

and hope someone invites you to their home for dinner or else you may end up doing an involuntary family fast for the day.








[Edited on 10-7-2006 by ChristopherPaul]

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--chRis
Psalm 115:1

Christopher Reeder
Husband to Kara, Father to Abigail (7), Caleb (6), Grace (4 1/2), Zoë (3), Elijah (1 1/2) and Hannah (born 8/8/2008)

Member: Pilgrim Presbyterian Church (OPC), Raleigh, NC

We try to avoid that by stocking up the day before, on food that keeps and also involves minimal preparation. We've gained a lot of experience from camping vacations, for example.

I've sometimes wondered if while vactioning, it would not be considered an act of necessity (depending on the circumstances) to eat out while far from home. Obviously, worship attendance is a must. My wife and I desire to do some traveling eventually, and many of the places we desire to go have an abundance of reformed churches.

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Jeff Bartel
Mechanical Engineer
Member - Trinity Reformed Church - RPCNA

"To believe in the power of man in the work of regeneration is the great heresy of Rome, and from that error has come the ruin of the Church. Conversion proceeds from the grace of God alone, and the system which ascribes it partly to man and partly to God is worse than Pelagianism" (The Reformation in England (London, 1962), Vol. 1, p. 98)

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

From the Directory of Family Worship

Doug Comin, Returning to the Family Altar: A Commentary on the Directory for Family Worship, p. 50:

Although Doug is speaking to the subject of family worship rather than Lord's Day worship, we should certainly desire to assemble with the Lord's saints for worship on the Christian Sabbath even above engaging in private/family (as is our duty on this and every day) as the Psalmist who said, The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. See David Clarkson's Public Worship Preferred Before Private.

That said, while planning can usually surmount the difficulties of finding a place to worship (though often it will not be ideal), yet there are some parts of the world which are great vacation spots but lack a suitable Christian congregation. I would not condemn someone for vacationing on a desert island even over the Lord's Day per se, though they may end up engaging in family and private worship alone, but one should apply as much sanctified wisdom as possible to the situation and if possible make every effort to join with God's people. I think there are providential circumstances and hindrances that happen to many of us. As Christopher mentioned, meal planning is often another major issue for families who are in the midst of travels on the Lord's Day but who wish to keep the day holy, and often rely upon the kindness of strangers (brethren). It is a great opportunity for churches to show hospitality when visitors join them in the midst of their vacations or business trips. There are many challenges to keeping the Sabbath which are magnified when travelling but Christian families find ways to overcome them and do the best they can, by God's grace, to remember and serve the Lord their God.

[Edited on 10-7-2006 by VirginiaHuguenot]

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Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project

"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole

Thanks for all the replies.

The Directory of Family Worship states that "When persons of divers families are brought together by Divine Providence, being abroad upon their particular vocations, or any necessary occasions;"

Do vacations fall under 'particular vocations' or 'necessary occasions'? Is taking a holiday a good enough reason to either worship by yourself as a family for one week, or to join with another church (no matter how sound) that is not the one of your membership?

Thoughts?

It was precisely the "problem" of where to find a "good enough" church while traveling that I created my website. Vacations and business trips may lead one to be away from one's home church.

Our family prefers not to travel on the Lord's Day but I don't believe it is forbidden. In one of the Puritan commentaries, there is actually made reference to the fact that it may be necessary to stay in an inn on a Sabbath night while traveling. Of course, in those days, travel was much more difficult, especially over long distances.

Corporate worship should, of course, remain a priority on the Lord's Day.

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BJ Mora
Grace OPC, Modesto, CA
Reformed & Presbyterian Churches & Denominations in North America

Our church meets at a hotel so we would welcome vacationers/travellers with open arms and with great convenience.

I think that 1) vacations are lawful (assuming the purpose is in line with the sober use of recreations commended in WLC 135); 2) hotels open on the Lord's Day are lawful (consistent with the Fourth Commandment duties of necessity and mercy), although every effort to avoid unnecessary servile labors should be made; and 3) although it is most wise to plan around the Lord's Day for travelling purposes, and we should always endeavor to be with God's people on that day especially, it is simply not always possible to do so, and hence it is not categorically sinful to be travelling on the Lord's Day, when one for reasonable and lawful purposes is in a place or situation or in the midst of a long trip, etc. where circumstances do not permit one to join in public worship, therefore, I think one should examine the situation and the their own motives to see whether the justification for the travel, the opportunities for worship, preparations aforetime, and the overall spirit of Sabbath-keeping are consistent with refraining from doing our own pleasure on God's holy day with the desire to set the day apart in a way that is most pleasing to Him.

When magistrates were more godly than in our day, there was legislation that both allowed for inns to be open for travellers going about their lawful business or aiming towards further destinations, yet also requiring guests to attend church services and forbidding them to engage in licentious activities on that day. Such examples include London, 1642 and New Netherlands (New York), 1647.