question: preparing for the sabbath

[jogri17]

I'm new to the idea of the sabbath (recovering new covenanter). I agree that scripture commands it in the new covenant. How do I prepare for it and how do I keep it? and any book reccomendations are appreciated. merci

 

[jwithnell]

Keeping the sabbath is part of the fabric of your whole life. Seeing it as the highlight of your week means using your time wisely on the other six days to keep to a minimum the necessities that would detract from giving the whole day to God. Also, the worship done the other six days of the week will naturally spill over onto Sunday.

From a practical viewpoint, my kids are used to hearing me talk about specific sabbath preparations on Saturday -- having Sunday dinner mostly prepared (I have 101 make-ahead tricks if anyone is interested), having the little kids' clothes out (and BOTH shoes found ahead ), and giving the house a final clean.

I think it is important too, to remember the "stranger that is within your gates," a reference, I believe, to the fact that we are not to make others work in support of our sabbath, even if their beliefs are different from our own ("strangers"). We don't go to places of business, get a newspaper delivered, etc.

Books on the subject? I'm not sure. The WCF gives a good overview.

 

[jogri17]

ok but what about transportation. I don't have a car and I live in quebec city so I need to use a bus to get to church. The bus driver works on the sabbath and the only reformed church is about 15 + miles away (by bus it is 35 minutes). So what is the reformed consensus?

 

[ColdSilverMoon]

ok but what about transportation. I don't have a car and I live in quebec city so I need to use a bus to get to church. The bus driver works on the sabbath and the only reformed church is about 15 + miles away (by bus it is 35 minutes). So what is the reformed consensus?

Take the bus. Imposing extra-Biblical rules on the Lord's Day starts you on the path to legalism at the least, and Pharisaical hypocrisy at the worst. I'm not saying the Lord's Day shouldn't be honored and observed, but it is intended to be a freeing gift, not am imposing burden...

 

[Guido's Brother]

I would go with the bus too. It could be argued that the bus system is necessary for the Sunday. I know of a good number of folks who wouldn't be able to attend church without it.

BTW, do you go to St-Marc?

 

[jwithnell]

I was wondering how to say that, Mason -- the principle is certainly there (to avoid making others work) but to start lists of "you can do this, but you can't do that" gets you into legalism in a hurry. And certainly, the over-riding principle here would be to worship God. And we should certainly view having this day as a precious gift in this 24-7 world.

 

[jogri17]

I would go with the bus too. It could be argued that the bus system is necessary for the Sunday. I know of a good number of folks who wouldn't be able to attend church without it.

BTW, do you go to St-Marc?

I do go to St. Marc. Do you know Pastor Bernard Westerweld?

 

[Guido's Brother]

Yes, I led a short-term mission team from my church to Quebec City this past January. We did an English Cafe and an English conversation evening. We're planning on arranging another trip for next January, though I probably won't be leading it.

 

[beej6]

A sabbath book I like is Pipa's _The Lord's Day._

 

[jogri17]

Yes, I led a short-term mission team from my church to Quebec City this past January. We did an English Cafe and an English conversation evening. We're planning on arranging another trip for next January, though I probably won't be leading it.

very good! I hope you can come it would be nice to meet someone inperson from the Board.

When thing I would love to see is a bilingual Reformed Canadian conference to start up that is somewhat like T4G only bilingual and Canadian (with poutine and double doubles) exist here before I leave.

 

[Guido's Brother]

When thing I would love to see is a bilingual Reformed Canadian conference to start up that is somewhat like T4G only bilingual and Canadian (with poutine and double doubles) exist here before I leave.

I love poutine! We have it elsewhere in Canada (even here in BC), but not the varieties that you find in its birthplace. In January I tried poutine piquante in the food court at Place Laurier -- delicious!

As to a bilingual Conference, that would be something cool. Not sure how you would pull it off, though. Many of our Quebecois brothers would understand us Anglos, but it doesn't work the other way around. We study French in school, but most of us are not anywhere near fluent.

 

[JonathanHunt]

Another book - Call the Sabbath a Delight by Walt Chantry