The Lord's Day - Restoring The 4th Commandment

The Lord's Day - Restoring The 4th Commandment

As I stated in my last Blog Christmas Season, Election Season the only christian "holiday" or rather Holy-day we are commanded to Celebrate in the Bible. I have seen the Sabbath fall in to disrepute amongst Christians, many christians see it as something that doesn't pertain to them. I had one American Christian friend who explained to me that "of course she goes out to a restaurant on Sunday, she's American" it seems silly and you're probably laughing saying to yourself anotehr example of "american arrogance" but how many Canadians "Christians" go out to eat on Sunday, look in any town or city and you will probably see that following church services are some of the times family restaurants are most crowded. I'm sure it is not just in Canada and the but is wide spread through western Christedom.

Last Time I counted There were 10 Commandemnts not 9

For some reason if I was to suggest that it was OK to kill somebody or stealing isn't really bad of an activity for a Christian to be doing you would probably jump up and down and say how could I suggest such a thing, you know you aren't suppose to kill or steal, the Commandments tell you this. Well you're right, and I suppose you would say the same thing if I said I'm thinking of having an affair, you would surely point me to the commandments again, but what if I said I think it would be nice to go out for a nice brunch after Church on Sunday, or maybe I have to go watch my kid's Hockey game, what would you say? Would you point me towards the commandments, or would you reccommend a place to eat and would I see you at the rink with your son as well? What makes the 4th Commandment any less than the other nine that we as Christians disregard it?

How can we keep the Sabbath Holy?

1. Preparing yourself the night before by getting a good sleep
2. Making sure you have enough gas in your car for going to and from Church on Saturday night
3. Making sure you attend church both in the morning and evening during the Sabbath
4. Being hospitable and having fellow christians over is good, so prepare for it the night before
5. If you are travelling on Sunday make sure you bring along sandwiches or whatever so you don't have to eat out
6. Do what you need to do around the house on Saturday so you aren't fretting about all day Sunday or tempted to do it
7. If your work requires you to work on Sundays and they won't compromise get another job
8. Don't get the Sunday paper, take a break from worrying about the world around you
9. Don't sit down in front of the TV, cover it over if that helps
10. Enjoy the world God has made by taking a walk out doors
11. Use this time to catch up on that Theological book you've been meaning to read put aside the novel, reports from work, the internet or whatever until Monday

The Danger of Legalism

In sabbath keeping there is the danger of Legalism much like the Pharisees, now while I suggested to get Gas on the Saturrday, there might be a circumstance where you ran out of Gas or on Saturday night you were coming back from travels late after the Gas Station closed etc. but these are rare, and of course there are the works of necessity and mercy, Doctors, Nurses, Policemen, etc. need to work on the Sabbath at times, they should try and trade shifts but they might not be able to and they are doing a necessary work, a farmer will need to milk his cows, but Sunday is not a day to plant new crops. The important thing is to do activities which are truly necessary and try not to make others violate the Sabbath by making them work unnecessarily.

Somethings you might be unsure of such as playing a game, games can be a great time of fellowship, but maybe playing an adversarial type one wouldn't be the best way of showing Christian love. Remember the focus of teh Day should be on Christ so keep your activities Christ centred.

Todays Recommended Readings

Celebrating The Sabbath by Bruce Ray
The Lord's Day by Joseph Pipa