Another Perspective Regarding the Sabbath

Randy,

Eva and I send you greetings and best wishes hoping that you and your family are doing well and are in good health. You have our utmost respect and gratitude for your excellent job covering the news in the Gentry area. It is obvious that you are a sincere man of conviction and live by the highest Godgiven principles. I have appreciated getting to know you better through Tired Iron and am grateful for the excellent coverage you give the club. We read everything you write and congratulate you on the highest standards you present.

I hope it is acceptable to make comment on the Oct. 17 Weekly Devotional in the Eagle Observer, giving a little different perspective on the topic. I certainly agree with your conclusions that Paul's primary intent in Romans 14 and Colossians 2 is that we are not to judge a person by the day they keep or the food they eat! In addition we are to love and support our brother no matter which day he chooses to worship or what he chooses to eat. While I am not to judge others, Jesus will most certainly judge all that I do.

I have a friend who rejects scripture because hesays it is contradictory and you can prove anything you want from the Bible. He uses Christ's words in Luke 14:26 as an example, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brother and sisters, yes even his sown life; he cannot be my disciple.” Then he laughs and concludes there will be no women in heaven according to John in Revelation 8:1, “...there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”

Obviously you and I will agree that my friend has a problem using the Bible correctly as a road map for his life. I have concluded that the 66 books of the Bible do not contradict each other. Should there be passages that appear to be contradictory, it is because I am not understanding the intent correctly. The problem is with me and my lack of wisdom and not with the inspiration of the scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16).

Perhaps my friend’s dilemma can be explained by the simple example of a 1,000-piece jig-saw puzzle. We buy a 1,000-piece puzzle at a garage sale in a plastic bag and take it home. We open the bag, pour out the pieces, turn the pieces faceup and begin searching for pieces that match and fit. Wow, very quickly we find two pieces that fit and we put them together. Then we begin guessing what the puzzle will look like when finished based on what these two pieces show us. To fully understand this puzzle we must connect all the pieces to get its full picture.

Its the same way with the Bible. To get the full picture of what the Bible teaches about a topic, we must connect all the verses about that topic. If there appears to be a contradiction, it is because I am misunderstanding the intent of the verses.

I have grown up worshiping on Saturday, the seventh-day Sabbath. My parents kept the Sabbath. Most of my family are Sabbath keepers. The Sabbath is a very special time for me to worship and get to know Jesus better. It is the best day of the week for me.

Why do I keep the Sabbath? Jesus said in John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commandments.” I love Jesus and want to do what He says because He knows best. He created me and He knows what is best! Keepingthe Sabbath does not make me better or worse than another person. It is simply a matter of love and respect to Jesus.

With all that said, if scripture tells me I am keeping the wrong day, I want to know, because I want to do what Jesus expects. If I am shown that I am keeping the wrong day, I will change (Luke 11:9). Perhaps you will allow me to share some additional pieces to the puzzle through the following questions and observations.

  1. Does it matter to Jesus which day I worship?

a. Mark 2:27 - Jesus made Sabbath for man.

b. Mark 2:28 - Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Lord: a ruler by hereditary right to whom obedience is due)

c. Mark 7:6-9 - Jesus said, “People worship me in vain, their teachings are rules of men. They have let go of the commandments and follow traditions of men. They are hypocrites.

d. I John 5:3 - Shows love to God when we keep his commandments. Commandments are not a burden.

  1. Were the Old Testament scriptures valued by New Testament writers? Was its importance diminished by the sacrifice of Jesus?

a. The Old Testament is quoted over 150 times by New Testament writers.

b. Jesus quoted the Old Testament writers scores of times.

c. Paul and the apostles quoted the Old Testamentscores of times.

d. Luke 18:20 - Jesus quoted commandments

e. Acts 7:38 - Stephen said Moses gave us “Living words.”

f. II Peter 1:21 - Holy Spirit directed prophets of Old Testament

  1. Were the 10 Commandments done away with because of Jesus's sacrifice for us?

a. Matthew 19:18-19 - Jesus quotes commandments to Rich Young Ruler.

b. Luke 16:17 - Jesus said it is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for one stroke of the law to be changed.

c. Matthew 5:17-19 - Jesus said He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.

d. Hebrews 13:8-11 - Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.

e. I John 2:3,4 - I am a liar if I do not keep His commandments.

  1. Which day did Jesus worship? (Certainly it is safe to follow His example.)

a. Matthew 12:8 - The Son of Man (Jesus) is Lord of Sabbath

b. Luke 4:16 - Jesus went into Synagogue on Sabbath as His custom was

c. Luke 4:31-33 - Jesus teaches people on Sabbath in Synagogue

d. Luke 6:5-6 - Son of Man (Jesus) is Lord of Sabbath, teaching on Sabbath

  1. Which day did the Apostles and Paul worship? Surely they knew what Jesus desired of them.

a. Acts 17:2 - Paul worshipped on Sabbath as his custom was

b. Acts 13:42-44 - Paul and Barnabas preached on Sabbath and whole city came to listen

c. Acts 16:13 - Paul and Silas looking for a place of worship on Sabbath

d. Acts 17:2 - Paul preached every Sabbath trying to persuade Jews and Greeks

e. Acts 20:7 - Paul preached until midnight on Sabbath (at sundown Sabbath, Sunday the first day of week began according to Biblical timing. The evening and morning mark beginning and ending of day).

f. Hebrews 4:9-11 - Sabbath is day of rest for God's people

g. II John 5-6 - John says it shows love if we walk in obedience to His commandments

  1. How are we to worship on Sabbath?

a. Matthew 12:12 - Jesus said it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath

b. Mark 3:4 - Jesus said it is lawful to do good on Sabbath

c. Mark 2:27 - Jesus said Sabbath made for man, not man for Sabbath. Sabbath is a delight for God's people

d. Luke 6:9 - Jesus said it is lawful to do good on Sabbath

e. Jeremiah 17:19-28 - Prophet Jeremiah gives an explanation of Sabbath worship and tells us not to work on the Sabbath

f. Exodus 20:8-11 - The only commandment we are told to remember has been largely forgotten. We are not to work on Sabbath. God deserves our time and attention on Sabbath.

  1. Which day will we worship in heaven?

a. Isaiah 66:22-24

  1. Which day did Adamand Eve worship in the Garden of Eden?

a. Genesis 2:2 - God rested, blessed the seventh day and made it holy

  1. How does Satan/Dragon relate to worship?

a. Revelation 12:17 - John says the Dragon/Satan made war with God's remnant people who obey God's commandments

  1. Is Sunday/First Day worship taught by Scripture?

  2. How did Sunday/First Day worship get started?

a. Please Google “Sabbath changed to Sunday” for the answer.

b. Which church claims the authority to change the day of worship?

c. It is a matter of historical record that Sabbath worship was changed to Sunday worship by powerful political/ religious leaders. This is a historical fact; not a religious conclusion.

  1. Whom shall we follow?

a. Acts 5:29 - Peter and other apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than man.”

Please know that I share this information out of love with a joyful heart; joyful because I believe the Holy Spirit is leading you to contemplate His will for your life. I pray that you will receive it with the same love and joy that it has been written. May our loving Heavenly Father bless you abundantly as you continue to serve Him.

Don R. Hevener Gentry

Editor's Note: When space permits, I may answer with a few comments and passages for readers to consider in regard to the Sabbath.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 11/07/2012