kevin.carroll
Puritan Board Junior
Originally posted by Scott BusheyKevin,
You are assuming that this premise is in the 'antechamber'. To call it legalistic, you would have to prove that it is above what God commands. You cannot prove this assertion, hence, you should hold to one or the other as it errs on prudence.
I guess I'm not getting what you mean by "the one or the other." Let me tell you what I am getting at:
I believe in the Sabbath. I keep it as best I can be refraining from unecessary work (and requiring it from the family), by worshipping, by doing acts of mercy, by rising early and spending extra time with the Lord. These are things that the Bible specifically teach.
I do NOT, however, set my Sabbath observance by the clock. As far as I am concerned, Sabbath begins when I open my eyes on Sunday morning and ends when I close them on Sunday night. What I am driving at is that to add to the commandment (viz. it starts at 12:00:01 and runs through 12:00:00) by heaping regulations for obervance (like the Pharisees did) is bordering on legalism.
I respect your desire to be safe in the keeping of the commandment, I really do. It is entirely different however to require others to submit to your (generically, not you personally) personal standards in keeping the commandment. Hence, if you feel it is sinful to flip on a football game on Sunday afternoon (and promptly pass into a coma), then don't. But if your conscience allows you to, then do.