Trying to keep Sabbath in a non-Torah culture can be challenging, especially if family and friends are not aligned. Are we violating Sabbath if we put gas in the car? go to a grocery store or a pharmacy? eat out at a restaurant? go to a movie or a concert? What if a friend needs help on Sabbath? or we need to travel for a business trip or vacation, or attend a wedding or a funeral? In the complexity of living in a broken world, if we aren’t thoughtful and careful in our application of Sabbath, it can become a stressful burden rather a blessing of rest. (He 4:4-5)
There are three questions to consider: [1] Do our individual activities violate Sabbath? [2] Are we requiring / encouraging others to work? and [3] Are we setting a bad example or causing others to stumble?
Firstly, we note God never clearly defines work in the context of keeping Sabbath; this is not an oversight on God’s part – it is inestimable brilliance. He’s inviting us to participate with Him in how we observe Sabbath, to use the guidelines He has provided to sort out what it means in any given circumstance. In other words, this isn’t about thoughtless, rote obedience to a set of rules; we must understand the heart and spirit of Sabbath in order to properly obey it. (Mk 2:27)
The primary Sabbath principle is to remember it (Ex 20:8a), remind ourselves why God blessed and sanctified it (Ge 2:3), setting it apart from the other days. (Ex 20:8b)
We set Sabbath apart (keep it holy) primarily by doing all our work (Ps 104:23), how we typically generate income or value and provide and care for ourselves (2Th 3:10), on the other six days (9): we are forbidden to work on Sabbath and to require others to work. (10) As God rested on the seventh day (Ex 20:11), so should we. (Le 19:3)
So, we’re evidently within Sabbath guidelines if we abstain from the types of activities we typically engage in the other six days, especially income-generating activities, so long as we’re not neglecting our duties to ourselves or others, continuing to live responsibly and charitably in the world. (1Co 16:4) The more of this routine activity we can do before Sabbath, to prepare for it without creating an inappropriate inefficiency or burden, the better. This can be a learning process, where we get better at keeping Sabbath the more we observe it.
So, if a friend has an emergency on Sabbath and requires our help (De 22:1-2), we shouldn’t think of this as a violation. (Mt 12:11-12) But when friends or family routinely plan chores on Sabbath and count on our help, wisdom advises them of our Sabbath observance and kindly asks them to respect it.
And if we need to go to a store to pick up something we overlooked, or want to relax at a restaurant or go out to a performance on Shabbat, does this promote our rest and recovery from our weekly labors? Is it something we can easily put off until after Sabbath? Would it increase our stress or decrease it? We should pray through each situation with the spirit of Sabbath in mind.
As to how the world views our Sabbath activity, God deals with each of us according to our hearts. (Pr 24:12) Unless we are in Israel itself, most people in our culture work voluntarily on Sabbath, ignorant and/or heedless of God’s commands; benefiting from this isn’t necessarily inconsistent with Torah since we aren’t requiring others to work, or even encouraging it.
It isn’t our responsibility to require others to obey Torah, or to rebuke, admonish correct or instruct those who aren’t seeking after God and wanting to obey Him. God evidently enforces Torah violations differently depending on one’s understanding and permits His own to benefit from the voluntary Torah violations of others so long as we ourselves are being obedient. (De 14:21a)
I am often tempted to plan To-Dos on Sabbath which will save me time during the week so I can get more done. I tend to justify it when the task isn’t something I typically do for work as it seems to be a more efficient use of time, which is my most valuable resource.
However, I think the spirit of Sabbath should get us out of an efficiency (the “get more done”) mindset; we shouldn’t use Sabbath as a catchall for non-routine activities which are not truly restful if they can be done on a work day.
I understand the need for a civil standard to impose rules for Sabbath-keeping in the nation of Israel: Sabbath violation is a matter of Israeli national security (when the nation strays from Sabbath obedience God curses them and gives them over to their enemies).
Any civil standard will necessarily be stricter than Torah itself and thus somewhat imperfect and burdensome, but it is required to forcibly align carnal minds and unrenewed hearts with the general spirit of Torah in that which can be observed by others. Once Israel is redeemed and given new hearts, perhaps this will no longer be necessary.
When ministering to Jews for the sake of the Gospel, it may be appropriate to submit to these additional rules for Christ’s sake and accept this burden to be a light to the Jewish nation.
Tim,
How do you look at the verse in Colossians: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
The ARE A SHADOW of things to come; BUT the BODY is of Christ.
Can CHRIST BE one’s Sabbath? One’s resting place?
And a portion 🙂 of scripture here:
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike.
Tim, how do you fit the above verses into your GOOD study on Sabbath which I found enjoyable. Just being a piece or iron 🙂
Recently in the “night seasons” in my sleep I experienced being shown a depth of some of my sinful choices from 50 or so years ago. It did not quite get to the point where I said “uncle” but it was moving in that direction.
