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See the above Q.
One way to answer this is to have an attitude of how are we best to prepare for the Lord's Day. Is it sinful to cook on the Lord's Day, no. Is it wise to prepare a banquet that's going to put excessive burdens on those preparing and cleaning the meal, no it's not wise.
One way to answer this is to have an attitude of how are we best to prepare for the Lord's Day. Is it sinful to cook on the Lord's Day, no. Is it wise to prepare a banquet that's going to put excessive burdens on those preparing and cleaning the meal, no it's not wise.
Yes. One of the things that made me raise the Q is that J.Douma in his excellent book on the 10C says that the Sabbath Day should be a feast day, I presume for body as well as soul. I believe this because of what it commemmorates and anticipates.
The key thing is to get a balance between it being a feast day, and yet also keep labour to a minimum.
Matthew 12
1At 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.
2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
4How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
5Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
6But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10And, 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.
11And 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?
12How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
14Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
15But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
Once, while I was in the military in the early 70's, I was invited to the home of a rabbi for their Sabbath meal. I was served a bean casserole, which he explained was typical of traditional Sabbath fare. In days before electricity and timer ovens, such dishes were prepared in clay containers placed in coals or stone ovens before the Sabbath begins, cooked and kept warm until served. Orthodox Jews have no problem with work done in preparation and anticipation of the Sabbath, like setting timers on appliances. Such severe restrictions and scruples do not prevent them from having a rather joyous feast on their Sabbath.
While most of us would have no problem with turning on a switch or igniting a flame on the Lord’s Day, we might learn some things from Jewish practice of avoiding labor. Perhaps the Lord’s Day is a time for slow cooker, oven casseroles, stews, and stir fry, which may be prepared for larger numbers, anticipating possible Lord’s Day hospitality, with much of the work done in advance and a minimum of labor to place on the table after worship. A nice roast in the crock pot, a micro-waved vegetable, some good bread, and a bottle of wine, with a prepared desert make a feast indeed.
When I had Lord’s Day dinner at the home of a Scottish Free Church minister, I noted his special assistance to his wife that day, that she might have some rest also when they had guests at the manse. Isn’t the Lord’s Day a good time for everyone to pitch in so no one person bears the full burden of meal preparation and clean up on the Lord’s Day.
See the above Q.
WLC 117 How is the sabbath or the Lord's day to be sanctified? A. The sabbath or Lord's day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day, 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; 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) in the publick and private exercises of God's worship: 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.
Once, while I was in the military in the early 70's, I was invited to the home of a rabbi for their Sabbath meal. I was served a bean casserole, which he explained was typical of traditional Sabbath fare. In days before electricity and timer ovens, such dishes were prepared in clay containers placed in coals or stone ovens before the Sabbath begins, cooked and kept warm until served. Orthodox Jews have no problem with work done in preparation and anticipation of the Sabbath, like setting timers on appliances. Such severe restrictions and scruples do not prevent them from having a rather joyous feast on their Sabbath.
While most of us would have no problem with turning on a switch or igniting a flame on the Lord’s Day, we might learn some things from Jewish practice of avoiding labor. Perhaps the Lord’s Day is a time for slow cooker, oven casseroles, stews, and stir fry, which may be prepared for larger numbers, anticipating possible Lord’s Day hospitality, with much of the work done in advance and a minimum of labor to place on the table after worship. A nice roast in the crock pot, a micro-waved vegetable, some good bread, and a bottle of wine, with a prepared desert make a feast indeed.
When I had Lord’s Day dinner at the home of a Scottish Free Church minister, I noted his special assistance to his wife that day, that she might have some rest also when they had guests at the manse. Isn’t the Lord’s Day a good time for everyone to pitch in so no one person bears the full burden of meal preparation and clean up on the Lord’s Day.
Tom said-I do not see eating and drinking, or the preparation thereof, as "worldly business". I think it is just what it says. See earlier reference to “worldly employments and recreations”.
The sabbath rules fall under the 10 commandments. Do the 10 commandments still apply in full?
Chapter XIX
Of the Law of God
[emphasis added]
I. God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which He bound him and all his posterity, to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.[1]
II. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables:[2] the first four commandments containing our duty towards God; and the other six, our duty to man.[3]
III. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits;[4] and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties.[5] All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the New Testament.[6]
IV. To them also, as a body politic, He gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the State of that people; not obliging under any now, further than the general equity thereof may require.[7]
V. The moral law does forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof;[8] and that, not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it.[9] Neither does Christ, in the Gospel, any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.[10]
VI. Although true believers be not under the law, as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified, or condemned;[11] yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life informing them of the will of God, and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly;[12] discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts and lives;[13] so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin,[14] together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of His obedience.[15] It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin:[16] and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve; and what afflictions, in this life, they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law.[17] The promises of it, in like manner, show them God's approbation of obedience,and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof:[18] although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works.[19] So as, a man's doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law: and not under grace.[20]
….
Chapter XXI
Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day
[emphasis added]
....
