The Christian and the Sabbath?
Minister’s Letter - 23 June 2022
Friends in Christ, last week I wrote on how Christians relate to the Old Testament, through the lenses of legal demand, prophecy and wisdom. And I said I might write a more on this through the topic of the Sabbath.
Resting from work on the Sabbath is the 4th of the Ten Commandments God gave Israel through Moses:
‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labour and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11)
Image courtesy freelyphotos.com
The topic has come up recently, as I work through J.C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke at Choral Evensong at 5:15pm on Thursday nights during school term. (Why not join us if you are in the city? Evensong resumes on July 21.)
At the start of Luke 6, when people were accusing his 'snacking' followers of working on the Sabbath, Jesus said that as Son of Man, he is Lord of the Sabbath! He then says it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, to save life, and hence, to heal someone or to feed the hungry.
Old Bishop J.C.Ryle observed, correctly I think:
In every case where we find our Lord speaking upon [the Sabbath], He speaks against the false views of it, which were taught by the Pharisees, but not against the day itself. He cleanses …the fourth commandment from the man-made additions… He shows that the seventh day's rest was not meant to prevent works of …mercy, but He says nothing to imply that it was to pass away…
Practically, Ryle thinks of Sunday as the Christian Sabbath and day of worship and rest, and goes on to advise in regards to the need sometimes to attend to the sick or see to some emergency that takes us from our rest...
Let us beware of making God's day a day for visiting, feasting, journeying, and pleasure parties. These are not works of necessity or mercy…
This is such a challenge to the modern 24/7 world, where many are as busy on weekends as on weekdays, whether at work, or in sport, shopping and other frenetic 'leisure' activities. I observe this makes resting difficult for many!
At the risk of saying, "When I was a boy", I can remember almost all shops sutting by 1pm on Saturdays, all rugby leagues matches on Saturday afternoon bar Match of the Round on Sunday. There was certainly no kids sport on Sunday. My father opened his chemist shop for just one hour on Sunday to fill emergency prescriptions.
Nevertheless, the Apostle Paul, in Colossians 2:13-15, assures us that in Christ and his cross that God has made believers alive, forgiven our sins and cancelled the written code and its accusations against us. That is Jesus has fulfilled the Law's legal demands and removed any guilt from our failure to obey it.
Therefore Paul continues, in Col 2:16-17 that we should not let anyone judge us with regard to a Sabbath day, since such things are shadows of what was to come and the reality is found in Christ. In the new Covenant, we are not under Mosaic law's obligation or condemnation.
But how does the Sabbath law's moral or spiritual principles guide us? Why might Christians consider treating Sunday as some kind of Sabbath analogue?
If so, what principles would inform what we might and might not do? Is it rest from regular labour (whether paid or unpaid)? Is it for 'corporate worship', assembly around Christ for teaching, prayer and fellowship? This is the lens of reading the Law for wisdom.
I think there is obvious merit in making sure that we use a day every seven especially for our Lord Christ. The NT example, such as we have, is that Christians especially came together on the Lord's Day, being the "first day" of the week (e.g. Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2; also Rev 1:10). Sunday was obviously because Jesus was resurrected on the "first day" (Matt 28:1, Luke 24:1).
Of course, every day should be lived for his Lordship too (sese Romans 14:5-8).
But I choose to prioritise assembling with Christians in first place on Sunday. Other things - for example with our kids - could be fitted around church, but not regularly into the spaces and times Christians typically use for churching where I live.
I also think there is obvious creational wisdom in taking one day in seven to rest – especially from regular labours. But I don't think that has to be Sunday (or Saturday). As an obvious example, shift workers may have to take a different approach. But we all need regular weekly rest (and not just being worn out by leisure activities instead).
But no, I do not think a Christian can be judged for playing soccer on Sunday, or attending a child's musical concert or friend's birthday party. Nor if urgent needs occasionally require to you work seven days in a row! Colossians 2:16-17 still applies, and Jesus is still Lord of the Sabbath.
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney