Basically, coming out of the meeting, I had more questions than answers and here are some thoughts for people to offer feedback on.
- Is the idea of time and seasons inherent in ones understanding of sabbath? meaning, is a non-sabbatarian essentially holding a position that would not view the 7 day week as sacred and that we could basically define the calendar however we would like because God is no longer a respector of time in the sacred sense?
- Is the non-Sabbatarian church binding people's conscience to attend church once a week? Meaning, if time is not sacred, then Sunday observance is merely a pragmatic practice based somewhat on the practice of the early church but with no warrant or explicit imperative, other than "do not forsake the assembling..." Basically, if one is totally unable or does not like the idea of coming to church every Sunday, on what grounds would a non-Sabbatarian church have for discipline towards the non-attender. The non-attender could say that he/she assembles with Christians for coffee, etc and is thus fulfilling the mandate to assemble.
Having been a non-Sabbatarian, I wish to dig into some of these questions. I have read Paul Jewett, some of D.A. Carson and others on this topic and have theologically arrived at a loose (I guess I shouldn't use the word non- anymore) sabbatarian position....but did not think through the ecclesiological implications on the polity of a church based on ones understanding of the sabbath. It is here where I am digging for some answers.
Theoretically a person from my church can say that they don't want to attend church on Sunday anymore but wish to retain their membership and the only grounds in which we would revoke their membership is that they fail to assemble when our elders open the door for worship, which happens to be Sunday morning. Our only authority would be that the decision of the elders is binding on the practice of the member. Is this more in line with Scripture than my good Sabbatarians which would say that their sabbath observance carries with it Biblical warrant and would say that they are implementing God's will in the manner.
Also, if we (loose, non-Sabbatarians) are going to discipline a non-attender on the grounds that they should worship when the assembly gathers under the direction of the elders, then should we not discipline non-attenders to Sunday School, mid-week studies, etc. After all, the day doesn't matter, the principle is that the elders define when we should worship in such a view. One might say that, well once a week seems reasonable....but based on what. Theoretically, one could live in a society with a 15 day work week, and the non-Sabbatarian could not theologically object to such a view of the week.
Anyhow, look forward to any thoughts you folks may have.
2 comments:
This is a very interesting question, one which I have wondered at for a few years now. My question however goes beyond the assembling together ( On Sunday, as a mandated, correctable- if-disregarded requirement of the faith)to the observance of the "Sabbath day and keep it holy" bit. I grew up referring to Sunday as "The Lord's Day", in church and family settings. It was to be treated as "sacred" and spent with the family of believers, in worship and rest. I am content to recognize it then, based solely on the church's authority as establishing it as such. However it seems hard to categorize it as a mandate by any stretch of the imagination. It seems that the command to honor those in authority over us is the only ground on which the "tradition" (as I personally view it)stands. Which is satisfactory as a reason to observe it, however not, i believe, intellectually or logically satisfying in relation to what scripture actually requires of us. And does it then become sin to question strict observance, in light of the authority factor?
Thank you for your thoughts on this...it's a subject comfortable enough to ignore, and I think often overlooked.
Rachel,
Great to hear your thoughts. Sorry for the delayed response. It sounds as though you don't view the Sunday Sabbath as standing on solid ground Scripturally/Theologically, but appeal more to the submission of authority for its observance. This indeed wold suffice for it falls under the grid of obeying parents as well, which means that we do as they say (whether it be rest and observance one day or seven days).
It is indeed a tradition for the church to observe on Sunday and its reasons are based on Jesus ressurection and to some degree pragmatism. Many of the early Jewish Christians were still observing Sabbath on Saturday, along with the other holidays on the Jewish calendar. These Christians struggled with how much should be imposed on gentiles and the Jeruslaem council settled the issue by basically releasing gentiles from Mosaic law observance in its ceremenoial aspects. Anyhow, the idea that Sunday was the new sabbath is hard to substantiate. We do have Paul's command to give a firstfruit of our monetray resources on the first day of the week, and the Apostle John makes reference to being in the Spirit on the "Lord's day" in Revelation. It does seem that the Christian community went from basically meeting daily to a sort of once a week tradition over time. However we are not told to gather on the first day of the week neccesarily, but rather not to forsake the assembling, which happened on the first day.
Basically at the heart of this issue is that we are assembling with others for the sake of mutual encouragement so that our hearts might not grow cold. Whether God is a respector of time in the sense of how we observe weeks, months, etc. I still do not know. One things is clear though, that God does seem to establish the sun as a time clock to track a day. It is clear that God ackowledges days and even weeks with regards to prophecy that is given with reference to time. We even see that one work of the antichrist is to change the times and seasons. Having said this, I don't think God esteems one day over another within the week and I also realize that this is a conscious issue as Paul directs us to esteem days however we best see it. Paul deals with this issue pragmatically and defers to the vast opions that may exist on this issue. Paul would not allow such freedom on an issue if it was certain that Sabbath observance was still in effect and binding on all people.
It sems to me that you have a pretty good understanding of the issue in that you respect the opinions of those above you regaridng the issue (parents, church leadership). Now that you are married, you are no longer bound to your parents opinion and can observe as you and Jeff feel led. This is something to work through with him if you haven't already done so.
Have you talked it over with Jeff on how you will treat the week with respect to worship, etc? What conclusions have you made if you don't mind me asking?
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