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My (unbelieving) father's birthday party is this coming up Sunday. Is attending a birthday party on the Lord's Day something that the esteemed members of the PB would have trouble doing?
My (unbelieving) father's birthday party is this coming up Sunday. Is attending a birthday party on the Lord's Day something that the esteemed members of the PB would have trouble doing?
Matthew - it is your father...your family. What better act of compassion can you show on the Lord's Day than to model Christ to family that is unsaved? The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. Go to church on Sunday and then meet with your dad and the rest of your family. Perhaps God will use this in His providence to have an effect on your father for the sake of the gospel.
Question 117. How is the sabbath or the Lord's day to be sanctified?
Answer. The sabbath or Lord's day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day, [Exod 20:8,10] not only from such works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful; [Exod 16:25-28; Neh 13:15-22; Jer 17:21-22] and making it our delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy [Matt 11:1-13]) in the public and private exercises of God's worship: [Isa 58:13; Luke 4:16; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:1-2 Ps 92 title; Isa 66:23; Lev 23:3] and, to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, and moderation, to dispose and seasonably dispatch our worldly business, that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of that day. [Exod 20:8; Exod 16:22,25-26,29; Luke 23:54,56; Neh 13:19][2]
Question 119. What are the sins forbidden in the fourth commandment?
Answer. The sins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, all omissions of the duties required, [Ezek 22:26] all careless, negligent, and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of them; [Acts 20:7,9; Ezek 33:30-32; Amos 8:5; Mal 1:13] all profaning the day by idleness, and doing that which is in itself sinful; [Ezek 23:38] and by all needless works, words, and thoughts, about our worldly employments and recreations. [Jer 17:24,27; Isa 58:13]
bill,
Do you agree with the WCF?
Mac,
The party will be a gathering of people profaning Gods commandment to keep the Day Holy. To break a commandment in the name of witnessing is no good and its needless to do. Witness on the other 6 days. Tell your dad how much you love him as you explain the great importance of your convictions. Do it BEFORE the party and in person. BTW I am offended and saddened from your esteemed comment...
your the horse and thats me with the stick. I will never stop beating, never.
Matthew - it is your father...your family. What better act of compassion can you show on the Lord's Day than to model Christ to family that is unsaved? The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. Go to church on Sunday and then meet with your dad and the rest of your family. Perhaps God will use this in His providence to have an effect on your father for the sake of the gospel.
...Also, jaybird, you actually are one of the esteemed members. Joe, on the other hand, is not.
I am certainly no esteemed member of the PB or anything close to it, but in answer to your question, I would strictly avoid such gatherings on the Lord's Day.
In our own family you always get to choose whether to celebrate on the Saturday prior or Monday following. Mostly we opt for the latter because it gives us something to look forward to.
Also, jaybird, you actually are one of the esteemed members. Joe, on the other hand, is not.
I think my Baptist brothers are right on this one.
I was reading the gospel of John last night to the children and the passage was the healing of the man born blind. This led in our disscusion time to some talk about the sabbath and how Christ's view differed from the Jews. So this has been on my mind this morning.
Let me just say that the Sabbath was made for man and not the other way around. This is not about "shooting the breeze" with your dad or "witnessing" both of which, as was pointed out above can be done on other days, this is about showing him Honour & Respect. In my humble opinion that is certainly activity for the Sabbath.
Uhm, I don't know if this was intentional or not...but it came across as an insult. (Giving you a chance here...I know I've been taken wrong other places)
This is friendly horseplay if I've ever seen any. In the Joe's first response, he said "I will pray for you good buddy." After that, when Mac said the shocking words, he put a waving smiley face, as if to say, "I know your opinion, Joe, good pal.." After that, Joe really brought a smile to my face when he said "BTW I am offended and saddened from your esteemed comment... your the horse and thats me with the stick. I will never stop beating, never. "
Oh, hehe.. That's funny. "I will never stop beating, never." BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM...
I don't think any true animosity has been expressed here.
Isn't there some kind of commandment about honoring your father and mother?
Actually the issue is serious but we come down on opposite sides. We should continue to strive for the truth even when we disagree.
Yes a division is apparent.
So for those who take exception to the WCF and the LBCF on the 4th commandment, do you think attending a secular birthday party is sinful to those who do not take exception to the confessions?
I don't think anyone here would try to bind your conscience brother. I believe Romans 14 would cover this. If it's sin to you don't do it.
And what does a clear reading say?Funny how the clear reading of the fifth commandment is sited against the clear reading of the fourth commandment.
Do no work. Don't let anyone in your family work. Keep the Sabbath holy. Nothing about getting together with family.Exo 20:8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,
Exo 20:10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Don't go your own way. (Reminds me of a Fleetwood Mac song) Don't seek your own pleasure. Don't talk idly. We can get in more trouble here.Isa 58:13 "If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;
Isa 58:14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
Yes a division is apparent.
So for those who take exception to the WCF and the LBCF on the 4th commandment, do you think attending a secular birthday party is sinful to those who do not take exception to the confessions?