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]
I have my own thoughts and opinions on these things, and wouldn't necessarily agree with the non-coooking approach to the Sabbath, but just wanted to canvass some views/insights.
If you have a scruple in that area, it's an issue. If you don't, then it's not.
If you have a scruple in that area, it's an issue. If you don't, then it's not.
So Exodus 16 -as it relates to the 10 commandments -is not applicable if you feel no guilt?
Again, the issue is do the 10 commandments - and moral law - still apply *in full*. Does the Sabbath law apply *in full.*
Can I consecrate my day to NFL football and Sunday home cooking and then condemn you for working a Walmart on Sunday to support your family. The operative word here is consecrate. I believe it means *dedicate in full*.
Or has Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law and now that we are led by the Holy Spirit, we have a more general duty to love and honour God, love your neighbour (which BTW is in the OT too.)
I have attended Pentecostal, Dutch Reformed, RCA, and non-denominational churches. This is the biggest question I've seen in every church. This one issue reveals more hypocrisy than anything else I've ever seen.
A Christian's entire life is affected by his/her view on this question.
Do the Sabbath laws apply *in full.*
Oh, it is not an act of necessity to cook on Sunday. Fresh fruit and vegetables, cold cuts, pre-cooked meals can be tasty and good for you.
Favourite Sabbath quote:
It's OK for me to eat at MacDonalds on Sunday because I'm not the one working and the MacDonald's worker is the one violating the Sabbath.
-----Added 8/25/2009 at 07:22:40 EST-----
You people should notice, I am asking questions.
Do all the Sabbath laws still apply? Should we attend to cooking *beforehand.* as the Bible and WCF suggest?
What does it mean to consecrate the Sabbath to God?
Do the 10 commandments still apply today?
I think when we look at how the Rabbis interpreted the injunction to cook/prepare Manna on Friday, not to light a fire on the Sabbath, and not to go out on the Sabbath (which was given because the Israelites would get up to no good on the Sabbath e.g. looking for Manna or other things to do), and then look at them again in the light of the fact that Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for Man, not Man for the Sabbath, that can be quite instructive.
Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for Man, not Man for the Sabbath, that can be quite instructive.
Bob, yes I see, I see. Thank you.
-----Added 8/25/2009 at 07:31:16 EST-----
I think when we look at how the Rabbis interpreted the injunction to cook/prepare Manna on Friday, not to light a fire on the Sabbath, and not to go out on the Sabbath (which was given because the Israelites would get up to no good on the Sabbath e.g. looking for Manna or other things to do), and then look at them again in the light of the fact that Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for Man, not Man for the Sabbath, that can be quite instructive.
Ah, so that makes it proper for me to cook on Sunday - and violate Exodus 16 and the spirit of the 10 commandments.?
This sabbath law was geared to those sinful Jews looking for fresh manna. This Sabbath law doesn't apply to me - a deeply spiritual Christian who would never watch football on Sunday?
I remember my Mother's home cooked meals. They were hard work.
-----Added 8/25/2009 at 07:39:37 EST-----
Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for Man, not Man for the Sabbath, that can be quite instructive.
Excellent quote.
Does this quote apply to:
- a man working at Walmart on Sunday to feed his family
- a woman cooking a beautiful dinner for her family on Sunday
- a father watching the Steelers on Sunday with his family
- a student studying law on Sunday in order to free up time to read the Bible for 15 minutes every day
These are crucial questions, because I believe each is in violation of the Sabbath Laws and WCF - though each has good intentions.
Most people I have met don't think about this issue. They just condemn Sabbath breakers - and then procede to break the Sabbath.
I myself have struggled for years with this very very basic question.
-----Added 8/25/2009 at 07:42:13 EST-----
I also think that hypocrisy on this issue brings much shame to the visible church in the eyes of the world.
My Free Presbyterian relatives used to prepare almost all the food on Saturday night- the soup made, vegetables peeled and in the pan, dessert made and the meat wrapped in foil in the fridge. On Sunday it was minimal work. The dishes were loaded into the dishwasher (which didn't get turned on until Monday). Activities like knitting or sewing were never done either on the Sabbath. It was a quite and restful day.
If I plan to have guests on Sunday I will generally prepare as much as possible the night before.
I usually try to plan ahead on Saturday and make sure that I have the food in, that there is gas in the car, etc.
Exodus 16 is quite clear, cooking is to not be done on the Sabbath.
If you have a scruple in that area, it's an issue. If you don't, then it's not.
Exodus 16 is quite clear, cooking is to not be done on the Sabbath.
It is also quite clear that we are not to travel outside our homes on the Sabbath; "Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day." (v. 29)
Walk the walk?
If you have a scruple in that area, it's an issue. If you don't, then it's not.
No, or what Elder Brown wrote.
So, In other words,, in spite of God’s explicit command and your zeal for the details of Exodus 16, you can rationalize a trip to church based on circumstances that are different from the ancient Hebrews.Those Sabbath laws are quite tough aren't they?
How can a Christian justify going to church?
He does so by saying going to church is an act on devotion to God and part of his consecration, or Sabbath dedication, to God. I think every Christian would agree to this.