Sabbath - Saturday or Sunday??

[Nienie]

A lot of ladies had a discussion about this topic and a lot of differences raised from this issue. And I wondered if I shouldn't make this a topic open for discussion on the Net and hear the opinions of everyone.

I would just like to mention that this is not judgemental towards anyone, but an open discussion especially for those who have been struggling with this question in their hearts.

In my own heart, I feel that it doesn't really matter which day we celebrate the Sabbath as long as you have your day of rest the seventh day of the week as the Bible stipulates. I know some people say it is on Saturday and others on Sunday, but why is this really such a big issue? Isn't it more important if you serve the Lord with your whole heart everyday of your life? Isn't it more important to seek His Kingdom with your whole heart, sit at HIs feet, everyday not only on the Sabbath?
If Jesus went to the fields on the Sabbath when His disciples were hungry (Matt 12) to feed them, would He really thought of this as a problem issue in the lives of His folllowers?
Is it really a breaking of the commandment if you do not, for example, celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday but rather on the Sunday?
And if Jesus died on Friday, how is it that we celebrate Resurrection Sunday on Sunday and not on Saturday?
Are we not having differences over issues that is not that important, for rather worrying when the real Sabbath is, than spending more time in the presence of God?!!
Will we be asked on Judgement day on which day we serve the Lord or rather did you serve ME at all??

Would love to hear the comments of all our brothers and sister on the Net and share in a topic that is of a concern for so many people.

Blessings to all

[Robert Ricciardelli]

The Sabbath is really for our benefit. It could be on a Thursday. The fact is when, I take a Sabbath during the week, I feel refreshsed and renewed. When I do not, I feel worn out and tired. So, instead of making it "law" in my life, I just have realized that it works for me. In Christ there is not one day more important than the other. But the Sabbath is certainly a day, God has presented to us for our benefit, so take one!

[Shepherd Abraham Ndawona]

You are sure my friend.When Jesus healed the sick he did even on the Sabbath day,saying why not doing good things on this day ,as the Farises says you must never do any work on the Sabbath.

Shepherd Abraham Ndawona

[Michael]

I can speak on this topic from personal experience. I was exposed to this doctrine early in my pre-teen years, I was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist for about 1 year, as well as a member of another non-denominational Church for more than 12 years, that believed in Saturday, Sabbath day keeping.

But as I begin to grow older and hear things that I did not agree with, and when I would ask questions, I was not given a satisfactory answer. So I decided that I would ask the Lord concerning my questions and my doubts on those things. After all Jesus did say that He would give us another Comforter and that He would lead and guide us into all truth, and that He would teach us things concerning Christ.

So I begin my study, and going back to the very beginning in the book of Genesis, and, although the word says that the Lord rested and blessed the Sabbath day, there was no command given to Adam and Eve to keep the Sabbath day. The Lord only rested on the seventh day because He had finished His work, there was nothing else for Him to create and make! If you read the 4th chapter of Hebrews it explains the real meaning of Sabbath rest, basically saying that when we cease from our earthly work here and depart this body and enter into the presence of the Almighty, then will we have, true rest (Sabbath).

Then there were certain commands given to Israel in the wilderness of things not to do on the Sabbath, such as picking up sticks, lighting fires, not leaving their tents, carrying items, etc…but when we get to the New Testament, we see Jesus doing some of the very things that were against the law of Sabbath keeping!

That, along with other revelations helped me to see that it is not about a day, but rather about the maker of the days, the stars, the planets…the creator of the world! Even Jesus said in Matthew 12 and Mark 2 that “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath”. “The Son of man is Lord, even of the Sabbath”. It is good to take a rest, but not to take a legalistic stance and make the day the focus. Remember that there are some things that the Lord gave explicitly to Israel to make them separate from the other nations and we the Church, are not bond to a lot of those things.

B-blessed Saints;
Michael

[Mandy]

Dear Nienie; being a nurse and having to work weekends; as I am sure there are others who are required to work weekends. I beleive that when we set apart a time or day that we do the work of praising and worshiping our Lord and are into his Word that this is our "Sabbath" For instance, this week I work the weekend and have off Monday. I will spend Monday as my time to be with the Lord in worship, prayer and study. So, I believe that God's Word is very important and we apply it to our lives for the present time and not Biblical times. Remeber when Jesus also told those who accused him of blasmphemy when he healed on the Sabbath. His repy was: would you not go a find one of your lost sheep or pull him out of a well if he needed help. So true is then that sometimes there are things that we must do on Sunday. Make your Sabbath day special, no matter which day of the week it falls on. Your friend in Christ

[deedee310]

Although a lot of churches and denominations observe the Sabbath day on Sunday, the bible tells us that God took his sabbath rest on the 7th day of the week. The Seventh day of the week is Saturday. My personal belief is that God wants us to observe Saturday (the seventh day) as the Sabbath.