He established an ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP with Tim, with stephen, with _____________ — something about
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of [his will],
The BEFORE the foundation of the world part. An eternal relationship. That is a portion of Sabbath which I look at. Where no man, no devil, can pluck me out of His hand. Nothing can separate me from the LOVE of Christ.
As I was shown some detail of the intents of my heart in relation to sin 50 years ago — I also remembered —
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
He was reminding me, I had NOTHING to boast about. Nothing. There being a portion of myself wanting to hold onto “the boast”. He was obliterating it. As a Loving Father should.
Bit of a rant, might seem a bit off topic —- good to say hello, Lord Bless — and remind us that the ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP we have with Him, which HE initiated is also part of what one might call Sabbath.
love
stephen
Good question, Brother!
Here’s a post on the topic that may be helpful: Let No Man Judge You. When we read this text carefully, it is teaching us how to respond when others criticize our observance of Torah. It doesn’t say we need not obey Torah. It is also telling us that the sabbaths, feast days and new moons are prophetic shadows cast by the body of Christ (these are His shadows!). This doesn’t make the feasts unimportant; it makes them precious beyond measure.
I see Rom 14 relating to extra-biblical laws due to the examples provided, such as Jewish Halakah (extra-bibilical tradition) and vegetarianism (imposed by some Gnostics in 1Ti 4:1-5). It teaches us that if someone becomes convinced God wants them to follow such extra-biblical practices, they should do so, but they shouldn’t impose these rules on others. For example, of one feels one feast day is more important than another (e.g. Yom Kippur, which Jews claim as the holiest day of the year, but this is based on tradition, not scripture) they should honor it this way as unto the Lord. Others who see every day as equally important should also do so unto God. But this doesn’t mean we are “free” to violate Sabbath – we keep it as God commands; we simply don’t consider Sabbath more important than other days.
In short, Scripture doesn’t offer a Christ saying it’s OK to break Torah; He isn’t a shelter or a “rest” for those who wish to break God’s Law; He doesn’t provide freedom from our obligation to pursue holiness, to sanctify ourselves, and do our best to follow Him.
We are indeed saved by grace through faith, and are chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. Yet this isn’t a license to sin: salvation gives us a new heart that loves Torah and inclines us to obey it more and more as we grow. Those who don’t have such a heart to love Torah, who are not being transformed by God into obedient children, who find in Christ freedom to sin willfully, don’t yet know Christ as Lord, so I fear they don’t know Him at all.
Tim,
Some like 7th Day Adventists look at Saturday as the Sabbath. Some look at Sunday as a “new” Sabbath. Some will go from Sundown on Friday till Sundown on Saturday, etc. In context of your musings here, how would you see it?
stephen
I think the scripture is clear that Saturday is the seventh day, therefore it is the Sabbath. I have not seen any evidence in scripture to the contrary.
I also see reasonably good evidence that Sabbath starts Friday evening.
I think Christians who are observing Sunday as sabbath are doing so entirely based on tradition and what they have been taught.
According to Catholic doctrine, the Lord’s Day is Sunday, and it is not the Sabbath. Catholics observe the Lord’s Day rather than Sabbath, they don’t think Sunday is the Sabbath.
If you follow the first link in this post you will find more detail on this, especially in the comments.
Tim,
On let No Man Judge you which I found intriguing in terms of how you flipped in a manner of speaking.
Simple question first. Will eating bacon, shrimp, Tuna… send a person to hell?
7th Day Adventist quote this one:
“Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves,
To go to the gardens
After an idol in the midst,
Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse,
Shall be consumed together,” says the Lord.
I have visited prayer breakfasts there, and that was def. a
verse.
Does Torah, or WWJD, encompass going to hell for eating bacon as you look at his?
Have more questions, thought I’d start with this.
Appreciate,
stephen
Tuna is clean, BTW. 🙂 Bacon, shrimp, catfish: not so.
As always, it depends on the heart. Is the offence in true ignorance? Or is it willful, careless stubbornness and presumption? Is it the Old Man saying, “Jesus, You can have my pocketbook, but not my appetite.” Or is it the New Man ignorantly saying, “Didn’t Jesus do away with dietary law?” It could be either, and this does make a difference, in my opinion.
I came to faith eating shrimp and bacon and continued in this for nearly two decades (1984 – 2004), incredulous in finding anyone claiming to know Jesus and Scripture still taking dietary law seriously.
I don’t recall exactly how long it took me to repent once I was really challenged about it; perhaps the better part of a decade. The light leaked through a little at a time, in the context of much confusion, trial and error, rigor and study. It did not come easy for me.
I distinctly recall the moment I decided to try keeping Torah. It was a matter of blind faith really, trusting God was good, that there just might be a blessing in following His laws. I wasn’t convinced theologically at all, just experimenting a bit. It wasn’t until I was willing to obey on the off chance that it might be right that the theology began to fall into place for me.