[Bev]

I have a question to the question. Who decided what day was the 7th? Did they call the days Monday, Tuesday.......back then? And technically, we genarally start our work week on Monday....could that not make it the first day of the week then making Sunday the 7th. These are merely curiosity questions and like you I am not here judgementally.....I agree that we should keep a day holy.....even if Tuesday is the 7th day.

Peace

[Mary O]

I worshiped and observed the day of rest on Sunday for a long time. That's how I was raised. I switched to Saturday because it's what I want to do. I go from midnight on Friday to midnight on Saturday, but I believe originally, it was sundown to sundown. Does anyone have information on that?

I think of it as following the Lord's example. On that day, I relax and take a nap. I read the word and do my bible studies. I get online and pray with people requesting prayer. Some of these things may not seem like rest (like the bible studies), but I think God loves that I love doing them. I think that I can feel His pleasure that I love doing bible studies. I feel closer to Him.

On my day of rest, I try not to even think about my work week, dishes, mowing the lawn, or laundry. I flush it out of my head for one day. Meals are pre-made. We just warm them up.

The Sabbath is something that I tried, and I love honoring it.
God bless,
Mary O.

[Bev]

Shabbat=Saturday, the seventh day of the week for the Jewish calendar. A day off--free day beginning on Friday at sundown and ending on Saturday evening when the three stars appear in the sky and can be viewed together.

Those who practice stricter Jewish tradition do virtually nothing on this day that could be construed as work; from cooking to flipping a switch, Even the bulb in the refrigrator is unscrewed or disabled ahead of time so the light does not illuminate as it is considered the equivelant to making a fire which would be work. There is even timing when opening the frig door to ensure the motor is already running ensuring it will not be cut on as the door opens.

Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. The word "Shabbat" comes from the root Shin-Beit-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest.

[DR]

This is my first post, but as someone who was a Hebrew Roots Christian at one time, I think I might have a unique perspective on it.

As it stands, I believe the Ten Commandments to be universal. Jesus said not one jot or tittle would pass from the Torah (Matthew 5:17-20), but since there is no Temple, none of the ceremonial aspects of the Torah can be carried out (the Feast days, etc.). This is why I think Paul's ministry to the Gentiles didn't stress Torah obedience, as he didn't foresee the Temple being a lasting institution. But its my belief that the "law of commandments contained in ordinances" were the ceremonial laws in Torah. These are no longer applicable (at least to Gentiles), as far as I know.

But the Sabbath was given before these laws were given. In fact, it was given at Creation. Torah itself says it is both "for an age" and "until the Age". There are no scriptural proofs it was switched over to Sunday, although this was later adapted by the Roman Catholic Church. Daniel 2:21 says that the fourth beast would change times and seasons. It is my belief that the little horn of the fourth beast is the Roman Catholic Church (since the four beasts represent the nations that conquered Israel in succession -- Babylon, the Medeo-Persian Empire, the Greeks and Rome). It alone has changed God's laws for centuries until the Protestant reformation challenged its authority, although many Catholic doctrines were still clinged to in its aftermath.

I have posted a blog entry here on this issue. My thoughts on this are not complete yet, but these are my true beliefs on many of the "Jewish roots" of Christianity. I would love to hear people's thoughts on this so I can make any corrections to it, if I'm in error.

As to why I think it is important, I don't want to be considered "least" in Heaven by any sense of the word. I do think God definitely judges the heart, but I see God's universal day of rest as a time to worship and reflect on Him. So while I cannot judge people who don't keep a Friday sunset to Saturday sunset Sabbath, I think its one of those things where, if you know it, you're better off obeying it.

But neither do I believe legalistic observance of the day either. For example, I think hospitals need to remain open on that day, since Jesus has already taught healing on the Sabbath is okay. Obviously, emergencies arise. I think the death penalty was only enforced at Sinai to force Israel to keep it as part of the harsh "school master" in Galatians until Messiah came. Now that the law can be written on the heart, God's Spirit can help us do what's right.

Hope this helps. :)

[Glenn Robichaux]

The Sabbath for the Jews was on and is still on Saturday...Disciples apostles beleivers Began worshiping on the Resurrection Day which is Sunday....Just in an Nutshell for now ladies...Old Testament was the Law in the New testament it is Grace! Thank God for Jesus for with out Him we would still be Under The LAW!!!!! Yet The Law is our tutor of a balance of God's expectation!
Brother Glenn Robichaux

[Glenn Robichaux]

The Book of ACTS reveals the Day of Worship

[DR]

It does? Where? Only thing I know of is some vague reference where they broke bread on the first day of the week. Breaking bread is a semitism meaning they ate together.

People shouldn't confuse grace with no law because Jesus said He didn't come to abolish the Law (Matthew 5:17-20). Parts of it fell into disuse after His crucifixion and the destruction of the Temple, but as for what remains, it still applies, as far as I understand.

Also, in Matthew 24, why would He tell His disciples not to flee on the Sabbath (the seventh day) if it was no longer going to apply?