So, I understand this from both sides, and how hard it is to unlearn this way of life once we’ve been taught wrong: this is basic and life-changing, intimidating to take up in an antinomian Christian culture, especially if we have been following Christ for a while. It is especially difficult when most teaching on this subject is twisting scripture and/or taking it out of context, and quite often done without love or nuance. Those initially teaching me were in a very broken, demonically driven cult. Ignorant, well-meaning Christians WAY off the typical evangelical path. Torah terrorists abound in most every Messianic synagogue or church and will as soon bring us into bondage as scoff at us, judge us for disagreeing and write us off. It is a difficult day for the truth-seeker. But perhaps no more difficult than any other day; it’s always been a fight.
So, no, law-keeping doesn’t earn salvation, it’s the fruit of sanctification, and this is an incomplete, on-going process in every believer. One can be an ignorant believer and be eating bacon. I expect most believers today would be described like this.
However, loving Christ isn’t optional for a believer, and this means obeying what we believe to be true as well as we can, submitting our will to Christ as Master and Lord in every area of life. This includes finances, sexuality, diet, language, dress, entertainment, all of it.
Those who have yet to fully commit to following Christ, deliberately holding back some deep interior room to harbor self-will, these don’t yet know Him, or trust Him as either Lord or Savior.
Tim,
After pondering, a simple comment.
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
stephen
Does this mean you are free to murder, since you are not under the law? free from the law? Though you never would, perhaps, of course, but you are free to?
Tim,
God forbid.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Look at context
There is SIN that HE holds me accountable for regardless of
my “understanding” of scripture…
There is SIN that I am accountable for
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
The WHATSOEVER is Not of faith is sin… a bit different than
whatsoever is not of the law is sin — though they obviously
cross each other
ie… is the Law the substance of things hoped for??
Or, is faith the substance of things hoped for?
To give a bit of an explanation
If my Faith is True, I will be judging myself… if it is false one
could do mental gymnastics all day long. I like the example of
Saul who was a super high intelligence man — high up in Mensa.
My points refer to scripture I know you are familiar with.
Saul had a righteousness of the law that he would end up counting as dung that he might have a righteousness of faith.
Saul Did go around seeking to have Christians murdered and put in Jail. Jesus of course alluded to this with
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Saul at this point Only had a righteousness of the law
For all his “religious” learning he did Not know the Father or Jesus.
Then he had that Damascus Road experience and he was ripped inside out so to speak — he was learning the substance of faith.
This is a tough subject I am not wise enough to comprehend — I know JESUS also fulfills the Law — but stephen must Start with faith in His Blood.
Interesting iron sharpens iron
stephen
ps — bottom line we are called to know the Father and Jesus… and
HE Alone judges that one
I will try to frame this a little differently.
When someone says, “I’m not under the law”, they typically seem to mean there are certain laws they don’t feel the need to obey, even though they know about these laws, understand them and how to obey them. It isn’t ever a matter of not understanding the law, but a belief that this phrase gives them permission to break certain laws, that they don’t need to be concerned about obeying them.
However, this phrase “not under the law” doesn’t specify a subset of laws, or which type of laws which we are not under, but simply says we are “not under THE LAW,” that is … all of the Law, we are not under ANY law.
So, if the phrase means we don’t need to obey the law, it means we are free to break any law, so we are free to lie, cheat, steal and murder.
But this is obviously incorrect: we know we are not free to murder.
This is called “proof by contradiction”: assuming “not under the law” (or “free from the law”, or any related concept) means I am free to break the law leads to a contradiction, so the phrase can’t mean that; it must mean something else.
So, what we can conclude is this: while we are “not under the law” (because Paul said so: Ro 6:15), we are not free to break the law, or “sin” (because Paul said so in the very same verse).
So, if we try to use this phrase “not under the law” to even suggest that it has anything to do with whether we ought to obey any given law, we are being inconsistent and deceiving ourselves.
Does that ring true?
Tim,
We may be getting repetitive :). The only important person something needs to ring true for, is YOU. “But I receive not testimony from man”
It just matters that the Father bears witness to you or I.
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.
Perhaps Tim esteems Saturday above other days, as many people do I have been close to in life. Another man esteemeth every day alike,
closer to stephen who looks at Christ as the fulfillment of the Law, and who Looks at Christ as his sabbath or place of rest.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST 🙂
In the interest of full disclosure I have fallen short in various issues over my life. The difference between knowledge puffing up and living in relation [my sheep hear my voice] can be profound.
Will end the discussion on my “chatter” with the following point.
The pharisees boasted that they did not commit adultery and that they tithed of all they possessed, and they were not like those sinful transgenders and sinful homosexuals or even those sinful people who did not know the law. And a tax collector, would not even look up, but with head down, beat upon his chest, and said GOD BE Merciful to ME a SINFUL man. WHO did Jesus say went home to his house justified? The one who knew the Law, or the one who knew who he was in the sight of God?
stephen